Lin Tinghong had already cycled through 17 provinces in China during his university years. This time, he plans to go "moneyless" around Southeast Asia as preparation for a "moneyless" trip around the world in December. To realize his dream, he simply quit his job and hit the road.
Lin Tinghong, a 27-year-old from Fujian, said: "Society portrays people as too bad. I want to experience the beauty of humanity by accepting help along the way."
"Travel around China before 20, and around the world before 30." This dream has been repeated many times by Lin Tinghong. "I just want to prove that I am better than others."
Wrote a will before heading to Tibet
In July 2005, as a freshman, he used his summer vacation to buy a second-hand bicycle for 200 yuan and set off from Fujian with just 300 yuan. He passed through Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, and other places, eventually reaching Beijing. After graduating from university in 2006, he set off again by bicycle, passing through Sichuan, Tibet, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Hebei, ending his journey once again in Beijing. He cycled over 10,000 kilometers, visited 17 provinces, and spent a total of half a year on the trip.
"These experiences are necessary; just maintain a good mindset," Lin Tinghong told reporters. Like many cyclists, because he had heard that traveling to Tibet was full of difficulties, he also wrote a "will" before going there. According to his recollection, when passing through the Tanggula Pass, he indeed experienced a "frightening moment." At that time, there was a heavy snowstorm, and he and another traveler he met along the way, in order to keep things simple, did not bring much cold-weather gear. Riding against the snowstorm all day, they couldn't find a place to take shelter from the snow. Even worse, because it was so cold, their hands were frozen and they couldn't even brake, making the ride extremely perilous. "At that time, I didn't think much about it, just kept pedaling forward desperately." As it got darker, even the usually calm Lin Tinghong began to worry. Eventually, as night fell, they finally found a civilian house and escaped danger.
Quit job and put on cycling gear
"I have never forgotten this dream for a moment." Lin Tinghong, who has been graduated and working for six years, has never forgotten the promise he made to himself during his university years. At the age of 27, he resolutely quit his job, put on cycling gear, got on his mountain bike, and set out with zero money.
As for why he chose to travel around the world without money, he gave the reporter three reasons. "I have basically completed traveling around China, so it's time to increase the difficulty," he said as his first reason. The second reason is that he believes society portrays people as "too bad," so he wants to experience the beauty of humanity by accepting help along the way.
"Traveling around the world costs a lot of money, and I don't have that much." This was the doubt raised by many students when he shared his China trip at a university in Fujian, and it is also the most important motivation that prompted him to decide to travel around the world penniless. "I just want to show them that you can travel around the world without money," he said. "Of course, I really don't have the financial means either."
Parents criticize him for not being serious
It is understood that although his courage has received applause from many people, there are still many who do not approve. The first to strongly oppose this "impulsive" move were Lin Tinghong's parents. "They often scold me, saying I'm not serious about my career," Lin Tinghong said. He has not had a girlfriend yet, and his career in previous years was not smooth, having changed jobs several times. For these reasons, this "feat" has also put him under great pressure. "I still want to realize my dream, take good care of them after thirty, and then consider finding a girlfriend," he said.
Experience in Guangdong
Begged for 1 yuan in transportation fare, pharmacy staff gave 5 yuan
After some consideration, Lin Tinghong decided to cycle to Southeast Asia to warm up for his December world tour. The route is Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore. He set off from Zhangpu, Zhangzhou, Fujian on July 8, and after 14 days of cycling, arrived in Guangzhou yesterday.
He told reporters that during the few days in Hong Kong, being penniless was quite tough for him. He had nothing to eat and no place to sleep, so he had to sleep next to an ATM at a bank. "The first day I wasn't driven away, but the second day I was," Lin Tinghong said with a smile. He said the security guard drove him away at around 1 a.m., and with no other choice, he had to spread out a bamboo mat and sleep by Victoria Harbour.
Although the "embarrassments" brought by having no money came one after another, his attitude remained optimistic. He told reporters that he once asked passersby at a subway entrance for some transportation fare. He stood for over an hour and finally, Lin Tinghong "begged" eight yuan. "I have to be grateful to these people."
In Puning, Guangdong, because of sudden severe pain in his knees, he decided to hitch a short ride. So, he explained the situation to a motorcycle taxi driver, who, after understanding, gave him one yuan to take the bus. When he got on the bus, he realized it cost two yuan, so he got off and "begged for transportation fare" again. He went into a pharmacy and asked the salesperson, "Can you give me one yuan for a ride?" Then he explained the reason to her. The salesperson was moved by his sincerity and took out five yuan from the drawer, saying, "Use the rest to buy some water." "I almost cried at that moment," Lin Tinghong told reporters. Along the way, it was kind-hearted people who helped him solve food and accommodation issues. "As long as you're sincere, food and lodging can still be managed. There are still more good people in society."