Don’t let dreams stay out of reach—A 50-year-old Taiwanese dad cycles to Tibet

Reporter Chen Zi-Yin / Special Report

What kind of dreams does a 50-year-old dad have? And can they come true? Cycling solo from Taiwan to Lhasa in China is no small feat—it’s a dream, and what set this father on his journey was another great Taiwanese teacher who dedicated herself to remote education in Yunnan.

“Life is most beautiful when you have dreams. But if you don’t take the first step, the dream will remain just that—hanging there, out of reach.” Peng Jincheng, a well-known aircraft maintenance engineer in the engineering department of a major airline, had his life changed during a trip to Lhasa in 2011. On the road, he encountered a group of pilgrims prostrating themselves all the way to Lhasa. For these devout believers, making such a pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime is a must. The sight of them moving forward step by step, bowing and kowtowing, deeply moved Peng. He said, “It left a strong impression on me. There was a song playing in the car about cycling to Lhasa. I knew I would come back here one day.”


▲ Even at 50, he refused to let his dream remain just out of reach. (Photo provided by Peng Jincheng)


▲ The trip to Lhasa two years ago left a deep impact on Peng Jincheng. (Photo provided by Peng Jincheng)

The other protagonist of this story is Xiao Caixia, a humble and low-profile teacher and long-time neighbor of Peng. After not seeing her for a while, Peng learned that she had, by chance, witnessed the hardships of people living in remote areas of Yunnan—where deforestation due to poverty and lack of education for children were rampant. Deeply moved, she decided to leave her hometown and move to Yunnan to help these children get an education. She once said, “It’s okay to endure hardship myself... but the lives of these mountain children can be so much brighter!” Her selfless actions and the challenges she faced due to limited resources stayed with Peng, prompting him to combine his dream with a charitable cause in hopes of shedding more light on her story.


▲ What drives Peng Jincheng’s dream is the great Xiao Caixia and the children of remote mountainous regions. (Photo provided by Peng Jincheng)

 
▲ It’s hard for us in Taiwan to imagine that going to school is a luxury for children in Yunnan, China—but Teacher Xiao’s presence has transformed their lives. (Photo provided by Peng Jincheng)

Peng tied donation flags to his bicycle and set off from his hometown, Yangmei District in Taoyuan. When he encountered water, he took boats; otherwise, he pedaled on. His original destination had to be cut short due to the need for a special permit to enter the Tibetan region. That day, he wrote on Facebook: “The dream shattered. 53 days, 4,495 kilometers… In summary—a dream left unfulfilled.” His original plan was to take around 70 days to cycle from Yangmei, Taiwan, to Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. For the rest of the time, he decided to go back to the area where Teacher Xiao worked and volunteered there for 16 days. Despite severe swelling in his legs due to gout, he stayed committed to his original intention and patiently tackled every issue at the schools in the mountainous regions of Yunnan.

During the interview, Peng spoke animatedly about the many touching encounters he had along the way. One that stood out the most happened on the way to a tulou village, where locals were chatting over tea. Seeing the charity flags on his bike and learning he was heading to Lhasa, one woman ran to a neighboring village and insisted on giving him four apples and four pears. This gesture deeply moved the lone traveler, even bringing him close to tears. Right then, he pledged to donate double the cash value of all the help he received throughout the journey.


▲ The kindness he received along the way remains vivid in Peng’s memory. (Photo provided by Peng Jincheng)

 
▲ A flag promoting charity rides atop the bicycle; Chinese children stare in awe at the “luxury bike.” (Photo provided by Peng Jincheng)


▲ Capturing scenery along the way—pictured here is Yongding Tulou. (Photo provided by Peng Jincheng)

 
▲ Lugu Lake is one of the stunning landscapes Teacher Xiao often told Peng about; views of Tibetan and Mongolian mountains and lakes. (Photo provided by Peng Jincheng)



▲ % [Incomplete segment—please provide full Chinese text for accurate translation] (Photo provided by Strong)

 

Reflecting after the journey, Peng told reporters, “Maybe if the dream hadn’t hit a snag, there wouldn’t have been a sequel.” He recalled the night before his departure, sitting by the bed with his wife, thinking he might never return. As he said this, he became visibly emotional.