A young explorer's hiking journey across China

浙江 彭文國

為了圓小時候“在天安門廣場看一次升國旗儀式”的夢想，他毅然決定從家鄉喀什徒步去北京。

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1With nothing but a homemade iron wagon, a loyal dog, and a backpack, Abusaimaiti Keremu embarked on an epic journey, hiking from his hometown Kashi in Northwest China to his ultimate destination Beijing.

2The 25-year-old adventurer has shared 388 videos of his passion for hiking on a social media platform, attracting nearly 400,000 fans who cheer him on toward his dream: To witness the flag-raising ceremony at Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing.“Many people doubted me at the start and didn't believe I could do it.I know it's a long way, but it's always been my dream.There are many ways to travel.I chose to walk because it's my passion,” Keremu said.

3Coming from Kashi, the southern tip of Xinjiang, the explorer had a grand plan to hike from his hometown to the east, crossing Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Hebei Provinces,on his way to his destination, Beijing.But the impressive Taihang Mountains dashed his hope of taking a shortcut.He had to backtrack to the south and head to Central China's Henan Province first before continuing his northbound journey.

4“It was too challenging for me to scale the 2882-meter peak where I kept losing signal and direction.So I changed my course,” Keremu said in his hotel in Anyang, a city in Henan.He stayed there for two days and visited the Yin Ruins, a renowned historical site that once served as the ancient capital of the late Shang Dynasty.This has become part of his routine when visiting each city: snapping a photo in front of a landmark building, such as Greater Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an and Shaolin Temple in Zhengzhou.

5“Nature is my inspiration and my belief is to walk across China.I have spent more than eight months on the road.During my trip, I've seen various landscapes.I've crossed the snow-capped mountains, the grasslands, the Yellow River, and the edge cliffs.I learned the phrase ‘China has a vast territory’ in school, but it is only after this trip that I've understood the meaning of ‘vast territory’ in my own way,” said the explorer.

Reading Check

Inference1.What was Keremu's main reason for hiking to Beijing?

A.He wanted to gain more social media followers.

B.He wanted to witness the flag-raising ceremony at Tian'anmen Square.

C.He enjoyed the challenge of hiking through different terrains.

D.He was inspired by the different landscapes of China.

Detail2.Why did Keremu change his original hiking path?

A.He got lost and decided to take an easier route.

B.He wanted to visit more provinces along the way.

C.The Taihang Mountains were too difficult for him to cross as planned.

D.He preferred to travel through Central China's Henan Province first.

Detail3.What does Keremu like to do when he visits each city?

A.He tends to take a photo in front of a prominent landmark.

B.He prefers to visit relatives or friends in the area.

C.He likes to rest in a hotel for two days.

D.He likes to search for new hiking equipment.

Inference 4.What has Keremu learned from his hiking experience across China?

A.The actual meaning of “vast territory” as he explored various landscapes.

B.The importance of staying connected with fans through social media.

C.The significance of historical sites like the Yin Ruins.

D.The technical skills in scaling high mountain peaks.

Language Study

Ⅰ.日積月累

adventurern.冒險家

doubtv.懷疑

shortcutn.近路

coursen.路線

renownedadj.有名的

landscapen.風景

grasslandn.草原

embark on 開始（一段旅程）；著手進行；開始從事

the Yellow River 黃河

homemade iron wagon 自制的鐵質四輪貨車

epic journey 史詩般的旅程

social media platform 社交媒體平臺

flag-raising ceremony 升旗儀式

grand plan 宏偉計劃

historical site 歷史遺址

landmark building 地標建筑

Greater Wild Goose Pagoda 大雁塔

Shaolin Temple 少林寺

vast territory 遼闊的疆域

snow-capped mountain 雪山

Ⅱ.語法填空

Abusaimaiti Keremu, a 25-year-old man from Kashi, Xinjiang in Northwest China, began 1.________ big trip.He hiked to Beijing with just a cart he made, his dog 2.____ ____ a backpack.Keremu loves hiking and has become popular on social media, with nearly 400,000 fans 3.________(watch) his 388 videos.His goal was 4.________(see) the flagraising ceremony in Tian'anmen Square.Although he had a plan to hike through several provinces directly to Beijing, the tall Taihang Mountains 5.________(make) him change his route.He went south to Henan first.6.________ Anyang, Henan, he enjoyed visiting the Yin Ruins, an old historical place.As he travels to 7.________(differ) cities, he likes to take pictures at famous 8.________(building), like Greater Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an and Shaolin Temple in Zhengzhou.

Keremu 9.________(be) on this journey for over eight months.He's seen many types of places, like mountains, grasslands, the Yellow River, and cliffs.He says this trip helps him really understand 10.________ it means when people say China has a big land.