Hong Kong vintage cars explore Yunnan

A team of 10 vintage cars left Lijiang in Yunnan province on Nov 22 on the 2017 Hong Kong Vintage Cars Yunnan Tour.

The five-day trip is one of the events celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

A team of 10 vintage cars depart Lijiang in Yunnan province on Nov 22 to begin the 2017 Hong Kong Vintage Cars Yunnan Tour. [Photo by He Zhanhui/xinhuanet.com.cn]

The vintage cars will travel west from Lijiang to Shangri-La and then back to Kunming, capital of Yunnan, with a stopover in Dali. The nearly 1,000 kilometer journey will cover various famous scenic spots in Yunnan, including Dukezong Old Town, Songzanlin Temple, Shuhe Old Town, Baisha Old Town and Cui Lake.

The oldest of the vintage cars is a 1930's Model A Ford, a four-seat convertible with superb technology, excellent performance, and beautiful appearance. It was designed by Henry Ford's son Edsel.

A red 1963 Jaguar Series 1 E-Type waits to have its engine started. [Photo by He Zhanhui/xinhuanet.com.cn]

Wu Zhonghui, president of the Xinhua Finance Agency, said, "The biggest challenge of the Yunnan tour is the huge altitude gap as the cars must travel from Lijiang with an altitude of 2,416 meters to Shangri-La, 3,400 meters high."

Xiao Zhongwan, vice mayor of the Lijiang Municipal Government, said "Participants of the event can experience Yunnan's long history and culture and beautiful scenery."

The owner of this 1965 Mercedes-Benz 250 SL cleans his car before departure from Lijiang. [Photo by He Zhanhui/xinhuanet.com.cn]

Xiao hoped that the event will further deepen cultural exchanges between Yunnan and Hong Kong and strengthen cooperation between tourist companies on both sides.

Jointly organized by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the government of Yunnan province and Xinhua Finance Agency, the event aims to promote Yunnan's image to the world and expand the economic and trade exchanges between Yunnan and Hong Kong.

The oldest vehicle, a 1930's Model A Ford, is ready for the Yunnan tour in Lijiang. [Photo by He Zhanhui/xinhuanet.com.cn]