This aerial photo taken on June 20, 2023 shows willow forest belts along the Jinsha River in Shigu Town of Lijiang City, southwest China's Yunnan Province. Shigu Town of Lijiang City is located by a huge bend of the Jinsha River, the upper section of the Yangtze River in southwest China. The footprints of the Red Army are forever engraved in the town's culture and spirit(Photo: Xinhua)

“I made it finally,” a man said as he came ashore on Shanghai’s Chongming Island on November 16, symbolizing the conclusion of his rafting trip traveling more than 3,500 kilometers along the Yangtze River. 

The man, named Sun Wenzhu, started his rafting trip on June 6 by paddling an unpowered rubber dinghy by himself from the Jinsha River, the upper section of the Yangtze River.

Rafting through the Yangtze River has been a longtime wish for Sun. “I grew up in the Yangtze River basin since I was a child, and I have read stories related to Yangtze River rafting team before, which is why I have always dreamed of rafting along the Yangtze River,” Sun told reporters, adding that he would also like to challenge himself by making changes to his life. 

Along the journey, Sun encountered various challenges, for example, Sun’s rubber dinghy was overturned by a big wave which left him struggling in the water for more than an hour, and he also suffered from hypothermia. 

Sun also saw the Yangtze River dolphins twice during his adventure, one of which was the dolphins frolicking in the water.

Sun noted that whenever he encountered prohibited zones and dams, he would go on shore, adding that rafting through the Yangtze River is dangerous and one must travel within his capabilities.

Global Times-the Paper