Traversing roads never before touched by tires, witnessing the wild and untamed beauty of the Nujiang River, and hearing the howling winds along the eighth highway to Tibet—all the way to Lhasa. This is not just a journey, but a rediscovery of the self, where the wildest passions bloom brilliantly along the path of adventure.
The North Face® is about to take you into a forgotten wilderness:
Dali—Liuku—Fugong—Bingzhongluo—Zhayalong—Zuogong—Bangda—Ranwu—Bomi—Nyingchi—Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon—Basongco—Lhasa. The final highway to Tibet, fully explored and documented.
On April 12, 2013, the "Discover the Unknown Wilderness" exploration team, jointly organized by The North Face® and World Magazine, officially set off from Dali, Yunnan, embarking on an unprecedented journey along the eighth hidden highway to Tibet. Comprising four individuals from diverse professions who had never met before—writer Jiang Fangzhou, Gao Hu, lead singer of the band Pain of Thought, Huang Chao, a coach from The North Face® Summit Mountaineering School, and illustrator Hei Yue Luan—they set out to discover an uncharted path into Tibet.
The stretch from Bingzhongluo in Nujiang, Yunnan, to Zuogong in Tibet is considered the last highway leading from western Yunnan into Tibet, also known as the "eighth route to Tibet." No vehicle convoy had ever completed this crossing before. This hidden path, long concealed by the Nujiang River Gorge, has preserved its unique primitive way of life and breathtaking natural landscapes, waiting to be discovered by the exploration team.
1. The Journey of Exploration: Touching the Wild Within
Before departure, the team members warmed up with a relaxed ride around Erhai Lake in Dali. Led by Huang Chao, a guest coach from The North Face® Summit Outdoor Sports School, they cycled from Little Putuo to Shuanglang. The speed of the bicycles and the breathtaking beauty of Erhai Lake gave illustrator Hei Yue Luan and Jiang Fangzhou, who usually prefer the quiet of home, a long-awaited sense of freedom and release. Musician Gao Hu, still not satisfied, insisted on cycling further even after reaching the end.
On April 14, the team traveled upstream along the Nujiang River to Bingzhongluo, the border between Yunnan and Tibet, where the road became the most challenging part of the journey. This road, which couldn’t even be found on maps, was undeveloped and only wide enough for a single vehicle. One side was a steep, crumbly mountain slope, the other a terrifyingly deep gorge. The rainy weather added to the danger. After two days of tackling extreme terrain, the team’s spirit of collaboration was strengthened as they worked together to overcome challenges such as vehicle breakdowns, quicksand, and falling rocks. Faced with the harsh environment, the team also demonstrated selflessness and care, showcasing the beauty of human nature. Writer Jiang Fangzhou said, “I was scared, but this road pushed the limits of my inner strength. It was a discovery of myself, and I’ve fallen in love with this kind of challenge.”
A love for life and endless passion drove Huang Chao to seek out adventures. For Gao Hu, who found himself through music and travel, and Hei Yue Luan, who described the world through his paintings, going wild was a way to discover the self and touch the breadth of their inner worlds.
2. "Go Wild, Go Discover"
Stepping into the wilderness meant facing the unknown, waiting to be discovered by the exploration team.
In Fugong, musician Gao Hu, carrying his guitar, crossed the roaring Nujiang River using the unique local mode of transport—the zip line. Crossing the river this way was Gao Hu’s way of discovering and paying tribute to the primitive life along the Nujiang. Next, he visited the Old Moudeng Church perched atop a mountain, overlooking the rushing Nujiang River, to listen to the four-part a cappella psalms sung by the Lisu people of the gorge. Passed down orally, these psalms carried the scent of sunlight and earth. It was as if a shared language connected Gao Hu with the villagers, allowing him to uncover common ground between different cultures and draw musical inspiration, filling him with a sense of joy and emotion from the act of discovery.
The joy of discovery also came from food. In Nyingchi, a delicious chicken soup cooked in a Medog stone pot left the hungry team members raving, and they became deeply interested in the magical pot. Locals explained that the stone pots are carved from "soapstone," quarried from cliffs near Mount Namcha Barwa. Due to the climate, the stones can only be collected during July and August each year. Before the climb, two months' worth of food and firewood must be prepared. Without roads, the finished pots are carried down the mountain by yaks and horses and soaked in the waters of the Yarlung Tsangpo River for about 30 days before use. The unforgettable taste of food cooked in such a unique vessel naturally became a highlight of the journey.
Along the way, the joy of exploring and discovering undoubtedly broadened the team members’ horizons and sparked their creative impulses. The experience of exploring the Nujiang River will become a cherished memory for the team and serve as another source of inspiration for Jiang Fangzhou, Gao Hu, Huang Chao, and Hei Yue Luan to express themselves.
3. Equipment for Wilderness Exploration
On the path of adventure, equipment provided by The North Face® offered comprehensive support for the team’s various outdoor activities.
Whether on the muddy roads along the Nujiang River or in the harsh conditions of the Tibetan Plateau, The North Face®’s newly launched Summit Series™ Leonidas jackets, with their superior HYVENT® 2.5L waterproof and breathable technology and unique four-way stretch design, kept the team members protected from the biting winds at 4,728-meter-high Sejila Pass. They stayed dry and comfortable on the stormy roads of Zhayalong, freely enjoying every moment of the journey.
During the expedition, the explorers wore The North Face®’s latest Hedgehog hiking shoes, which were suited for a variety of outdoor activities. Featuring a lightweight midsole, BOA multi-directional lacing system, and innovative CRADLE™ Guide technology, the shoes provided effective protection and allowed the team to fully embrace the journey, easily navigating varied terrains—from cycling around Erhai Lake to skateboarding on roads, from trekking across boulders at Laigu Glacier to muddy mountain paths in the Nujiang Gorge. Every step of the Nujiang exploration was made easier and more comfortable.
These "wilderness essentials" accompanied the team from the ever-changing environment of the Nujiang Gorge to the Tibetan Plateau, through rain, snow, bitter cold, scorching sun, and fierce winds. They walked, cycled, zip-lined, gazed at the mountains, breathed heavily, forged bonds with teammates, and carved out a path through the wilderness.
With this, the THE NORTH FACE® exploration team became the first convoy to travel from Bingzhongluo in Nujiang to Zuogong in Tibet, traversing routes never marked on any map and setting a new record for adventure. They faced the trials of human relationships, nature, and the self, ultimately reaching Lhasa. On their journey of exploration and discovery, each team member touched the most passionate and wild side of their own hearts.