Chen Jinyou began his journey in 1993 and spent $1.5 million exploring nearly every region of the world.
BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 10th Sep, 2026) A man from China has gone viral online after spending 33 years traveling around the world and visiting 233 countries and territories.
According to a report, 53-year-old Chen Jinyou is from Zhejiang Province and returned to his hometown of Zhuji after completing his 33-year journey.
Chen, who owns a machinery company, began his global travels in 1993 with trips to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. At a time when the internet was not widely available, he wanted to see the world for himself.
During his decades-long journey, Chen did not neglect his business or family.
Instead, he developed a routine that allowed him to fulfill his responsibilities. According to the report, he returned to China several times, stayed for a month and then resumed his travels.
Over the years, he visited many challenging destinations, including polar regions.
His first attempt to reach Antarctica in November 2015 failed when his ship broke down en route, but he successfully reached the continent in January 2016. He also faced difficulties traveling to Tokelau, a small island in New Zealand.
He reached the island a year and a half after his first attempt failed.
During his travels in Africa, Chen contracted malaria, while he experienced an earthquake in Greece. He said these challenges helped him learn to deal with unexpected situations.
Chen said the journey was not merely about visiting tourist attractions.
He tried to spend as much time as possible in each place and connect with local cultures.
During his travels, he collected the currencies of 198 countries and later donated them to a charitable organization. He spent $1.5 million, or more than 410 million Pakistani rupees, during the 33-year journey. He now plans to spend his time with his children and parents.
