Character Profile – Wu Youyin
Wu Youyin, director, writer, and screenwriter, was a member of China’s 27th and 28th Antarctic scientific expeditions. He has been to Antarctica four times and traveled to the Arctic once. On his fourth trip to Antarctica, he brought back the movie *Till the End of the World*.
In February 2018, the film *Till the End of the World* was released, achieving both critical acclaim and box office success. In May, Wu Youyin followed Explore (brand: Pathfinder) to the northwestern desert and the uninhabited region of Hoh Xil, seeking creative inspiration in extreme environments.On June 10, Wu returned from Hoh Xil and shared his heartwarming stories and reflections from the extreme environment.
*Till the End of the World*
Unearthing Authenticity in Works through Extreme Environments
The movie *Till the End of the World* tells a love story between two people with nothing in common in the harsh environment of the Antarctic interior. To shoot this film, Wu Youyin traveled to Antarctica four times and the Arctic once. Filming began in Antarctica in 2015, and the movie was released in 2018, becoming the first feature film ever shot on location in Antarctica.
(The following is an interview with Explore, abbreviated as “XTP” here.)
XTP: You’ve made hundreds of commercials. What inspired you to try filmmaking?
Wu Youyin:I think advertisements are about expressing situations, focusing on momentary impact, while films are about storytelling—they’re a marathon, focused on characters, plots, values, and worldviews. Years of shooting ads gave me rich experience, including in acting, cinematography, lighting, art design, and special effects. With these skills under my belt, I finally decided to charge toward what I consider the holy grail—film.
XTP: How is your first film, *Till the End of the World*, different from your previous works?
Wu Youyin:In terms of dramatic structure, *Till the End of the World* is very ambitious. I used just two characters to tell a story within a relatively confined space, so I’d say the biggest difference lies in its dramatism—I tried to reach extremes and create strong dramatic tension, making bold explorations in character development and plot structure.
▲ Director Wu Youyin on the set of *Till the End of the World*
XTP: How is the emotional expression of characters in extreme environments different from that in ordinary settings?
Wu Youyin::For me, the most important part of a story is the characters. Characters often have a shell that makes it hard for them to reveal their true humanity. Extreme environments are like a hammer—if you use this big hammer well, you can completely break through that shell. In normal environments, it’s very difficult to crack that shell, so humanity remains hidden, many fundamental dramatic conflicts don’t hold up, and characters’ motivations aren’t as intense.
For me, extreme environments are not just a hammer but also a catalyst. They quickly push characters into a state where they shed their shells and reveal their true nature. In *Till the End of the World*, it’s about showing the light and warmth of humanity in the face of life and death. I don’t like my works to show the dark side of humanity—I insist on showcasing the brightest and warmest parts of humanity: truth, goodness, and beauty.
▲ Director Wu Youyin on his way to Antarctic filming locations
XTP: So besides showcasing the true, good, and beautiful sides of humanity, were there other reasons for filming in Antarctica?
Wu Youyin:I insisted on filming in Antarctica because I firmly believe that a film is a living thing. As a film director, I believe movies have life and a destiny of their own. So I feel that real is real, and fake is fake. I could have chosen to shoot in a snowy area in the northeast of China, but doing so would have resulted in a lack of confidence. When that lack of confidence spreads, the entire crew gradually produces something that lacks self-respect. That’s why I say *Till the End of the World* has over a thousand visual effects shots, but it has authentic Antarctic footage as its DNA. By bringing back this genuine DNA, we could showcase even greater power during the intense VFX process.
▲ The *Till the End of the World* crew takes a break to recharge during filming
XTP: What was the biggest challenge you faced while filming in Antarctica, and what kept you going?
Wu Youyin:The biggest challenge of filming in Antarctica wasn’t physical—it was psychological. In an unknown environment, no matter how meticulously you plan, unexpected situations will arise every day and disrupt everything.
As a director, you need to have a very strong inner core during the creative process—one that won’t be shaken by all kinds of unexpected events. If the crew can always see that you’re full of confidence, that you’re smiling and running around, then the crew will feel empowered.
Therefore, overcoming psychological weaknesses is the biggest challenge in Antarctic photography. Remaining unmoved by the eight winds and sitting firmly atop the Purple Gold Summit is what needs to be done.
"The Thirteenth Gobi March"
Traverse the desert to discover the power of inner will
On May 2, 2018, Wu Youyin joined the "Pathfinder Heroes" team for the 13th "Xuanzang Road Business School Gobi Challenge," hiking 114 kilometers across the uninhabited Gobi Desert and embarking on an annual "spiritual pilgrimage."
▲ The Pathfinder Heroes team waves flags to begin their journey
Xiao Tan: This Gobi crossing challenge you participated in is named after the Xuanzang Road. How do you understand the spirit of Xuanzang?
Wu Youyin:The spirit of Xuanzang, as I understand it, is willpower. I believe the greatest power in this world is neither muscular strength nor mechanical force, but the intangible power of a person's belief. This will can be great or small, good or evil. My impression of Xuanzang’s life is first his compassion, and second, his great will. So when I say "great will is formless," that’s my understanding of the spirit of Xuanzang.
▲ Wu Youyin and his Pathfinder teammates reach the finish line together
Xiao Tan: Having endured the harsh trials of the polar regions, what was your most profound feeling during this Gobi crossing?
Wu Youyin:During the Thirteenth Gobi March, because I’m not good at cross-country running, I injured my left knee on the first day. On the second day, when I planned to hike over 30 kilometers, just minutes into the trek, my left knee became so painful I could barely bend it. I had to walk with my leg straight to reduce the pain.
Throughout the journey, my deepest feeling came from my Pathfinder teammates—they gave up their own personal results to accompany me, moving at a snail’s pace toward the finish line.
Although being a snail reflects my physical weakness, speeding ahead represents our team’s belief. During this snail-speed sprint, even though rescue personnel repeatedly urged me to withdraw and even had a rescue vehicle follow me in case of emergencies, I still persisted and completed the race in thirteen hours.
That night, when I entered the Liuhe military camp, I heard someone beating a war drum. The scene matched exactly a moment from a desert-themed novel I was writing at the time, giving me a powerful sense of fate—a rare emotional experience in life.
▲ Wu Youyin suffers a foot injury while crossing the harsh Gobi Desert
Xiao Tan: Did you ever think about quitting the challenge during the race?
Wu Youyin:During the challenge, a voice in my mind said, “You must finish this—you can’t back down.” But I think the greater will was that of the team—the people around me. Their will was stronger than mine, and they never gave up on me. I think not giving up on yourself is something most people can do, but not giving up on others in the face of difficulty is something only a few can manage—and that was my deepest takeaway.
The Pathfinder teammates in the team never abandoned me, which made me realize I was part of a team full of compassion and warmth. So after the Gobi crossing, through these Pathfinder teammates, I gained a whole new understanding of the Pathfinder brand—it’s a team I deeply admire.
Tribute to Hoh Xil
Experiencing the preciousness of life and nature in a high-altitude environment
In 2018, the Pathfinder Public Welfare Foundation organized and launched the "Tribute to Hoh Xil" public welfare activity. From May 31 to June 2, Wu Youyin followed the Pathfinder Public Welfare Foundation deep into the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve to pay tribute to the guardians protecting this magical land.
▲ Review of the Pathfinder Public Welfare Foundation’s "Tribute to Hoh Xil" public welfare activity
Xiao Tan: Just back from Hoh Xil, what do you think the Hoh Xil spirit represents?
Wu Youyin:For me, the Hoh Xil spirit represents respect for life and nature. This care for living beings and reverence for nature can be deeply felt in the simple words, remarkable dedication, and harsh conditions of the Hoh Xil conservationists I interacted with.
Xiao Tan: What was your biggest takeaway from participating in this Hoh Xil public welfare activity?
Wu Youyin:This trip to Hoh Xil was different from the competitive challenge of the Gobi crossing—it was a public welfare activity paying tribute to the guardians of Hoh Xil. The sponsor of the public welfare activity was none other than my old friend from the Gobi crossing: Pathfinder.
While visiting the Hoh Xil protection station with the Pathfinder team, one detail from a staff member really moved me. A ranger was wearing a red Pathfinder down jacket and told us he’d had it for ten years. Its warmth and windproof performance were still excellent, and he loved it so much he couldn’t bear to part with it.
I was deeply touched at that moment. This group of teammates who never gave up on me during the “Gobi March XIII” and supported me has, through the Pathfinder Public Welfare Foundation, been supporting Hoh Xil for 15 years. For rangers enduring harsh environments, high altitudes, and extreme oxygen deprivation, Pathfinder’s solid equipment provides essential protection. Pathfinder gives year after year, time after time — truly and tangibly. I think that’s a wonderful thing for a responsible company.
▲ The public welfare team is warmly welcomed by Hoh Xil protection workers
Xiao Tan: You’ve participated in two Pathfinder events in a row. When did you first connect with Pathfinder?
Wu Youyin:My first encounter with Pathfinder was in 2010 when I joined China’s 27th Antarctic expedition team. All the equipment issued to me at the time — from inner layers to outerwear, even sweatshirts, socks, headscarves, and face masks — were designed and produced by Pathfinder specifically for polar environments, including the cold-weather integrated suits required for fieldwork in Antarctica. After that, over four trips to Antarctica and one to the Arctic, all the outdoor gear I used was from Pathfinder.
▲ Wu Youyin is awarded the “Pathfinder Hero” commemorative medal
Xiao Tan: You’ve had an 18-year relationship with Pathfinder gear. What kind of experience has it given you?
Wu Youyin:Speaking of my 18-year bond with Pathfinder, the first impression of the gear is its design. Whether in terms of color coordination, tailoring, or overall shape, Pathfinder equipment is highly aesthetic. One word to describe it is “pleasing to the eye” — it strongly conveys a sense of the outdoors, off-road adventure, and extreme environments.
The second impression of Pathfinder gear is its outstanding functionality. Pathfinder has withstood the harshest conditions in polar regions. In the polar night of the Arctic, often with temperatures as low as minus forty or fifty degrees Celsius, it was Pathfinder that provided me with warm protection — windproof, breathable, and insulated. After trying outdoor gear from many brands, I felt that only Pathfinder could offer such perfect protection.
Epilogue
About bravery, heroism, and responsibility
Xiao Tan: In your eyes, the protectors of Hoh Xil can be called heroes. What does heroism mean to you?
Wu Youyin:I think a hero is someone who takes responsibility, knows how to give and let go, and possesses great love. They may do very small things, but they understand the value of sacrifice. They may gain little, but they are willing to give a lot. That’s the hero in my mind — someone full of emotion and integrity.
▲ At the Gobi March XIII event
Xiao Tan: Having traveled to the Antarctic and Arctic, deserts, and Hoh Xil, do you consider yourself a hero?
Wu Youyin:I definitely wouldn’t dare to claim the title of hero. I joined the Antarctic scientific expedition team for the sake of filmmaking and novel writing. It was in that extreme environment that I honed the story of “Antarctic Love.” But many experts, scholars, and ordinary staff members in the scientific research team gave up their comfortable urban lives, left their hometowns and families, and came to the polar regions to work together on a great cause. They are the real heroes.
▲ Receiving an award on behalf of the Gobi March XIII Pathfinder team
Xiao Tan: Then what’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
Wu Youyin:I’m actually very timid — a typical homebody from Shanghai. I haven’t done anything particularly brave. The bravest things I did during my childhood were all experienced in intense video games. So, in the real world of adventure, I tend to be more cautious and protective of myself.
But if we look beyond the narrow definition of bravery, I believe there’s also a broader kind. This broader bravery exists in creation, writing, editing, and filming.
This kind of bravery is when I know that writing a certain way would make it more radiant and heartwarming, or that shooting a scene a certain way would better reflect the true, good, and beautiful aspects of humanity — I will always choose to write and shoot those warm, radiant, truthful, good, and beautiful things.Recording the warmth and radiance of humanity is the bravest thing I’ve ever done.
▲ Pathfinder has supported Hoh Xil for 15 consecutive years
Xiao Tan: As you said, a hero must have responsibility, know how to give and let go, and possess great love. Shouldn’t the same be expected of a company?
Wu Youyin:Of course, I believe that Pathfinder embodies this kind of brand spirit.
I have personally witnessed and participated in many of Pathfinder’s public welfare activities, including those in Hoh Xil. Had I not joined Pathfinder on a trip to Hoh Xil, I would never have known that in such a harsh environment, there exists such a group of great heroes who quietly dedicate themselves to protecting the Tibetan antelopes. For the past twenty years, Pathfinder has been silently providing equipment to support these heroes.
From my own experience in China’s entire polar scientific research endeavors—on the vast 14-million-square-kilometer Antarctic continent—Pathfinder has also been making quiet contributions behind the scenes, having provided all outdoor gear for China’s Antarctic and Arctic expeditions for nine consecutive years.
Such dedication, I believe, is the ultimate form of selflessness. What I see is a heroic spirit filled with compassion. This is what I have sensed from the Pathfinder brand. During “Gobi March Thirteen” and the trip to Hoh Xil, I had the privilege of traveling alongside Pathfinder’s leadership team, and it allowed me to feel the immense personal charisma embedded within this brand. This is not advertising—it’s from the heart. This personal charisma moved me and deeply touched me.