In Hunan, Mr. Wu and his 10-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son walked over 800 kilometers from Shenzhen, taking 31 days to return to their hometown in Hunan. The news of their journey made headlines on August 19th in mainland China, sparking discussions among netizens.
On August 17th, Mr. Wu posted on Weibo that around 1:30 am, he finally arrived at Changsha South Station with his daughter and son, successfully reuniting with their mother.
According to several Chinese media reports, on July 11th, Mr. Wu set out with his daughter and son carrying their belongings. Starting from July 18th, Mr. Wu navigated using a mobile map, calculating where to rest in a hotel each night, planning stops at gas stations and supermarkets for breaks, maintaining a minimum speed of 23 kilometers per day.
Mr. Wu told Xiaoxiang Morning News that his children had not faced hardships before, so he wanted to toughen them up. He would plan each day’s accommodations in hotels or towns, stopping at restaurants along the way to eat. If they couldn’t find a restaurant, they would eat instant noodles from convenience stores, ensuring they did not face poor living or eating conditions. Camping outside was not an option due to the children. Normally, walking around 25 kilometers a day is suitable, exceeding 30 kilometers is exhausting, with a few times reaching 35 kilometers, making them reluctant to move the next day.
In a video, Mr. Wu mentioned, “After the hike, the children aren’t as delicate as before.”
The news sparked heated discussions among netizens, with both supporters and opposers.
A netizen named “Peng Peng Durian C5” praised, “The father’s dedication and the children’s resilience are amazing. Walking exercises perseverance, and this commitment is truly heartwarming.”
“Voice Ling Qing WN” said, “I think this dad did well. If you can’t endure this bit of hardship, how will you face the future! You’re awesome.”
However, there were also dissenting voices.
Netizen “Orange Sees the World” believed, “If you truly want to toughen up, you wouldn’t share it online. Enduring suffering with your two children to gain popularity, traffic, attention, and followers is ultimately for your own benefit.”
“Poetic Heart Like Water” commented, “821 kilometers, according to Gaode Map, would take 202 hours. Calculated for 30 days, that’s 8 hours of walking per day. Considering the children are likely under 12 years old, can they endure it?”
“Han Xi Huan Yue” expressed concerns, “With such a long journey, are there any hidden risks for the children’s health? Their bodies are still developing, after all. If the idea is to instill a habit, wouldn’t it be better for the children to gradually go for walks in the morning rather than suddenly engaging in extensive exercise? Over time, their routines could be disrupted. It’s important to make children understand persistence through various methods. I just hope that before making a choice, considerations are made for potential consequences, so we don’t panic if something unexpected happens.”