Firm in their resolve, they persuaded their relatives
Tao Ran, 26, and his wife Dai Jing, who is one year younger, run a bubble tea shop in downtown Anqing. Their work is flexible, and their income is decent, but the monotonous "nine-to-five" life made Tao Ran feel particularly bored. As someone who enjoys outdoor sports, he came up with the idea of going out to explore.
Dai Jing knew that Tao Ran wanted to go out, but she didn’t know that her husband’s destination was Lhasa, which is 3,893 kilometers away from Anqing — let alone that he planned to get there on foot. At first, Dai Jing strongly opposed the idea, but Tao Ran remained firm. "I still have quite a bit of energy, and my mind isn’t very mature yet. Going out would allow me to see the world while also tempering my willpower and strengthening my body."
"If I can walk all the way to Lhasa, what else can’t I do in the future?" Moved by her husband’s determination, Dai Jing eventually agreed. Thoughtful as she is, Dai Jing also decided to accompany him on the journey, fearing that he might feel lonely traveling alone.
When their parents learned of the couple’s decision, they were shocked. "Don’t you have anything better to do? Why put yourselves through that hardship? If the two of you just take off, what about your child?" Their child is already 3 years old. When he heard that his parents were going away, he thought they were just going out to play and begged to come along.
"You guys help take care of the child for now," Tao Ran said. He believes that after completing the journey, he can share this experience as a spiritual treasure with his child.
Having persuaded their parents, purchased their travel gear, and following a pre-planned route, the couple set off together, hiking westward.
Blisters and ridicule
Tao Ran told reporters that he studied physical education in high school and later served in the military in Wenzhou for two years. His wife, Dai Jing, grew up in a rural area of Fuyang, Henan, and worked with her parents from a young age, developing a strong ability to endure hardship.
They didn’t rest during the day, covering up to 50 kilometers on their longest days. On rainy days, progress slowed, and they could only manage around 10 kilometers.
Their backpacks contained tents, trekking poles, down jackets, water bottles, and more, weighing over 15 kilograms in total.
Despite some prior physical training, it wasn’t enough. At the beginning, neither of them was used to long-distance trekking. After a day’s walk, their feet developed seven or eight blisters the size of broad beans, and their shoulders turned red from the weight of their 30-plus-kilogram packs. Tao Ran’s newly bought Adidas shoes were worn through to the soles. "I lost 8 kilograms in a month," Tao Ran said, rolling up his sleeve.
Wind and rain were nothing compared to the scorn they faced from passersby. Tao Ran recalled how, to save money, the couple once ordered just one dish at a roadside restaurant. The owner, seeing their shabby clothes, outright refused to serve them.
Warm encounters in Jingzhou
On March 29, they arrived in Jingzhou via National Highway 318. "Jingzhou is the city that has given me the most warmth on this journey. I feel the people here are very kind." Interested in history, Tao Ran spent a day exploring Jingzhou with his wife.
Tao Ran saw on TV that there were left-behind children in need of help, so he decided to donate 200 yuan to a bank after arriving in Jingzhou. A local resident surnamed Gan, upon learning they were hiking to Lhasa, not only gave them directions but also took them to the largest post office in Jingzhou to get a postmark, and showed them around the ancient city walls and museum.
"I heard Jingzhou’s morning noodles are especially delicious and cheap. Let’s have some before we leave tomorrow," Dai Jing said with a craving.
Tao Ran said that along the way, 121 kind-hearted people offered them rides — some in tricycles, others in tractors, and even in Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs — but he declined them all. "Since we’re hiking, every step to Lhasa must be taken on foot." "Out of every ten people we meet, eight are good, one mocks you, and one ignores you — but none of them are bad people." Tao Ran kept a notebook where he recorded all the kind people they encountered.
A journey of shared hardships and joys
After setting out, Tao Ran and Dai Jing called home every day to update their family on their location and the sights they’d seen. Tao Ran wrote about these experiences in his diary every day.
Despite the challenges, the couple "encouraged and entertained each other along the way, experiencing many touching moments." Tao Ran expressed gratitude for his wife’s companionship and promised to eat hotpot in Chongqing and buy her a silver bracelet in Lhasa. Speaking to reporters, Tao Ran said the journey helped them understand true happiness and taught them how to cherish each other more.
From Jingzhou to Lhasa, they still have a long way to go. It may take another seven months, or perhaps a full year — but no matter what, for this young couple, having each other makes the road ahead feel anything but long.