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China Tour - Beijing to Lanzhou
From Beijing to Lanzhou the two Ferraris negotiated a variety of environments and historical landscapes, experiencing the multi-ethnicity of Inner Mongolia and beauty of the Great Wall of China.
Two Ferrari 612 Scagliettis at Jinan
The "Ferrari 15,000 Red Miles" tour continued to surprise the fans, as it did for those who had the chance to watch the passage of the cars in the most remote central-Northern part of China.
The 2+2 Maranello cars crossed a variety of environments. These ranged from Hohhot to the mines of Baynnur, taking in the traditional villages of Baotou. It was then on to lesser known sections of the Great Wall near Yinchuan and, from there, to Lanzhou and a great celebration.
From Beijing the 612 Scagliettis negotiated an area featuring pre-desert vegetation and some mountains. They pushed west along the motorway into Datong. The Scagliettis then took the G208 national road until Ulan Qao, a town situated in a rural area. Hohhot was the destination.
Hohhot is the capital of the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia. Its name means 'green city'. The city is characterised by the many ethnic groups that live here. These peoples have always been warmly welcomed and integrated into the society. Thirty six different ethnic groups call the city home, generating an active commercial and cultural feel.
On 9 September 2005 the teams left for Baotao. There they viewed traditional villages whose income came from farming the land and keeping animals. The dwellings were of the clay and crude brick variety often found in Inner Mongolia. The scenery and the meetings with the local people were decidedly muted in this stretch of the race. From the curious looks of the Beijing crowds to small clusters of huts on the margins of the vast commercial constructions in modern China.
Two Ferrari 612 Scagliettis at Baynnur
Before the tour moved on to Baynnur, some places of interest were visited. This area is rich in history and industrial archeology. It offered the chance to see some traditional, and extremely rare, kilns as well as sample the flavour of time past. In an atmosphere intense with the smell of zinc, copper and graphite, the Scagliettis reached the surroundings of Baynnur the following day. The city is well known for its unusually designed 'Pisè' houses. Antique in style, they stand out even more in the bare, desert environment.
The day that closed out the stage was 12 September 2005. The start took place close to grazing animals on the outskirts of Yinchuan. Here the Great Wall was revealed to the crews as a surprising feature in an otherwise barren terrain. It was unusual in that it had been built with materials typically found in the area: mud and crushed stone were used for the towers and ramparts.
The 612 Scagliettis left this scenic environment to take the last section of road to Lanzhou. They reached their destination in the evening, allowing the team to visit the city. Lanzhou is an ancient place and its buildings and history of commerce made it an essential stop on the Silk Road.
The modern day city was, in the past, a crossroads where Chinese and Roman merchants met and conducted business. The city retains much of its original beauty.