Mount Kailash (elevation 6,721 meters), the second highest peak of the Gangdise Mountains, is known as the "Mountain of the Gods" in Tibetan and the "Paradise of Shiva" in Sanskrit (Shiva is the principal deity of Hinduism). It is considered the center of the world by Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, the native Tibetan Bon religion, and the ancient Jain faith. Circumambulating Mount Kailash once is believed to cleanse all the sins of one's lifetime; doing it ten times absolves one from suffering in hell for 500 rebirths, and completing a hundred circumambulations leads to enlightenment and Buddhahood. Moreover, trekking around the sacred mountain during the Year of the Horse, the year of Buddha’s birth, multiplies the merit by twelve, equivalent to thirteen regular circuits. For many Tibetans, walking around Mount Kailash at least once in their lives is the greatest wish of all.
On September 1st, the "Free Spirit 2014 Kailash Trekking" expedition will officially commence. This trek is organized by three team members who have participated in Chen Kun’s "Walking the Power" activity, co-initiated by Green Field as the exclusive outdoor website, and will span nine days from September 1st to September 9th. The participating trekkers, originating from Guangzhou, Beijing, Kunming, and Lanzhou, gathered in Lhasa to begin their journey.
Choosing Mount Kailash as the trekking destination presents three main challenges: high altitude, cold temperatures, and physical exhaustion. The team includes Olympic diving champion Hu Jia, Cool Dog Music Vice President Hou Xiugang, co-founder of Xingchen Polar Light Zhang Yanmin, photographer Huo?, and Shuangfeiren Pharmaceutical General Manager Cao Zhenghong, among over ten others from various industries such as media, internet companies, and sports. Though regarded by others as highly accomplished, these individuals also face their own uncertainties and inner conflicts. Whether—and how—they can set aside status, wealth, and identity on this trek, walking alongside their companions and engaging in a profound dialogue with their bodies and minds to unlock potential and surpass themselves, will be the most anticipated aspect of the entire journey.
"Free Spirit" refers to the heavenly steed that gallops freely through the skies, symbolizing unrestrained thought and action. In the Year of the Horse 2014, embark on a trekking journey to the place closest to heaven, leaving behind urban joys and sorrows, to reflect on life and rediscover your true self.
Heaven: representing the sky, the celestial path, and the place closest to the heavens
Horse: representing momentum, and the Year of the Horse
Walk: representing the traveler, the act of walking, and the journey itself
Void: representing emptiness, introspection—void as nothingness, void as presence
Additionally, the event collaborates with powerful and specialized outdoor media outlets including Green Field, NetEase, PPTV, Sina, Sohu, Phoenix, Tencent, Guangdong TV, and Cool Dog Music, which will provide full coverage. The trekking experience will be compiled into a book and visual media for publication and distribution.
About the three initiators——
1. Li Ke: Participant in both Season 1 and 3 of Chen Kun’s Walking the Power; seasoned internet media professional with trekking experience across China and Southeast Asia; currently in a management role at a leading Chinese internet company.
2. Sun ShenZhou: Participant in Season 1 of Chen Kun’s Walking the Power; son of renowned Chinese traveler Sun Mian; involved in the filming of Chen Kaige’s movie "Caught in the Web", market collaboration for Yang Liping’s International Dance Festival, and previously managed large-scale concerts including Mayday; founder of Guangzhou Xingchen Polar Light Cultural Communication Co., Ltd.
3. Xiao Mei: Participant in Season 1 of Chen Kun’s Walking the Power; has trekked from Beijing to Tibet by hitchhiking, cycled around Qinghai Lake, and completed a bike tour around Taiwan; currently an entrepreneur (the same Xiao Mei mentioned in Chen Kun’s book "Suddenly I Walked into Tibet").