This year at 56, with a thick leather belt around his waist, an old camouflage military cap on his head, and pulling a rickshaw weighing over 200 kilograms, he has been hiking for 8 years and has traversed 80,000 li (approximately 40,000 kilometers) of China’s landscape. He is Chen You, nicknamed the “Rickshaw Uncle” by netizens.
Wore Out 95 Pairs of Shoes in 8 Years
In mid-May, the “Rickshaw Uncle” came to Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, where he was interviewed by this reporter. The rickshaw that accompanied him on his over seven-year trek was parked near a square, with the Five-Star Red Flag fluttering on top. Its body bore bold slogans such as: “Eighty thousand li through wind and moon, with broad vision and a humble heart,” “Racing toward the Guinness World Record with 100,000 li on foot,” and “Challenging human limits, creating a world miracle,” attracting many passersby to stop and look.
Chen You is from Handan, Hebei. Since he left home on his journey eight years ago, this rickshaw—reinforced with iron plates and equipped with a canopy—has become his closest companion. The rickshaw is about 1 meter wide and 3 meters long, just enough for one person to lie inside. Inside the rickshaw are a bed, tableware, and a gas tank, while the outer plastic sheeting features a map of China covered with travel routes. “Those are all the places I’ve passed through,” said Chen. Over the past eight years, he has worn out 95 pairs of shoes, ruined 24 tires, and traveled through all 32 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China. He plans to apply for a Guinness World Record in 2015.
The Most Dangerous Moment Was Crossing Xinjiang’s Uninhabited Area
When asked why he chose to hike across China while pulling a rickshaw, Chen smiled humbly: “At first, I just enjoyed traveling around for fun. It wasn’t until 2001, when I was in Xiamen, that a local professor told me that instead of wandering aimlessly, I should do something to promote the Olympics.”
Those words struck a chord with Chen. After three years of preparation, in 2005, he rode a bicycle from Handan to Shanghai. “But once I arrived in Shanghai, I had no money and had to sell the bicycle and work to save up for travel expenses.” Later, he spent more than 2,000 yuan to build this iron-sheet-covered rickshaw and continued on his way. “When I set off, I only had about 60 yuan. Without the support of so many kind-hearted people, I don’t know if I could have made it.” Though he has eye problems, he insisted on keeping 13 notebooks filled with words of encouragement from well-wishers. These encouragements gave this former soldier the courage to keep going.
So, at his peak, he walked over 60 kilometers a day, crossed the rugged mountainous terrain of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and trekked through the windy, oxygen-thin Tanggula Mountains. Chen said the journey was full of hardships. “The most dangerous time was in 2009 in Xinjiang, in a 600-li uninhabited desert area,” he recalled. “I really regretted it at the time,” but ultimately, he relied on biscuits and naan bread, following the national highway, to walk out of the desert.
Determined to Challenge the Guinness World Record
This is Chen’s first time in Changzhou. “At the beginning of May, I went to Nanjing, then along Zhenjiang, and arrived in Changzhou,” Chen said. He added that the city has good greenery, beautiful surroundings, and most importantly, healthy mindsets among its residents. “There are many outdoor enthusiasts here, and many people understand my vision. I feel the awareness of the people here is quite advanced.” “By the time I was walking, the Olympics were already over, so my current goal is to challenge the Guinness World Record for hiking while carrying a load,” Chen said. Such a challenge has never been done before. He plans to go to Shanghai first, then continue heading north, covering 50,000 kilometers. “I’ve set Shenyang as the final destination, and to achieve this goal, I still have to walk for another 2 years.”