Zheng Jianwei looks older than his actual age. Next, he plans to walk to Lushun and Dandong, then head north to Jilin and Heilongjiang.
"My goal is to visit every town and city across China before I turn 65, collect revolutionary relics, and eventually open a memorial museum." These words come from Zheng Jianwei, a gray-haired, gaunt veteran who walked over 190,000 km in 14.5 years, breaking a Guinness World Record and earning the title "World's No. 1 Long-Distance Walker." To promote the revolutionary spirit of the past, he is traveling across the nation. Yesterday, Zheng arrived in Dalian, an important city for his fourth themed walk: "Retracing the Route of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army."
World’s No. 1 Long-Distance Walker Hasn’t Been Home in 14.5 Years
Zheng Jianwei is 59 years old, with white hair and a thin, weathered face that makes him look older than he is. He told reporters that traveling across the country was a childhood dream, but what actually kicked off his "red journey" was his competitive nature. "In 1999, I heard about an American who walked over 50,000 km and set a Guinness World Record. It was a huge inspiration." A strong idea took root in the mind of the former soldier Zheng Jianwei: "Why not walk across the country to promote the revolutionary spirit?" He began planning his trek. At the time, Zheng had already left the military and was working in Shenyang’s industrial and commercial system, enjoying a stable job and a promising career. But he made a crazy decision: to take a leave of absence without pay and walk across the country. His family thought he had lost his mind, and colleagues saw him as an oddball. But none of the criticism stopped him. Zheng convinced his wife with his determination, and with no worries at home, he set out on July 1 of that year from Beijing, launching his journey with a theme of the "Red Route."
Over 14 years, Zheng Jianwei devised four major walking themes, covering 40–50 km daily. In every revolutionary base area he visited, he stayed for several days to tour memorials, interview surviving veterans, and collect historical relics from the revolutionary period. "After finishing one theme, I’d plan the next. For 14 years, I never went home," Zheng said. Going back would have meant interrupting the journey and breaking his record. In this way, through perseverance, Zheng broke the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous distance walked over time and was officially recognized in 2008 by both the Guinness World Headquarters and the International Marching League as the "World’s No. 1 Long-Distance Walker."
Once Walked in Dalian, Never Forgot the City’s Kindness
In 2011, Zheng Jianwei launched a new walking plan with the theme of "Retracing the Anti-Japanese United Army Route." "This time, I’m mainly walking through the three northeastern provinces and places like Hebei, and Dalian is somewhere I must visit," Zheng said. He has a special bond with Dalian. He participated in the 5th Dalian International Walking Festival, and the warmth and hospitality of Dalian residents left a deep impression on him. Local media even covered his story. "Many people encouraged me to keep going and achieve my goal after reading about me," Zheng recalled vividly. Restaurant owners gave him free meals, and lodging was provided gratis. A pair of shoes given to him by the newspaper that year, Zheng has never worn—he says he’s keeping them as a memento.
On this trip to Dalian, Zheng first visited Jinzhou New District and toured the Guan Xiangying Memorial Hall to learn more about Guan’s revolutionary deeds and visit his former residence. Next, Zheng plans to walk to Lushun to explore more of Dalian’s revolutionary history. "After that, I’ll go to Dandong, then head north to Jilin and Heilongjiang," Zheng said.
Plans to Complete Nationwide Walk Before Age 65
Over the 14.5 years, Zheng Jianwei never once returned home. When asked if he missed his family, he said: "How could I not? I think about them every day. But I can’t go home until I finish my goal." To ease his homesickness, Zheng often called home and sometimes had his wife and daughter come meet him, reuniting as a family in a foreign place. Zheng spent all 14 Spring Festivals away from home, often crying alone as he watched others celebrate joyfully—the hardships of the road flooding back. In the desert, Zheng ran out of food and water and crawled out by drinking his own urine; in Mohe Arctic Village, with no food, he ate snow to survive; in the tropical rainforest, he got lost and nearly died… Over the years, Zheng wore out six or seven hundred pairs of shoes, ruined more than 30 backpacks, wrote 1.7 million words of travel journals, and collected over 2,000 revolutionary relics, veterans’ diaries, newspapers, and books along the way. Remarkably, he covered all his travel expenses himself and never asked anyone for help.
"I’ve set up a mobile 'Northeast People’s Anti-Japanese War Memorial Museum.' After I finish my walk, I plan to establish a physical museum back in my hometown," Zheng said. He aims to complete his goal before turning 65, so he can finally return home, reunite with loved ones, and enjoy family life.