From a switchboard operator to traveling to over 90 countries, it took him 14 years! A person without dreams is no different from a salted fish.
From a switchboard operator to traveling across over 90 countries, it took him 14 years! A person without dreams is no different from a salted fish.
Photographer, Chef, Driver, and Traveler—A Life Lived Through Dreams and Experiences
The United States, Monument Valley
Putu, whose real name is Pu Ke Lang, was born in 1974 in the ancient city of Langzhong. His father was a student sent to Tibet during China's aid programs, and he moved to Tibet before turning two. He didn't leave Tibet until he graduated from high school.
In 2000, through a twist of fate, he entered the travel industry, starting from the lowest rung as a switchboard operator.
In 2004, he took up photography and fell deeply in love with it, which completely changed his lifestyle.
In 2011, he left the traditional travel industry and focused on customized travel experiences.
By 2013, he had merged his greatest passions—photography and self-driving tours—into his work, focusing on niche, exclusive routes, seasonal photography, cultural photography, and semi-professional self-driving photography.
In 2014, he expanded his seasonal photography themes and classic global self-driving routes beyond borders, successfully leading tours to Antarctica, the Arctic, South America, North America, Europe, Oceania, and Africa, reaching nearly 90 countries.
Iceland's Ice Lake
01.
I have always been an restless person, with a certain inexplicable fear of living a life where I can see my future path so clearly. I didn't want to follow the old ways or live up to my parents' expectations.
The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, which severely affected my hometown of Dujiangyan, left a deep impact on me. The tragic scenes and the loss of friends and family made me reevaluate my view on money and life. It was more of an excuse to live for my own passions and happiness.
My ideal for the rest of my life: to travel to every corner of the world, to measure the world with tire tracks, and to freeze life with a camera!
Iceland Self-Driving Tour
As a custom travel operator, my design philosophy is that I would rather listen to what the client wants rather than just provide what I can offer. Crossing the four great unmanned zones, designing and implementing top routes like the nine Tibetan routes, crossing the Glandadong Glacier (source of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers), and the Taklamakan Desert (unpaved roads) may seem like big feats to some, but are these really what my clients want? I prefer to listen to their needs first, like a waiter taking a customer's order, and then suggest signature dishes, allowing the customer to make the final decision.
To be honest, I consider myself a person with strong overall capabilities in travel, although none of my individual skills are outstanding. A friend of mine from Shenzhen summarized me by saying that I am the best at cooking Sichuan cuisine among photographers, the best at driving among chefs, the one who understands Tibetan culture the most among drivers, and the fastest at washing clothes among artistic types. While joking, this also shows that I am quite versatile.
Horseshoe Bend, United States
I actually have a bit of a fear of cities, which might stem from spending so many years on the road. Once I leave the city and hold the steering wheel, I feel a rush of excitement. I’ve always liked driving a manual car because I believe that manual transmission gives the best driving experience, especially on rugged mountain roads.
I also get carsick easily—subways, speedboats, and even high-speed trains make me dizzy. Perhaps that’s why I love driving, as it’s my escape from feeling carsick. Going to Antarctica has always been on my travel bucket list, but I never managed to make it.
When I heard I would have to cross the notorious Drake Passage, which takes over thirty hours, I couldn't convince myself to take that step. But after a conversation with a friend at a gathering, where they told me, "If you can't overcome your fear of crossing the Drake Passage, you shouldn't talk about your dream of traveling the world," I was deeply stirred. I left Ushuaia, boarding the ship with a sense of determination, like a warrior leaving for battle, never to return.
During the two weeks of navigating Antarctica, I didn’t find it easy, but I succeeded in overcoming my seasickness and experienced one of the most important journeys of my life.
02.
I have three major hobbies: self-driving, photography, and food.
When it comes to memorable self-driving routes in China, I would recommend the ring route around the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang. Starting from Hami, passing through the Lop Nor, the first desert highway (Qiemu—Tazhong—Luntai), then the second desert highway (Aral—Hetian), and ending in Kashgar. This route spans from the eastern part of Xinjiang to the southernmost areas, crossing the Taklamakan Desert twice. The natural beauty here, from the poplar forests to the vast desert landscapes, is unparalleled.
You can also experience the ancient kingdoms of the Western Regions from two thousand years ago—Loulán, Yuli, Ruoqiang, Jingjue, Yutian, and others. These areas are also some of the most ethnically diverse in Xinjiang, such as Kashgar, Shache, Hetian, and Kuche.
Ruoqiang Miran Ruins, Xinjiang
In addition, I highly recommend the following self-driving routes in China:
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G317 (Northern Sichuan-Tibet Route) – It rivals G318 (Southern Sichuan-Tibet Route) in terms of natural beauty, with even more rich Tibetan culture and Buddhism.
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Southern Xinjiang – In the golden autumn, take a circle around the Taklamakan Desert, standing on the tallest sand dunes, and gaze at the ancient ruins of the Silk Road, such as the ancient city of Jingjue, the ruins of the Miran Kingdom, and the stories that remain buried in the sand.
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Daliang Mountain Tibetan-Yi Corridor
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Bingchachacha Line
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Luzhou-Ya'an Line
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Ali North and Central Lines
Foggy Rime in Daliang Mountain, Sichuan
I also recommend some lesser-known places worth visiting:
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Zuoqin Temple (one of the six major monasteries of the Nyingma sect)
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Zizhu Temple (over 3,000 years of history, at an altitude above 4,800 meters)
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Yaqing Monastery (the world's largest monastery for female practitioners)
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Dalmula Temple (Skull Wall, similar to Italy's famous Church of Bones)
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Sapusha Sacred Mountain (rare equilateral triangular snow mountain)
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Cross the Mêdog Road (a pristine and rugged road, from the cold to temperate zone)
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Mana Chajin (a different view of Yading)
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Cuoka Lake (the perfect combination of lake and temple)
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Oya Village (the most mysterious Naxi ancient village on the Tibetan-Yi corridor)
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Loulan Museum (dialogue with the beautiful women of Loulan from two thousand years ago)
03.
Reading ten thousand books, traveling ten thousand miles. The further you travel, the more you understand the meaning of this phrase. Every country has its own unique culture, and every ethnic group has its distinct characteristics.
When it comes to unforgettable overseas routes, there are so many—self-driving in Western America, circumnavigating the South Island of New Zealand, driving along the Andes in South America, circumnavigating Iceland, and driving through Northern Europe. Every self-driving journey has left me with lifelong memories, filled with stunning natural scenery and vastly different cultural histories.
Argentina's Big Glacier
What stands out the most was a month-long self-driving trip in South America. The fusion of indigenous Indian and Latin cultures created the unique South American culture.
On the day we were returning home from Buenos Aires, Argentina, we witnessed a cultural feast. Over 100,000 people gathered on 79th Avenue, divided into groups, singing and drumming, accompanied by graceful dances. I thought it must be a carnival or an important Argentine holiday. But our taxi driver told us it was actually a protest against a new labor law, and this parade was a demonstration.
It was a surprising and eye-opening experience, as I had never imagined a protest could be so full of song and dance, completely overturning my preconceived notions.
Colorful Houses in Buenos Aires, Argentina
04.
Born in the 1970s, I am a huge fan of Stephen Chow movies. I’ve watched every single one of his films at least seven or eight times. In my twenties, I laughed uncontrollably while watching his films, without a care in the world. But looking back now, I laugh less and think more, sometimes even shedding tears.
In fact, his movies portray life through absurdity. To all my fans, I’ll borrow a line from his movie: "If you don't have dreams, what's the difference between you and salted fish!"
We can't control the length of our lives, but we can live with the greatest width and depth possible.
Desert in Hami, Xinjiang
In 2022, by chance, I became the assistant leader of the 4th Dream Journey of China by Car, and later the leader of the 5th trip. What started as indifference slowly turned into love as I drove along the borders of our great motherland every day. The borderlines have given me many new insights: each border checkpoint serves a unique function, historical relics hold a bittersweet memory, and the stability and prosperity of a powerful nation at its borders are evident. While there may not be many famous scenic spots along the way, the 30,000 kilometers of borderlines and coastlines are the most spectacular scenery.