Deng Dongdong
Artistic Director of Floral Design at Xinjiang Yifang Arts & Soft Furnishings Design Life Gallery,
Creative Director at Sam's Floral Space Design Studio,
Member of the Xinjiang Photographers Association,
In 2010, backpacked and hiked through 8 provinces in southwestern and northwestern China, visiting 20 ethnic minority areas for months of cultural exploration,
In 2011, backpacked along the coasts of southern and eastern China on an ecological journey to find China’s most beautiful coastlines,
In 2012, cycled solo across the Eurasian continent,
Passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and France,
and reaching the dream journey of arriving in the UK.
[attach]2132961[/attach]
Green Field China
I’ve read your blog and reports.
What have you been up to lately?
Deng Dongdong
Normal work and life, just like most people.
Green Field China
Any recent plans for travel?
Deng Dongdong
I’ve been traveling around a lot in recent years, so I plan to take a break and digest everything for now.
Green Field China
After returning from London, have you been anywhere else?
Deng Dongdong
I went to Sichuan twice—once for rest and once on a business trip. No longer trips beyond that.
Green Field China
Was cycling your first experience with outdoor activities?
Deng Dongdong
No, cycling to London was my first long-distance trip.
And I don’t have plans to try more in the future.
Each time, I choose a different mode of travel to gain unique experiences.
The greatest effect of an extraordinary experience
[attach]2132958[/attach]
Green Field China
Can you share a few stories about how different ways of traveling bring different experiences?
Deng Dongdong
These experiences are like the countless drawers of herbs in a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy
Each drawer holds a story, and I only learn the memory inside when I open it
One memory leads to another, and the cycle continues
Different methods indeed affect the physical and mental experience of traveling
The impact may also involve the paths of people you encounter
Deng Dongdong
The beautiful scenery along the journey gradually becomes blurred in memory after returning home over time
But people are unforgettable, so no matter the way you travel,
communicating with different people is a very important part of the journey
[attach]2132956[/attach]
Green Field China
Because I personally love train travel very much
Have you had any stories on a train?
Deng Dongdong
In the summer of 2011, I took a train from Guangzhou to Xiamen — it was super crowded, and everyone was chatting in the aisles
The train attendant pushing the food cart complained, asking why so many people didn’t take the high-speed train instead
Someone said it was because the fare was much higher, and I said my choice was actually because I felt the high-speed train wasn’t safe
The technology for high-speed trains was still in the experimental development stage, and chasing speed could lead to problems
A month later, a high-speed train derailed in Wenzhou
Green Field China
Was there any girl who left a particularly deep impression on you?
Deng Dongdong
A Russian girl named Tanjia who studied at the Vienna Conservatory of Music
I stayed at her place in Vienna for over a week
Every day we went together to the market near the subway station
to buy groceries, then cooked together, had dinner, and watched the European Championship
She supported Italy, and although I’ve loved sports since I was young, I have zero interest in soccer
This must be due to the growing environment.
I can only objectively assess the entertainment value of the competition itself.
Watching the stars together on the rooftop, overlooking Vienna from the vineyard on the hill.
Lying by the window together, watching the rain outside and sharing our travel experiences.
It was truly wonderful.
The only souvenir I left her was a hand-drawn portrait.
She was very beautiful—I really liked her, her personality, and our shared interests in travel.
Just like that.
Green Field China
I felt this relationship was especially pure.
Maybe there was no clear beginning or end, but every time I recall it, it feels beautiful.
Once upon a time.
Deng Dongdong
Mhm, yeah.
[attach]2132959[/attach]
Green Field China
Actually, you’ve done quite a bit too, and you’re more into general outdoor activities, leaning more toward travel.
Deng Dongdong
I don’t really care about these categories—what’s the difference between tourism and travel? Everyone does their own thing.
Green Field China
Is there any outdoor sport you’d like to try?
Like mountaineering, diving, things like that.
Deng Dongdong
I like trying all kinds of different experiences, as long as they’re fun—especially all kinds of water sports.
Green Field China
Water sports? Have you done any water-related activities before?
Deng Dongdong
Not much. Urumqi is the city farthest from the sea, and it’s also lacking in water, so...
Green Field China
Maybe in the future, you could spend some time by the seaside~
Deng Dongdong
Yeah, that's great.
Green Field China
I noticed you're actually someone who likes to document things, whether through writing or visuals.
Deng Dongdong
I have a bad memory and worry about forgetting details when I want to recall the places I've been.
Green Field China
Did you write anything during your trip to London?
Deng Dongdong
Some, I'm still writing — it's quite a complex process.
Green Field China
Do you also enjoy photography?
Deng Dongdong
I take some photos along the way.
Just to document things.
[attach]2132957[/attach]
Green Field China
These past few years, travel has become really popular, and many people — whether genuinely artistic or just posing as such — talk about "soft times" and "just going whenever you want."
Many might only stay in one place for a few days and then write a ten-thousand-word sentimental piece, which often comes off as overly melodramatic.
From your own travel experiences, how do you view this phenomenon?
Deng Dongdong
It's pretty chaotic, and it's also related to feeling mentally suppressed — wanting to go out and walk around to relieve some stress.
But the stark contrast between that experience and city life misleads your understanding of the whole thing.
You think you've seen the world and know a thing or two.
But the farther you go, the more you realize
how small and ignorant you really are.
The more you know, the more you find out how little you actually know.
We’re all like frogs at the bottom of a well, or the arrogant King of Yelang.
Green Field China
As Socrates said, “I know that I know nothing.”
Sometimes you set out to escape, but once you're out there, you realize you can't really escape at all — you still have to face your original life when you get back.
Deng Dongdong
Traveling, to a certain extent, is also a process of knowing oneself, discovering oneself, and understanding oneself.
Getting to know the true self that has been engulfed by the city, and opening up your inner world.
There is no single path to growth—reading is one, and traveling is another.
Green Field China
Read books, travel the world.
Deng Dongdong
Don’t expect travel to change your life—what it can change is just yourself.
Green Field China
It’s enough to gain inner joy and contentment.
Deng Dongdong
It’s simple, yet not so simple.
[attach]2132960[/attach]