Unlike many other travelers on the 318 National Highway, who usually ride bicycles, motorbikes or cars to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way to the border between Shigatse, Tibet, and Nepal, Xiaxia, the 28-year-old backpacker, chose to walk.
Born in 1996, Xiaxia set off to walk the 318 National Highway after quitting her job in 2021. In November of that year, equipped with a cart, four gas canisters (煤气罐), a sleeping bag, and a cooking pot, she set off from Wuhan in Hubei Province, passing through Hunan, Chongqing, and Sichuan, eventually reaching the Potala Palace in the Xizang Autonomous Region, covering a total distance of over 5,800 kilometers in a year and two months.
Xiaxia’s path was perilous, often troubled by altitude sickness due to the elevation (海拔) and the desolation of the surrounding areas. She persevered through the night until dawn when she finally saw villages and people, when she could pitch her tent and restock supplies.
Brushing her teeth and washing her hair outdoors became routine, and Xiaxia once found herself in a standoff (僵局) with a wolf during her long and hard walk. After her first journey, Xiaxia slimmed down from 50 kg to 40 kg, quit her soda habit, and gained muscle. To save money, she only stayed in hotels a few days a month to clean her clothes and sleeping bag, relying on service areas or local residents for other needs. She encountered a wide range of fellow travelers, villagers offering local specialties, supportive fans, and those less welcoming.
Discussing the transformation in her appearance, Xiaxia said her journey healed her of “spiritual exhaustion” and appearance anxieties. “My intention was to experience the world and challenge myself. My sunburns are badges of my efforts; they make me love myself more,” she said. “Life only happens once; I want to seize it to do what I desire.”
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