After the trip, the 19-year-old Shen Tianwei, who graduated from high school in July, set off alone from Kunming to Tibet on foot. When he was tired, he hitchhiked, traveling by car, truck, motorcycle, harvester, and even a yak. The whole journey took 35 days, as he traveled and explored along the way until he arrived in Lhasa. He started with 5,000 yuan and returned to Hangzhou last Sunday with more than 2,000 yuan left.
After the trip,
he had over 100 new contacts in his phone.
he had over 100 new contacts in his phone.
Shen, born in 1994, graduated from Kaiyuan Business Vocational School, where he studied real estate management.
The young man has a round, chubby face with curly hair, and his eyes narrow into a line when he smiles. His arms are sun-tanned dark.
In May this year, while his classmates were discussing whether to go to Xiamen or Qingdao for their graduation trips, Shen suddenly decided he wanted to go to Tibet—and went for it. He graduated on June 28, bought all his gear like backpacks and tents online in early July, and then spent a week persuading his parents. That process was tough, but Shen appealed to their emotions, asking them to think about their own youthful ideals and courage. In the end, he promised his mom he’d send updates every day. He left Hangzhou, took a 33-hour hard-seat train to Kunming, and then traveled through Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Deqen, Mangkang, Ranwu, and finally Lhasa. He ate at roadside eateries and stayed in youth hostels for around 20 yuan a night, in rooms with six to ten people that were lively and fun. When he met travel companions he clicked with, they became teammates and hit the road together. When walking got tiring, he hitchhiked—riding in SUVs, vans, big trucks, motorcycles, and even harvesters. He said everyone he met on the road was really kind.
After seeing the stunning sunrise over Namtso Lake, the starry sky just above him, and running Tibetan antelopes, Shen said his heart felt more open. By the end of the trip, he had over 100 new contacts in his phone—all friends he made along the way.
Reflections in Lijiang on a Night
When you’re traveling alone, it’s easy to think about the future. Shen said one night in Lijiang, he went up to the rooftop to look at the stars. The night was very quiet, and he thought about what lay ahead.
Of the 30-plus students in Shen’s class, five or six went on to further studies, while the rest looked for jobs—opening Taobao shops, feeding fish at ocean parks, joining the military, and so on. Shen wanted to attend a vocational college, but his grades weren’t high enough. He could only work first, then pursue further education through adult college entrance exams or night school to get a higher diploma, which would help him land a job. “When I interned at Intime during my senior year, I saw how the mall hired people—undergraduates and junior college graduates were given different roles right from the start. Undergraduates could do management, but junior college grads had to start as cashiers, maybe taking years to move up. A diploma is important, but my foundation is weak, so I have to take it step by step.”
Also, he thought a lot about starting his own business.
Running an internet café could be profitable, but it requires at least 500,000 yuan in investment—he didn’t have that, so it wasn’t possible.
The food and beverage industry is also good. There’s a stall selling fried rice noodles at the entrance of a community that, after a year, rented a small shop and switched to selling malatang.
He also considered barbecue. He even found a supplier in Gouzhuang, buying vegetables by weight and skewering two or three pieces per stick for big profits.
These thoughts left Shen feeling a bit lost. Then a few teammates he knew climbed up to the rooftop, and they started chatting. Gradually, Shen’s frustration faded.
After returning to Hangzhou, Shen said he really wants to find a job now.
On the way to Tibet, he met a friend from Wuhan who plans to open a guesthouse in Lijiang. The location is already rented. “He invited me to invest. We’re signing the contract on August 15. What do you think, should I go?”
Or he could work in customer service. Shen said he did customer service during his high school internship at Intime. He didn’t like working as a cashier but enjoyed interacting with people.
Or he could sell real estate. Shen said he studied real estate management, and he’s heard selling property can be quite lucrative.
In the end, he thought for a moment and said, “Do you know where they’re hiring? Please recommend something.”