A couple from Liaoning Province, Li Linxiang and his wife Zhao Yafan, 67 and 63 years old respectively, made their second arrival in Kunming by their homemade solar tricycle yesterday(Sept. 17). They came to the Yunnan Foreign Affairs Office for help, hoping that they can go aboard as soon as possible to continue their around-the-world tour via Myanmar.

The couple arrived Sinkiang from Shenyang in this May. They are planning to travel through over 100 countries via Central Asia, North Africa, North Europe, Atlantic Ocean, and South America. As planned, they will return to Shenyang by way of North Korea in 2018. The whole journey is expected to cost 5 years.

When talking about the problem of language barrier, Zhao took out a stack of paper with translations of everyday words between Chinese and various countries’ languages. They were translated by students in Beijing Foreign Studies University. “We are very grateful to all the people who helped us before.” Zhao said.

The couple both signed a body donation agreement. Li said, “ if we occurred any accident during the travel, we want to donate our bodies and organs to the local. We have made up our mind.”

“Our dream is to travel through 100 countries around the world by our homemade solar tricycle in 5 years.” according to the couple.

To accomplish their travel dream in their youth, the couple made up their minds to tour around the world after their retirements in 1999. Without enough money, Li came up with the idea of riding tricycle. Li made a solar tricycle by himself, and started their journey in 2004.

With a length of 1.8 meters and a width of 1.2 meters, the couple’s homemade solar tricycle can reach a speed of 18 kilometers per hour.

The couple have traveled on the tricycle for over 80,000 kilometers around the country and through over 30 provinces and regions. They have mounted over 15 mountains that over 4000 meters in height, and crossed 4 deserts. They even rode in the Qinghai-Tibet highway, the highest road in the world. In 2011, the couple rode through Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia in 1 year. They have a retirement pay of less than 3000 yuan per month, but they have spend 100,000 yuan on visa fees.