French vintage cars retrace Silk Road in Zhangye

Vintage car drivers arrive in Zhangye, Gansu province. [Photo provided to gozhangye.com.cn]

A vintage car rally from France visited Zhangye, Gansu province, from Aug 21 to 22.

The convoy, which set off from Poitiers, France, consists of 33 vintage cars, three off-road vehicles, and two maintenance support vehicles, carrying 80 drivers from France, Belgium, and Switzerland.

The tour covers about 15,000 kilometers across 10 Eurasian countries, entering China from Kashgar in Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region on Aug 10 and traveling eastward along the ancient Silk Road through Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, Xi'an, and Pingyao, with Beijing as the final stop on Aug 31.

During their stay in Zhangye, the drivers visited the Colorful Danxia Scenic Spot, the Dafo Temple, and the Danxiakou Cultural and Tourism Town, experiencing the region's striking natural landscapes and rich historical heritage.

The event was organized by CTS Voyages and the French ATYPIK Vintage Car Association. According to Yao Xiaojing, general manager of CTS Voyages, the average age of the drivers is 67, and many had long dreamed of visiting China.

One French participant described his first visit to Zhangye as a discovery, expressing amazement at the colorful Danxia landforms and praising the well-maintained infrastructure, including clean viewing platforms and boardwalks.