Wang Xiaolong shows photos he took during his trip to reporters.
On the 11th, when reporters met Wang Xiaolong, he had just gotten off work from his internship. Although the 25-year-old was shy in front of the reporters, he became mature and talkative when sharing his "budget travel" experiences. Setting off from Changchun on July 7, he only brought 3,500 yuan with him and spent 47 days traveling through eight provinces and cities including Yunnan and Tibet. Wang Xiaolong said, "I used to think that traveling on a budget would help me understand the world, but when I actually took that step, I realized I was understanding myself through the journey."
Brave road, simple travel—
A failed business venture ignited his passion for "budget travel"
Wang Xiaolong was born in 1988, graduated from Northeast Electric Power University, and is currently a second-year master's student at Changchun University of Science and Technology. Coming from a well-off family, he hasn’t asked his parents for a single cent since his sophomore year in college.
How did he pay tuition? Where did his daily expenses come from? Faced with the reporter’s questions, Wang Xiaolong modestly said, "After starting university, I did some small businesses on campus. At first, I sold socks, resold movie tickets, and helped distribute flyers. Later, when I had a bit of money, I built a website and even co-opened a print shop with a classmate."
Wang Xiaolong told reporters that he can no longer remember how the term "budget travel" popped into his head and stuck there. He had thought about traveling after graduation, but the concept of "budget travel" didn’t exist back then. After starting graduate school, he and a few like-minded friends planned to start a business, but this entrepreneurial attempt didn’t go smoothly. After nearly a year of preparation, it ultimately ended in failure.
"Although this business venture failed, I still wanted to do something—at least to give myself a sense of closure." Wang Xiaolong said that before summer vacation, the trend of "budget travel" caught his attention. He saw many stories online about post-80s and even post-90s individuals traveling on a budget, which led him to decide to embark on such a trip during the break. However, his parents opposed his decision, which made him struggle internally for a long time.
Setting off on a budget trip through 8 provinces and cities with 3,500 yuan
July 7 was the first day of summer vacation. Wang Xiaolong stepped out of his home with 3,500 yuan. "My first stop was Beijing because I happened to have an interview there," he said. "After the interview, I headed to Chongqing. On the train to Chongqing, I called my family to tell them about my decision. My dad got angry right away and said he’d take a flight to Chongqing to bring me back. I barely managed to persuade him."
And so, with just a backpack, a mobile phone, and two changes of clothes, Wang Xiaolong set off alone on his budget travel journey. From Chongqing and Guiyang, to Yunnan and Tibet, then from Qinghai to Lanzhou, and finally back to Beijing from Xi’an. During these 47 days, aside from taking trains, Wang Xiaolong mostly hitchhiked and walked. "Although I traveled through 8 provinces, I only fully explored Yunnan," he said.
"In my initial plan, I was going to go abroad to five Southeast Asian countries, but plans change quickly—there wasn’t enough time or money. I returned home on August 23 because the internship I had lined up before departure required me to come back," Wang Xiaolong told reporters. The total cost of his budget trip was 5,632 yuan, of which 3,500 yuan was what he started with, and the rest was earned along the way. "When I ran out of money, I helped others queue up for tickets with fellow travelers or did any small business that could earn me some cash," he said. "This 5,632 yuan also includes over 800 yuan I spent on gifts for my family at tourist spots and more than 100 yuan in shipping fees."
Those tough experiences—
The hardest times: eating poached bread for just 4 yuan a piece
During the hour-long interview, Wang Xiaolong talked to reporters about Chongqing’s night market snacks, the devout believers in front of the Potala Palace, and the feelings he had while crossing the Tongmai Dangerous Road… But what stood out most was the early morning of August 3, when he and several other hitchhiking travelers encountered the collapse of the Tongmai Bridge on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway in Bomi District, Linzhi Region, Tibet.
Wang Xiaolong recalled that he and three other travelers had taken a bus from Bomi to Bayi on the night of August 2. "We were stuck in traffic for hours, and at five in the morning, we returned to Bomi," Wang Xiaolong said. Because the road was blocked, they were stranded in Bomi. "Prices soared those days—a 5-yuan instant noodle went for 15 yuan a bowl. Eating a plate of fried rice was considered a huge luxury for us."
During the five days and six nights in Bomi, Wang Xiaolong and his companions ate 50 pieces of poached bread among the four of them. "We couldn’t always eat instant noodles and eight-treasure porridge—they were too expensive. Poached bread was the cheapest, kind of like a big leavened flatbread, costing just 4 yuan each," he said.
Sleeping in 15-yuan beds or crashing at internet cafes
Aside from food, accommodation was also a significant expense. "I definitely couldn’t afford hotels—the standard rooms in Lijiang were 400 yuan each," Wang Xiaolong said. Wherever he went, he would first look for youth hostels. "The cheapest places offered a bed for just 15 yuan a night. But some youth hostels weren’t cheap either—the most expensive was in Lhasa, where a bed in a 10-person room cost 80 yuan per person."
When accommodation was too expensive, Wang Xiaolong would spend the night at an internet cafe. "I wouldn’t use the internet there—or maybe just for an hour—and then find an empty spot to sleep," he said. Being on a budget trip, he was determined not to waste money. He had thought about occasionally splurging on a comfortable hotel room to take a shower and sleep well, but he resisted. "First, I really didn’t have the money, and second, the various travelers around me influenced me. Everyone was trying hard to save money and sticking it out," he said. "Thankfully, I traveled light—I didn’t even bring a camera and took all my photos with my phone—so I didn’t have anything valuable, and sleeping at an internet cafe wasn’t a worry."
Walking for 6 hours just to catch a ride
Wang Xiaolong told reporters that during this trip, he visited many areas with tough conditions. "Especially in Tibet—some travelers started experiencing severe altitude sickness upon arriving, and some had to turn back because their bodies couldn’t handle it," Wang Xiaolong said. The highest altitude he reached was 5,041 meters, but fortunately, he didn’t suffer much from altitude sickness. "I met a traveler in Yunnan, and we planned to explore Tibet together, but he had to give up halfway because his body couldn’t take it."
Along the way, Wang Xiaolong faced many difficulties. To save money, he chose to walk and hitchhike on certain routes. "There were quite a few people hitchhiking, so getting a ride wasn’t easy," he said. Catching a free ride depended on luck—one time, he and another traveler walked for six hours before catching a tractor. The tractor only took them a few kilometers before heading in a different direction, and they had to start walking again.
Those unforgettable fellow travelers—
Most enviable: an 18-year-old girl with 4 years of budget travel experience
During the 47-day journey, Wang Xiaolong met all kinds of people from all over. "Once you step out your door, you realize there are actually quite a few people traveling on a budget like me," he said. "I only started meeting fellow travelers after arriving in Yunnan—we all had the same destinations, so we traveled together. Others I met while hitchhiking or at scenic spots—some traveled with me for a few days, others just went to the same attraction and then went their separate ways."
Among the fellow travelers Wang Xiaolong met, the one he envied the most was an 18-year-old girl from the south.
"Although she’s only 18, she’s been to so many places. She has a unique vibe that sets her apart from her peers—she’s independent and has a strong personality," he explained. "She told me she’s been budget traveling during every winter and summer vacation since she was 14, and she wants to visit as many places as possible before graduating from university. I really envy her—young, with plenty of time to travel. As for me, I don’t have many vacation days left. I’ll be graduating from grad school in just two more breaks."
Most admirable: A rich second-generation young man insists on "budget travel" to transform himself
Wang Xiaolong told reporters that the most memorable part of this trip was the rich second-generation young man he "picked up" in Yunnan. In conversation, he likes to use the word "picked up," explaining that it's commonly used among backpackers to describe someone who wants to join a group heading to the same destination. "So, this rich second-generation guy was someone we 'picked up.' Back in Yunnan, he said he also wanted to go to Tibet with me," Wang Xiaolong said.
"Of course I didn’t refuse him, but I also made it clear that if he was coming with us, it had to be 'budget travel.' Surprisingly, he agreed. You should know, before joining us, he had been staying in high-end hotels and using black credit cards all the way," Wang Xiaolong said. Although they didn’t spend much time together, the changes in this rich second-generation backpacker were significant. "We stayed in hostels, and the two of us squeezed onto a 90-centimeter-wide single bed. He was one of the four of us who ate 50 pieces of pita bread in six days, and all expenses were split equally," Wang Xiaolong said. "I didn’t expect him to stick with it, and I really admire him for that."
Looking forward to the next holiday——
A new "budget travel" plan has already been made
Wang Xiaolong told reporters that the biggest impact of this experience for him was the phrase "just do it." "Traveling alone without my parents’ approval was indeed wrong. Next time, I’ll definitely discuss it with them properly before setting off. Actually, my parents didn’t believe I could keep it up for so long—they thought I’d just go home once I ran out of money."
Because his startup failed, Wang Xiaolong chose to go on a "budget travel" journey, but after 47 days on the road, he regained confidence in entrepreneurship. "I think that as long as it doesn’t affect others or society, 'budget travel' is a travel style worth promoting. I believe that after a trip, everyone will discover what it means to them personally," he said. "Actually, many college students want to start their own businesses after graduation, but while there are many ideas, few take the initiative to act, even fewer succeed after trying, and it’s even rarer to keep going after failure. Through this 'budget travel' experience, I’ve also had some new thoughts. I won’t give up on entrepreneurship, and I won’t forget where my goal lies just because things didn’t go smoothly before."
Now, Wang Xiaolong has started classes for the new semester and is also interning at a company. "I’ve fallen in love with this 'budget travel' lifestyle, but I don’t have much time left—after graduation, it’ll be hard to get such long holidays, so I need to make the most of the remaining ones," Wang Xiaolong told reporters. His winter break "budget travel" plan is already set, with many famous attractions on the list. "In 2014, I want to travel across the country. I may not hit every single spot, but I’ll definitely visit all the major ones."