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Have horse, will travel - from Russia to China

By He Na (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-17 07:34

Despite his family's objections, he took out all his savings of about 40,000 yuan ($5,800) and borrowed another 60,000 yuan from friends to embark on his journey with two horses in the summer of 2007.

"I planned to arrive in Beijing in time for the Olympic Games last August but I was delayed by the vagaries of travel," Li said.

In December, he reached Siberia, where the lowest temperature was -40 C, and "I had to stay in a small village for three months".

Li Jing displays the poem written on his coat: "The Red Army Fears No Hardship during the Expedition" by Chairman Mao to local horse riding enthusiasts in Changping, Beijing's north suburb, March 10, 2009. [CFP]

During his trip, he changed nine horses, each of whose names he can clearly remember. The equine that carried him to Beijing is appropriately called "Traveling Companion".

On the way, horse lovers gave him four, and he bought the rest for about 5,000 yuan each.

He often stuck to country roads for it was easier to feed the horse, and slept in a tent for more than five months along the way.

"Not all places are suitable for camping, so I was sometimes riding in the wild after midnight. It was so quiet I could hear my own heart beating. During those times, I would sing songs loudly to drive away fear.

"But in good weather, it was really enjoyable to sleep outside. I thought the whole world belonged to me.

"Breathing the fresh air, looking at the stars and listening to the sound of the horse chewing grass, it was the most wonderful experience."

However, Li's journey was not all about good memories.

"When I was in Ufa, capital of Bashkortostan in Russia. I was interrogated by police six times because they thought I was a criminal on the run.

"And even in China, my homeland, things were not much better initially.

"Many people did not comprehend what I was doing; and some even called me a mad man.

"In almost every place I arrived, police were among the first batch of 'guests' to visit me."

Many people took him to be a beggar and shied away when approached for directions. Some shop owners refused to sell goods.

"I felt very lonely at that time ... But every time I wanted to give up, I found solace from fellow horse lovers."

Things began to look better when local media started writing about him, and the reports came to the attention of the China Equestrian Association, which has members and branches in many places.

"They took care of me and my horse during my stay, and we shared our stories. I spent my happiest days on my journey with them," Li said. A member of a Beijing horse club volunteered to host Li when he arrived in the capital.

"I admire Li Jing so much; in my opinion, only a man with great courage and determination could have made the trip," said Xie Peiliang, manager of the club.

Zhang Yongqiang, a horse lover from Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, came to the club to see Li when he heard that Beijing was his last stop.

"I plan to buy a horse in Inner Mongolia and do a similar trip to the western parts of China. I came to ask for some advice from Li," Zhang said.

And just as Li was about to head to Hubei province to visit his mother before returning to Russia, he received news that could see him saddle up again for an even longer trip.

"The China Equestrian Association told me that an elderly lady from England is planning to ride by horse from Beijing to London, the host city of the next Olympics.

"I will meet her next month and see whether it is possible for us to do it together."

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