Would you be willing to spend 10 days hiking nearly 400 kilometers to go home for Chinese New Year? Li Huang, a senior at Hunan University of Finance and Economics, and his girlfriend plan to walk all the way from Changsha to their hometown. “We want to challenge ourselves and also leave a beautiful memory of our four years in university,” said Li Huang. He is currently recruiting travel companions and plans to set off in mid-January.
“Let’s take on the challenge and train our willpower,” said Li Huang, 23, who is now detailing the route from Changsha back to Chenzhou. “If we take National Highway 107, it’s about 400 kilometers, and we’re planning to cover it in 10 days.”
This isn’t Li Huang’s first hiking experience. Since last year, he has signed up for the “Huxiang 100-Kilometer Endurance Walk,” having trekked from Shegang to Liuyang City, from Daweishan to Liuyang City, and from Changsha to Zhuzhou. But this plan to walk from Changsha to his hometown Chenzhou for the New Year is the longest in both distance and duration.
“My biggest concerns are safety and accommodation,” Li Huang said. This time, he plans to stay with local families along the way and will bring a camera and a diary to record the beautiful sights and unforgettable experiences he encounters.
To prepare physically, Li Huang runs 10 laps around the school track every day — each lap is 400 meters — and also does strength training at the dorm with dumbbells and a sit-up board. “But right now, I’ve only managed to get my girlfriend to join me,” Li Huang said with a laugh. He welcomes other interested companions to join the journey.