“Even if it’s just four or five kilometers a day, following our ancestors’ most primal pace, you can discover so many different things,” shared Paul Salopek, an eminent US storyteller, at a recent seminar in Beijing. This marked a checkpoint in his extraordinary over 30,000-kilometer journey, a journey that he has embarked on entirely on foot.
Salopek’s adventure commenced in January 2013 in East Africa’s Ethiopia. His trajectory has traced the footprints of early human migration out of Africa, traversing the Middle East, Central Asia, and now, China. His final destination, envisaged for the year 2027, is the southernmost tip of South America, Tierra del Fuego. Throughout his journey, Salopek has endeavored to document the stories of the diverse communities he has encountered, creating a global tapestry of human experiences using various mediums such as written narratives, photography, and videos.
His path through China, which spans more than 6,000 kilometers across ten provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, forms a significant and memorable chapter in this epic odyssey. “It has been great for me, as an international storyteller, to illuminate for my readers and viewers across the world how complicated and diverse China really is,” Salopek expressed at the seminar.
The commencement of his Chinese journey was marked in Tengchong, located in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province, in September 2021. This was also his maiden visit to the country. His route threads through regions of Yunnan, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang, concluding at the Chinese-Russian border.
This journey has allowed Salopek to witness China’s vast landscapes, rich cultural tapestry, and to experience life alongside the local communities. The hospitality and kindness he’s been shown by the locals have been a source of strength and motivation, despite moments of exhaustion and disheartenment.
During his time in China, Salopek has engaged in a variety of enriching experiences. In Yunnan, he picked up phrases from the languages of ethnic minorities and learned about traditional botany techniques. In Sichuan, he witnessed the incredible conservation efforts dedicated to preserving the giant pandas.
Salopek’s project, named “Out of Eden Walk”, is a decade-long experiment in slow journalism. It aims to “cover the major stories of our time – from climate change to technological innovation, from mass migration to cultural survival” by amplifying the voices of everyday people.
Inspired by Salopek’s approach, some domestic scholars, like Chinese historian Luo Xin, have followed suit, taking to the road to connect with locals and record their narratives. Luo’s book, Cong Dadu Dao Shangdu (lit: From the capital to capital), recounts his 15-day journey from Beijing to Xilingol in Inner Mongolia.
With his meticulous documentation and profound storytelling, Salopek aspires to craft stories that resonate with people across diverse cultures and languages. “I hope my stories are deeper, more meaningful, remembered more, and accessed more by people,” he shared.
As Salopek strides towards the Chinese-Russian border, anticipated to be reached by autumn, his journey has not only been a testament to human endurance but also a powerful portrayal of the shared human experience in its countless, beautiful variations.
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