A convoy of Chinese-made SUVs arrived in Qingdao on July 9, marking the end of a month-long, 15,000-kilometer overland journey from Paris to Qingdao, Shandong. The expedition was organized by the French Shandong Chamber of Commerce to build a bridge of cultural exchange. Members of the public, along with local officials, gathered to welcome the travelers home.

Liu Sheng, the convoy leader and president of the French Shandong Chamber of Commerce, conceived the idea after spending over 20 years in France. He wanted to do something different and trace a modern version of the Silk Road. The team, consisting of Chinese expatriates living in France, crossed more than 10 countries, including Turkey and Russia.

Despite an array of challenges such as extreme heat, communication dead zones, and language barriers, the convoy successfully completed the journey with zero mechanical breakdowns, proving the reliability of Chinese manufacturing. One particularly memorable moment was when they encountered trucks with Chinese license plates in the Kazakh desert, which gave the team an emotional lift after voyaging thousands of kilometers.

To strengthen ties, the team members were appointed as "Qingdao tourism promotion ambassadors". The Qingdao Municipal Union of Returned Overseas Chinese also aims to continue fostering economic and cultural exchanges between Shandong and Europe.

After a 15,000-km journey along the ancient Silk Road, a convoy of Chinese-made SUVs from Paris arrives in Qingdao, celebrating cross-cultural ties and the spirit of exploration. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]