They say that when you are young, you have all the time and the energy but no money to do as you please. When you are a working citizen, you have all the energy and the money but no time to do what you want. When you are finally old, you have all the money and the time but no energy to do as you desire. But for 67-year-old Deng Zongquan, none of these restrictions really matter. In fact, this retiree from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, calls himself "naughty kid in disguise," who loves going on solo trips instead of the group tours typically joined by people his age. 

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Armed with just his motorcycle, pressure cooker, and luggage containing bare necessities, Deng crossed 10 provinces in China and toured Mongolia, Russia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam in a span of nine months. That is an approximate of 200 kilometers per day and a total of 180,000 miles covered, Shanghaiist cited. 

Despite choosing to travel on a simple vehicle. Deng is a financially capable retiree of a pharmaceutical company and has several cars at home. He simply prefers to live frugally while on the road by staying in a tent and cooking his own food. 

"I prefer to spend little on travel because I want to make myself stronger and taste life," China Daily quoted the senior explorer.

Apart from traveling, Deng also loves photography. He faithfully kept a documentation of his stops on social media and would feature restaurants and tourist spots, where he met fellow riders and travelers. His decision to travel alone allowed him to interact closely with the locals and choose a destination at his pace. Often, he would roam around streets and marketplaces to better immerse himself in a country's customs and culture. 

Deng's travels were not without difficulties and loneliness. But with the kindness of strangers, Deng continued his journey with a thankful heart. 

His adventure became a trending topic on China's microblogging site Weibo and earned him the respect of many netizens. One user, who goes by the handle "Qingying," was quoted by GB Times to have remarked, "I admire his free spirit so much. If you have a dream, just go for it, no matter how old you are. Bravo, grandpa!" 

TagsChinese Grandpa, Asia, Russia, Motorcycle Tour, Deng Zongquan