“Up ahead is the winding mountain road over Zongla Pass. A nerve-wracking mountain road — it’s been four days since we descended from Litang Haizi Mountain, and my legs are feeling quite worn out. I know they need time to slowly adapt. The Zongla Pass is very quiet, I didn’t even see the iconic prayer flags.”
On June 12, Luo Hongbin, a 44-year-old handsome man from Yibin, set off once again on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway with his Saluki dog. This was his Nth time on the Sichuan-Tibet route, but this time, he chose to go on foot. He is documenting this self-challenging journey through WeChat and Weibo diaries.
Yesterday, Luo Hongbin told a reporter from Huaxi City Reader that the idea of running to Tibet had crossed his mind several years ago. In previous years when he cycled to Tibet, he had already been contemplating the feasibility of running there. Last year at Everest Base Camp, at an altitude of over 5,000 meters, he tentatively ran nearly eight kilometers — a memorable run that solidified his determination to run all the way to Lhasa. So he set off on the journey with his beloved dog “Titi” (phonetic).
Following its owner, unafraid of threats from other dogs
Starting on June 12, Luo Hongbin began his journey from Chengdu, aiming to run all the way to Tibet. Within a month, he has now completed half of the total distance. He runs at least 50 km a day, and up to 80 km, logging seven to eight hours of running daily.
“Every day I run with ‘Titi,’ but after more than ten days, I decided to take the dog along for the whole journey.” Luo said that vehicles speed by and both the traffic and the local Tibetan dogs pose great threats to “Titi.” Several times, “Titi” almost got hit by a car or surrounded and bitten by big dogs — things he hadn’t anticipated. Luo said that now every day while he runs, “Titi” sits in the support vehicle, waiting for him at the finish line. On relatively safe stretches, it also runs alongside him.
A tough journey filled with perseverance and touching moments
Throughout the run, he encountered many dangers but also many heartwarming experiences. Luo said that at Haizi Mountain, there is a tunnel about five kilometers long with no lighting. Just as he was about to enter the tunnel entrance, two Tibetan motorcyclists passed by him in the opposite direction. After walking a few hundred meters, he heard the sound of motorcycles getting closer — it turned out to be those two riders turning back. They insisted on using their motorcycle headlights to light the way for him.
Compared to flying rocks and landslides, Luo said the real hardship is the physical and mental exhaustion. “Every day is a test of my endurance. Along the way, the old and new aches in my body sometimes make it feel unbearable.” Luo said that whenever this happens, he finds a place to lie down, rest, and do some muscle relaxation massages. Despite the challenges, he says he will never give up. Family’s attitude
The “wild child” can’t be controlled, so they just tell him to stay safe
Regarding his parents, Luo said he often acts first and reports later — it’s only after he gets home that his parents sigh and say, “Why does this wild child have to run off so far again?” Luo said that at 44, his parents can’t really control him anymore, but years of outdoor travel experience have taught him how to ensure his own safety.
“He has a deep connection with Tibet. He feels uneasy if he doesn’t go there. Once he’s there, he feels at ease.” In Yibin’s outdoor community, “Brother Bin” Luo Hongbin is a well-known name. His outdoor club has a team of over 10 people who organize weekly activities like cycling and swimming. “This team has been around for about five years. We’re all like-minded friends. Seeing him go to Tibet, we’ve thought about it too, but our stamina, time, and finances just won’t allow it. Still, a few in the group have cycled to Tibet with him.” A friend who cycled to Tibet with him said, “In 2010, we formed a 12-person cycling team and rode all the way into Lhasa. Before that, he had taken four kids around 10 years old and cycled the China-Nepal route all the way to Nepal. If kids could do it, I thought, us adults should challenge ourselves too.”