Crossing Earth’s 40th Parallel — Ma Zhongxin’s Global Journey arrived in Lanzhou, Gansu. Dubbed “the first Chinese adventurer to explore the world,” Ma Zhongxin stated that he has visited the Silk Road nine times. “Many essences of Chinese civilization are in Gansu. I’d like to be the tourism ambassador for Gansu,” he said.
“When I was a child, the Yellow River in Lanzhou would freeze in winter. I’d lean against my father’s back eating jujube cake under the White Pagoda Mountain. I still want to eat it,” the world traveler Ma Zhongxin recalled in an interview on the 14th, expressing deep “hometown sentiment” for Lanzhou, Gansu, and a special fondness for Silk Road culture.
Ma Zhongxin, a traveler, explorer, photographer, and travel writer, as well as a special photographer for National Geographic Magazine, was born in 1942 in Lanzhou, Gansu. He moved to Taiwan with his father at age four and later studied in the United States. “I’ve passed through Lanzhou and traveled the ‘Silk Road’ nine times. This is my tenth time,” he said.
Now 71 years old, Ma Zhongxin was seen in Lanzhou on the afternoon of the 14th dressed in sportswear, ready to hit the road at any time, looking spirited. “If I weren’t a traveler, I’d definitely be a mountaineer. Mount Everest wouldn’t be a problem for me,” he said humorously.
Ma Zhongxin stated that the Silk Road route from Lanzhou to Xinjiang is the best for China’s tourism economy and also the optimal international tourism route. “This section should be the center of global tourism. The Silk Road was where ancient Eastern and Western civilizations collided. Lanzhou is a key stop along the Silk Road. Further west are Wuwei, Zhangye, and Jiuquan—all of which hold the essence of the region.”
“Having traveled for 30 years around the world, I’ve found that a large part of Chinese civilization lies in Gansu,” Ma Zhongxin said. Gansu has excellent tourism and cultural resources, yet they are little known to the outside world. “As someone from Lanzhou, I hope to do my best to promote Gansu to the world.”
When talking about his “impressions of Lanzhou,” Ma Zhongxin’s face lit up with sweet childhood memories. He mentioned that in 1981, he brought his two sons back to Lanzhou specifically to reconnect with his “Gansu sentiment.” Although Lanzhou was not originally within the 40th parallel route, he insisted on coming this time.
“We will provide in-depth and comprehensive coverage of the culture, history, humanity, historic sites, geography, and scenery along the way,” he said. Many of the places to be visited are unmanned areas not documented in books or materials. He expects to uncover many new “secrets” and will share his travel experiences and observations with people all over the world.
Ma Zhongxin has explored the “myths” of the Silk Road nine times. “Walking along the Silk Road, you think of people like Xuanzang and Zhang Qian, and wonder with what kind of adventurous spirit and walking perseverance they forged such a route a thousand years ago,” he said. Especially at the ruins of temples where Xuanzang once preached, the surrounding environment remains unchanged after a millennium. Being there feels like traveling back in time, as if one could engage in a dialogue across centuries with him.
“I hope I can become the tourism ambassador for Gansu,” Ma Zhongxin said earnestly. Retracing the Silk Road, he will report on “Silk Road tourism culture” and share the essence of Chinese civilization with the world.
It is understood that “Crossing Earth’s 40th Parallel — Ma Zhongxin’s Global Journey,” organized by Xinmin Evening News and Xinmin Media, and hosted by Shanghai Sihui Culture Co., Ltd., plans to pass through more than 20 countries and 400 cities, covering a total distance of nearly 30,000 kilometers, to be completed over three to four years.
Beijing is the starting point of Ma Zhongxin’s global journey. He will then pass through cities such as Zhangjiakou, Datong, and Jiuquan, traverse the unmanned area of the Lop Nur Desert, retrace the Silk Road, and make Kashgar the endpoint of the China leg before heading to Central and West Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Along the way, he will seek historical imprints, uncover the human stories behind them, and spread messages of world peace and positive energy filled with love.