Shen Siyuan and his group spent three days in Xijing before continuing their journey westward by car. The morning they left Xi'an, the sun was just right.
Ruan Hongzhuang was driving the RV, navigating the highway towards Han Zhong. Shen Siyuan sat in the passenger seat, while Tang Tang and Xiao Ya squeezed in the back, playing with shadow puppets they had bought.
Taozi and Mao Sanmei leaned against the car window, admiring the passing Qinling scenery.
Xiao Yue and Duoduo were engrossed in their picture books, leaving only Dou Dou flipping on the bed in the back of the car; she was the most restless child.
"I've heard there are a lot of tunnels in the Qinling Mountains, some as long as over ten kilometers," Taozi said casually while looking at a travel guide on her phone.
