Campus Travel Enthusiast
A junior at Wuhan University of Technology, Seal is a dedicated cycling enthusiast. In 2011, he and his friends biked up Hubei’s Jiugong Mountain and later cycled around Hainan Island. However, an accident turned this cyclist into a hiking expert.
In the summer of 2011, Seal set off from Chengdu, Sichuan, planning to bike along National Highway 318 to Everest Base Camp. But midway, he injured his knee. After arriving in Lhasa, medical checks revealed patellar tendinitis caused by prolonged cycling—he could no longer bike to the base camp. Devastated, Seal prepared to buy a train ticket home. But on the way to the station, he met backpacker Tang Shuaihua, who, upon learning about his situation, invited him to hike to Everest Base Camp together. Seal was thrilled—not only could he continue his journey, but he’d also get to experience hitchhiking and trekking for the first time.
After two days of preparing essentials in Lhasa, the duo set off. It was their first trek, and carrying nearly 20 kilograms of luggage, Seal’s legs gave out quickly. They had to stop and rest frequently. After much stopping and starting, they realized they’d covered less than 10 kilometers. As darkness fell, Tang Shuaihua decided to try hitchhiking. “We got rejected by so many cars. I felt completely hopeless—it would’ve been better to just take the train home,” Seal recalled.
Eventually, they managed to catch a ride to Shigatse, 240 kilometers away. By 11:30 PM, they reached their destination, pitched a tent in a small grove, and cooked noodles using a bottle of mineral water. After a quick cleanup, they went to sleep at 1 AM. Lying in the tent, Seal couldn’t sleep—the initial excitement had long faded.
The next day, they followed the China-Nepal Highway toward Everest Base Camp. The sun was scorching, and they were drenched in sweat. After two hours, they finally flagged down an SUV—but there was only one seat left. Reluctantly, they continued on foot. Not long after, they spotted the vehicle parked ahead. It turned out to be part of a convoy—the driver had contacted others to split the group and give them rides. “I felt like crying—I couldn’t believe how kind they were.”
When Everest finally came into view on the third day, Seal felt all the hardships had been worth it. “Everest’s beauty is indescribable,” he said with a smile. “Or rather, Everest seen on foot is especially beautiful.”
Seal never expected that due to his knee injury, he would “accidentally fall in love” with hiking. “Only by truly walking that land with your own feet can you grow to love it deeply.”
From then on, Seal began his hiking adventures. In August 2012, he traveled to Yunnan with his girlfriend and decided to hike the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Safety was paramount. Before departure, they researched extensively online. “We practically memorized the route,” he said. Besides essentials, they bought trekking poles based on a fellow traveler’s advice and purchased 15-day accident insurance.
The mountain path was far steeper than they’d imagined. Walking under the blazing sun on the mountainside on the first day was exhausting. At 2 PM, a sudden downpour made the trail even more treacherous. His girlfriend was severely fatigued, and the cold, damp clothes rapidly lowered her body temperature. They debated whether to descend or press on. Fortunately, they met a group of hikers—all over 60 years old—who lent them clothes to keep warm. When one learned Seal wanted to turn back, he said, “Kid, we have to keep moving forward. Going back won’t be easy either.” With their help, they finally reached the guesthouse at 10 PM.
The next morning, as they stepped outside, Seal saw a sea of clouds. “I’d never seen clouds beneath my feet, like I was floating in the sky.” There were also many foreign hikers around. Everyone held hands by the sea of clouds—it felt incredibly warm and beautiful. Before parting, Seal left his trekking pole with the hikers who had helped them the day before. “They’re older and need support more than we do. It’s our way of thanking them.” Later that afternoon, they met another group of international hikers. An Israeli girl was exhausted, so Seal volunteered to carry all her luggage. “We’ve received so much help along the way—meeting people during a trip is fate.”
Back in Lijiang, Seal and his girlfriend discovered over ten blisters on their feet. In two days, they’d walked roughly 70 kilometers for about 20 hours. Seal said they hadn’t seen much scenery due to the rain, but they still felt happy and fulfilled. As his girlfriend put it, “Hiking itself is the journey.”
Hiking is exhausting, but Seal never considered quitting. After Tiger Leaping Gorge, he conquered Wugong Mountain, crossed the Dabie Mountains, and summited Huangshan. Travel isn’t just about the sights—it’s also a cleansing of the soul. Beautiful views are important, but hiking offers unexpected rewards: like meeting like-minded companions, building perseverance, and gaining the courage to overcome challenges.
At 21, Seal has many dreams for the future. He’s unsure where life will take him or what job he’ll have. But one thing he knows for sure: he’ll always be on the road, walking through flower fields, across grasslands, over snow-capped peaks, and through swamps. To see countless unseen landscapes and meet countless strangers. “Life is a journey. Once you set off, there’s no turning back—because the way back is just as hard as the way forward.”