Man takes excavator on six-month journey

While it's not uncommon to hear about road trips across China in cars or recreational vehicles, what about embarking on such a journey on an excavator?

Thirty-seven-year-old He Ruixiang, who accepted this challenge six months ago, has his answer.

Equipped with his excavator and all the necessary gear, including pots, pans, tools and a tent, he set off from Yinchuan in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region on June 4.

"The idea just hit me and I decided to do it," He said.

He started driving from Ningxia to Gansu province, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and reached Lhasa, capital of the Xizang autonomous region, on Sept 1. Then he continued along the 318 National Highway and entered Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province at the end of September. After that, he decided to turn back toward Ningxia because he wanted to get home before Spring Festival. Last month He arrived in Gansu.

His solo journey on his excavator, which was estimated to span more than 10,000 kilometers, turned out to be quite different from what he had imagined.

He said he had been operating excavators for more than 10 years but had never traveled far from home. When the initial excitement faded, various discomforts crept in.

"Driving alone every day feels particularly lonely. Most often, I couldn't have meals on time because I couldn't find suitable parking and camping spots," he said.

Camping outdoors really tested his nerves. Surrounded by the stillness of night, the sounds of wild animals, rustling leaves and howling winds in the wilderness often made his tent flap noisily.

"I always felt like something could jump out from anywhere. Outdoor camping is a real test for someone on the road."

One of his most unforgettable experiences was camping by a valley in Jingtai county, Gansu.

On the mid-June night, the wind howled fiercely, causing sand to rush into the tent through its seams. "If I wasn't inside holding it, the tent would have been blown away," he said.

Despite all the difficulties, He said he met with kindhearted people who supported him along the way. And when he met those in need of assistance, he didn't hesitate to help with his excavator. He documented all those encounters in his vlogs.

In October, as snow began to fall in Dege county, Garze, He decided to stay in a parking lot for the night. A Tibetan man came to warn him: "Wolves and bears roam here at night. It's dangerous. If you have nowhere to stay, come to my house."

The next day, when He saw the man and his family busily repairing their house, he volunteered to transport materials with his excavator.

After one and a half days' work, the task was almost done.

He used the excavator to help other villagers dig drainage ditches, repair roads and assist them in overcoming all kinds of difficulties.

"The village chief came to see me and gave me a thumbs up," he said. "Villagers brought their best butter tea to me, eager to invite me to their homes for a meal."

On Dec 16, on his way from Gansu back to Ningxia, He came across a vehicle struggling to climb a snowy slope.

He used his excavator to clear the snow, allowing the vehicle to proceed smoothly.

In his vlogs, He documented numerous similar anecdotes of helping others, using the excavator to clear rocks and mud from the road, assisting vehicles stuck in ditches, helping an overturned coal truck and filling potholes.

As of Dec 23, He has amassed over 2.7 million followers on the short-video platform Douyin, winning more than 20 million likes.

He is now frequently recognized by fans on the road, and many ask him for photos. In some tourist spots, he has been invited to enjoy local cultural experiences.

"I am very excited about this trip. It's wonderful that I could assist the people I met during this special journey. And that's what encouraged me to keep traveling to more places," he said.

On the evening of Dec 24, He arrived in Gansu's Qingcheng county. The next day, he continued his journey eastward, eager to arrive in Yinchuan for a family reunion.

"After being away for over half a year, my parents and wife have been worried about me traveling outside. My two children are still young in their teens and they need my company," he said.

"I will return home to have a rest and spend quality time with my family. This year I'll continue traveling with my excavator, though I have no detailed plan of where to go yet," he said.