What Chen’s 33‑Year Journey Teaches About Goal‑Setting and Resilience

According to the South China Morning Post, Chen is now one of about 70 Chinese people who have visited every country, territory and both poles. He spent 33 years and $1.5 million to reach 233 destinations.

His journey began in 1993, when the Yangtze Evening News reported his first trip to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. He set a personal target to finish the whole list before he turned 50, hoping to become China’s youngest global traveler.

Chen chose to visit the hardest places first. He focused on countries with strict visa rules and harsh weather. This plan led to two attempts to reach Antarctica – a ship fire in November 2015 and a successful voyage in January 2016 – and a seven‑year delay to Tokelau after a health emergency cancelled his 2019 trip.

When facing a crisis, Chen said in an interview with Yangtze Evening News, “the first rule is to stay calm, accept reality, and find a solution.” His story shows the value of careful planning, perseverance, and staying calm when problems appear.

He also tried to stay in each place as long as possible to learn local customs. From his experience, travelers can see that setting a clear goal, preparing for setbacks, and immersing in cultures are key steps to achieve big, long‑term dreams.

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