9-year-old girl on 31-city trek with father

A 9-year-old girl and her father are traveling to 31 major cities across China on foot and by hitchhiking, according to the Chongqing Morning Post.

The trip, a winter vacation adventure, is being made from north to south by Feng Jinghan, a primary school student from Jinzhou in Northeast China's Liaoning province, and her father Feng Yongli, a van driver.

Starting on Jan 20, the pair had traveled to 11 cities by Saturday, Feb 2, including Harbin, Changchun, Shenyang, Hohhot, Tianjin, Lanzhou, Chengdu and Chongqing.

They expect to spend Spring Festival in Guangzhou or Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong province, and be home before Feb 24, ahead of the new school semester.

The newspaper said the two hitchhiked when they needed long-distance transport. In cities, they walked and took buses.

During the first two weeks of the trip, they never stayed at a hotel, because of a tight budget. Instead, they took rest breaks in hospitals, banks and gas stations. Instant noodles were their main food.

The father told the newspaper the long trek had made his daughter's feet swell, but she said she is enjoying the journey and having fun.

In Chongqing, they visited the children's hospital and sent their wishes to sick children.

The newspaper report said they left Chongqing on Saturday for Guiyang in Southwest China's Guizhou province.