Paddler plans to kayak to Arctic Ocean

Intrepid adventurer dreams of completing epic journey through China, Kazakhstan and Russia

The Irtysh River flows from Hou Zhili's hometown and leads to the Arctic Ocean - a journey Huo plans to make alone in a kayak.

From where he lives in Fuyun county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the 41-year-old has completed what many see as epic feats - kayaking unpowered for 2,020 kilometers on the China and Kazakhstan sections of the Irtysh in 2014 and 2016.