Dream
Hiking to Beijing while promoting the National Games along the way
At around 6 p.m. on August 6, Li Huayu hurried home from work to prepare for the trip. A backpack, four or five quick-drying shirts and pants, an atlas, and a walking stick made up all his luggage. “I’ve already taken leave from work, and I’ll set off on August 8,” said Li Huayu, explaining that since that day is National Fitness Day, he finds starting then especially meaningful.
At around 6 p.m. on August 6, Li Huayu hurried home from work to prepare for the trip. A backpack, four or five quick-drying shirts and pants, an atlas, and a walking stick made up all his luggage. “I’ve already taken leave from work, and I’ll set off on August 8,” said Li Huayu, explaining that since that day is National Fitness Day, he finds starting then especially meaningful.
Li Huayu took out an atlas with a clear red line marked on the map—it was the route he had carefully planned. From Anshan to Beijing, Li Huayu chose to follow National Highway 102, passing through cities such as Panjin, Jinzhou, Huludao, Qinhuangdao, and Tangshan. “I’ve calculated the journey to be about 700-plus kilometers, and I plan to reach Beijing in one month.”
Li Huayu said that since this was his first attempt at hiking such a long distance, he planned to walk about 30 kilometers per day, aiming to arrive at his final destination, the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall in Beijing, on September 9. “September 9 marks the 37th anniversary of Chairman Mao’s passing, so I think it’s meaningful to choose that day,” Li Huayu said with a smile, adding that this trip is also a commemorative journey.
On this hike to Beijing, Li Huayu also has another goal. “The National Games are being held in my hometown this year, and I want to use this opportunity to spread the spirit of the Games.” He took out a T-shirt printed with “National Fitness, Sharing the National Games,” which he plans to wear in every city he visits and take photos to show everyone that the National Games also has a sub-venue in Anshan. “People in Anshan are ready to welcome friends from all over the country.”
Preparation
Five months of intensive training to fulfill a dream
Though full of confidence before the trip, Li Huayu’s outward appearance—shirt, glasses, and scholarly demeanor—makes it hard to imagine he would take on such a big challenge like seasoned outdoor hikers. Li Huayu admitted that he is indeed far from being a professional, but ever since he got the idea in early March this year, he began training.
Though full of confidence before the trip, Li Huayu’s outward appearance—shirt, glasses, and scholarly demeanor—makes it hard to imagine he would take on such a big challenge like seasoned outdoor hikers. Li Huayu admitted that he is indeed far from being a professional, but ever since he got the idea in early March this year, he began training.
Because of his busy work schedule, Li Huayu could only train on weekends. “Every day I walk from Qianshan Middle Road Tobacco Post to Qianshan Mountain, and then walk back.” Li Huayu said the round trip takes about seven hours, and he walks whenever he can, gradually building up his stamina over five months.
Having worked in an office for long periods, he initially found walking strenuous—he would sweat profusely and be out of breath after just a short distance. “There were times I really thought I couldn’t make it,” he said, admitting he considered giving up. But he always felt uneasy about quitting, so he kept training. Now, unless it’s urgent, he chooses to walk rather than drive, and his family and colleagues have gradually noticed that the 40-year-old has picked up his pace. The “intellectual” has transformed into a “tough guy.”
Drove ahead to scout the route before departure
“Some places you can’t afford to get lost—if you do, it could delay you a whole day.” To ensure the success of his plan, Li Huayu prepared extremely cautiously, repeatedly checking the route online and through research. “Last week we borrowed a car and specifically drove the entire route,” said Li Huayu’s mother. “We left at 3 a.m. and arrived in Beijing around 7 p.m.” This scouting trip gave Li Huayu peace of mind, allowing him to confirm places to rest and eat along the way.
Family
Worried but mostly supportive
On the day of the scouting trip, Li Huayu’s family all got up early to accompany him, knowing he was still a novice and concerned about him traveling such a long distance over many days. His wife, Ms. Yan, said, “I’m always worried something might happen to him walking all that way alone.” So she installed the WeChat app on her husband’s phone so they could stay in constant contact. Li Huayu would also send photos from wherever he was to reassure his family.
On the day of the scouting trip, Li Huayu’s family all got up early to accompany him, knowing he was still a novice and concerned about him traveling such a long distance over many days. His wife, Ms. Yan, said, “I’m always worried something might happen to him walking all that way alone.” So she installed the WeChat app on her husband’s phone so they could stay in constant contact. Li Huayu would also send photos from wherever he was to reassure his family.
Seeing how hard he trained and understanding his determination to promote the spirit of the National Games, “He’s been preparing for so long and is determined to go through with it, so we have to support him and let him have peace of mind on this journey,” Ms. Yan said. With his departure approaching, she specially cooked several favorite dishes. “We’ll give him an even better welcome-home feast when he returns,” she said.
As this was Li Huayu’s first time attempting such a long hike, Zhou Changhai, an experienced outdoor adventurer, offered some advice. Hiking is most affected by nature and consumes the most energy, so it’s important to carry as little and as light luggage as possible, but include some common medications, and get familiar with the weather conditions of the destinations in advance. Try to avoid the hottest hours between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., “Don’t take remote paths, keep your phone signal strong, and maintain contact with the outside world in case of danger,” Zhou Changhai advised.
It was Li Huayu’s first time hiking such a long distance, so Zhou Changhai, an experienced “hiker” with years of outdoor adventure under his belt, offered him some tips. Hiking is most affected by nature and consumes the most energy, so it’s important to pack light but bring some common medications. Also, get familiar with the weather conditions of your destination in advance, and try to avoid the hottest hours between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. “Don’t take off-trail paths, keep your phone signal available, so that you can contact the outside world in case of danger,” Zhou Changhai said.