94-year-old Chinese man goes viral after solo trip to Xizang

(ECNS) -- A 94-year-old man surnamed Tan has gone viral online after traveling alone by train from Wuxi in eastern China's Jiangsu Province to Lhasa in southwestern China's Xizang Autonomous Region, a 43-hour journey of thousands of kilometers.

Lhasa was the last stop on Tan's tour of China, which has taken him to almost every part of the country. His plan to travel alone to Xizang initially raised concerns because of the risk of altitude sickness. He had hoped to join a tour group but was turned away by a travel agency because of his age.

Tan set off from Wuxi on Oct. 10 aboard a green-painted train. As the train traveled westward, the scenery outside his window gradually changed from the Jiangnan landscape of the lower Yangtze River region to the high-altitude terrain of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. After more than 40 hours, he arrived in Lhasa on Oct. 12.

Before departure, Tan used an artificial intelligence assistant to research Lhasa's altitude and tourist attractions and plan his itinerary. He also independently booked his train ticket and hotel using his smartphone. Thanks to his preparations, the trip went smoothly. He visited the Potala Palace Square, Jokhang Temple and the Xizang Museum, among other attractions, without experiencing altitude sickness.

According to CCTV, Tan found Lhasa to be a modern, warm and welcoming city. He was particularly touched by the kindness of residents and tourism workers.

Tan could get only an upper-berth ticket for the train. A young woman in the lower berth offered to swap with him and declined his offer to pay the fare difference.

Other acts of kindness followed. Staff at Lhasa Railway Station gave him a wheelchair and took him to the ride-hailing pickup area. Hotel staff also checked on his plans and asked whether he needed assistance.

Tan has loved travel since he was young. He enrolled at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 1954, worked in Nanjing after graduating and settled in Wuxi after retiring.

For Tan, travel is about more than seeing beautiful scenery. It is also about experiencing new places and encountering kindness along the way.

He advised young people to get enough sleep, take care of their health and travel whenever possible. They should be brave enough to take the first step toward any destination, he said.

(By Gong Weiwei)