With the Spring Festival approaching, many friends choose to travel by car. Road trips are full of fun, but first-timers may encounter many unexpected little troubles. The author interviewed some experienced road trippers to share travel tips, hoping to be helpful to everyone.
1. Give your car a "full physical check-up" before departure
Example: During last year’s National Day holiday, a friend drove out but after just over a hundred kilometers on the highway, suddenly found a tire had gone flat. Not knowing how to change a tire, he had to call for help and have the car towed off the highway. By the time the car was fixed, half the enthusiasm for the trip was gone.
Reminder: Before setting off, choose a reputable garage to give your vehicle a thorough inspection and ensure it’s in good condition before hitting the road.
2. Don’t refuel at shady gas stations
Example: A firsthand experience from a road tripper. Last year, while driving to Yangshuo, he refueled at a gas station on Guangxi’s Daguishan Mountain. Soon after driving away, the car began to idle roughly and stall when shifting gears. Fortunately, he safely reached his destination and filled up with quality fuel to eliminate the problem.
Reminder: Before departure, fill up at a reliable gas station. Along the way, never refuel at random stations—opt for larger ones with more vehicles.
3. Bring the “four essentials” before departure
Example: A netizen told the author that they always bring all kinds of tools on trips without minding the hassle. Once their car broke down, fortunately they had a tow rope, and with a friend’s help found a repair shop to fix the issue.
Reminder: When traveling, car trouble can happen. Carry the “four essentials” just in case. These include: a tow rope, jumper cables, a triangular warning sign, and a spare tire.
4. Book your hotel in advance
Example: A road trip enthusiast drove to Yangshuo during the Golden Week. Arriving late at night in an unfamiliar place, they asked at several hotels only to find them fully booked. In the end, they had to spend the night in the car.
Reminder: Reserve your hotel room ahead of time. You can book through a travel agency, ask a local friend, or use an online travel service platform. But stay vigilant—avoid shady websites where you might pay a deposit and still get “stood up.”
5. Be extra cautious when passing on the wrong side
Example: During the National Day holiday, the author personally witnessed a minivan making a wrong-way overtake on a road trip, colliding head-on with a lime truck, resulting in the deaths of all five people in the van.
Reminder: Driving safety should always be a priority. However, driving on rural roads, national highways, or expressways differs somewhat from urban municipal roads. On two-lane highways, overtaking often requires borrowing the opposite lane—proceed with extra caution. Avoid overtaking in accident-prone areas, sections with solid road markings, curves, or uphill/downhill zones.
6. Plan your travel route in advance
Example: A reader who had driven to Yangshuo shared that by avoiding a road under repair, they saved two hours compared to those taking the old route.
Reminder: Planning your route has two parts. First, decide which scenic spots you want to visit. Beyond recommendations from fellow drivers, consider exploring lesser-known natural spots. Second, once destinations are chosen, plan the driving route. Prioritize expressways, then national roads. Also, use maps and advice from those familiar with the route to understand the road conditions, food, lodging, and gas station locations. Aside from online resources, consult travel agencies and local tourism departments. It's best to stick to officially open scenic areas and avoid overly adventurous choices.
7. Pay attention to parking safety
Example: Parking haphazardly by the roadside for convenience can lead to car theft or towing.
Reminder: Always prioritize parking safety. Use parking lots when available—never park randomly by the roadside. If you must stop en route and there’s no lot, it’s best to leave someone with the car to watch valuables. Upon arriving at a scenic area, park in designated areas or parking lots, turn off the engine, pull the handbrake, and shift into gear. Ideally, face the car toward an easy exit direction to avoid being blocked in by other cars later.
8. Stay vigilant against “crash-for-cash” scams
Example: Media reports have mentioned cases in some areas where so-called "crash gangs" extorted money from out-of-town drivers under the guise of traffic accidents. Therefore, self-driving travelers should be vigilant against such "crash gangs."
▲ Reminder: If you encounter this kind of situation during your self-driving trip, never choose to settle privately out of fear of being held responsible for the accident. Call the police and let the traffic officers handle it.
9. Travel with Others and Avoid Driving While Fatigued
Example: The author’s friend Mr. Huang shared that on one family trip, due to inexperience, he was the only one driving. After ten hours of driving to reach the destination, he had no energy left for sightseeing.
▲ Reminder: Since self-driving trips usually involve long-distance driving and destinations are often unfamiliar, experienced travelers advise first-timers to travel with companions and avoid going solo.