A young man who hiked 3,300 kilometres across China has emerged looking much, much older. - Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
BEIJING: A 31-year-old man in China has spent nearly a year hiking for 3,300km from his hometown in central Hubei province to Lhasa in Tibet.
However, the journey has taken its toll, transforming him to look like he is in his 50s.
The man, who uses the alias Liqi on a leading social media platform, embarked his solo trip from Jingzhou in Hubei, central China, on April 6 last year and arrived in Lhasa on March 11, Jiupai News reported.
During the trip, which included scaling several high-altitude mountains, Liqi walked while pushing a two-wheeled cart on which he put all he needed for daily living.
He experienced extreme weather, such as typhoons, storms and heavy snow, and was confronted by wild wolves twice.
Other challenging moments included once when his cart fell into a ditch and its wheels were broken.
Liqi slept in all manner of places along the way and was even confronted by wolves. - Photo: 163.com
In the last few months, Liqi’s right knee was seriously injured, forcing him to hobble while finishing the last section of the trek.
In a video released on March 8, he said a blizzard left him stuck on a mountain for a whole day, during which he could not eat.
It is not clear what motivated Liqi, who worked in the garment business before, to undergo the arduous trip.
He said he is aware of the dramatic change to his appearance after he was exposed to the elements for so long.
“I am 20 years older than when I started my journey,” Liqi said self-mockingly.
He regularly slept in the wild and occasionally stayed in petrol stations or the offices of forest protection officials. He had not bathed or changed his clothes for the past six months, he added.
Liqi kept his expenses at around 1,000 yuan (US$140) per month by cooking simple meals.
After arriving in Lhasa, he said he would take a bath, cut his hair and do live-streams to share his experience.
Extreme weather and searing sunlight left Liqi looking more than twice his actual age. - Photo: 163.com
Reacting to doubts from some internet users who thought he was hyping his story, Liqi said: “I just live in my own way. It is not torturing myself, but another form of challenge.”
He will take a train back home because of his leg problems and financial situation.
Liqi’s experience is not unique.
Last year, a man, born in 2000, was called “uncle” by internet users for his rugged appearance after he had been hiking for months in Northern and Western China, areas which feature plateaus and strong ultraviolet rays.
In another eye-catching case, a 28-year-old woman who was filmed hiking on a national highway looked 30 years older than her age when she finished. - South China Morning Post
