She's inspired to follow an unorthodox grandfather

By Wang Kaihao In Hangzhou

For 28-year-old Beijing-based cultural freelancer Jiang Xiaobin, an important mission awaited her in her hometown in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, during this recent Spring Festival. It was to prepare an oral history for her grandfather.

"He is a really opened-minded man, who is uncommon in his generation," says Jiang.

"He encourages us to travel as much as possible. To be always prepared to see the outside world."

This has becomes a motto for Jiang's family.

Zhang Guanxian, her 82-year-old grandfather, is a retired civil servant who once worked for the local government and court.

He said that people should always find opportunities to travel away from home for different experiences.

This does not sound very orthodox, specially for an older generation of Chinese, who preferred their hometowns, she says.

Since he was in his 20s, he traveled all around the country for work. Though he did not have much time for leisure during his working life, the trips taught him to how to handle difficulties and deal with difficult circumstances, she says.

Jiang says her grandfather's story is one of the reasons which made her decide to take her current job rather than mundane office work.

"When I stayed in a village in Guizhou province, there was no fresh water and electricity supply for two days out of every three," she says. "But it did not matter. It was just like my grandfather said. Due to the difficult experiences, travel and life become interesting."

When she traveled to a lake in the Xinjiang Ugyur autonomous region, she landed there at midnight with nowhere to stay, but she finally found a room in a local police station.

"My grandfather lives a life full of variety. As the duration of life is difficult to expand, its breadth is more important. And, to travel with curiosity is how one should widen the significance of your life," says Jiang.

[email protected]