Feature: Looking in the same direction: a Chinese couple explores the world

After landing in Antarctica, Liang Hong put on a wedding dress watched by penguins.

She and Zhang Xinyu were going to be the first couple ever to wed in the frozen continent.

It was 2014, and they were nearing the end of a marathon journey to some of the most remote and inhospitable places in the world.

It had opened their eyes and opened their hearts, and brought on them international attention.

That day on the frozen continent Zhang surprised his bride by showing her the good wishes sent to them by foreign leaders.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel had quoted a poem, which Liang still recalls: "The experience made us learn that love does not mean to look at each other, but to look in the same direction."

Shortly after Zhang, 38, and Liang, 36, finished a breath-taking journey that began in 2012.

They had done what no other person in China had previously attempted: they had traveled through strife-torn Somalia; wondered at the irradiated ghost city of Chernobyl, in Ukraine; shivered at Oymyakon, the coldest place in the northern hemisphere; and sweltered near the molten magma of Marum, one of the world's most active volcanoes.

Last year, they completed an 18,000-nautical mile odyssey by yacht, sailing across the Pacific Ocean and down to Antarctica before going along the coasts of North and South America.

The journey took them through many dangerous places and severe oceanic and climate extremes, but they never stopped.

In the next few months, they will drive themselves through the Middle East.

NEW DREAM

Such a journey requires money. Many people thought they were born into wealth. In fact, they were childhood sweethearts, growing up in families of oil workers in Beijing. They started as salespeople before making their fortune in their own business.

As it grew, they spent their money on houses and cars, as well as shopping feverishly as most cash-rich Chinese do abroad. Zhang says he used to indulge himself and his dream was simple: to earn more money.

The dream changed in May 2008 when a massive 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck Wenchuan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, killing more than 80,000 people.

As a rescue volunteer, Zhang saw many family tragedies. He realized that life is fragile and he had wasted too much time.

"I hope the rest of my life can be meaningful. I want to follow my heart and try something else," said Zhang. Accompanied by Liang, he set out to explore the world.

BIG WORLD

He chose Somalia after watching "Black Hawk Down", the movie about how well-equipped U.S. Special Forces were shot down over the war-torn African country.

He chose Chernobyl out of curiosity about the deserted city and to tackle his own fears about radiation.

He sailed to Antarctica, planning a romantic wedding there that no one else had ever had.

Their money has not always eased the journey. It took five years to prepare. He learned to swim, dive, sail and master various vehicles, including a helicopter and para-glider.

He visited yacht shows around the world, learning the secrets of seamanship.

He spent six months in libraries, studying the oceans, climates and lifesaving.

He e-mailed the U.S. State Department to apply for permission to buy advanced instruments that could be helpful during his expedition.

Waiting for approval always took long time, but Zhang never thought giving up. In order to explore a Mayan cave, a world heritage site, he applied to every level of government in Mexico and one year later, he got approval.

Their parents strongly opposed their trip at first, but were moved by their dedication and eventually joined in their preparations.

Nevertheless, doubts never fade.

On the road, Zhang found that they were often stereotyped as ignorant, cash-rich Chinese. They wanted to try an Arctic Circle camp, but were told that Chinese are unable to take part such a challenging event.

An Australian captain bet that they could not reach Antarctica and jacked up his fee to help them.

Even Chinese people had little confidence in them. A marine expert in Beijing, after reading their plan to sail across the Bering Strait, said, "They will die there."

Sometimes, they shook with rage at such humiliations, but they were also prompted to continue.

And they made history: in 2012, they became the first Chinese couple to camp in the Arctic Circle at minus 71.2 degrees Celsius; Zhang Xinyu became the first Chinese man to explore the Marum volcano; in 2013, they were the first Chinese to cross the 40-degrees north and south latitudes in one voyage; and in 2014, they become the first couple to wed in Antarctica.

MOVING MOMENTS

Recounting these accomplishments on television, Zhang wept.

China is still an alien country in distant corners of the increasingly interconnected world. Zhang remembers one foreigner asking him, "Why don't Chinese men wear pigtails anymore?"

The couple can speak little English, so they always managed to communicate with gestures. "Doing is better than saying," said Zhang, who built friendships through trust.

In 2012, the couple accompanied two photographers to the Marum volcano on an island in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu. They hired indigenous people as guides, but later learned that the people distrusted outsiders, as their ancestors had been colonized by Westerners.

Zhang won their trust by cooking Chinese food. Every day, he would invite the guides to eat first. He never complained when they left little for them. The couple responded with smiles and respected local customs.

When they were about to leave, the chief held Zhang's hand and said, "The best people in the world are those who speak Chinese."

The most moving memories, Liang Hong says, were those of the many overseas Chinese who gave them food, expecting they would be missing the food from home. '

LIFE AND DEATH

Travelling has been their life for the past three years, but they have been constantly reminded of their mortality.

At Marum volcano, acid rain ruined their communication equipment. Zhang had climbed to within 300 meters of the scorching magma lake, when he lost contact with his wife and teammates at the top. At that time, Liang said to others, "If anything happens to Zhang, I will not leave without him."

Zhang only once thought of giving up when their boat hit a storm in 2013. Liang, violently seasick, could not stop crying and vomiting.

Zhang could not bear to see her suffer, and considered ending their journey, but Liang said firmly "Go on! How can we give up halfway?"

Liang says Zhang's companionship helped her overcome all difficulties.

They never think about traveling separately. They believe in sharing their adventures together. Enditem

(To read more in-depth China news, please visit www.icrosschina.com and www.icrosschina.com.cn, which are newly launched by China Features for overseas readers