Travel photo
Yao Zhide and Ji Jingshu, a retired couple living on Rehe South Road in Nanjing, began saving money to travel abroad after retiring in the late 1990s. Their first destination was the United States, where they successfully obtained a visa. Over the years, the two have traveled to more than 20 countries, including the United States, Canada, ten European countries, Japan, and Southeast Asia. After each trip, Yao Zhide would write about their travel experiences, while Ji Jingshu would write captions for each photo. Over the years, they have accumulated thousands of photos and published travelogues totaling over 200,000 words.
First stop: the United States, writing visa tips earned them over $20 in royalties
“The world is wonderful, and we want to go see it.” After retiring in 1995, the couple made a plan for their retirement life—to visit 20 countries. Before retiring, Yao Zhide worked in publicity at the port authority, and his wife Ji Jingshu was an elementary school teacher. Their retirement salaries were not high at the time, and the biggest challenge they faced was a lack of funds. “I quit smoking and drinking, and she managed the household frugally,” Yao told reporters. To save money, his wife basically didn’t buy new clothes, and he completely gave up smoking and drinking. In this way, they saved 1,000 yuan per month, adding up to over 10,000 yuan in travel funds per year.
Most people traveling abroad usually start with nearby Southeast Asian countries, but the elderly couple chose the United States as their first destination because their son worked there. Getting a U.S. visa in the late 1990s was not easy. “A classmate of our son’s father was rejected seven or eight times,” Yao said. Despite having no prior travel experience, they passed the visa interview on their first try. Yao Zhide recalled, “I was wearing a Zhongshan suit and naturally greeted the visa officer. After a few simple questions, I passed.” He summarized that Americans dress casually, and wearing a suit and tie can seem overly formal. Being too polite in your answers can also leave a bad impression. “Most importantly, I think we chose a good time to apply for the visa. It was when President Clinton visited China, and U.S.-China relations were quite harmonious.” After this experience, Yao wrote an article titled “Cleverly Passing the Visa Hurdle,” which was published in the local Chinese newspaper The China Press in the United States. He earned over $20 in royalties and was praised by the editor as being “very helpful to readers.”
Beautiful Europe, but with a “midnight scare”
Their travel experiences in the United States made them realize how different the rest of the world is, further fueling their desire to explore. After returning, the couple went on to visit Southeast Asia and Europe. Teacher Ji said that even in Italy, the country with the most artistic atmosphere, they experienced a “midnight scare.” “The hotel room we stayed in that day had not only a front door but also a side door. I tried opening it and found it was locked. But around midnight, I suddenly heard a series of keys jingling. I shouted ‘Who?’ but got no response. Summoning my courage, I opened the side door, and a foreign man over six feet tall appeared.” After Ji repeatedly warned him, the man apologized and left. “We left in a hurry the next day and didn’t ask any further. Later, when I mentioned it to others, they all said I must have encountered a thief.”
For Yao, the “tough journey” in Russia left an even deeper impression. “Once, when spending the night on a train, the conductor actually gave me a piece of wire, saying the door lock in the carriage didn’t work and I should use the wire to secure the door for safety.” Then there were the restrooms that cost five yuan each use, which also gave him a taste of the country’s unique features. “But even though I suffered a bit, the beautiful scenery in Russia made it worth it. Its subway stations are as magnificent as palaces, which was really shocking.”
There were occasional unpleasant incidents during the trips, but most of the time was filled with wonderful moments. “What impressed me the most was in St. Petersburg. The tour guide told us that if you see a newlywed couple, just shout ‘GUONIGA,’ and they will kiss. And sure enough, we encountered such a couple, and I even took a photo. Every time I look at it, it feels very heartwarming. Also, in the United States, my son took us on a self-driving trip. When we got lost, there were always strangers who stopped to ask if we needed help. Once, a car even offered to lead the way.”
Writing along the way, over 200,000 words document their travel experiences
After each trip abroad, Yao would write about various travel experiences. The articles published in the internal publication Nanjing Port News alone totaled over 200,000 words, and some were also published in social magazines: “Vietnam: No Need to Lock Motorcycles,” “Viewing Mount Fuji: A Second Worth a Thousand Gold,” “Russia: ‘Convenience’ That’s Not Convenient,” and so on. His vivid and interesting writing made many who never had the chance to travel abroad feel as if they were there. Even the thick travel photo albums the couple put together are quite different from others’. Yangzi Evening News reporters noticed that every photo was carefully labeled with small white slips of paper, noting the time, location, and a brief description of the situation. The elderly man said, “One reason is that I’m afraid I’ll forget later and not remember the story behind each photo. The other is to make it clear at a glance.”
The travel goals of Yao and Ji are also very simple—“I follow her, and there’s food to eat; she follows me, and there’s a place to play.” Yao, now 78 years old, said affectionately that his wife has taken care of the household all her life and cooked countless meals for him. Now that they are older, taking her out to see the world is his way of repaying her. Next year, the couple plans to travel to Hawaii. It’s unclear whether they are preparing to take another honeymoon after decades of companionship.