With his skin still tanned from cycling around Hainan Island and not yet recovered, Wang Jiding, a senior at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, is setting off again. Yesterday, he arrived in Shenyang. The goal of this trip is to travel around the Northeast and visit Mohe County, the northernmost part of China.
　　      Wang Jiding, a post-90s native of Wuhan, was admitted to the Materials Science program at Huazhong University of Science and Technology after the gaokao. Having donated blood voluntarily more than ten times and taking leave to volunteer at the Guangzhou Asian Games... Wang Jiding, who claims to have done many "unreliable" things during college, decided to go on a "national tour" before graduation.
　　      Last October, Wang Jiding signed a contract with a foreign company in Shenzhen and faced working abroad after graduation. With no job-related worries, he hoped to enjoy the last days of college. While reading books, attending lectures, and getting his driver’s license, he also wanted to travel more.
　　      So far, he has gone on three long trips, each lasting over ten days and covering more than ten provinces and cities, traversing most of China. In western Sichuan, he once had a close brush with death. "I was hitching a ride with someone when we encountered a landslide. When reversing, the right wheel was just 1 cm from the edge of a cliff, with a rushing river below—it was truly terrifying." But this did not stop Wang Jiding from continuing his travels.
　　      After this year’s Spring Festival, Wang Jiding traveled around Hainan for nine days, spending only 600 yuan. "I didn’t eat seafood, stayed in cheap hostels, and traveled by bike." Before going to Hainan, he had his borrowed bicycle shipped to Haikou. Last year, after hiking for three days in Wuyuan, Jiangxi, he volunteered to load and unload wine to get a ride with a hotel delivery truck, and even got a free meal.
　　      Wang Jiding told reporters that his travel expenses come partly from scholarships and partly from part-time jobs, without adding any burden to his family. His money-saving "secrets" are: "Eat at small restaurants or with self-prepared snacks, stay with couchsurfing hosts or in youth hostels, and travel by hitchhiking, hiking, or biking."
　　      Wang Jiding said that since he has a lot of time in his senior year, he might as well go out and see more rather than staying in the dorm playing games all day. Although many classmates admire this "Budget Traveler Bro," no one wants to join him.
　　      Being in Vbengjing? I’ve added another one of my own　　      Though Wang Jiding has traveled frugally all along Vbengjing? he said, "Traveling has become a part of me. Each trip brings new discoveries and enriches my experiences. Most importantly, it has made me a better person!"　　      Hiking in Wuyuan "left me badly bruised"
　　      Wang Jiding’s idea to hike in Wuyuan, Jiangxi, came quite by chance.
　　      On the train to Jiujiang, he met a "travel buddy" who was a Ph.D. student at Wuhan University. Since both were in materials science, they hit it off during the journey.
　　      Wang Jiding said, "On the train, he told me a lot about traveling in Wuyuan. That’s when I decided to take the most primitive and pure way—hiking—to explore Wuyuan."
　　      In Wuyuan, a local once said, "If you’re young and healthy, you can walk too." As a result, Wang Jiding ended up with various bug bites all over his body from walking the whole way.
　　      Climbing a mountain with a mule as a guide
　　      "Huashan is definitely worth visiting—steep and challenging. That’s the true essence of mountaineering." But last summer, traveling from Luoyang to Huashan in Shaanxi was the first time Wang Jiding was scammed during his "budget travels."
　　      "I originally wanted to go in through the west gate, but the private car driver took us to the east gate." He later found out that there were hotels colluding with those drivers. Wang Jiding suggests not trusting private cars that solicit passengers and it’s better to take a taxi.
　　      While climbing Mount Emei in Sichuan, Wang Jiding first walked alone in heavy rain, then encountered two mules carrying goods, with their owner following behind. So he followed the two mules for a full four hours. "It was pitch dark, exhausting, and the rain and sweat had long mixed together."
　　      Comparing prices before buying a map
　　      "As a tourist city, Xi’an has high costs for tourism and accommodation." In Wang Jiding’s memory, Coca-Cola (500 ml) never cost less than 3 yuan in Xi’an, so he had to bring enough cash.
　　      To save money while "budget traveling," he compared prices even when buying maps. He recalled, "I asked at several street stalls, and maps were 5 yuan each—I thought it was too expensive and didn’t buy. Finally, at the entrance to an underground passage, I found maps for 3 yuan each."
　　      Majestic mountains, beautiful Tibetan villages, pretty girls, and kind-hearted men... These are the impressions Wang Jiding took away from Danba County, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province. "50 yuan for two meals—great value—and I got to try barley wine and local specialties like Sichuan pepper." He said, "Each night cost 30 yuan, but they only charged me 25, and I even got to drink butter tea. I’m really grateful to the Tibetan grandma."
　　      Experiencing a "Shangri-La"
　　      In Hongcun Village, Yixian County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, Wang Jiding experienced life like in a "Shangri-La."
　　      He said, "Along the way in the countryside, I talked with many elderly people. The 'furrows' on their foreheads, rough hands, and gray hair really felt warm and familiar. They would tell you stories about the local culture and history and would kindly invite you to eat fruit or drink tea. Their faces were always smiling, making you feel that happiness is simply about working at sunrise and resting at sunset—without all the scheming, ambition, or obsession with money, houses, or cars."
　　      Random chat leads to meeting a "wise person"
　　      In Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, after eating local snacks and returning to the hostel, the outgoing Wang Jiding started chatting with fellow "travel buddies" around him.
　　      From the hostel receptionist, to a young man who cycled from Lishui to Jingdezhen, to travelers from Shanxi, and even a Japanese tourist—everyone became his conversation partner. "At one point, the Japanese traveler invited me to travel around Asia with him."
　　On another occasion, while chatting with fellow travelers at a hostel, he discovered that there were hidden talents among his "fellow wanderers" beyond his imagination. He said, "There was this Tibetan guy who didn’t look remarkable at all. But after talking with him, I found out he had climbed Mount Everest twice and traveled across many famous mountains and rivers. It instantly filled me with admiration."
　　"The 'Budget Traveler' Enjoys the Final Days of University Life"
　　Refuses to Stay in Dorm Playing Games—Hikes, Bikes, and Hitchhikes Across the Country
　　Reporter: Why did you choose "budget travel"?
　　Wang Jiding: Getting closer to your dreams is a beautiful thing, and traveling has been my childhood wish. In elementary school, I wondered how I could reach the other side of the lake near my home; in middle school, I dreamed of when I could get to the other side of the sea; in university, I aspired to one day travel around the world. This longing heart is my greatest motivation. Meeting all kinds of people, seeing the scenery along the way, and eating authentic farmhouse food—“budget travel” is probably the truest life experience.
　　Reporter: Is "budget travel" difficult?
　　Wang Jiding: There are indeed various obstacles before setting out. No vacation? Wait for one or find one. No travel companion? Go on the road alone. No money? Prepare well and save up. No plan? Find your destination and get there by any means necessary. There’s nothing you can’t think of, only what you don’t dare to do. The moment you bravely take the first step, you’re already on your way.
　　Reporter: Are famous attractions worth visiting?
　　Wang Jiding: Well-known attractions attract crowds of tourists. When "paying homage," you might just be pushed along, blindly creating an atmosphere. Some lesser-known spots, whether you discover them yourself or stumble upon them during your journey, bring a kind of surprise that’s even more delightful.
　　Reporter: Which is more important, traveling or reading?
　　Wang Jiding: If you’ve read all the books in the world, you may instead feel more aware of how confined your surroundings are and yearn to understand the real world. If you’ve traveled everywhere, you’ll feel the joy of the journey but also realize the poverty of your own knowledge. Every time I travel, I always bring along a carefully chosen book to gain nourishment during my free time on the road.