6Month10Day7:30AM, 13 vehicles and 7 people (estimated) from the Green Field Fleet headed for Guniang Lake in Duolun County, Inner Mongolia.13Vehicles32People (estimated)
Prior to this, three vehicles—Chenggong, Jianxin, and Tuokai—had arrived at Guniang Lake two days early to stake out the best camping areas and prevent others from taking them.3Vehicles2Days
Because Guniang Lake features beautiful, completely natural scenery with no management or entrance fees, and there are many online posts about it, in recent years more and more travelers and motorists have been visiting. If you want to secure an ideal campsite, it really pays to arrive early.
Chenggong called to inform us:X506The county road is under repair, with many “bomb craters” on the way, making it quite rough. He advised us to take a detour via another county road. When we went there last year,X351the county road was also under repair. We estimated that it would be completed withinX351The road is under repair, estimated1years’ time.
So we drove along the national highway until we reached Pailou Township, then turned ontoG111the national road and then ontoX351another route, having driven only a few kilometers when we encountered10more roadworks. OurX351over twenty vehicles jolted along the gravel road at a speed of10about20-40km/h, navigating through the construction site. Vehicles kicked up clouds of dust behind them, covering everything outside, and we had to keep the car windows tightly shut to avoid the dust.
As the lead vehicle, I had done my homework at home, printing out all the routes and especially marking several key turning points. At the turnoff from the county road to Guniang Lake (shown as an unknown road on the map), I was particularly cautious, worried that the roadworks might have demolished the landmark due to road widening. Fortunately, the large sign for the turnoff from Dahekou Township to Guniang Lake was still there, and our convoy smoothly entered the unknown road leading to Guniang Lake.X351County road toward Guniang Lake (marked as an unknown road on the map)
Next, we needed to find the gravel road that connected this unknown path to Guniang Lake. Because when we went to Guniang Lake last year, we happened to encounter7.21heavy rain. In the afternoon around3:00, dark clouds gathered over the grassland, and it got as dark as night, forcing us to use headlights just to see the road. So my memory of the route wasn’t very clear. With Chenggong’s guidance over the phone, directions via the radio, and Xiangxiang’s recollection,…….Finally, we found the gravel road leading to Girl’s Lake and walked another3kilometers before16:00, when we met up with Chenggong and Tuokuo. At that moment, the weight on my mind finally lifted—I had successfully led our convoy of over30people to our destination safely.
After a brief rest, everyone found a suitable spot to set up camp, pitching tents and assembling makeshift toilets. Wei Ge and I installed the generator, placed the water pump, and connected the filter and hoses. Just as I was thinking about what grand feast to prepare for dinner, Soday Biscuit approached Chenggong, saying their vehicle was stuck in the sand and needed rescue. After a quick inquiry, Chenggong, Jianxin, Xiangxiang’s husband, and I—along with Captain Xila driving—made a group of5people and headed to where Soday Biscuit’s car was stuck.
We thought it would be simple: Captain Xila would pull with his vehicle while we pushed, and Soday Biscuit’s car would be freed. But things didn’t go as planned—even after snapping the tow rope, we still couldn’t get the car out. Captain Xila, a former military man and off-road enthusiast, wasn’t very tall but had a dark, energetic complexion and eyes that sparkled with intelligence. Every word and action showed his vast experience, and every move revealed him to be a warm-hearted, hardworking guy. Digging in the sand was also quite the workout; both Wei Ge and I, being over60years old—“old folks,” you might say—were quickly worn out after just a few shovels. Jianxin, Xiangxiang’s husband, Captain Xila, and Soday Biscuit took turns digging the sand out from under the wheels, placing dry branches underneath. Captain Xila used all his self-rescue gear: steel tow ropes, boards, pulleys, tow straps, and more—but the car remained stubbornly stuck in the sand. By then, it was getting late, and at Girl’s Lake, once the sun sets, it gets pitch dark within1hours. Captain Xila hadn’t eaten lunch and was almost at his limit. By this point, we were all hungry, thirsty, and exhausted—but we pooled our ideas together, and after several attempts at pulling, we finally managed to reverse Soday Biscuit’s car out of the sand pit. Just as we were cheering and getting ready to head back, disaster struck again: Jianxin, driving Soday Biscuit’s car back up the slope, got stuck in the sand once more. Exhausted, Captain Xila assessed the terrain, learned from the previous attempt, and readied the towing equipment again—and successfully pulled the car out. When both Captain Xila’s vehicle and Soday Biscuit’s car had finally broken free from the sandy ground and reached the grassy roadside, we jumped for joy……….
Don’t say it’s unbelievable, reader—could it really have been that dramatic? Let me tell you, when everyone was dead tired, the sky was pitch black, the ground was all sand, and the cars could get stuck again at any moment, Soday Biscuit was determined to get the car out even if the paint got scratched. And when the two vehicles finally broke free from the danger zone, how could we not be excited?!
By the time we returned to camp, Wei Ge had already prepared the beef and lamb. Hearing from the radio that we were back, he took charge as head chef and started stir-frying away enthusiastically. When the fragrant food, mouthwatering lamb skewers, and big buckets of fresh beer were placed in front of you, you’d realize just how happy and how precious the friendship among friends truly is.
Girl’s Lake in Inner Mongolia6In the month of5, the lowest nighttime temperature is800degrees. I brought two sleeping bags and a cotton quilt, which were just enough—but the moment I stuck an arm out from under the covers, I felt the cold. The night was exceptionally quiet; the creaking of mattresses as people turned in the neighboring tents, the rustle of tent zippers, and the snores of those deep in sleep all sounded incredibly clear, as if right next to your ears (…
The next morning,4o’clock, the sky began to brighten. The chirping of birds in the trees sounded especially pleasant, layers of white mist floated over the lake surface, and the dew-soaked grass exuded a primal, earthy fragrance. The air was so moist and fresh, it was invigorating. Photography enthusiasts were up early, setting up tripods and aiming their cameras—big and small—to capture these beautiful scenes.
As the sun slowly rose and its light spread across the land, everyone got up. In small groups, they went off to do their favorite activities: some went fishing, others played mahjong, some paddled boats onto the lake to look for “the girl,” some strolled around the lake admiring the view, some just stared at the water lost in thought, some sipped tea and chatted, and some drove to nearby attractions for a look-around……..
The day passed quickly. In the evening, amid meals and drinks, we lit a bonfire……..
On the third morning, everyone packed up their belongings. The group split in two—one headed to Dolon Lake for more fun, the other made their way back to Beijing.
Upon arriving at Girl’s Lake, everyone pitched their tents
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