Walk 3,300 km, They Said—It’ll Be Fun, They Said! Chinese Man Feels 20 Years Older After Brutal Trek

A 31-year-old Chinese male, Liqi, took on an unprecedented quest, walking 3,300 kilometers from Hubei to Lhasa, Tibet, pulling a two-wheeled cart across some of China’s most challenging terrains. His odyssey, which took close to a year, had him braving snowstorms, typhoons, treacherous mountains, and perilous wildlife.

From Jingzhou to Lhasa: The Road Less Traveled

Liqi embarked from Jingzhou, Hubei, in April last year on a mere budget of 1,000 yuan (Rs. 12,000) per month. Eating just plain food and sleeping under the open heaven, he hardly bathed and had to manage with minimal resources. When he finally arrived in Tibet, his hair had turned shaggy, his complexion had tanned, and he was bearing the brunt of the journey—physically and mentally.

“I am 20 years older than when I began my journey,” he said, as quoted by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Fighting Extreme Weather and Wildlife

The trip was anything but smooth. Liqi was faced with blizzards, rainstorms, and perilous mountain roads. He once was stuck on top of a hill for a day without food while caught in the middle of a snowstorm. To add insult to injury, he had two run-ins with wild wolves and had to fix his cart when it fell into a ditch.

In spite of receiving a severe knee injury as he neared the end, he kept pushing. He usually prepared his meals by means of foods he foraged along the way and sometimes took refuge in forest protection offices or gas stations.

Criticism and Last Moments of the Walk

Some of his critics had accused him of making the trip for publicity, but Liqi denied it in his live streams. He stuck to his determination for the experience and endured despite the challenges.

On March 11, Liqi finally reached Lhasa, utterly fatigued and broke. Before he returned home by train, he intended a well-deserved bath, a new haircut, and an opportunity to tell the world his remarkable tale.