15 university students cycled 2,100 kilometers along the Yunnan-Tibet Highway
Conquering over a dozen mountains with altitudes above 4,000 meters, cycling 2,100 kilometers over 24 days, the 15-member Yunnan-Tibet team from the Expedition Association of Huazhong University of Science and Technology finally reached their destination — Lhasa — where they reunited with the university’s Sichuan-Tibet team and Qinghai-Tibet team. Chen Bin, a 19-year-old female team member who returned to Wuhan yesterday, was the only female on the Yunnan-Tibet team to make it to the end. Reflecting on the journey, she happily said, “The greatest rewards were the friendships and pushing beyond my own limits!”
On July 7 of last month, the Yunnan-Tibet team of the Expedition Association at Huazhong University of Science and Technology set off from Wuchang to Dali, beginning their cycling journey into Tibet via the Yunnan-Tibet Highway. Two other teams from the university set off at the same time, traveling the Sichuan-Tibet and Qinghai-Tibet Highways respectively. All these young people signed up for the Tibet journey at school and underwent three months of physical training and safety education.
The beautiful scenery along the way lifted their spirits, but the hardships of the journey also tested them greatly. Chen Bin said the trip cost a total of over 3,000 yuan, with more than 1,000 yuan spent on accommodation and the rest on sightseeing and food. They set off every morning at 8 a.m., cycling about 100 kilometers before stopping at the next destination to rest and eat. During the day, prices along the route were high, so they could only eat steamed buns and pickled vegetables, and quench their thirst with spring water scooped up in bottles. When passing through landslides, rocks as big as watermelons fell from above, and one teammate was directly hit on the head — fortunately, he was wearing a helmet and escaped injury.
The tough journey didn’t make them give up — instead, it brought the teammates even closer. Team leader Yang Xie always rode alongside those with lower stamina, calling out, “Ride a bit to the side, stay safe.” Whenever a teammate struggled uphill, team member Wei Dakun would push them from behind with one hand while pedaling forward.
How did they persevere through the hardships? Chen Bin said, “When I was little, I read about the military entering Tibet in *Boy’s Diary*, and that planted the seed for me to visit Tibet someday. Encouragement from friends was also what kept me going.”
To save money for a bike, Chen Bin ate hot dry noodles every day for a whole month and saved nearly 2,000 yuan to buy a mountain bike. She also received support from her parents — her father sent her a text message saying, “Child, go out and explore boldly. We’ll be waiting for you when you get back!” Last night, Chen Bin boarded the train home. Before leaving, she excitedly said, “When I get back, I’ll hurry to organize my travel notes and share the beautiful sights and insights I gained with my friends!”