The elderly group took a group photo at the Sejila Pass on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.
Tong Anjun, Li Chunying, Zhang Walai, and Wang Junfeng took a group photo at Everest Base Camp.
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Meeting Tong Anjun, one can't help but be surprised that he is the leader of the eight elderly people from Xinjiang (two dropped out midway) who cycled to Lhasa. The man is 72 years old, 170 cm tall, lean, with a sun-tanned face and thick gray hair. Speaking of this experience, the elderly man is brimming with excitement. Along the way, they promoted environmental protection concepts, introduced the local customs and culture of Xinjiang, advocated for Xinjiang, and called on everyone to pay attention to environmental protection.
[Scene One]
Wearing matching sportswear and red caps, on March 18, eight elderly people from Xinjiang set off, with an average age of 65.2 years old, the oldest being 72 and the youngest 58, including two female participants. They raised the slogan "Pedal for Carbon Reduction, Protect the Earth," meaning: they would use their bicycle wheels to promote low-carbon environmental protection and protect the Earth, as well as showcase the beauty of Xinjiang.
"This activity was a challenge for the eight elderly people. First, their physical condition had to be up to par, second, their families had to support them, and they also needed to be enthusiastic about public welfare," said Tong Anjun.
Tong Anjun explained that this cycling trip lasted over two months, taking them through Shaanxi, Hubei, Chongqing, and Sichuan, then along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway all the way to Lhasa, and finally to Everest Base Camp. They visited Mount Wudang, Shennongjia, the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, explored the Fengjie Tiankeng, Enshi Grand Canyon, the Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing, and the Potala Palace in Lhasa. They also visited Qu Yuan’s hometown in Zigui County, Hubei, and Wang Zhaojun’s hometown in Xingshan County, Deng Xiaoping’s hometown in Guang’an, Sichuan, and Huang Jiguang’s hometown in Zhongjiang County, as well as both the old and new Beichuan. "We went everywhere we could," said Tong Anjun.
In order to better promote Xinjiang, Tong Anjun also specially prepared 300 promotional brochures about Xinjiang. He said, "We want to showcase the beauty of Xinjiang to people inland and encourage more people to visit Xinjiang."
"In the past during my cycling trips, I deeply felt the warmth of people inland and their desire to learn about Xinjiang. Every time I introduced Xinjiang’s natural scenery and local customs to them, I would always hear admiration, and I felt a sense of pride. To better promote Xinjiang, I also specifically brushed up on various knowledge about Xinjiang," said Peng Ruwei, a 70-year-old elder, excitedly.
Everywhere they went, the elderly were incredibly excited, gained knowledge, broadened their horizons, and were often helped by kind-hearted people. Many people competed to take photos with the elders, which made them feel very gratified.
Along the way, the elderly promoted environmental protection concepts, introduced the local customs and culture of Xinjiang, advocated for Xinjiang, and called on everyone to pay attention to environmental protection.
Teammate Song Fa Jing said, "Along the way, we saw quite a lot of phenomena of environmental damage and littering, which made us very anxious. One of the important goals of our action is to advocate for health and environmental protection, making our home more beautiful."
[Scene Two]
On the afternoon of May 29, Tong Anjun and his team finally arrived safely in Lhasa. In front of the Potala Palace Square, the elderly were as excited as children. They shouted toward the Potala Palace, "We're here, it's great, we’ve reached our destination!" Their loud shouts drew curious glances from the surrounding crowd. Everyone couldn’t help but laugh after exchanging glances.
"Throughout the journey, we still encountered a lot of hardship, danger, exhaustion, and fear," said Tong Anjun. "I lost more than two kilograms, some lost four or five kilograms, but everyone’s health was surprisingly good—no one got sick or injured, not even a cold."
Everyone always rode in formation, with no more than ten meters between two people. They looked out for and reminded each other. Song Fa Jing said, "At the beginning of the ride, nearly 200 kilometers of high-intensity cycling each day made the journey feel incredibly long, and we could only rely on physical strength and endurance to push through. Later, willpower and the joy of the journey took over, and we felt more confident, leaving the hardships and fatigue behind."
The Sichuan-Tibet Highway was the most treacherous section, often requiring climbing steep slopes. The slopes were so steep that they had to push their bikes, covering just three kilometers in an hour. With the added weight, the bikes weighed nearly 100 kilograms, and pushing them made them sweat profusely. Going downhill required hard braking, and when two teammates braked, the friction between the tires and the road caused a blowout, though fortunately no accident occurred. There was a section under repair, where passing vehicles kicked up clouds of dust, and the blazing sun overhead made the 62-kilometer stretch take over 12 hours. They ran out of water along the way and everyone felt they had reached their limit.
Some sections had poor road conditions and were narrow, but they encouraged each other and pressed on. When thirsty, they stopped by the roadside to drink some water. When hungry, they pulled out flatbread and took a few bites. At night, they could find a guesthouse and have a hot meal. The Tibetan family-run inns made them feel especially warm.
Li Chunying was one of the two female teammates. She said, "This cycling activity is very meaningful. Not only can we promote environmental protection and Xinjiang, but we can also enjoy the scenery and get exercise. The hardships and tiredness are worth it."
On the afternoon of May 29, Tong Anjun and his team finally arrived safely in Lhasa. "When we set off, there were eight of us. Two had urgent family matters and had to return to Urumqi from Chengdu. The remaining six all made it to Lhasa. Regrettably, two had severe altitude sickness and didn’t make it to Everest Base Camp," said Tong Anjun. He, along with Li Chunying, Zhang Walai, and Wang Junfeng, reached Everest Base Camp.
On June 2, at Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 5,200 meters, the arrival of these elderly people caused a bit of a stir. It’s truly rare for people of such an age to come here.
"Our ability to reach Lhasa and Everest Base Camp smoothly is entirely the result of teamwork. Everyone worked together with a common goal to get this far. We elderly people should also have pursuits—only then is life more fulfilling. The beautiful scenery is still ahead, and we will set off again, pursue more, and achieve more," said Tong Anjun.