A young man travels through Sichuan, Tibet, and Nepal on a shoestring budget for 39 days

 

　　A recent graduate of Quanzhou Normal University in 2013, Di Jiufeng recently shared his graduation travel diary on his blog. “Graduation solo journey across thousands of miles — hitchhiking along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, crossing into Nepal, sneaking onto the Qinghai-Tibet Railway…” His 39-day “budget travel” itinerary costing just 4000 yuan has caught the attention of many netizens. It is reported that Di Jiufeng began his graduation trip in April this year. After completing the journey, he wrote an article sharing his experiences and tips with netizens to help those planning to visit Tibet.

　　One person, one camera, one backpack, over 700 yuan in cash and less than 300 yuan in savings… That was all Di Jiufeng had before setting off.

　　On the afternoon of April 11, Di Jiufeng eagerly boarded a bus from Quanzhou to Fuzhou with his gear. He planned to take a train from Fuzhou to Chongqing to meet up with a female travel companion, Xiao Cao, and then head together to Chengdu — the starting point of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway — to begin the first leg of his graduation trip: the southern route of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. Di Jiufeng explained that although the train ride lasted 60 hours, he barely slept, staying excited the whole time and enjoying the scenery outside the window.

　　To save money, Di Jiufeng and Xiao Cao followed their original plan to hitchhike to Ya’an. After writing the large characters “Ya’an” on an A4 sheet, the two young people stood by the highway, holding up the sign and gesturing to passing drivers, officially beginning their hitchhiking adventure. “Cars sped past one after another, showing no signs of stopping. The few that slowed down only gave us strange looks. I really felt my heart racing and my cheeks burning. Five minutes later, a Mercedes S65 pulled up and told us to get in.” Di Jiufeng laughed, “We couldn’t believe how smoothly it went. We even asked them again and again, ‘Are you sure it’s free?’...”

　　After their first successful hitchhiking experience, Di Jiufeng and Xiao Cao became even bolder, continuing to hold up signs and “catch rides” along the road. Along the way, they were shooed away by patrolling police, rejected by drivers, but also encountered many kind drivers, tourists, Tibetans, soldiers, and police. Within 11 days, they managed to hitchhike 16 times and eventually made it to Lhasa, spending only 446 yuan in the process. Di Jiufeng relied on scholarship payments that gradually came in and emergency loans from classmates to continue his journey.

　　It’s worth mentioning that on the way to Ya’an, a kind couple from Ya’an voluntarily helped the two youngsters. Not only did they drive them to Ya’an’s scenic spots and give advice on traveling, but they also personally took them to find more affordable lodging. When Di Jiufeng and Xiao Cao tried to hitchhike to Yajiang the next day, the driver turned out to be a colleague of the Ya’an couple from the previous day. “You really can’t say the world is big,” Di Jiufeng remarked. “Whether you’re giving or receiving a ride, it’s all a form of cultivation — planting good karma without expecting returns, just hoping to form a connection and learn gratitude!”

　　“If you don’t climb a snow mountain in Tibet, you haven’t really been to Tibet.” On the third day in Tibet, in order to see the snowy peaks, Di Jiufeng and his travel companion Xiao Cao woke up early to hitchhike up a snow mountain. They stopped halfway at Golsang Mountain (elevation 4412 meters) to rest. Traveling often comes with certain dangers. As first-time snow mountain climbers with little experience and insufficient gear, and wearing very little clothing, they had to endure the bitter cold. After much effort and scrambling, they finally reached the top of a small snow mountain. According to Di Jiufeng, he was completely soaked and even experienced severe altitude sickness and snow blindness during the climb. He reflected, “I really almost died on the way. Everyone, remember: don’t be reckless without experience or gear. Snow mountains are incredibly tough to climb. I really admire those who take on such challenges.”

　　After 11 long days of hitchhiking and mountain climbing, and after crossing the last and highest mountain on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway — Mount Mila (elevation 5013 meters) — they finally arrived in Lhasa.

　　It was a turbulent journey. Shortly after arriving in Lhasa, the two fell victim to a minor scam. Because of speed limits, the driver parked near the birthplace of Songtsen Gampo to rest. Seizing the opportunity, Di Jiufeng and Xiao Cao entered the scenic area to explore. At the entrance were two “rather ugly” Tibetan mastiffs. Instinctively, they took out their cameras to take photos. Upon leaving the scenic area, two Khampa men stopped them and demanded 40 yuan for taking photos. Only then did they notice a tiny sign in a corner that read “Photo fees apply.”

　　This small incident soon passed. That same day, four classmates from Di Jiufeng’s university also arrived in Lhasa by train. The group of young people traveled together. They visited the museum, walked around the Jokhang Temple, explored the Barkhor Street, uncovered mysteries of the Potala Palace, mailed postcards, strolled around Namtso Lake… Along the way, they were even interviewed by reporters from a Tibetan TV station…

　　After staying in Lhasa for four or five days, Di Jiufeng and others successfully obtained their visas for Nepal and began the second leg of their journey. They teamed up with three girls temporarily and, with the help of a “kind driver” nicknamed Brother Qiao, the five of them traveled abroad together. Two of the girls were very proficient in English and served as translators for the group throughout the trip.

　　The group headed straight for Yamdrok Lake, Shigatse, and the Zhangmu Border Crossing. The journey took them higher than the sky, walking amidst the clouds and experiencing the borderland scenery — with blazing sun on one side and snow falling on the other, hail in their eyes one moment and sandstorms the next… After strict inspections, they crossed the China-Nepal Friendship Bridge and began their overseas adventure.

　　“This place is truly, as everyone says, a ‘country so poor it only has faith left.’ It’s like China in the 1970s, not even as developed as one of our counties, but it has a lot of charm. This is the country with the highest happiness index in the world.” — That’s how he described it.

　　Since they weren’t very familiar with Nepal, after some discussion, they unanimously decided to join a tour group — a one-day tour of Kathmandu plus a three-day-two-night trip to Pokhara. The tour package included meals, flights, entrance tickets, guides, and more, costing Di Jiufeng about 1000 yuan. He laughed, “Their service attitude was great throughout the trip. It’s just a pity we were all so stingy we barely gave any tips.”

　　Wandering among the various temples, palaces, dazzling shops, and “delicacies” in Kathmandu, watching the sunrise over Mount Everest in Pokhara, waiting for the sunset by the Rabit River in the evening, stargazing, enjoying traditional performances, canoeing in search of crocodiles, teaming up for adventures in primeval forests, and seeing one-horned rhinos… The landscapes and cultural sights of Nepal captivated them all, giving them a true taste of rich foreign charm.

　　After several days abroad, they returned to Lhasa penniless and exhausted. After bidding farewell to their companions, Di Jiufeng packed his bags and began the third leg of his journey — traveling through Qinghai Lake, Xining, Lanzhou, and on to Shandong. In Lanzhou, he stayed at the Northwest Minzu University where a high school classmate was studying, visiting local attractions, tasting various Muslim cuisines, and authentic Lanzhou beef noodles. He also went to Xi’an to see the Terracotta Army and ancient city walls, before finally arriving in Shandong.

　　On May 20, Di Jiufeng concluded his 39-day “budget trip” (during which he spent approximately 4000 yuan in total) and boarded a train back to Quanzhou.

　　Excerpts from the diary:
　　Our youth doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should be a little different

　　Each of us has a rebellious, romantic, freedom-seeking heart. But in reality, every day we can only act like clowns, carefully doing all kinds of trivial things we don’t like but have to do. That pain… you and I both understand.

　　Actually, sometimes we really need to give ourselves a break, to temporarily set aside those things we think are very important or believe we can’t live without. Actually, a trip won’t make you lose much; instead, it brings more gains and unexpected surprises. Actually, you’re not as important as you think you are…

　　Actually, traveling isn’t as hard as you imagine. You don’t need much experience or money. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a newbie, whether you spend 1 yuan or 10,000 yuan, the views you see are almost the same — the difference lies only in your mood while seeing them. Actually, traveling is simple. The key is whether you have the courage to take the first step. Don’t blindly envy or admire those who are on the road. Actually, as long as you’re healthy, have a bit of time and some money, and if you plan well and choose the best way for yourself, you can hit the road right away.

　　Many people ask what feelings or changes you have after traveling. I just want to say, don’t expect to be “completely transformed” after one or two trips. Those influences are subtle and gradual. If I had to say the biggest takeaway, it’s still: “Health is most important, happiness is most important, joy is most important. Everything else is just fleeting clouds.”

　　One person, one backpack, one and a half months, traveling ten thousand miles alone. Hitchhiking along the southern Sichuan-Tibet Highway to Lhasa, crossing into Nepal, looping around the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, and finally having a “Foolish Sword Peak” moment in front of the Terracotta Army. Let’s go — a graduation gift to myself, continuing my dream of “walking through China and circling the world.” Our youth doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should be a little different.