The couple poses for a photo in front of the Potala Palace
A Love Story: Conquering the Snowy Plateau
Zhang Chunkai and his wife Chen Yongli are both 60 years old this year. Zhang, a freelancer in photography-related work, and Chen, who worked at the neighborhood committee before retirement. As a member of the China Photographers Association, Zhang traveled across the country for photography in his youth, while his wife managed everything at home. "I thought that once she retired and had time, I would definitely take her around to see the beautiful sights around the country — as a way to compensate her for managing the household," said Zhang.
In 2011, the couple took their first long trip to western Sichuan and northern Yunnan, covering nearly 8,000 km in their Nissan Qashqai, which their daughter had just finished breaking in. The two of them, plus the stunning scenery, ignited a love for road trips. Zhang said that self-driving and exploring Tibet deeply tests both physical strength and perseverance — a journey filled with both hardship and joy. On June 16 of last year, Zhang set off from Suzhou with his wife, entering Tibet via National Highway 318, the Sichuan-Tibet route. They toured areas such as Motuo, Everest, and Ngari, then returned to inland China along National Highway 219, taking the Xinjiang-Tibet and Qinghai-Tibet routes. They arrived back in Suzhou on July 31, covering about 16,000 km in total. After this trip, within three years, they traveled all five major routes into Tibet: the Qinghai-Tibet, Northern Sichuan-Tibet, Southern Sichuan-Tibet, Yunnan-Tibet, and Xinjiang-Tibet highways — achieving the grand slam of all five entry routes.
A Close Call: The Husband’s Constant Care
Snow-capped mountains, glaciers, grasslands, wetlands... While admiring the stunning scenery, their high-altitude adventure was also full of danger. Chen Yongli still remembers what she calls “the most terrifying day,” and even now, she gets goosebumps recalling it. It happened when they passed through Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan. The couple had planned to take a short rest at a gas station when they grew suspicious of a slowly approaching white sedan. "The driver was bald with a tattoo on the back of his hand, and there were four thugs inside the car — the whole vibe felt wrong." Zhang wanted to drive away, but the white car relentlessly followed them to a makeshift parking lot. Facing robbers in the pitch-black night sent chills down the couple's spines. Hiding in the parking lot, Zhang turned off the headlights, started the engine, and had his wife pretend to chat with the restaurant chef while keeping an eye on the robbers. Eventually, the couple slipped away without turning on their headlights, closely following a black Great Wall pickup truck to escape danger. "During that time, at least two cars parked by the roadside shone their high beams directly at us. If I hadn’t followed the black pickup, we would’ve been stopped." It wasn’t until they exited the town road and reached a police checkpoint that Chen finally calmed down.
The elderly couple also faced a life-or-death test at a snowy mountain pass on Meili Snow Mountain. The harsh icy conditions caused Zhang’s four-wheel-drive vehicle to get stuck on the roadside. With the road back covered in ice and snow, and staying put risking freezing to death, Zhang chose to take the risk alone. Pretending to check the road, he asked his wife to get out of the car first, then slowly drove toward the pass — eventually making it to the top. "If anything happens to me, at least the family will have some support," Zhang’s casual words deeply moved Chen.
Planning to Publish Journals and Dreaming of a European Road Trip
After each self-driving trip back to Suzhou, Zhang Chunkai writes about the experiences, emotions, and driving tips in the form of travelogues, paired with hundreds of carefully taken photos, sharing them on forums with netizens. Due to their popularity, his travel journals have caught the attention of a publisher and are set to be published. Currently, a third of the book is complete. Reflecting on these years, Zhang says his goal has been to live a meaningful retirement. After a period of rest, the couple has even more exciting plans — hoping to embark on a self-driving trip across Europe together. If they still have the energy and stamina, they might even venture even farther. Meanwhile, Chen, who was once fearful of travel, has fallen in love with it and is full of confidence for future journeys: "We’ve even eaten instant noodles that didn’t fully cook at altitudes over 3,500 meters — what’s there left to fear?" Chen’s charming remark made Zhang laugh heartily. As one fan wrote, facing the travels of Zhang and his wife, it’s not that young people lack time — it’s that they lack the courage to challenge and enjoy life. Perhaps after reading the travel story of Zhang Chunkai and his wife, it will inspire more people to hit the road and journey afar.