Being Somebody Else, for the Weekend

Breaking away from it all is something we all aspire to every once in a while. But the dream of hot-wheeling a car and just taking off into the hills just never seems possible. This is Talk's guide for girls who want to get the most out of the summer. 

When it was released in 1991, the road movie Thelma and Louise became a massive hit at the box office and justifiably received multiple Academy and Golden Globe Award nominations. It was a heart-warming story about two friends, tired of their mundane working lives, who took off on a road trip and found the meaning of true friendship.

Twenty years on and it still has a powerful influence on many of us.  Who doesn’t like the idea of just taking off on the open road with the wind in your hair, leaving all of your worries behind?

Maybe you’re sitting there confined to your stifling office cubby, with no hope of a break until the September Mid-Autumn Festival, three long months away.

You’re not alone. July can feel like the longest month.

But there is a choice. You (Thelma) and your best friend (Louise) can easily escape the big city and hit the road for a long weekend away. 

Get Your Motor Running

If don’t have a car, Hertz Car Rental will fix you up with a suitable set of wheels. The standard daily rate for an intermediate self-drive is just RMB 340. Which is more than reasonable if you go halves. What’s more, during July, a pre-paid booking 24 hours in advance will get you a 20% discount with their ‘Best Choice for the Weekend’ promotion.

Hertz has a range of luxury cars available. Currently, they say the BMW 1 and Mini Cooper are the flavours-of-the-month for women drivers in Shanghai. And for something extra special the Mercedes E Class and BMW X1 are two top luxury automobile choices, both currently available at a special price (subject to availability) for hot summer day outings.

8am – 8pm. Changfeng Centre, Bldg 101, 1088 Yan’an Xi Lu, near Jiangsu Lu. Tel: 6085 1900. Web: www.hertzchina.com

Before Renting A Car

To rent and get the best out of the adventure, follow these simple guidelines.

- If you’re from overseas, you can only rent a car if you have a Chinese driver’s license. To acquire a temporary use one for a number of months, expect to pay between RMB 1,000 – 2,000. It takes about a week to get a three months’ validity license, provided you can show:

• Valid passport with visa

• Foreign driver’s license

• Temporary China residence registration form 

- Be ready to pay a deposit of between RMB 5,000-20,000 depending on the class of car you choose. And you’ll need to pay car insurance upfront.

 - If you get into difficulties, like finding yourself stuck at a road barrier or with a flat tyre, Hertz provides 24 hour roadside assistance and has a bilingual English/Chinese language speaking team.

- Return the car with a full tank.

PLACES TO GO

Suzhou (150km / 1hr 40 min drive)

Suzhou is a great quick getaway and has no end of beautiful gardens, temples and pagodas to explore. Still, for something really outside the norm, the Lakeville Country Club by Tai Lake offers that opportunity to really get back to the country with horse riding, rock climbing and abseiling/rappelling. 

Tel: (512) 6275 0522

Hangzhou

(190km / 2hr drive)

Like Suzhou, there’s no shortage of pagodas and historic relics to explore in Hangzhou. The Banyan Tree Resort, located in the Xixi National Wetland Park puts you feet first in nature, with its tranquil and preserved surroundings. 

Tel: (571) 8586 0000, Web: www.banyantree.com/en/hangzhou

Moganshan (280km / 3hr drive)

The naked Retreats Resort in Moganshan is a wonderful escape. Surrounded by mountains, bamboo forests and waterfalls, this secluded resort is the closest you’ll get to the East China equivalent of the Grand Canyon.

Tel: 6431 8901, Web: www.nakedretreats.cn

Nanjing

(300km / 3hr 20 min drive)

Purple Mountain in Nanjing offers truly spectacular views, and nearby Sofitel Zhongshan Golf Resort surrounded by lush green fields and mountain views, is a fabulous place to head for.

Tel: (25) 8540 8888, Web: www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-6180-sofitel-zhongshan-golf-resort-nanjing