Wanderer's Journey -- Tibet without Monuments

Author: Zeng Zhe
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1997-05-01
Features: When you can endure the limits of life and face the world's call for life, you will feel the magnificence of life and the insignificance of life—go on the journey, you will be more real. —Zeng Zhe
This winter has been snowier and colder than usual, yet I suddenly felt a hint of spring—just because of her—this series, The Journey of the Nomads. On that day, I listened to Mr. Zeng Zhe, one of the authors of this book, as he told stories of the "crazy" people in his group, one after another, and the extraordinary yet moving stories that happened to them on their wandering journey.
Thus, I couldn’t sleep all night, deeply moved for a long time. So, I decided to plan this series, The Journey of the Nomads, for my young friends, for those who struggle and persevere on the path of wandering. Fortunately, the topic I proposed was approved smoothly at several publishing house meetings. My colleagues all believed it was a fresh, modern, and books that would be recognized and loved by young readers.
Even luckier, I became a reader of this series. While editing and processing the manuscripts in this snowy winter, I was moved to tears several times. To be honest, I haven’t been moved by anyone or anything in a long time. At this age, it’s hard to stir up any ripples in your heart. As my husband said, "What kind of manuscript is this? Making you so moved? It’s ridiculous." But when he finally couldn’t resist the temptation and picked up the manuscript, he read it straight through without putting it down.
Shangping— a 26-year-old girl who loves wandering—her courage, chivalry, tenderness, and kindness moved everyone. Her poetic and romantic bond with the explorer who returned to the desert—Yu Chunshun—how could anyone not be moved by it? "As long as there are roads in the world, there will be those who set out. As long as there is a calling, there will be those who answer it. As long as there is death, there will be those who dare to meet it." With this belief, Fan Chunguo, the famous female reporter in China, "walked on the wandering path with a backpack and flying long hair," to experience "a different kind of life."
After reading her words, filled with tears, after traveling over 20,000 miles and holding the Chinese No. 295 border marker standing in the Gobi Desert of northern Xinjiang, how could anyone not be shaken? Zeng Zhe, the sturdy, five-foot-tall man, in his solo journey "living with wolves," met "death" several times and left a heart-wrenching will for his son; Cao Huabo, who endured unimaginable trials on the "hellish path" of Meto in southeastern Tibet; Sun Xingsheng, the young man with "10 years of travel marks," who tasted the wisdom of life with his heart and blood.
Who wouldn’t be deeply moved by these stories? Yes, when our publisher, using his New Year’s Day off, reviewed the manuscripts and came to work, the very first thing he did was tell the editor that he had been deeply moved. Moreover, in front of these manuscripts, the little girl who typed on the computer was moved, the people involved in proofreading were moved, the art editor who designed the cover was moved, the workers at the printing factory were moved, and my friends around me were moved.
I also believe that this series will move even more people. And that’s because it’s the truth of life.
Zhang Ying
January 24, 1997