Beijing wedding photographers Li Fuli and Chen Haibin gave up their jobs in the capital and set off from Beijing on December 19 last year. Passing through Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and other places, they have recently arrived in Guangzhou. After a brief three-day stay in Guangzhou, they will set off again tomorrow. They say they plan to cycle around the entire country within two years, taking photos of the beautiful landscapes of the motherland to be auctioned off, with the proceeds going toward building a hope school in Huining County, Gansu Province.
Li Fuli is from Xinxiang, Henan, and is 38 years old. His oldest child is about to take the college entrance exam. He has worked as a wedding photographer in Beijing for one year. He said that he was deeply moved after seeing on TV how difficult the learning conditions were for children in impoverished areas, which inspired him to build a hope school in a poor region through his own efforts.
Dreaming of building a hope school
Li Fuli’s idea was supported by his colleague Chen Haibin, who is from Hunan and just turned 24 this year. To realize the dream of building a hope school, they decided to cycle around the country, take photos of the beautiful landscapes to be auctioned, and use the funds to build the school.
Li Fuli, who previously ran a grain business in his hometown, used his savings to buy two bicycles, as well as a DSLR camera, a laptop, a tent, and other daily necessities. He and Chen Haibin set off on December 19 last year.
So far, Li Fuli and Chen Haibin have cycled through seven provinces and cities, spending approximately 6,000 yuan.
Living in tents to save money
Long-distance cycling is a very tough endeavor. In order to save money, Li Fuli and Chen Haibin couldn’t bear to stay in hotels at night, so they pitched tents by the roadside. They said they originally planned to set off at 5 a.m. every day, but due to the cold winter weather, they had to start at 8 a.m., have lunch around 1 p.m., and rest only at around 6 or 7 p.m.
Li Fuli and Chen Haibin have taken many beautiful landscape photos along the way. On the evening of the Lantern Festival, they unfurled a petition banner by the Pearl River in Guangzhou, calling on citizens to show love and support for primary schools in poor villages in Huining County, Gansu. Their appeal received an enthusiastic response from many locals.