Zhang Peng, a post-80s man from Hainan, set off from Haikou on April 13 and after four and a half months, arrived at China’s northernmost point, Arctic Village. Passing through multiple provinces including Guangdong, Fujian, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, Tianjin, Beijing, Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang, he solo-hiked over 6,000 kilometers, finally completing this long journey on September 1—a full one and a half months ahead of his planned six-month schedule.
Reflecting on these four and a half months, Zhang Peng said the toughest challenges were the harsh environment along the way and lack of supplies. Yet, the help he received from many people was an indispensable factor in achieving his goal.
Travel is like basking under the scorching sun
Zhang Peng said that during the journey through Fujian in June and July, he encountered many mountain paths. With the peak summer heat, temperatures often reached around 40°C daily, so he had to walk almost the whole day under the blistering sun. He could only endure by constantly soaking a towel in cold water and placing it on his head.
At the end of hardship comes light
Inside a three-kilometer tunnel in Fujian, Zhang Peng, having not prepared any lighting equipment in advance, had to grope his way through complete darkness. Recalling the tunnel experience, he still finds it tough. “All I could see was a tiny pinpoint of light far ahead—knowing the exit was there.”
The Inner Mongolia region experiences large day-night temperature differences, often feeling like deep winter at night. The mosquitoes in the grasslands were especially aggressive, causing Zhang Peng great distress: “Even menthol oil didn’t help much. I had to keep swatting away the mosquitoes and flies surrounding me, day and night. They could really drive you crazy, but I made it through!”
Survival challenges under extreme conditions
On the way close to Mohe, the weather in the north began to turn cold. Zhang Peng said, “Often, icy rain would pour down relentlessly, making you feel as cold as inside a freezer.” Coming from Hainan, where it’s summer all year round and snow is almost nonexistent, Zhang Peng faced huge daily challenges hiking in such weather.
From Mohe to Arctic Village, there were no villages along the way, with very few people and no places to resupply. Due to fatigue, Zhang Peng quickly ran out of water. In a state of extreme thirst and exhaustion, he even instinctively searched for discarded water bottles by the roadside. “At that moment, I didn’t think about whether the water was clean or not—I just knew my body desperately needed it.” And so, he pushed through the 40-kilometer stretch.
Later, Zhang Peng found a small stream and drank his fill. After recovering physically, he quickly completed the remaining distance and reached his final destination, Arctic Village.
Moved along the way, gaining confidence through travel
Many times due to the harsh environment, Zhang Peng had to ask for help from local residents along the road, and he was always warmly welcomed. In mid-August, while crossing Inner Mongolia, Zhang Peng got off track due to a navigation error and still hadn’t reached his intended destination by evening. It was already very late, so he sought help from the few local households available. The kind locals took him in, prepared meals for him, and even heated up a warm kang bed for him to rest on.
When asked about his feelings after completing the entire journey, Zhang Peng said, “Visually, I personally witnessed the grand landscapes of our country and experienced the diverse customs of different regions—something books can never compare to. Psychologically, you become more confident.” Covering 6,000 kilometers, with about 5,000 kilometers completed by running, and finishing a full one and a half months ahead of the planned six-month trip, Zhang Peng was thrilled to have surpassed his own expectations. “As broad as your heart is, that’s how far you can go. And as far as the road is, that’s how wide your heart can become!”