Qingdao, Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Beijing. Four well-known cities where ordinary life unfolds day after day just as it has for decades.
On that particular morning, while the four cities were still asleep, four pairs of feet longed to break free from the shackles of the ordinary and declare war on the unchanging routines and themselves. The four travelers came from four different cities, heading to different destinations. They didn’t know each other, led different lives, had different jobs, and were bound for different places. But this time, after going through an unforgettable journey, their hearts would converge along different paths.
They were the four travelers finally selected for the “Walk the World, Find Yourself” campaign initiated by NORTHLAND. That day, they each set off to find the world of their dreams and the version of themselves they had always imagined.
Hear others’ stories, walk your own path
Xiao Tian is from Qingdao and just graduated from university this year. As he steps into society, his heart is filled with mixed emotions. He wants to say goodbye to his student self and embrace the colorful world with an open mind. In this NORTHLAND activity, his plan was to embark on a seven-day solo round trip from Lhasa to Zhangmu.
Tibet has always been the distant place Xiao Tian dreamed of. Leaving the familiar Qingdao and stepping onto the road of travel brought both the excitement of seeing his dreams come true and the apprehension of facing the unknown. A backpack weighing dozens of kilograms and a full set of NORTHLAND outdoor gear were all the possessions and material support he had on his journey. Over the next seven days, he traveled alone between Lhasa and Zhangmu, relying solely on walking and hitchhiking.
Driving west from Jerusalem leads into the endless Sinai Desert. Crossing the desert, you arrive at the Dead Sea. Under the scorching sun, you hike to visit the Bedouin nomads living in the desert. Mu Shan Bonan took a keen interest in learning survival skills in the desert from the Bedouins, finding it not only fun but also highly rewarding. Riding a one-humped camel, he reached “the White City” Tel Aviv and the ancient port city of Jaffa, which boasts a 4,000-year history. He then switched to cycling to explore the city’s unique charm. This city has deserts, oceans, exquisite architecture, and polite, warm-hearted Israeli people. Wearing a set of NORTHLAND quick-drying outdoor gear, Mu Shan Bonan cycled and shot photos all the way—from under the blazing sun until dusk—capturing every exciting moment.
Home, Then Setting Off Again
Xiao Tian used his own hands and feet to truly touch and feel the real Tibet; Su Su was deeply moved by the efforts of Chen Kun’s team in “The Power of Walking” over the years, following in the footsteps of his idols and predecessors; when Xiao Wang held his trekking pole and stepped onto the vast desert, he finally experienced the feeling of being as free as the wind; under the sunset of Jerusalem, Mu Shan Bonan immersed himself in the dialogue between the ancient and the modern—everything was so unfamiliar yet so awe-inspiring. Only through the act of walking can one place oneself in such an environment, measuring the land with one’s eyes, heart, and footsteps, and quietly reflecting on the meaning of life. Life is more than what lies before us; life holds poetry and distant horizons.
After completing the “Walk the World, Find Yourself” journey, the four travelers still had to return to their hometowns and their original ordinary lives. Their lives may not have changed completely because of the journey, but the masters of those lives were no longer the same as they were before setting out. Having endured the hardships and mental trials of long-distance travel, the travelers became more mature and resilient, transforming into new versions of themselves. Together with NORTHLAND, they experienced the ups and downs of the journey, overcame their inner fears, and focused on liberating their spiritual worlds.
Chen Kun once said: “Walking is just a backpack, a pair of feet, a heart, and a path; what drives us forward is love, the heart, belief, ideals—they give our journey strength.” Now, the “Walk the World, Find Yourself” campaign organized by NORTHLAND has come to a close. But the walking doesn’t stop, nor does the pursuit of freedom. Even if we are here, our souls are still walking on unfamiliar lands far away—the road lies ahead, keep walking, keep dreaming.