Wang Sheng takes care of his father in the hospital.
Since 2008, every time Wang Sheng traveled to another city to run a marathon, he brought along his elderly father, Wang Yuanjie, who was in his seventies. By July this year, his father—who had never left Beijing before—had visited 106 cities, with most of the expenses covered by credit card overdrafts.
Wang Sheng said he is 44 years old and often participates in long-distance running competitions around the country. His father, Wang Yuanjie, lives with him and had never left Beijing before. At home, he had few leisure activities. “We used to live in a courtyard house where neighbors were closer. But after moving into an apartment building, we lost touch with the neighbors and rarely interacted.”
Wang Sheng said he was worried his father might feel lonely, so before going to Shanghai to run a marathon in 2008, he came up with the idea of bringing his father along. That year, his father was 71.
Wang Yuanjie initially hesitated when he heard the idea. “I’m already in my seventies. What if I get sick on the road? Won’t that just be a burden to my child?” After much persuasion, Wang Sheng finally convinced his father to come along.
“That was the first time my dad slept in a hotel room outside. He went to bed early, but couldn’t fall asleep until late at night. He was excited but tried not to show it,” Wang Sheng said. Seeing his father like that made him feel heartbroken. “He had never even been out of Beijing at that age.”
Since the Shanghai Marathon, Wang Sheng has taken his father along to every competition. After a few trips, Wang Yuanjie gained confidence in his own health and became willing to travel with his son.
Wang Sheng said, “During the races, my father cheers me on at the venue. Sometimes he watches the live broadcast in the hotel. After the race, we try some local snacks and explore the area.”
Over the past five years, Wang Sheng has taken his father to 105 cities across 17 provinces including Shanghai, Zhejiang, Qinghai, and Fujian. They also joined a tour group to Sinuiju, North Korea.
The father and son always choose to travel by train. “Bullet trains, high-speed rail, but more often regular trains,” Wang Sheng said. Aside from safety concerns, cost was also a factor. To this day, the family’s mortgage hasn’t been fully paid off. The total cost of the five-year trips with his father was over 60,000 yuan, mostly covered by credit card overdrafts. Wang Sheng’s older brother understands and has provided some financial support.
Through five years of traveling, the elderly man has learned to use a digital camera and look up travel guides online. Wang Sheng said his father has “kept up with the times.”
In July this year, Wang Yuanjie suffered a sudden cerebrovascular disease at home and was admitted to Aerospace General Hospital for treatment. He is now in the recovery phase. “After recovering, I’ll still go running with my son,” Wang Yuanjie said.