Routes to Tibet
Driving isn’t just for the young; road-tripping isn’t an exclusive leisure activity for youngsters either. When financial and physical conditions permit, seniors can also find more joy in life through car travel.
These days, Lai Bo, who has driven to Tibet six times, is busy preparing for his road trip to Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia on March 26, staying very busy. Meanwhile, the couple Cai Bo are discussing whether to drive to Chaoshan to admire plum blossoms this weekend or visit old friends in Anji, Huzhou.
75-Year-Old Drives to Tibet and Travels Abroad
Lai Bo, whose full name is Lai Jianwei, is 75 years old this year and a big name in Hangzhou’s senior citizen self-driving travel circle. His road-tripping stories could fill an entire day of conversation.
Since his first trip to Tibet in 2005, Lai Bo’s passion for long-distance self-driving has been unstoppable. He goes almost every year, leaving his footprints all over the country and even venturing abroad to places like Europe and New Zealand. Last September, he made his sixth trip to Tibet, completing all five major routes into the region.
Lai Bo’s plan for this year is to travel to Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, tentatively setting off on March 26, ten days from now. “There will be about five or six of us in total, traveling in two cars.”
Lai Bo enjoys traveling with younger drivers, and of course, there are also many seniors from all over the province who come specifically to learn from his experience.
Speaking of experience, Lai Bo smiles and says, “It varies from person to person. But I feel that my eyesight, stamina, and energy are all in good shape. Don’t underestimate us seniors—we’re not worse than you young folks.”
However, there are some common tips worth considering. For example, do plenty of preparation work beforehand—like researching self-driving routes online. Also, get a full medical check-up both before departure and after returning.
To test whether he’s fit for a somewhat risky long-distance trip like going to Tibet, Lai Bo’s method is to first drive to places like Henan or Hebei to see how his body holds up.
“Road-tripping can be addictive,” Lai Bo says. He plans to keep doing it until his health no longer allows.
Elderly Couple’s Decade-Long Road Trips
Compared to Lai Bo’s six trips to Tibet, the weekend driving adventures of the Cai Bo couple around Hangzhou might be more relatable.
Cai Bo, 72 this year, is a retired official from a government agency in Zhejiang Province. “Before retiring, I traveled across the country by car for meetings but never had time to sightsee. So I thought, once I retire and while I can still get around, I’ll drive around with my wife for fun.” That’s why he decided to get his driver’s license at age 60.
Half a year after getting his license, Cai Bo tried driving from Fuyuan Xincun to Linping, with his son sitting beside him for “protection.” After the first successful trip, his confidence grew. Tonglu, Anji, Nanxun, Lishui, Wenzhou… he drove, while his wife took photos from the passenger seat with her camera.
For over a decade, weekend road-tripping has become a habit for the Cai Bo couple, and the biggest change has been “expanding their social circle.” Now, they have peers to hang out with all over the province.
In addition to essential travel gear like medications, essential oil, compressed biscuits, and tents, Cai Bo never forgets to bring his own pillow if he needs to stay overnight during a trip.
“Other people are picky about beds, I’m picky about pillows,” Cai Bo says. As you get older, you sleep less, but long drives require ample energy. “Sleep quality must be guaranteed.”
His daily morning exercise routine, which never stops—jogging around the neighborhood and practicing tai chi—is what Cai Bo credits for being able to drive for hours on the highway without fatigue and maintaining good hand-foot coordination. “The longest I’ve driven was from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with just one break in between.”