Walking the Silk Road

In September 2024, two young Frenchmen — 27-year-old Benjamin Rene and 26-year-old Loic Michel — quit their jobs in Paris and set off from their hometown of Annecy on an extraordinary journey. Their goal was ambitious: to reach Shanghai, China — on foot.

After more than a year of trekking along the Silk Road, crossing 16 countries and wearing out six pairs of shoes, they finally arrived in China in September, entering via Khorgos in the Ili Kazakh autonomous prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

It all began with a simple but powerful desire for change. "We wanted to live a big adventure, feel closer to nature, and discover ourselves by facing the unknown and overcoming difficulties," Rene recalled.

What made China their ultimate destination was its allure as a land of contrasts — where ancient civilization meets rapid modernization, a place they knew little about from their everyday lives in France.

However, their understanding of China was limited to fragmented narratives from international relations and economic news. As they put it, China was simply the country that "produces many of the products we use daily".

To prepare for the journey, Rene and Michel carefully mapped out their route, hoping to avoid surprises in a region unfamiliar to them. It soon became clear, though, that their worries had been unnecessary. China exceeded their expectations in every way.

They were amazed by the country's diverse and stunning landscapes. Upon entering Gansu province, the view at the edge of the Tengger Desert — along with the breathtaking Danxia landforms near Lanzhou — left a lasting impression on them.

They were also struck by the modernity of urban life. "Everything was very different," Michel said. "There were lots of new and modern facilities, and we had to learn all the new digital habits."

Unexpected warmth

The most unforgettable part of their trip was the overwhelming kindness of the Chinese people, which became the essence of what they call "China warmth".

The first time they felt deeply moved was at a restaurant in Manas, Xinjiang. While chatting with a woman seated next to them, they pointed to a map of the Silk Road hanging on the wall and mentioned they had traveled along this historic route. The woman expressed her admiration genuinely, praising their courage and the hardships they had faced.

Her recognition and appreciation gave Rene and Michel a tremendous boost of strength.

Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, they checked into a hotel in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, and were warmly welcomed by the staff. They even received a thoughtful gift from local police officers: mooncakes and traditional yogurt to celebrate the occasion.

Upon arriving in Lanzhou, Rene and Michel hosted their first in-person meet-and-greet at a local beef noodle restaurant, where they connected with fans who had been following their travel updates on social media. The enthusiastic encouragement they received deepened their affection for the place.

"We experience kind gestures every day, with people offering us something for no other reason than to welcome us," they said, noting that such warmth felt especially precious after being away from home for over a year.

This hospitality inspired them to learn their first words of Chinese. Although they had relied on online translation to communicate with locals, they realized that speaking Chinese would allow them to better express their gratitude and respond to the kindness they were receiving.

"Learning the language seemed very difficult at first, as it is very different from ours, but we felt very happy when we managed to be understood for the first time,"Michel said.

Now, they are still on their way to Shanghai, a city that symbolizes the pinnacle of China's economy and culture in their eyes.

Although challenges may arise, they are gradually developing a deeper cultural connection and becoming more comfortable interacting with Chinese people.

"There are fewer cultural differences than we thought," Michel said. "Even though we come from opposite sides of the world and our societies are based on different concepts, we all share the same humanity that brings us together."

They sum up their experience with two words: connection and freedom. "Connection" refers to their bond with the world, while "freedom" expresses their desire to explore independently and carve out their own paths in life.

As the two continue to travel deeper into China, more people are taking notice of their journey. Many young internet users engage with them on the Chinese lifestyle-sharing platform Xiaohongshu (RedNote). Some shared similar hiking experiences, while others said they could feel the joy of traveling just by watching their videos.

"We were very surprised by the positive reception of our adventure," Rene said. "Getting so many messages of welcome and support made us feel truly accepted in this new country."

They also encourage others to visit China, especially with the country's visa-free policy, which they see as a sign of openness. "It shows a will from the country to let you come and visit, which is reassuring when planning an adventure like this," Rene added.

heweijia@i21st.cn