The dream of traveling the world is one many have had, but few are willing to give up a stable life to pursue it.
On the 8th, "Modern-Day Xu Xiake" Hei Jian came to Wuhan. This middle-aged man, who is not wealthy, suffers from illness, and doesn’t even speak English, spent 12 years traveling to 72 countries. In his view, travel has enriched the breadth of life, a kind of wealth that no house or car can buy.
Hei Jian was originally a producer at a TV station in Guangzhou. In 1999, while leading a team to film a program, the long-term high-intensity work caused him to suddenly develop acute nephritis and be hospitalized. When the doctor issued a critical illness notice, Hei Jian began to rethink the meaning of life. "If I were to leave this world soon, what would I regret the most?" His "bucket list" was filled with the names of different countries and regions. As soon as his condition improved slightly, he set off on a global journey in 2000.
At first, he traveled while working
Hei Jian used Golden Weeks and annual leave to travel. Before China had visa-free policies, he crossed borders into Vietnam and Russia using border permits. When tour groups were just becoming popular, he joined a group trip to Europe. When independent travel was still a new concept, he traveled alone to Chiang Mai, Thailand. But soon, these experiences were no longer enough for him. In 2007, he quit his job as a producer at Guangzhou TV Station, gave up a monthly salary of 15,000 yuan, sold his house and car, all just to travel wholeheartedly. "Some people said I was crazy, but I felt that at that moment, life meant something different to me."
weibo post by youmezz