On May 22, 12 young people arrived in Changsha, planning to complete a global journey in RVs.
The two RVs of the 12 “adventurers” looked imposing.
After two years of fundraising by selling houses and cars—raising over 9 million yuan—the 12 youths set off from Xi'an yesterday, embarking on their world tour in two RVs, each less than 40 square meters. They quit their jobs, left their families, and vowed to “never look back,” planning to spread their footprints across 60 countries in over 600 days. This morning, the “12 Adventurers” arrived in Changsha.
Fundraising for the trip by selling houses and cars
This morning, two imposing RVs—one white and one brown—drove into Changsha. Near the Sail Square on Middle Xiangjiang Road, 12 youths in custom-designed outfits stepped out of the RVs, wearing shirts emblazoned with the words “Never Look Back,” showcasing their passion and determination.
“I’m a teacher at the Communication University of China, and they were all my students originally,” said leader Zhao Ningyu. Two years ago, student Chen Hanbin proposed selling his house in Beijing to fund a round-the-world trip. “At first, everyone thought he was crazy, but later we realized it wasn’t impossible.”
Chen Hanbin actually sold his house, took out 800,000 yuan to buy an RV in the United States, and gathered 10 friends—including his wife—to start the journey. Most of them worked in media and the arts; some quit their jobs, while others turned down invitations to several film projects.
Challenges abound on the global journey
Among the 12 members, the oldest is Zhao Ningyu, born in 1971; 10 are from the post-80s generation; there are two couples; and the youngest is 16-year-old French teenager Adam, born in the post-90s.
Here’s their plan: before May 30, they will head to Vietnam, Laos, and other places, make a brief stop in Singapore, then cross westward to India, proceed to Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, then cross the Atlantic to Australia, South America, and North America, sail eastward across the Pacific to Japan, and finally reach Taiwan.
Once abroad, the team members will face various dangers, including diseases and even armed conflicts. Before departure, everyone got vaccinated and also received anti-terrorism training from instructors to prepare for any emergencies.
Despite the tough journey, the team members still joke around. Zhou Yuming vented a little: “The ones sharing my RV are Chen Hanbin and his wife, and Feng Bai and his wife—I’m so lonely, urgently recruiting a female teammate!”
Life in an RV isn’t easy
Though the RVs look luxurious on the outside, they’re actually quite cramped inside. The RV is divided into three sections: living area, work area, and driving area. The living area has a toilet and two beds. The toilet is tiny, and the beds are bunk beds. The kitchen is also small, with utensils and cookware stored in drawers. Everyone packed very little. “I only brought one bar of soap—for washing my hair, face, and body,” said Zhao Ningyu.
And that’s not even the hardest part. The RV generally travels at about 100 km/h. In the confined space, six people are crammed together, the air gets stuffy, and it shakes nonstop—the actual ride is the most painful part.
Documenting the entire journey on Weibo
But they set off anyway. To document the trip, the “Never Look Back” team registered an official Weibo account and personal accounts, which now have over 4,000 followers.
They’ve also arranged for filming and post-production. “We really want to present our journey as a documentary—no pretense, just real moments,” said Zhao Ningyu excitedly. “While we’re still young, let’s hit the road!”