Electrifying the Ancient Silk Road

Jun 22

An Electric DENZA Z9GT has embarked on an epic journey to follow in the footsteps of Marco Polo along the route of the Silk Road.

Starting from Rome, the Marco Polo Drive of Peace will take 43 days to reach Hong Kong travelling a distance of more than 9,300 miles, with the Denza Z9GT shooting brake leading the charge. The idea for the drive, some 750 years after Polo’s big adventure, comes from Patrick Zhong, Founding Managing Partner of M31 Capital, and Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development. Their mission is to “to promote sustainability, electric mobility and global connectivity” along the way.

Patrick Zhong explains: "When we travel today, from Rome to Hong Kong, we take a flight, watch a movie, have a good meal and sleep a little bit, and then land. But when Marco Polo travelled, you had to do this step by step. Being on the road allows to you experience the majestic splendour of the world in slow motion. You appreciate the multi-dimensional nature of this place, experience the world for real. We're very lucky to be able to do that on this trip – truly a journey of peace, culture and sustainable development."

During the journey Sachs will also host a series of online lectures as the route passes through Croatia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and China before reaching its final destination in Hong Kong.

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