During her university years, an all-night hiking trip made her fall in love with the thrill and fun of travel. In her sophomore year, she and a classmate skipped classes for half a month, crammed onto trains from Xi'an to Hunan, and toured five provinces and cities. In May 2011, she used her savings from part-time jobs to embark on her first solo journey across four Southeast Asian countries—Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos—for an incredible 55 days. Along the way, she was forcibly removed by six policemen in Vietnam, managed to sweet-talk her way into Thailand without a visa at the border checkpoint, accidentally tore off a boy’s swimsuit while swimming in Laos before being rescued… Last July, after returning to Sanya from her Southeast Asia trip, she worked at a youth hostel for two months before setting off again—from Sanya—for a three-month journey through Tibet and Nepal.
Falling in love with the feeling of being on the road during university
Her name is Zhang Zuhui, born in 1989 in Yongzhou, Hunan Province. She graduated from college less than two years ago. Like many girls from Hunan, when you talk to her, you can feel her passionate, brave, daring, and adventurous spirit. But unlike many others, while her peers were diligently working and seeking their own happy lives, she chose to pack her bags, take her modest savings, and continue her budget travels.
At school, she often traveled with friends, but after graduation, she explored foreign lands solo. She would save up money to travel, then work again when funds ran out to save for the next trip.
A failed gaokao led Zhang Zuhui to a regular university. She enrolled in a vocational college in Xi’an to study fashion design. But as she didn’t like her major and didn’t know what to do at first, life suddenly felt directionless. On Tomb-Sweeping Day in 2007, during her freshman year, she went on a trip with fellow villagers, and that’s when she fell in love with traveling. That day, a fellow villager from Hunan said to her, “Come hiking with me.” It was this simple invitation that set her on the path of outdoor adventure.
An all-night hiking and mountain-climbing trip
That time, she joined a club and headed to Jiujingping Mountain in Xi’an. Hiking at night was something completely new to Zhang Zuhui, who had never done anything like it before. Around 9 p.m., everyone gathered at the foot of the mountain with their backpacks, setting off toward the peak in a grand group of ten under dim lights and moonlight.
They reached the summit at 9 a.m. the next day. “We walked from night until day, a full twelve hours. I felt so empowered, so thrilled,” Zhang Zuhui said. That hiking trip made her realize “life could be this (interesting).” In her second year of university, she used over 1,000 yuan earned from part-time jobs, skipped classes for half a month, and set off from Xi’an via Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, and Chongqing before returning to Xi’an—all by squeezing onto trains through second-tier Chinese cities. Because she had little money and a tight schedule, what stood out most on that trip wasn’t the beautiful scenery or delicious food, but the days spent cramped on trains and eating instant noodles.
After graduation
A 55-day journey
Budget backpacking through 4 Southeast Asian countries
Although budget travel was tough and exhausting, many friends thought she was making life harder for herself, but she fell head-over-heels for the experience and grew to love it even more. After working in Sanya for several months and saving up over 5,000 yuan, she couldn’t stay still and started planning another trip. After researching detailed travel guides online, Zhang Zuhui bought a map and initially mapped out a route: “Start from Guangxi – Vietnam – Cambodia – Thailand – Laos – back to Sanya.” She decided to use her remaining savings to explore Southeast Asia. On May 28, 2011, she set off from Guilin and spent 55 days traveling across four Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam and Thailand on a shoestring budget of 4,500 yuan, beginning her true journey.
Hitchhiking was a major part of Zhang Zuhui’s travels. Tractors, motorcycles, small trucks, large trucks, pickups, private cars, police vehicles, and even trucks carrying poultry. To this day, she can’t recall how many rides she’s taken, but she says, “As long as you have the courage to take the first step, you’ll open up a whole new world!” She even developed her own hitchhiking skills.
But life has its unpredictabilities, and there were long stretches where she couldn’t get a ride and felt helpless. Once, in a small Cambodian village, as the sky darkened, the anxious Zhang Zuhui stood by the roadside trying to hitch a ride for over two hours. Dozens of vehicles sped past, and although a few stopped, she wasn’t able to get a ride for various reasons. Suddenly, a strong sense of helplessness washed over her. Looking up at the sky and dragging her exhausted body, she slumped on the side of the road, thinking, “If I can’t get a ride, I’ll just camp here,” or “I don’t have the energy to flag down another car.”
Cried in desperation
In Thailand, facing deportation because she couldn’t get a visa, even this strong and brave girl broke down and cried. That day, she crossed from Vietnam into Thailand, but although she had heard others say you could get a visa on arrival in Thailand, she found out at the border checkpoint that only those with plane tickets could apply. In a foreign land, with no family or friends, and her Vietnamese visa expired, she had nowhere to go if she couldn’t get a Thai visa. “And there was a whole bus of people waiting for me—I was so anxious.” Despite her pleas, the border officers weren’t sympathetic at first. No matter how much she begged, they wouldn’t let her through. With no other options, she played her final card: “I’ll just stay here” and “If I have to, I’ll cry.” Eventually, with the help of the officers, she managed to secure her visa, and a smile of joy appeared on her face the moment she crossed the border.
Practicing like a monk in a Nepalese temple
Some people fall in love with travel because of photography, others because of the scenery, and some because of the people and experiences encountered along the way. But Zhang Zuhui’s travels seem to lack such clear motives. She believes that simply being on the road is the best part. She tries hard to immerse herself in local life and experience the lifestyle of the residents. In the second half of 2011, she went to Nepal to begin her spiritual pilgrimage. Every day, just like many others who came to the temple, she woke up early to meditate, chant scriptures, eat vegetarian meals, learn about Buddhism, and lived like a monk for half a month. She said she wasn’t there for religious faith—she just wanted to experience life as the locals do, and that made her feel content.
Sharing a dorm room with nine guys at a youth hostel
While others travel to enjoy life and spend a lot on luxury suites, for budget traveler Zhang Zuhui, just having a bed in a youth hostel is the happiest moment on the road. For just 10 to 20 yuan a day, she could rent a bunk bed in a hostel. Though the beds were usually very basic and most hostels had mixed-gender dorms, for her, it was the most luxurious expense. And yes, she once shared a room with nine guys and one other girl. Once, after arriving in a city and finally finding a youth hostel, there were ten beds—two occupied by girls. But the next day, the other two girls continued their journey, leaving her alone.
She said that although it was her first time encountering such a situation, mixed-gender dorms are actually quite common on the road. But often, when even those aren’t available, she would have to pitch a tent or use her sleeping bag to find her own accommodation. Most of the time, she would ask locals if she could set up her tent in their yard or against a wall for safety. Sometimes, when she met kind-hearted people, she could even stay as a couchsurfer, sleeping on someone’s living room sofa.
After a short break and a few months of work in Sanya, in mid-April, she’s setting off again for her second journey—to India, Israel, Egypt, and even war-torn Syria... Zhang Zuhui says she saves every penny just to travel farther, but her current savings of 5,000 yuan will probably only get her as far as India. On April 2, she posted on a community forum looking for “dream sponsors,” hoping kind-hearted people would support her dream trip in various ways.
Her upcoming Middle East trip is about to begin
After the post went up, netizens responded enthusiastically. Many praised her as “so bold and brave” and “truly admirable.” Some even contributed “50, 100, 500 yuan” to help fund the girl’s dream. As of press time, five netizens had raised over 1,100 yuan for her. Additionally, she hopes to get a digital video camera to document her travels if possible.
“The first time I came to Sanya, I fell in love with this place. The air is fresh, the sunshine is bright, and most importantly, the sea is green and clean—you can swim here all year round.”
Speaking of Sanya, Zhang Zuhui said excitedly. She loves adventure and challenges, but she’s also naturally cold-sensitive and loves swimming, which is why she’s been to many places but always returns to Sanya after each trip.
In March 2010, just before graduation, she came to Sanya alone for the first time. After spending a month there, she found she really liked the place and got a job at a local travel agency. After graduation, she returned to Sanya, worked in customer service at a travel agency, and later spent some time at a hostel. In March 2011, she traveled back to her hometown in Hunan, and in May of the same year, she began her 4-country Southeast Asia trip. At the end of July, after finishing her backpacking adventure, she didn’t return home but went back to Sanya, worked at the same hostel for two months, and then started her Tibet-Nepal trip. On December 10, 2011, after completing that journey, she returned to Sanya to rest. Since then, she has been working as a tour coordinator at a travel agency in Sanya. “I’ve been to many places, but I still love Sanya, so I always come back here after each trip,” Zhang Zuhui said. She shares an unspoken bond with Sanya. She loves Sanya just like she would love a person—without needing any reason. That’s why she chose Sanya as the starting point for her second journey.
Zhang Zuhui’s Travel Timeline
Hiked up Jiujingping Mountain in Xi'an from April 4 to 6, 2008.
From September 29 to October 14, 2009, set off from Xi'an with just 1,000 yuan, traveling through Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Chongqing, and then back to Xi'an.
Traveled to Sanya from Xi'an in March 2010.
Traveled from Sanya to Guilin, Yangshuo, and other places in March 2011.
From May 28 to July 22, 2011, "Orange" embarked on the first leg of her journey, visiting four Southeast Asian countries: Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos.
From September 12, 2011, to December 10, "Orange" continued the first leg of her journey by hitchhiking from Sanya to Tibet, then on to Nepal for temple pilgrimages and spiritual practice. In mid-April 2012, during the second leg of her journey, she planned to depart from Sanya for India, Israel, Egypt, and war-torn Syria… an exploration of the exotic Middle East.
A survival enthusiast accidentally pulled down a man’s swimsuit.
In July 2011, she visited a scenic spot in Laos where the highlight was a waterfall described as “water cascading three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way fell from the ninth heaven.” Next to the waterfall were two trees, and many European tourists would climb them and swing into the pool below, creating splashes of water—both thrilling and romantic. Seeing this, she couldn’t contain her excitement and climbed a tree before leaping into the pool. Whether due to her small stature or some other reason, she didn’t float up after jumping in but sank instead. Flailing around, she searched for something to grab onto—"a lifesaver"—and ended up clutching a European man’s swimsuit. Instinct took over, and she held on with all her might, accidentally pulling his swimsuit down. The man quickly reached out and pulled her up, then left in embarrassment. When she caught her breath and turned to thank him, she couldn’t find him anywhere. Remembering the awkward moment, she felt utterly mortified, wishing she could just disappear into a hole in the ground.
Overcharged $5: Ended up paying $10 for a ride.
When traveling abroad, unfamiliarity with the local area and language can easily lead to being overcharged. "Orange" experienced this too. While traveling in Laos, she wanted to visit a local attraction, but taking transportation there was costly and hard to arrange. She considered booking through a local travel agency. The agency quoted her $30, which was much cheaper than going alone but still seemed expensive. She tried to negotiate with the driver, asking if he could offer a better price. After some back and forth, he agreed to take her for $10, which she thought was the best deal. However, when she later chatted with her hostel owner about it, the owner revealed that the actual cost to visit the attraction was only $5. That’s when she realized she had been overcharged.
A chance encounter on the road: Sparks flew with an Indian boy.
He was an Indian PhD student studying in the U.S., and Zhang Zuhui met him in Guilin. They stayed in the same youth hostel—him in the top bunk, her in the bottom. They hit it off, shared meals, and explored the nighttime scenery along the Li River. She thought travelers they met along the way would just be passersby, but four days after parting in Guilin, they ran into each other again at a small restaurant. The boy extended his vacation, and the two spent a week in Yangshuo together. Though they went their separate ways afterward, they kept in touch via email and grew fond of each other. “It felt like such a long time had passed—over 20 days,” Zhang reflected, her longing for the boy hidden deep in her heart. About 20 days later, they both hitchhiked to Thailand, met up again, and spent a short but joyful week together as boyfriend and girlfriend. Later, the boy returned to the U.S. to continue his PhD, while Zhang continued her travels. Compared to the more rugged life of budget travel, those precious days together stood out as truly beautiful.