Li Hei (left) and a Bruneian friend he met during the trip.
Yesterday, university student Li Hei spent one day in Wuhan before leaving to return to Shijiazhuang to conclude his graduation trip, which aimed to cover over 20 cities across 4 countries. Just over a month ago, Li Hei began his graduation journey. As of yesterday, apart from the cost of international flights and visa fees, his other expenses did not exceed 200 yuan.
Li Hei, 25, has just graduated from Sifang College of Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, where he studied architecture. To commemorate his unforgettable university life, Li Hei decided to embark on a solo graduation trip, relying on hitchhiking and staying with fellow travelers to solve transportation and accommodation issues, with a budget of no more than 150 yuan.
On June 22, Li Hei set off from Shijiazhuang carrying compressed biscuits and other dry rations, successfully hitching a ride to Zhengzhou. After staying for a day or two, he set off again, visiting Xi'an, Guangyuan, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Guiyang in succession, arriving in Kunming on June 30, spending just over 100 yuan in total.
On July 1, Li Hei flew abroad, traveling to more than 10 cities across 3 countries—Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. Before leaving, he bought stamps, postcards, and commemorative currency from various places to bring back as gifts for the fellow travelers and drivers who had helped him along the way.
“Apart from receiving help from warm-hearted people, what was even more rare was experiencing the trust between people.” In late June, Li Hei stayed at the home of a “couchsurfer” named Charlie in Chengdu. Charlie, an American in his 30s, has been working in China for over six years. Not only did Charlie offer him an independent room, but he also immediately gave him a set of house keys, saying, “You can stay as long as you like.”
The day before yesterday morning, Li Hei arrived in Wuhan, where he visited Wuhan University and the Yangtze River Bridge. Yesterday, he set off for Hefei before returning to Shijiazhuang to conclude this graduation trip. “Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. I’ve gained a lot of moving experiences—this was a journey without barriers.”