Sat in my garden in Sheffield South Yorkshire UK reading this and was transported back to China. In 1993 I spent 2 months backpacking across China with only a set of info cards stating I was a vegetarian and English. It’s a vast country and I barely saw any of it and to be honest it was challenging but then I headed back to Europe across Russia - the contrast was stark. - at that time it seemed the whole population of Russia was aggressively drunk -unlike friendly but confusing China. Since then it’s just been tier 1 cities. Hats off to this young man may he have many more adventures
Sitting in my warm car watching my lad play football in subtropical Brisbane, I’m transported back to my own Shanghai to Urumqi adventure during Fudan University’s summer break 1991. May you have many more grand adventures to share with us. Go well.
I am humbled. In my time as a student in Beijing, it would never have crossed my mind to make a trip to Urumchi, let alone do it by hitching (I think the best I did was Xian by train). Very brave and imaginative!
Great story! Question from a non-Chinese speaker: how good is Tanikawa's Mandarin? Does he have an accent that would be an immediate tell he is Japanese?
What a brave, strong fellow. What a heart-warming story. Its much easier in Australia where its warmer. Reminds me of the time I hitched from Sydney to Perth with quite a small number of drivers, about 5000km of dry country with no mountains and no more than about 10 drivers at the age of 20 years. Its rare to see people hitching these days.
Sat in my garden in Sheffield South Yorkshire UK reading this and was transported back to China. In 1993 I spent 2 months backpacking across China with only a set of info cards stating I was a vegetarian and English. It’s a vast country and I barely saw any of it and to be honest it was challenging but then I headed back to Europe across Russia - the contrast was stark. - at that time it seemed the whole population of Russia was aggressively drunk -unlike friendly but confusing China. Since then it’s just been tier 1 cities. Hats off to this young man may he have many more adventures
Sitting in my warm car watching my lad play football in subtropical Brisbane, I’m transported back to my own Shanghai to Urumqi adventure during Fudan University’s summer break 1991. May you have many more grand adventures to share with us. Go well.
I am humbled. In my time as a student in Beijing, it would never have crossed my mind to make a trip to Urumchi, let alone do it by hitching (I think the best I did was Xian by train). Very brave and imaginative!
Great story! Question from a non-Chinese speaker: how good is Tanikawa's Mandarin? Does he have an accent that would be an immediate tell he is Japanese?
Loved reading the original story and you did it justice in your translation. Amazing work, Jiang laoshi!
An amazing story!
What a brave, strong fellow. What a heart-warming story. Its much easier in Australia where its warmer. Reminds me of the time I hitched from Sydney to Perth with quite a small number of drivers, about 5000km of dry country with no mountains and no more than about 10 drivers at the age of 20 years. Its rare to see people hitching these days.
You are welcome to share your story!
Thanks, amazing experience!