On the evening of June 4, employees of Suzuki Motorcycle, one of the sponsors of the Quzhou County, Hebei, friends' Tibet trip, specially hosted a welcome dinner for the triumphant return of Chang Haibin, Yan Zhibo, and Bai Xueying to celebrate their victorious homecoming. Thus, the over 10,000-kilometer round-trip Tibet journey, which lasted 28 days, came to a perfect end. Along the way, there were hardships and songs. What touching stories happened during this journey? On June 5, Chang Haibin and Yan Zhibo shared the ups and downs of their expedition.
Traveled through seven provinces, covered 10,000 kilometers, took 28 days
On May 5, the Tibet-bound team from Quzhou County, composed of motorcycle enthusiasts Chang Haibin, Yan Zhibo, and Bai Xueying, set off from the county town amid the farewells of many fellow travelers, embarking on their dream-chasing journey to Tibet.
Reached the Mila Pass at an altitude of 5,013 meters
Traveled along the muddy and difficult Zheduo Mountain road at an altitude of over 4,000 meters
"Driving to Tibet on my own to experience its magical snowscape has been my childhood dream, and today it has finally come true." The moment he mounted his beloved Yamaha motorcycle, Chang Haibin excitedly raised his arms and cheered.
The Tibet trip was not only a test of their physical endurance but also a significant financial burden. Upon learning of these circumstances, several caring enterprises, including Handan Zhongjin Natural Pigments, Quzhou Mengjie Home Textiles, and Quzhou Suzuki Motorcycle Exclusive Store, extended a helping hand to help them realize their dream.
Two motorcycles, three people, one Chinese map, four cameras, and a batch of supplies were all the “belongings” they had for the trip. Along the way, they passed through Henan Province, Hubei Province, Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, and Sichuan Province, visiting famous sites such as the Shaolin Temple, Luding Bridge, Jiuzhaigou, and Mount Emei. On the evening of May 24, they arrived at their destination, Lhasa. The three embraced tightly and shed tears of excitement.
The hardships along the way are simply indescribable in words. On the 2,000-kilometer journey from Chengdu to Lhasa, they mostly drove at altitudes of over 3,000 meters on the plateau, where the air grew thinner, and they all experienced varying degrees of altitude sickness, such as difficulty breathing, headaches, and nausea. Bai Xueying had the strongest reaction, even suffering from palpitations, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Unable to continue upon reaching Lhasa, she had to take a train back early. Chang Haibin and Yan Zhibo continued their self-driving motorbike journey back home.
On May 27, Chang Haibin and Yan Zhibo set off on their journey home along the Tibet-Qinghai route. It took them seven days, and they returned to their hometown, which they had left for 28 days, on the evening of June 2.
"Each day we drove at least 300 kilometers, and up to 700 kilometers. We experienced both summer and what felt like 'winter,' but no matter whether it was the hot summer or the cold winter, we persevered. It was tiring but joyful all the way." This is a line from Yan Zhibo’s travel log, and it best encapsulates their Tibet journey.
Wishing well for Wenchuan, making charitable donations for Lushan, spreading positive energy with love
"One is to mourn the victims of the Wenchuan earthquake, and the other is to send something to the children in the Lushan disaster area. We want to do our small part to promote kindness and fill society with positive energy." Chang Haibin revealed to the reporter the two special missions of their Tibet trip.
On the morning of May 13, Chang Haibin, Yan Zhibo, and Bai Xueying left Jiuzhaigou, traveled along a winding mountain road at an altitude of 3,500 meters, and arrived exhausted in Wenchuan after a long journey.
Deep “cracks,” like sharp lightning, forever sealed the breathtaking disaster of five years ago onto the earth. On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake, the “5·12” Wenchuan Earthquake Memorial Museum in Beichuan, named “The Crack,” officially opened to the public. That day, they visited the memorial museum and went to the “5·12” Xuanwu Middle School earthquake ruins to lay flowers in tribute to the compatriots who perished in the earthquake and the heroes who sacrificed their lives in the rescue efforts.
After another day of travel, they arrived at the Ya'an Motorcycle Bar Reception Station on May 15. This is a service station specifically dedicated to providing accommodation and information assistance to travelers. When they explained the purpose of their visit to Ya'an, the owner was deeply moved and immediately helped them contact their intended beneficiaries—the No. 2 Primary School in Luyang Town, Lushan County—and arranged for a staff member to accompany them to the affected school for the donation.
At the No. 2 Primary School in Luyang Town, Lushan County, Chang Haibo, Yan Zhibo, and Bai Xueying personally handed over the quilts, school supplies, and other materials they had brought to the principal. The principal said emotionally, "We are very touched that you came all the way from Hebei to make a charitable donation. We will definitely deliver these items to the children in our school who need help." Hearing that guests from Hebei had come to see them, the children were deeply moved and eagerly took photos with the three of them.
Both hardship and joy, making many friends and gaining a lot
The round-trip journey of 10,000 kilometers was a dual test of the physical strength and willpower of Chang Haibin, Yan Zhibo, and Bai Xueying. Fortunately, they persevered, but they also encountered difficulties beyond ordinary imagination.
On May 16, they reached the first perilous chokepoint on the thousand-li Sichuan-Tibet Highway—Erlang Mountain, at an altitude of 3,437 meters. This place is often hit by ice, heavy rain, and thick fog, making the road extremely treacherous. There is a local saying: “Passing Erlang Mountain is like entering the gates of hell. Even if you don’t overturn your car, you’ll freeze for three days.” “All three of us experienced altitude sickness here. Due to the lack of oxygen, even our motorcycles had an ‘altitude reaction’—they couldn’t move even in first gear on uphill sections,” Chang Haibin said humorously. The road was slippery, and Chang Haibin’s motorcycle skidded, throwing him and Yan Zhibo, who was sitting behind him, three or four meters away. The motorcycle also heavily crashed near the edge of a cliff, leaving both of them in a cold sweat.
“When we reached Jianziwan Mountain, Brother Bai Xueying was a bit exhausted and I took over the motorcycle. The road was really tough, and hail started falling midway. Without the visor on my helmet, the hail hit my face painfully. The worst part was the fog and hail freezing on my glasses, making it impossible to see anything unless I wiped them every so often,” Yan Zhibo wrote in his travel log. Jianziwan Mountain, known in Tibetan as “Rema Nazha,” means “Sheep Pass.” With an altitude of 4,659 meters, it is one of the highest passes along National Highway 318 in the Kamba region. On May 19, as they headed toward Lhasa, they encountered hail and snow blocking the way on Jianziwan Mountain, making the journey exceptionally arduous.
Although the journey was tough, they also made many friends, including Ma Qiang, a fellow traveler from Xinjiang who shared their passion; long-haul truck drivers from the northeast; and many warm-hearted people. On May 14, on the way to Mount Emei, they met a young Sichuan couple who were moved by their story and warmly offered them loquats to eat.
Along the way, they gained a lot, taking a total of more than 3,000 photos and writing nearly 30 travel logs.