A 25-day ride covering over 2,000 kilometers, Qin Yulei said, “I love Tibet, and one day I’ll go back.”
In June at Chongqing’s Yangtze Normal University, during graduation season. Qin Yulei, a senior majoring in Chinese Language and Literature, was quietly drafting his startup plan in his dorm room, while his classmates were busy preparing for various exams: village official exams, public institution exams, teacher certification exams...
In June 2012, Qin Yulei spent his days reviewing for final exams and his evenings at a gym off-campus to build up his stamina for the July ride. The starting point was Dali in Yunnan, and the destination was Lhasa. “This cycling plan was proposed with my college roommate. When I was a kid, I watched a Tibetan-themed movie, and the Tibet in that film was truly astonishing. Ever since then, Tibet has been a pure land in my heart, full of wonder and mystery. After all these years, Tibet feels like a distant lover, waiting for me to unveil her veil,” Qin Yulei recalled. “Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. My personality is rather introverted, and as a senior facing internships and job hunting, I actually had some hopes pinned on this journey—I hoped it would bring about some positive change.”
So, Qin Yulei and his roommate began searching online for various Tibet cycling guides and videos to plan their route. With limited monthly living expenses and reluctant to ask their families for help, the two started taking part-time jobs off-campus in their junior year, earning enough money for the trip by the end of the semester. Qin Yulei said, “Our cycling plan received support from our classmates. Before we set off, many called to encourage and wish us well. Once we completed the ride, we’d be the first team from Yangtze Normal University to cycle the Sichuan-Tibet route. Whether we’re the first or not isn’t important—the important thing is that our experience can inspire other students and provide them with some useful insights.”
On June 28, 2012, Qin Yulei and two teammates boarded the K167 train to Kunming with their bikes, officially beginning their Yunnan-Tibet cycling journey. At 6 a.m. on July 1, as the ancient city of Dali was still bathed in the hazy morning light, the three young cyclists quietly embarked on the first day of their adventure. “The first day was from Dali to Heqing—150 kilometers. We arrived in Heqing at 10 p.m., completely exhausted. We mailed all our tents and gear back from Heqing to travel lighter,” Qin Yulei said with a wry smile, though his face showed more pride than anything else.