“Starting today, I’m going to cycle to Tibet all by myself.” Two days ago at dawn, 25-year-old Xu Dongtao, accompanied by fellow riders from the Jiangdu Outdoor Alliance's Cool Bikers team, set off on his journey to Tibet.
“Usually, when people cycle the Sichuan-Tibet route, they first take a flight or train to Chengdu, then ride from there to Tibet. Few start directly from their hometowns and cycle all the way to Tibet,” team captain Wang Yulin told reporters. Dongtao’s trip will take him from Jiangdu to Nanjing’s Luhe District, Wuhan, Chongqing, Chengdu, and finally Tibet—covering a total distance of about 5,000 km. “I believe in Dongtao; he has what it takes!”
Xu Dongtao is a sunny and handsome young man who works at Qianzhou Shipbuilding in Xiannv Town. He has been cycling for many years. “Going to Tibet has always been a dream of mine. I just want to get there on my own strength,” Xu told reporters as he shared his travel plan. The journey is expected to take around 40 days, covering 150–180 km per day. He’ll set off at 7 a.m. and check into a hotel by 5 p.m. each day, taking short breaks at noon depending on his energy levels. Before the trip, he prepared bicycle gear such as inner and outer tubes, brake pads, and gear cables, as well as medications, warm clothing, and spare clothes. “Traveling alone will definitely be lonely—that’s part of the challenge. But I’ve made full preparations and read plenty of accounts from other bikers who’ve crossed Tibet. Even though unforeseen difficulties may arise along the way, I’m confident I can overcome them.”
That day, dozens of fellow riders, including Zhou Hong and Han Xuezhi, escorted Xu Dongtao by bike to Wenchang Pavilion, while Wang Yulin accompanied him all the way to Nanjing. “When he returns in triumph, all of us riders will go to Nanjing to welcome him.”