Traveling in a crowd

Wang Meiting in New Zealand. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Zheng trekked the Annapurna Circuit, one of the greatest treks in the world, and enjoyed views such as terraced fields, waterfalls and snow mountains. The route is popular with casual hikers, and features several well-known Himalayan high peaks such as Manaslu and Dhaulagiri. It rises to an altitude of about 5,400 meters on the Thorong La pass.

Zheng and her five companions woke at 6:30 am and hiked for about six hours every day. In the guesthouse, they ate meals, played cards and rubbed shoulders with trekkers from all over the world.

Zheng says it was relaxing to have a cup of hot chocolate, while watching light snow float down with sunshine streaming through the windows.

She narrowly escaped death twice on the journey. Once she missed her footing and nearly fell off the cliff, but her companion caught hold of her and saved her.

The day after they finished their trek, a major snowstorm and avalanches hit the area they had been walking, killing about 40 trekkers.

"Many of my supporters are young people. Strangers are willing to support you because they can relate to your dream. Some may become your good friends. I'm touched by their care and concern," she says.

A young woman who supported Zheng with 398 yuan, wrote her an e-mail to say that she was very excited about Zheng's trip and even dreamed of snow-capped mountains. She asked Zheng whether she had packed, and when Zheng told her that she had lost her sunglasses, the woman offered to mail Zheng her own sunglasses.

One of her supporters Ma Xiaochen, 23, met Zheng through an introduction from a friend when she flew to Lhasa before traveling to Nepal. Ma was a volunteer in a cafe in Lhasa that was established through crowdfunding and a place where travelers could exchange books.

"She was planning to study in the United States but went on the trek instead. I had just graduated from university, and decided to have a short gap year rather than work. I was touched by her story because we had similar experiences and both of us needed help from others," Ma says.

"Crowdfunding your travel is suitable for youngsters and you can make good friends through it, just like Zheng and I. We shared our travel stories with each other, and it's like we've seen the beautiful scenery of two tours although we only started one journey," he says.