With just a bicycle and a backpack, this summer vacation saw Dingyuan County’s 12-year-old Dan Yiheng and his father stage a “solo thousand-mile ride,” spending 45 days cycling all the way from Chengdu to Lhasa and conquering the famous Sichuan-Tibet Highway. Altitude sickness, sudden hailstorms, lack of clothing and food… This “father-son team” overcame numerous difficulties and challenges during their 2,100-kilometer ride, while also taking in the beauty of nature.
A Year in the Making: Father and Son Set Off for Tibet
Bumping along the road during the day and staying in youth hostels at night, dozens of days of travel finally came to a fulfilling end on August 22. When asked about the deepest impression from the journey, the triumphant Dan Yiheng had just one word: “Tired.”
Three years ago, Dan Yiheng’s father, Shan Chendong, got into outdoor cycling and became a member of the Dingyuan County Cycling Association, and he hasn’t looked back since. Weekends and holidays were often spent “on the road.” “Tibet has always been the dream destination for cyclists. A year ago, I suddenly had the idea to take my son there by bike.” Over the following 365 days, Shan Chendong began putting his son through targeted, rigorous training. “When cycling outdoors, you can encounter anything. Through this process, my child learned resilience and perseverance.” On June 28, the father and son took a train from Chuzhou to Chengdu, and on July 2, their ride officially began—adding the figures of this father-son duo, almost on a pilgrimage, to the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.
Struggling to Reach the Summit, Son Suffers from Altitude Sickness
Shan Chendong told reporters that traveling into Tibet along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway means crossing high mountains and rushing rivers—the journey is grueling, but the scenery along the way is spectacular, with forests, snow-capped mountains, rivers, and grasslands that inspire awe. Despite being prepared for the hardships of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, the father and son still faced severe tests during the ride, and the young Dan Yiheng endured both physical and mental challenges.
“When we were crossing Gaosishan Mountain, we were hit by hail and stranded at the summit. Even worse, the child suffered from altitude sickness—headaches and nosebleeds,” Shan said. Even a minor cold at high altitude can have fatal consequences, so the father and son had no choice but to stay in the area for three days until the boy recovered before continuing their journey.
Through Trials, the Teen Perseveres to Reach the Top
Along the way, they encountered car accidents and cycled for ten consecutive days in pouring rain, facing sub-zero temperatures at high altitudes and the physiological strain caused by huge day-night temperature differences… On August 22, when the train arrived at Bengbu Station, the mother, who had been worried for 45 days, tightly hugged her son, and their tears mingled. “I haven’t had a peaceful night’s sleep these past days; sometimes I even woke up from nightmares.”
This journey was filled with many tears and drops of sweat. Whenever his son felt close to breaking down, his father would encourage and support him. Just gritting their teeth, Dan Yiheng reached the summit time and again. After going through all these trials, Dan Yiheng, still with a hint of high-altitude flush on his face, told reporters that he had become more sensible, stronger, and more confident.
A Year in the Making: Father and Son Set Off for Tibet
Bumping along the road during the day and staying in youth hostels at night, dozens of days of travel finally came to a fulfilling end on August 22. When asked about the deepest impression from the journey, the triumphant Dan Yiheng had just one word: “Tired.”
Three years ago, Dan Yiheng’s father, Shan Chendong, got into outdoor cycling and became a member of the Dingyuan County Cycling Association, and he hasn’t looked back since. Weekends and holidays were often spent “on the road.” “Tibet has always been the dream destination for cyclists. A year ago, I suddenly had the idea to take my son there by bike.” Over the following 365 days, Shan Chendong began putting his son through targeted, rigorous training. “When cycling outdoors, you can encounter anything. Through this process, my child learned resilience and perseverance.” On June 28, the father and son took a train from Chuzhou to Chengdu, and on July 2, their ride officially began—adding the figures of this father-son duo, almost on a pilgrimage, to the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.
Struggling to Reach the Summit, Son Suffers from Altitude Sickness
Shan Chendong told reporters that traveling into Tibet along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway means crossing high mountains and rushing rivers—the journey is grueling, but the scenery along the way is spectacular, with forests, snow-capped mountains, rivers, and grasslands that inspire awe. Despite being prepared for the hardships of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, the father and son still faced severe tests during the ride, and the young Dan Yiheng endured both physical and mental challenges.
“When we were crossing Gaosishan Mountain, we were hit by hail and stranded at the summit. Even worse, the child suffered from altitude sickness—headaches and nosebleeds,” Shan said. Even a minor cold at high altitude can have fatal consequences, so the father and son had no choice but to stay in the area for three days until the boy recovered before continuing their journey.
Through Trials, the Teen Perseveres to Reach the Top
Along the way, they encountered car accidents and cycled for ten consecutive days in pouring rain, facing sub-zero temperatures at high altitudes and the physiological strain caused by huge day-night temperature differences… On August 22, when the train arrived at Bengbu Station, the mother, who had been worried for 45 days, tightly hugged her son, and their tears mingled. “I haven’t had a peaceful night’s sleep these past days; sometimes I even woke up from nightmares.”
This journey was filled with many tears and drops of sweat. Whenever his son felt close to breaking down, his father would encourage and support him. Just gritting their teeth, Dan Yiheng reached the summit time and again. After going through all these trials, Dan Yiheng, still with a hint of high-altitude flush on his face, told reporters that he had become more sensible, stronger, and more confident.