University Town: Xiao Xianguo runs from Hunan to Chongqing.
“Running not only keeps me fit but also allows me to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of our country.” Yesterday, “long-distance running legend” Xiao Xianguo arrived at Chongqing University Town from Hunan, passing through Guiyang, after more than a month on the road. Xiao has been running for 30 years, worn out over 400 pairs of shoes, and covered a distance of over 600,000 kilometers, earning him media titles such as “China’s Pheidippides” and “the Chinese Forrest Gump.”
Sometimes he sleeps by the roadside with his backpack as a pillow
Yesterday, reporters met Xiao Xianguo in University Town. He was wearing a red tracksuit, blue sweatpants, and carrying a backpack. Xiao, 53, is an ordinary farmer from Dianchong Village, Shuikuan Township, Zhijiang County, Huaihua City, Hunan Province. Due to frequent illness in his childhood, he took up running as an adult and has persisted in the sport for over 30 years, covering a total of over 600,000 kilometers across China.
In early April this year, Xiao set off from his hometown in Hunan, ran to Guiyang via Zunyi, and only entered Chongqing territory in early May.
Living off the land and sleeping under the stars every day doesn’t faze Xiao. He covers over 70 kilometers daily and is often hosted by locals along the way. However, when he first entered Chongqing, there was a stretch of national highway where he walked over 10 kilometers before finding a small shop to buy a bottle of mineral water. Aware that the area was remote, he had packed extra bottles of water.
By evening, he was both thirsty and exhausted, but couldn’t find a hotel. It was too late to bother the villagers, so he slept by the roadside with his backpack as a pillow. That night was tough, with mosquitoes keeping him awake.
The weather in Chongqing was hot, and Xiao, carrying a backpack weighing over 10 kilograms, found the journey grueling. He said he would be drenched in sweat every day, and even had to push on in the rain. One day, he caught a fever after getting wet but only bought cold medicine from a pharmacy before continuing on his way. Like this, over the course of a month, living rough, he finally reached Banan.
By then, the soles of the sports shoes he had been wearing since the start of his journey had broken, and the heels were cracked. He spent just over 100 yuan on a new pair of sports shoes. Then, passing through Nan’an District, Jiulongpo District, Dadukou District, and Shapingba District, he arrived at University Town. The journey from Hunan to Chongqing took over a month and covered more than 2,000 kilometers, during which he also took many photos.
Xiao said that after arriving at Chongqing University Town, he received warm hospitality from universities such as Chongqing Normal University and Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. Yesterday, Zhang Zijun, director of the Party and Government Office at Chongqing College of Electronic Engineering, told reporters that Xiao’s spirit was commendable, and he personally sponsored Xiao with a small amount of money.
“Chongqing has changed a lot—there are high-rises everywhere, and University Town is very beautiful,” Xiao said. Six years ago, during the 10th anniversary of Chongqing’s direct municipal status, he had specifically come to Chongqing.
Running across the country and writing over 50 notebooks
Why does he love running? Xiao said that he was weak and often sick as a child. After graduating from high school, he worked as a farmer at home. Feeling that running could improve his health, he started running to the county town at dawn every day and then back home, covering a round trip of over 30 kilometers.
In 1986, Xiao came up with the idea of running across the whole country. “On one hand, it’s good exercise, and on the other, I get to see the beautiful landscapes of our country,” Xiao said. Since then, running across China has become part of his life.
Afterward, Xiao ran to various parts of the country eight times in a row, covering around 70 kilometers per day on average. In this way, he ran through all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China except Taiwan. Xiao said that while running in Tibet, he even encountered wolves and storms, but none of these stopped him from continuing to run.
He has left footprints in the northernmost point of China in Mohe, Heilongjiang, the southernmost in Sanya, Hainan, the easternmost at the Hero First Outpost, and even along China’s borders with Myanmar, Vietnam, North Korea, and Russia.
During his journey across the country, he made it a point to visit local post offices in every place to stamp commemorative postmarks. Over the years, Xiao has collected over 300 kilograms of materials, written over 50 notebooks, compiled over 700,000 words of documented material, and taken over 4,000 photos.
Hoping to leave footprints in Taiwan
Xiao said that he has run through most parts of the country, but what he most wants to do now is to run in Taiwan, the beautiful island. “This is my dream. I don’t want to have any regrets,” Xiao said.
Xiao said he is currently applying for the relevant procedures and documents to go to Taiwan. Since the trip requires 60,000 yuan, with sponsorship from some organizations, the funding is almost in place.
Interview
Son looks forward to father fulfilling his dream
Xiao said that when he was young and loved running, it drew criticism from many fellow villagers, with some even calling him “crazy” and saying he was neglecting his farm work. However, after he ran across the country, people’s views changed, and many villagers felt his running was meaningful. Yesterday, a villager surnamed Li from Dianchong Village, Shuikuan Township, Zhijiang County, spoke to reporters by phone: “Xiao Xianguo’s perseverance is truly remarkable, and his spirit is admirable.”
Xiao’s wife divorced him many years ago, and his 19-year-old son currently works in Fujian. Speaking about his father, the son said that although he didn’t understand his actions at first, he now fully supports him as an adult and hopes his father can fulfill his dream soon.