27 years acquainted, 11 years in love, 8 years married, 10 years of backpacking — A legendary couple that inspires envy among travelers
"Love may fade, but our hand-in-hand travels never will." On Renren.com, the devoted travel-loving couple Zhang Qianli and Left Hand have captured the attention of netizens. A curated set of photos documents their amazing moments backpacking around the world over the past 10 years. Thirty-six "photo diaries" have been widely shared online. The female lead, Left Hand, has a delicate beauty and radiant smile as the two hold hands and explore the globe together, leaving many in admiration.
"All I want is to hold your hand" — 11 years in love, 23 countries explored
Rather than envying the fairy tale of "holding hands and growing old together," take a closer look at the footsteps of Zhang Qianli and Left Hand as they "traveled the world." In this photo series titled "11 Years of Love," scattered travel memories have been thoughtfully compiled.
The photo story of Zhang Qianli and Left Hand began in 2002, with the two shyly hugging in front of the camera in the small town of Shitang, wearing winter hats and cotton-padded clothes. And so began their journey of traveling hand in hand. Their photo from Chongming that same year didn’t capture their faces directly, only showing Left Hand’s graceful back in a long cotton dress, leaving much to the imagination. From Shaoxing and Shengsi to Guizhou, the couple gradually expanded their travel radius. Nepal in 2004 marked their first step abroad. In front of the camera, Zhang Qianli still smiled subtly with his lips closed, while Left Hand maintained her signature toothy grin.
By 2006, the pair had traveled through the Czech Republic, France, and Spain. In 2007, they visited Bali and Tibet; in 2008, Thailand and Germany. Everywhere they went, Zhang Qianli and Left Hand would don outfits inspired by local cultures for commemorative photos. On the cold winter streets of Germany, in Cuba’s Half Penny Bar, and in the ancient city of Safranbolu in Turkey, with sunset and cooking smoke in the air; in Canada’s Banff National Park, their hands remained tightly clasped between heaven and earth. Careful netizens did the math — the countries featured in just the shared photos totaled 23. "All I want is to hold your hand. To grow old together, until death do us part." For this enviable photo-travel diary, all netizens can do is admire and marvel: a life like this is more than enough.
"You take the photos, I’ll provide the smiles" — It’s great to have someone to explore the world with you
The amazing story doesn’t end there — their final photo together adds even more meaning to the collection. Compared to previous shots, the last photo isn’t particularly professional in composition or framing. The boy still smiles shyly at the camera with his lips closed, while the girl sits facing him, holding a doll. It’s clear that Zhang Qianli and Left Hand were childhood sweethearts. "I see a childhood romance," one netizen commented after viewing the photos.
"The most beautiful story is when you take the photos and I provide the smiles." After this photo series was uploaded online, netizens shared and reposted it, expressing "envy, jealousy, and admiration." "After seeing the last photo, I’m genuinely envious — and tearing up," wrote netizen "CheCHE" bluntly. "DieXiaoYao" saved every single image. "I think the author shared these photos to spread beauty and hope about life." Free from constraints, leisurely travel — the photos strike a chord with the most yearned-for yet vulnerable parts of netizens’ hearts. The story of "a boy on a bamboo horse riding around the bed, playing with green plums" is also a favorite topic. "You need the heart to just go, and someone who can travel the world with you," summarized netizen "Yuhui" aptly: the simpler the life, the happier it is.