Gao Xiaoding Visits the Bell and Drum Tower Square in Xi'an
"Traveling is life to me." A backpack, a hiking stick, a sleeping bag, a moisture-proof mat, a few clothes, and some medicine — these were all the belongings of 27-year-old Gao Xiaoding from Fengjie, Chongqing. With just this simple gear, he managed to budget-travel across most of China in two years.
On the afternoon of November 28, reporters met this budget-traveling young man at the Bell and Drum Tower Square. His first impression was one of refined gentleness — wearing a gray sweater and an orange jacket that made him look somewhat weathered, with long black hair adding to his slight appearance. Yet behind his black-rimmed glasses shone eyes full of determination.
In conversation with the reporters, it was revealed that in 2010, 24-year-old Gao Xiaoding graduated from Chongqing Communications College. After graduation, he took on various jobs such as copywriting, film post-production, and waiting tables — his shortest job lasting only a week. The psychological gap of entering society left Gao Xiaoding feeling lost. "Either read or travel; either your body or your soul must be on the road." It was this saying that made Gao Xiaoding decide not to let his life pass by in mediocrity. He chose to change his lifestyle and become a backpacker to travel across China.
Starting in February 2011, Gao Xiaoding began carrying his backpack to hike and hitchhike around the country. Over the course of more than two years, he traveled to nearly every corner of China. To date, his footsteps have covered Guizhou, Hunan, Yunnan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Hubei, and more. The historical sites of Xi'an, in particular, left him in awe.
Gao Xiaoding never spends money on transportation during his travels. When lucky, he occasionally manages to hitch a ride. "Once, I walked from Lijiang to Lashihai at night. Around 10 p.m., I was so tired I wanted to set up my tent to rest. I finally found a school and tried to pitch my tent in the playground, but the guard turned me down." In despair, the owner of a billiards hall took pity on him, not only making him instant noodles but also letting him stay overnight. "I was so exhausted that I simply laid my sleeping mat on the floor under a billiards table and went to sleep."
A period when Gao Xiaoding sold things at a street stall in Dali remains unforgettable to him, and not for any other reason than a girl. "That girl was from Japan, traveling around the world alone. After chatting a few times, we discovered we had a lot in common. Later, we often ate meals together and even went drinking at bars." Gao Xiaoding admitted, "We really resonated with each other’s life philosophies and shared the same dreams. I especially admired her courage as a young woman to venture out and explore the world."
At 5:30 p.m., after visiting many attractions in Xi'an, Gao Xiaoding packed up his belongings and waved goodbye to the towering Bell Tower, setting off once again on a new journey. His next destinations were Yan'an, Taiyuan, and Beijing. He said that after reaching Beijing, he planned to take a short break to write about his travel experiences. "Although I sometimes had travel companions along the way, most of the time I was on the road alone. So I want to record what I’ve seen and felt, and share those stories with more young friends."