26-Aug-2004 -- After an unsuccessful confluence attempt in a remote village district between Hohhot and Baotou, we decided that we would attempt the 41N and 108E confluence from a little known city near the Mongolian boarder, Baynnur. We arrived in Baynnur at a very exciting time. The celebration to change the cities name signified that they had graduated from town status to city status. Also, they were in the middle of a huge melon harvest, of which we partook in a few.

Upon arriving in the city we quickly met Zeng Xiaofei who had been studying in New Zealand and spoke excellent English. He invited us for drinks as it was his last night in Inner Mongolia. On our way to the bar to meet his friends, we explained to him what the confluence project was, and asked him if he would help us get to our point. He translated to a taxi driver that we would pay 100 Yuan ($12.07US) for him to take us 50km out of town to a ‘unknown point”. He was a little skeptical but decided to participate in our adventure. Like clockwork he arrived at our hotel and picked us up the next morning.

Our journey went well and the confluence point was very close to the highway. We found an old farm road and our ever more curious taxi driver kept following our directions. Eventually the driver had to ask a farmer if we could enter his field. We had permission and the taxi took us to within 100 meters of the confluence sight. We ended up in these sunflower fields and were able to find the exact mark.