At the age of 56, this Chinese grandmother embarks on her initial overseas journey; currently, her global adventures unfold on a bicycle.
Against All Odds: Li Dongju, the 66-year-old Grandmother Cycling Her Way Through Life
Li Dongju, a spry 66-year-old from Zhengzhou, China, is a modern-day pioneer. She finds herself pedaling alongside twenty-somethings, but it's not their youth that's earned them a spot on her journey. Instead, Li has pedaled through 12 countries across three continents - Southeast Asia, Europe, and Oceania - visiting places like Cambodia, France, and Australia.
The retiree from China's central Henan province started her adventures on two wheels a bit late in life. She relied on translation apps for communication and camped in unusual spots like parks, gas stations, and even cemeteries. Despite her humble beginnings, Li's spirit has never faltered, and she calls her travels "life changing."
Li's cycling journey began in 2013 amidst a wave of envy. Watching a group of geared-up cyclists whiz past, she was inspired to embrace her newfound passion. The retiredgrandmother has been living on her pension - currently at 3,000 yuan ($414) a month - since being laid off from a state-owned textile factory in 2002.
To kickstart her cycling adventures, Li initially invested in a simple bicycle helmet. Eventually, her son gifted her a folding mountain bike, setting her back 1,000 yuan ($138). Although she dreamt of biking to Tibet, the "roof of the world," her limited starting funds seemed insurmountable.
Li took a job cleaning houses to save enough for her first cycling trip, which was to Southeast Asia accompanied by two skilled cyclists she met online. Her initial foray into adventure didn't go smoothly. A week into Vietnam, she lost her travel companions and ended up alone in a strange land.
But luck was on her side, as she encountered a Chinese-speaking local cyclist who helped her find her way home. Li was undeterred and decided to explore China by bike, shortly after pedaling through 20 cities, from Hainan in the southeast to Xinjiang in the far west. Her only travel companion during this trip was her loyal brown poodle Xili ("razor sharp"), who made the journey in a basket attached to Li's bike.
Xili, a dear friend, sadly passed away in 2023, at the age of 11. Despite this loss, Li's spirit remained undeterred. In 2017, she was ready to revisit Southeast Asia, this time better prepared with a smartphone and a comprehensive travel plan at her disposal.
With renewed determination, Li set off solo, biking through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. She continued her adventurous spirit, cycling through six European countries by 2019 and traversing Australia amidst the worst wildfires the country had seen in decades.
Along her incredible journey, Li encountered various challenges, such as losing her backpack in Australia and accidentally dodging border inspections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. But she also experienced countless heartwarming acts of kindness, like receiving a large bottle of ice-cold water, a hamburger, and some pomegranates on a blistering Australian day.
Her story serves as an inspiration to all, proving that travel and adventure are not the exclusive domain of the young. Li's courage and resilience have captured the hearts of many, including Chinese seniors who are hopping aboard travel trends, choosing outbound travel and even settling abroad.
Although her travels were halted by the pandemic, Li continues to dream of exploring the world. She plans to set off from Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates in the near future, her sights set on visiting at least 100 countries. As Li puts it, "Travel is like a drug. Once you taste it, you just can't stop."
Sentence 1: Sadly, Li Dongju's loyal companion, Xili, passed away in 2023, at the age of 11, but Li's spirit remained undeterred.
Sentence 2: Despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus, Li continues to dream of exploring the world and plans to set off from Kazakhstan to the United Arab Emirates in the near future.
Sentence 3: Li Dongju, from Zhengzhou, China, has traveled across 12 countries on her bicycle, visiting places like Cambodia, France, and Australia, proving that travel and adventure are not solely for the young.
