📅 8th/9th September 2025 📍Yancheng, China

Night Drives: Neon, Novelty, and Electric Encounters

Every night on the way to Shanghai, we were impressed by a unique Chinese innovation in the field of traffic safety: imposing laser displays that rise above some of the sign bridges. The strobes and colours, almost surreal in their intensity, are designed to stimulate the brain and suppress melatonin—aiming to ward off fatigue and keep drivers alert through those endless stretches. It never fails to astound, and gives every night journey an unmistakable theatre.

Alongside the neon spectacle, heavily laden lorries stacked precariously with cardboard boxes rumbled past—here, every centimetre counts. The logistics on these motorways is a dance of weight, size and astonishing improvisation.
At sunrise we paused to appreciate the ID. Buzz’s interior—a generous 1.8 metres of space, just right for stretching out on the onward drive. All of us were just grateful for a bit of comfort and respite in our rolling home.

Throughout the day, local motorists zipped by, often giving us a thumbs up, sometimes stopping to ask curious questions. There’s a real sense of hospitality—many are genuinely pleased to see us here, and we’ve even learnt that Germany is known in China as the “land of virtue”.

The route, though modern and impeccably maintained, had the air of repetition; one city often resembled the next. During every stop, especially at Volkswagen dealerships, I found the staff to be pitch-perfect, effortless in front of the cameras with just a hint of that renowned Chinese discipline.

The cityscapes all gleamed with newness. And, as evening descended, we’d roll up to yet another VW dealer for another overnight charge—so far, it’s been smooth sailing and we’re thoroughly content.

Next stop: Shanghai