Chen Chaobo walks with a backpack in Haikou.
A Hunan boy compiles his travel diaries into the book *90 Yuan to Travel China*, with Hainan as its final stop.
The post-90s traveler Chen Chaobo embarked on a solo journey with just one pair of shoes, a backpack, and 90 yuan, courageously leaving home to hike across every corner of the country, fulfilling his dream. Fellow travelers and online followers have dubbed him "China's traveler." On August 20, 2013, Chen Chaobo, born in 1991 in Hunan, arrived at the final stop of his "90 Yuan to Travel China" journey—Hainan. During his trek, Chen kept a diary, which he later compiled into the book *90 Yuan to Travel China*.
Chen Chaobo laughs about the hardships of his journey.
Dream unfulfilled, hair uncut.
The first time I met Chen Chaobo was at the Hainan Provincial Museum. He told reporters that to better plan his travels and understand a city’s culture and history, the most convenient and quick way is to visit its museums. With dark skin, bright eyes, and a lean, efficient demeanor, this was Chen Chaobo’s first impression. However, what left an even deeper impression was that this seasoned traveler had long, shoulder-length hair. "I won’t cut my hair until my dream is fulfilled," Chen casually told the reporter.
Born in November 1991 in Yongzhou, Hunan, Chen Chaobo is not yet 22 years old. What kind of motivation drove this "young man" to embark resolutely on the "90 Yuan to Travel China" journey?
Chen Chaobo lost both parents at the age of 3 and was raised by his grandmother. From a young age, he loved geography and dreamed of becoming a traveler. But due to his family’s poverty, he went to work in Dongguan after graduating from high school, starting an ordinary working life. Once, he saw an advertisement that read, "When you have a dream, the world will make way for you." Chen decided to revive his childhood dream, quitting his job immediately and heading straight for Kashgar, Xinjiang. This trip further solidified his dream of traveling across China. In May 2011, Chen made a bold and astonishing move: with just 90 yuan left, he decided to set out from Dongguan and begin measuring the land of his country on foot. "At first, many people didn’t understand or agree with my idea, but I still decided to move forward for my dream."
Persisting in the dream, working to fund the journey.
Game companies, websites, internet cafes, amusement parks, restaurants—over two and a half years of "poor" travel, Chen Chaobo was always on the road, but sometimes he had to stop and take odd jobs to fund his journey. Although he sometimes paused to earn travel money, his dream never wavered.
On the first leg of his journey, the 90 yuan ran out. But the fire of his dream couldn’t be extinguished. Faced with real challenges, Chen didn’t back down. Going without a single grain of rice for three days and feeling almost completely exhausted, he still thought about moving forward the next day. To earn travel money, Chen worked while traveling. Every city he passed left unforgettable footprints.
Trekking into Tibet, brushing shoulders with death.
Trekking allows you to witness the beauty of magnificent landscapes, but every step hides dangers. Perhaps because of years of solo trekking, Chen Chaobo "lightly" recounted his brushes with death, but to most people, these stories sound "thrilling."
In October 2011, he and a fellow traveler planned a trip to Xinjiang. On the way from Xinjiang to Lanzhou, Gansu, Chen decided to trek to Tibet. Thus, through trekking and hitchhiking, he successfully reached Lhasa in half a month.
To witness the beauty of Tibet firsthand, he decided to visit Nyingchi on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, but this time, he brushed shoulders with death. "In winter, Tibet is very cold, and the roads are icy. I accidentally slipped into a valley and lost consciousness. Fortunately, a passing herdsman saved me." Chen was unconscious for two days before waking up. Recalling that the valley floor was the Yarlung Tsangpo River, he felt a chill of fear.
After staying for a few days, the kind herdsman took him to Lhasa. His first brush with death made Chen realize the fragility and unpredictability of life, further strengthening his resolve to fulfill his dream.
Stranded in the desert, running out of supplies.
"Before reaching each city on foot, I always have a detailed plan. But one unplanned trek became an unforgettable adventure of my life." During his travels, Chen carried a tent, water bottle, compressed biscuits, and other essentials, setting up camp wherever it got dark. He faced all kinds of difficulties during his treks, but the adventure of running out of supplies while crossing the Qaidam Desert left a deep impression on him.
In October 2012, Chen decided to go to Lop Nur. To reach Lop Nur, he had to pass through the Qaidam Yardang Desert in northern Qinghai, crossing a 110-kilometer no-man’s-land—an unplanned part of his journey. On October 8, Chen and a friend brought 20 compressed biscuits and 12 liters of water and officially entered the Qaidam Yardang Desert, venturing into the 110-kilometer no-man’s-land with no signal. By the third and a half day in the desert, they ran out of water and food. "Just as I was losing hope, I spotted a few small houses in the desert. Inside, there was not only water but also rice." At 3 p.m. on October 13, Chen and his friend emerged from the no-man’s-land and returned to the road.
The Qaidam Yardang Desert crossing took five and a half days. Without a compass, GPS, or a guide, Chen relied on his memory to navigate, coupled with running out of water and food. "Although it was only five and a half days and very perilous, this experience taught me a lot and was worth savoring for a lifetime," Chen said. He added that the desert crossing boosted his confidence, preparing him mentally for future journeys around the world.
Being "missing" made him feel warm.
During his trek, Chen kept a diary, which he later compiled into the book *90 Yuan to Travel China*. Gradually, he became known to travel enthusiasts and netizens across the country, with his personal Weibo page receiving over 570,000 views and his space and Weibo followers totaling 80,000.
Chen Chaobo’s bravery in "90 Yuan to Travel China" moved many netizens. "If I don’t post on Weibo for just two or three days, netizens keep asking where I am—it’s a sweet burden," Chen told reporters, recounting the amusing story of being "reported missing." On April 16, 2013, several media outlets in Xinjiang published a report titled "Post-90s Traveler Missing on the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway," claiming that Chen Chaobo and a friend went missing after traveling from Aketao to Mazha in Yecheng on April 4. Concerned netizens urged the public security departments in Xinjiang and Tibet to search for him.
"At the time, I was on my way to Kunlun Mountain, where there was no signal, so I couldn’t post on Weibo," Chen explained. When he arrived at Duoma Township, Rutog County, Tibet, he saw a group of people in police uniforms looking for him, which puzzled him. Eventually, he learned that concerned netizens had called the police. The "missing person" mix-up made him feel warm. "I’m very grateful for everyone’s concern—it’s the strongest support for my solo journey," Chen said.
Traveling the world after China.
Over two and a half years, this Hunan youth trekked and hitchhiked nearly 30,000 kilometers around China, passing through more than 100 cities. Hainan was the final stop of his "90 Yuan to Travel China" journey. He will then return to his hometown in Hunan to organize recent diaries and write another travelogue.
"I want to travel to every corner of the world," Chen said. After exploring China, he plans to continue his journey worldwide, becoming a true "world traveler."