Tan Xianzun, a 94-year-old Chinese backpacker, recently completed a 40-plus-hour solo train ride to Lhasa in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.
As the final stop on his quest to explore every region in China, his story has moved netizens and proved that passion truly knows no age.
Tan now lives in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province. He said he has loved traveling since he was young, and after retiring he became even more eager to see the country's magnificent landscapes.
He then resumed his travel plans, visiting many parts of China and making Lhasa the final stop on his nationwide journey. His story quickly drew widespread likes and shares online.
To reach Lhasa, he boarded a train heading west. It is the most classic rail line into Xizang, rising steadily in altitude as it crosses plains, hills, the Gobi Desert and plateaus. Compared with flying directly, taking the train allows for a gradual ascent, a choice Tan made after weighing the options.
"When I was on the train, what I was most grateful for was that a fellow passenger swapped sleepers with me. I originally had an upper berth, and he swapped his lower berth for my upper one free of charge. That was what moved me most, and I felt the whole process was very heartwarming," Tan said.
On October 12, after a two-day-and-two-night train ride, Tan arrived at Lhasa Railway Station. After resting at his hotel, he took a bus alone and explored the streets and alleys of downtown Lhasa.
"Lhasa is a very beautiful city, and it was also the last city on my itinerary, so I am very satisfied," Tan said.
Tan toured scenic spots such as the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple at his own pace, relaxed and unhurried.
The sight of him traveling alone was captured by many netizens, drawing sustained attention. Staff from Lhasa's culture and tourism authorities then reached out and accompanied him to the Tibet Museum, Norbulingka and other sites.
Tan said although he had always dreamed of seeing the mountains and rivers of his country, his travel plans were repeatedly put on hold because of his busy work.
After retiring, Tan finally had time to set his dream plan in motion. Traveling alone, he visited many provinces across China, but Xizang, with its high altitude, remained the one place he had yet to reach.
"I have loved traveling since I was young, so after retiring I had one wish: to visit every province in the country. And indeed, over the past decade or two, I have been to every provincial-level region in China, with the two hardest ones, Xinjiang and Xizang, still left to visit," Tan said.
As he grew older, Tan's desire to visit Xizang only grew stronger. Because of his age, he could not join a tour group, and his family members, each facing their own difficulties, were unable to accompany him.
Unwilling to give up on his dream trip, Tan decided to travel on his own. Although already over 90, he had long been adept at using a smartphone. After consulting high-altitude travel guides and reviewing travel precautions, he compared train schedules, booked tickets and hotels through apps, and mapped out his route.
"We usually support him whenever he goes out. When he went to Xizang, our health wasn't good enough for us to go with him. He just went by himself. Of course we were worried, but he called us every day to let us know he was safe," said Tan Yiwen, Tan's daughter.
"When I travel somewhere, I can first ask AI. After arriving in Lhasa, the first thing I asked was which places I could visit with less walking and no climbing. I feel that through these trips, my health has improved, and I feel better and better myself. If it weren't for these trips, my health couldn't be this good," Tan said.
94-year-old solo backpacker caps journey across China with trip to Lhasa
