Chongqing cycling enthusiasts ride to Tibet again with their 11-year-old son

 

      “We’re off!” On July 3, cycling enthusiast Peng Lingyun and his 11-year-old son Xiuxiu got ready to set off, deciding to cycle to Lhasa along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. The father and son waved goodbye at Chaotianmen and took the first photo of their cycling trip to Tibet.

　　In fact, as early as 2010, Peng Lingyun had taken his then 9-year-old son Xiuxiu to cycle to Tibet via the treacherous Sichuan-Tibet Highway. Peng said that this time they would take the Qinghai-Tibet Highway to Lhasa, where the road conditions are better and the preparation is easier than last time. He said that Xiuxiu is the team leader this time, and he is just a team member.

　　“I pretty much know what to bring and how to prepare,” Xiuxiu said confidently, but “if something unexpected happens, I’ll definitely listen to my dad’s advice.”

　　Because of the huge attention he received during the first cycling trip, Peng Lingyun has gained a large number of loyal readers. For this trip, many cycling enthusiasts have expressed interest in bringing their children along. “The ultimate goal is not to make children learn to endure hardship, but to teach them independence and resilience, to let them understand the necessity of mental fortitude, and to foster the awareness of parents and children facing difficulties together,” said Peng, who hopes more cyclists will join him and his son on this “journey of the soul” and “journey of growth.”

　　In 2010, Peng Lingyun took his frail and often ill son Xiuxiu on his first cycling trip to Tibet. A 47-day, 2,553-kilometer journey with an altitude difference of over 3,000 meters was not only a cycling experience but also a rare educational opportunity. Peng wrote about the cycling trip online, which garnered a huge response. Last year, the online posts were compiled into the book "Growing Up Far Away: Taking My Son Along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway," which was selected by the General Administration of Press and Publication's National Reading Office as one of the "50 Favorite Books of the Public in 2011."

　　How risky is it to let a child cycle to Tibet? The book describes how 9-year-old Xiuxiu encountered various challenges along the way, such as persistent altitude sickness, severe colds, burns, and long periods of hunger. For a 9-year-old child, persisting in long-distance cycling under such extreme discomfort is almost harsh.

　　The book immediately sparked heated discussions about current education after its publication last year. Many readers expressed admiration for the story of the cycling father and son, believing that the 47-day journey to Lhasa allowed the young boy Xiuxiu to grow and transform every day. The mix of hesitation, worry, attempts, confusion, occasional regret, and eventual perseverance all reflected the father’s deep love.

　　But there were also skeptical voices. A reader from Yangjiaping said they found it hard to accept this kind of “devil training.” “In today’s world where educating children is increasingly challenging, the ‘hardcore dad’s’ ‘ruthlessness’ toward his son easily became the center of controversy. Can such a young child really endure such ‘training’? Are you training your child, or just the eyes and ears of all parents?”

　　“Children today need things that truly test their willpower, and parents also need to take more action,” said Xiong Hui, associate professor at Southwest University. “There are many ways to train children, and cycling is just one of them. We shouldn’t overstate the true meaning of cycling, and whether it’s worth promoting should depend on the individual.”