Hu Beilei completed an exciting and warm "Spring Festival travel rush" journey (Image source: China News Weekly)
Hu Beilei's travel route diagram (Image source: China News Weekly)
Hu Beilei on the journey
Hu Beilei taking a photo with the driver who gave him a ride
25 hitchhiking rides, passing through 7 provinces, covering 3700 kilometers, from Nanjing to Urumqi. From December 25, 2010, to January 6 this year, Hu Beilei, a senior male student, spent 13 days using free hitchhiking to complete his journey home.
Socks stuffed with life-saving money [High-definition pictures: College student hitchhiked 3700 kilometers home]
"How far can my passion take me?" Hu Beilei once asked himself in a Weibo post. This 24-year-old senior student at Nanjing Normal University, studying electrical engineering and automation, gave himself a perfect answer with concrete actions.
"This hitchhiking trip home was not a spur-of-the-moment adventure, nor was it due to not being able to buy Spring Festival travel tickets," Hu Beilei said, explaining that this was a trip he had planned for a long time. His plan was inspired by the documentary "Hitchhiking to Berlin." The story of two Chinese-American guys hitchhiking 88 times, crossing over 16,000 kilometers from Beijing to Berlin, made him determined to try this mode of travel before graduation.
His backpack contained a sleeping bag, clothes, a camera, cookies, a map, postcards, and 60 yuan. Additionally, he had 100 yuan stuffed in his socks. "If I get robbed, I'll hand over everything I have on me, but the money in my socks will be kept as emergency money," Hu Beilei said.
The journey proved there are many kind people
At 10 am on December 25, 2010, Hu Beilei set out from Nanjing Normal University, taking a bus to the 312 National Highway. After nearly 4 hours of walking, he hitched a ride on a truck parked by the roadside for maintenance.
"I didn't have a very detailed plan before leaving; I just knew that following the 312 National Highway would lead me home," Hu Beilei said. Initially, he thought hitchhiking wouldn't be difficult; all he needed to do was wave his hand, and surely a car would stop. However, along the way, he encountered countless rejections.
The longest wait was at a toll station in Datong County, Qinghai, where he waved his hand for 3 straight hours. His persistence moved the toll station staff, who all helped him stop cars. In Guazhou, known as the world's wind tunnel, he was blown around in the Gobi Desert. Eventually, a large truck driver braked for over 100 meters and pulled him into the cab.
"There were two people in the truck; the driver was holding onto the door tightly while another master pulled me into the car," Hu Beilei said. These two drivers deeply moved him as they didn't ask any questions and took him on the road directly. Upon reaching Guazhou, they not only treated him to a meal but also tried to give him 100 yuan.
"The parental and school education I received always warned about the complexity of society, telling me not to easily talk to strangers, but actually, the world isn't that bad. Most people are kind and willing to help others," Hu Beilei said. This was his biggest realization during the journey.
Never hitchhiking at night, staying in hotels
On the evening of December 31, 2010, upon arriving in Lanzhou, Hu Beilei bought sunflower seeds and beer, celebrating the New Year's arrival in a small hotel room.
"That night was particularly lonely, and I missed home so much, longing for its comfort and warmth. I eventually got drunk and fell asleep," Hu Beilei said. The greatest pain along the way was loneliness, but he never thought of giving up. "At most, when I couldn't find a ride, I considered buying a long-distance bus ticket to reach the next station and continue hitchhiking."
During the journey, Hu Beilei feared the coming of nightfall. "This meant I had to find a place to spend the night," he said. He rarely stayed in hotels to save expenses. Many nights, he spent in internet cafes or in the driver rest areas of highway service stations. "In the driver service area, I would put together a few chairs, cover myself with clothes, and sleep for the night."
Hu Beilei never hitchhiked at night. "Nighttime hitchhiking is unsafe, and many drivers' vigilance increases, making it harder to get a ride," he said.
At 8 pm on January 6, Hu Beilei finished his last ride and was dropped off one kilometer from home.
"25 vehicles, countless good-hearted people, it's because of you that I believe I can fly higher and farther in my own sky. If you really want to do something, the whole world will help you. Don't let your ideas remain just ideas," Hu Beilei summarized in his blog. By reporter Shi Minglei
"Hitchhiking has three things that work well"
■ Interview
Beijing News: What was the biggest gain from your hitchhiking journey?
Hu Beilei: This journey made me realize the importance of trust: trusting yourself, daring to act, and not giving up; mutual trust between people. Hitchhiking itself is a process of establishing trust between strangers. Sincerity and kindness are the best ways to build trust. Some drivers who picked me up expressed that they would be more willing to help other hitchhikers in the future.
Beijing News: What are your hitchhiking techniques?
Hu Beilei: Three things work well: a smile, a student ID, and sincere communication. When hitchhiking, you need to be thick-skinned; strong mental resilience, not afraid of rejection; good at chatting with drivers; I also carry many postcards with me, which I give as gifts to drivers.
Beijing News: Did your family support your 'adventure' behavior?
Hu Beilei: My girlfriend once scolded me, saying, "Do you think you're an explorer?" My parents were also upset when they learned I hitchhiked home, thinking I was too bold. My younger brother gave me an evaluation: "Brother, you're getting weirder."
Of course, many classmates supported my actions, saying I helped them fulfill this dream. In fact, many people hope for such rich and interesting life experiences.
This hitchhiking trip home was not the end of my journey. I will choose this mode of travel again, but it's probably better not to tell my parents beforehand, even if they support me, they will still worry a lot.