By IANS,
Beijing : A group of Portuguese travellers has embarked on a car journey to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo in an effort to promote eco-friendly technology.
The four travellers started Saturday from Portugal’s Leiria city on a 16,000-km-long journey across 13 countries. The theme of their journey is “So far but so close”, Global Times reported Monday.
Riding in two sport utility vehicles (SUV) filled with daily necessities, the four travellers will drive along the route taken by Italian traveller Marco Polo during his journey to China in the 13th century.
They are scheduled to get near China’s borders in Xinjiang province by May 24, and reach Shanghai by June 6 after a brief stay in Beijing.
Along the journey, the travellers will update their accounts of the trip on the internet.
One of the travellers, Gaspar, 54, said he likes driving in the wilderness and loves Chinese culture, especially Chinese food.
“Our decided route to China is low-carbon and environment-friendly, just as our tyres,” he said, adding that they prepare to plant two pine trees in front of the Portugal pavilion as a witness to Portugal-China friendship.
Over 100 countries are taking part in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo that kicked off Friday. It is expected to attract over 70 million visitors from across the world.