“Hiking is a spiritual detox.”
A young man from Guiyang surnamed Zhang, who set out from Wudang District in Guiyang on September 9, has finally reached Baxoi County in Chamdo, Tibet, after a continuous month-long trek. The intense hiking over this period has left Zhang feeling somewhat unwell. Considering the changing seasons and to avoid harsh weather while also moving more quickly through dangerous sections, he decided to switch to cycling to speed up his journey to Lhasa. But why did he revert to hiking again after just two days of biking?
1. Overcoming hardships: 28 days of trekking to finally enter Tibet
Zhang spent the entire National Day holiday on a long trek, with his daily mission being nothing but walking, advancing toward Lhasa, Tibet, at an average pace of 50 kilometers per day. On October 6, after crossing the Jinsha River Bridge, Zhang finally arrived at Baxoi County in Chamdo, Tibet. “Starting from Kangding County in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the temperatures have been very low, with highs of only a few degrees and high humidity. That’s when I truly understood what it means to suffer from hunger and cold,” Zhang said jokingly. He also told reporters that when he climbed the first mountain on his journey into Tibet and reached the summit of Zheduo Mountain at an altitude of 4,298 meters, his emotions were beyond just excitement.
“Perhaps you can’t understand that feeling of extreme insecurity. The section from Yajiang County to Litang is the worst and most lawless part of the southern Sichuan-Tibet route, as well as a section prone to landslides. This continues all the way to Mangkang in Tibet, with landslides everywhere, total silence along the road, and ever-changing weather—rain one moment, sunshine the next. It’s a fear that comes from deep within,” Zhang said.
Zhang’s trek has now lasted a full month, covering a total of 2,099 kilometers. This month has silenced many who initially doubted or even mocked him. There were moments of laughter and tears, of inspiration and complaint. Zhang wrote on his WeChat Moments: “Everyone has their own dream they’re chasing. Before courage and passion completely fade, go and finish a path of your own. To our youth, which we are about to lose!”
2. After 2 days of biking, he returned to hiking
Due to prolonged trekking, Zhang’s feet were badly worn out, and the injury to his knees became the biggest obstacle to his journey. On October 1, Zhang reached Luding County in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, having completed roughly one-third of the total distance, with 2,100 kilometers still to Lhasa. Many villagers told him that the weather on the Sichuan-Tibet route in October is unpredictable, with many landslide-prone areas. To speed up his journey, avoid dangerous roads and risks from natural disasters, and also considering his worsening injuries, Zhang decided to switch to cycling.
However, the biking only lasted two days before Zhang returned to hiking, which puzzled the reporter. It turned out that Zhang’s father was furious when he learned his son had switched to biking. He believed that since Zhang had chosen to hike at the beginning, he should see it through to the end. “My dad said if I couldn’t walk, I should just rest where I was and wait until I recovered before continuing. I was really helpless, but later I thought he made sense. Since I’d started, I might as well finish. So I mailed the bike back home,” Zhang said.
3. “The biggest change along the way has been my mindset”
The month-long trek gave Zhang a lot to think about. He told reporters that what initially seemed like an impulsive act gradually transformed into a planned and goal-oriented hiking journey, thanks to the passage of time, the challenges of the road, adjustments in mindset, and insights gained along the way.
“Actually, I feel fortunate. Many people who want to go to Lhasa choose Chengdu as their starting point. Whether biking or hiking, the distance to the Sichuan-Tibet border is 790 kilometers, which is about the same as the distance from Guiyang to Chengdu for me. Although I walked nearly 800 kilometers more than others, I’ve already gone through the adaptation period and physical adjustment when facing the various challenges after entering Tibet. That’s a very good thing for a hiker. In other words, my condition after entering Tibet will be better than theirs,” Zhang said with a smile.
Zhang also told reporters that the biggest change along the way has been his own mindset. Precisely because the journey was long and arduous, he came to deeply appreciate the genuine and spontaneous care he received from others. That care felt incredibly precious to him. A sip of water, a piece of bread, or a word of encouragement filled him with gratitude and strength.
Zhang said that along the way, he’s heard at least 10 people say they want to go to Tibet—middle-aged people, peers his age, and even younger ones. They all talked about needing detailed plans and full preparation, but in reality, none of them actually went. And yet, year after year passed.
“I’m not advocating for impulsive actions like mine. I just believe that once you’ve decided to do something, you should find a way to achieve it, no matter how difficult. Nothing is impossible. Don’t complain—learn to take responsibility and have a brave heart. We can all live differently and shine in our own unique ways in this society!” Zhang said passionately.