Over 10 years, she traveled across China and visited 20 countries. For this Hangzhou native, Zhang Zhijun, these 10 years have been incredibly fulfilling. Born in 1984, she loves high heels, adores pink, fills her car with dolls, and owns dozens of Hello Kitty items. Yet beneath her gentle appearance lies a strong heart.
No money? Work harder to earn it. No time? Quit your job. Nothing can stop her from exploring the world. Recently, she just finished a four-month trip, leaving unforgettable memories in Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Georgia, Turkey, Iran, and the UAE.
A decade of backpacking filled with adventure and warmth
Zhang Zhijun enjoys simple travel — just a backpack, a DSLR camera, a small pot, essential clothes, and daily necessities.
She calls it “clear traveling,” which could be described as a combination of budget travel, volunteering, couchsurfing, backpacking, and hitchhiking.
Starting in 2003, Zhang Zhijun gradually traveled across various provinces in China. From 2008 onward, she turned her gaze abroad, visiting Vietnam, Cambodia, and Malaysia with companions. In 2011, she went to Tibet for the second time, hitchhiked alone to the remote Ngari region, then traveled along the Sino-Nepal Friendship Highway to Nepal, and onward to India, Thailand, Laos, before returning to Yunnan — a journey of nearly three months with a total cost of 10,000 yuan. In 2012, after scoring free and discounted flight tickets, she went to the Philippines to see the sea. That September, she traveled from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, then on to Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Georgia, Turkey, Iran, the UAE, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Malaysia — a four-month trip. She returned to China just before this year’s Spring Festival, spending nearly 30,000 yuan.
Every detail of her journeys compiled into the book “Clear Traveling Under the Sun”
Zhang Zhijun documents every trip she takes.
In Lebanon, her iPhone was stolen; in Turkey, her bank card was retained by an ATM; she even encountered hooligans and perverts; in Iran, her iPad was taken...
At that time, Zhang Zhijun truly felt helpless and cried for days. Fortunately, there are still many kind-hearted people in the world. The warmth and friendliness of Iranians gave her great encouragement, and every host she stayed with offered ample help, helping her face future travels positively.
The little moments from her journeys are always hard to forget. In Sri Lanka, she waited for the end of the world with “Soy Sauce Guy” at the southernmost tip of the continent; in Indonesia, she rode a motorcycle at night with two Canadian girls to climb an active volcano and watch the sunrise; in Egypt’s Bahariya Oasis, a Bedouin man drove her into the Sahara Desert to admire a stunning sunset; in Turkey, the cousin of her host invited her to soar through the clouds — a rare opportunity for a free paragliding experience...
These extraordinary encounters were compiled into the book “Clear Traveling Under the Sun,” which has now been officially published. Zhang Zhijun said she is willing to share every story from her journey with everyone. “I’m not a professional writer, nor a professional photographer, and I’m not even a particularly professional traveler. But I hope this book can offer a different perspective on seeing the world.”
Travel within your means, and be cautious when hitchhiking
Zhang Zhijun is actually an interior designer. After graduating from university in 2007, she has switched jobs three or four times. Whenever the desire to travel clashed with work, she chose to resign. After returning from trips, she often dives back into work with renewed enthusiasm.
“I feel lucky. My profession and career allow me to live this way. Many people want to travel, but they have to consider practical issues,” Zhang Zhijun said. Travel should be within one’s means, and she doesn’t advocate excessive extravagance, whether in terms of physical energy or money.
After visiting so many countries, do you have any tips to share? Zhang Zhijun summarized a few points:
Do necessary research before departure, and always respect local beliefs and cultures.
No matter what, safety comes first. It’s always good to be more alert. Although most people are kind, it’s wise to be cautious in your behavior and words.
Hitchhiking is quite risky. Girls should preferably travel with companions; avoid hitchhiking at night; dress modestly; don’t flaunt valuables, and learn to read people; when staying with travel companions, be polite and friendly; prepare some small gifts, which can have unexpectedly positive effects during the trip.
If you plan to be a couchsurfer, always check reviews of your host before confirming their invitation online; once you stay, you can proactively help with household chores; knowing how to cook a few authentic Chinese dishes is usually well appreciated.