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Nick and Mathilde travel overland in a Land Rover Defender during Chinese New Year, when roads and trains fill with people visiting family. Their route includes Chengdu, Chongqing, and Beijing. In Chengdu they visit pandas; in Chongqing they face crowded city streets and metro travel; and in Beijing Nick reconnects with old friends. They negotiate travel permissions for the vehicle, deal with parking and police stops, and adjust to the scale of holiday travel. The journey also includes rain and fog on Mount Emei, where they reach 3,100 meters, along with late-night drives, temples, markets, and conversations with friends. Red envelopes, dumplings, and wall inscriptions celebrating happiness appear among the holiday details. Their account follows the practical and personal contrasts of keeping a home on wheels during a major family travel period.
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More about the current video:(Published on 2026-02-28)
Overland travel during Chinese New Year
Nick and Mathilde set out in their Land Rover Defender during Chinese New Year, when many people travel for family reunions. They visit Chengdu to see pandas, then continue to Chongqing and Beijing. The busy season affects their route and timing: they deal with crowds, parking lots, police stops, and permissions for the vehicle. Their experience shows how the holiday calendar shapes a road trip, with late-night drives and adjustments along the way. The couple also reflects on Nick’s earlier time in China and the mix of older customs with rapid modernization they see on this journey.
Mountains, cities, and holiday encounters
The route moves between large cities and quieter mountain scenery. Nick and Mathilde travel through rain and fog on Mount Emei, reaching 3,100 meters, then encounter Chongqing’s crowded metro and city streets. In Beijing, Nick reconnects with old friends. Their footage includes markets, temples, and late-night conversations about China’s population and the cultural layers they notice. Red envelopes, dumplings, and wall inscriptions celebrating happiness add specific holiday moments to the trip. The pair also considers the logistics of living on the road in a vehicle while crowds and family travel set the pace. Their diary records practical snags as well as the moments of hospitality and connection that make the journey personal.
Details from the visit
The trip also follows the practical rhythm of an overland journey: the Defender needs permissions, parking takes effort, and police stops interrupt the route. Those details sit alongside the couple’s holiday observations rather than replacing them. In Chengdu they go to see pandas; later, Chongqing’s crowded metro contrasts with the wet, foggy climb on Mount Emei. The height of 3,100 meters gives a concrete marker for the mountain section. In Beijing, meeting old friends provides a different kind of stop after the drives. Red envelopes, dumplings, and inscriptions wishing happiness are among the customs and scenes the pair notices during the holiday period.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What makes a Chinese New Year road trip challenging for Nick and Mathilde?
- A: They travel amid crowds and family reunions, and describe parking difficulties, police stops, vehicle permissions, and route adjustments. They use a Land Rover Defender as their home on the road during the trip.
- Q: Which cities are on their route?
- A: Their journey includes Chengdu, Chongqing, and Beijing. They visit pandas in Chengdu, navigate Chongqing’s city and metro, and Nick reconnects with old friends in Beijing.
- Q: How high did they travel on Mount Emei?
- A: Nick and Mathilde travel through rain and fog on Mount Emei, reaching 3,100 meters. The account also contrasts that mountain section with their time in the large cities.