Solotrip has cured young people's travel burnout.

Written by | Guobaoyou

Cover image source | Unsplash

"I'm the master of my own journey"

Young people always come up with new ways to travel.

Following the "special forces-style travel", group tours, and "frustrated travel", a new travel trend has emerged among young people - Solotrip.

Solotrip, as the name implies, means setting off alone and exploring the world on your own. Compared with dining alone, living alone, or having a drink alone, the joy of traveling alone is even greater. After all, there's no need to accommodate others or discuss with anyone. You're in charge of the whole journey, truly embodying the spirit of "I'm the master of my own journey".

First of all, you have full control over the rhythm.

Traveling alone means bidding farewell to the role of a "tour guide". You no longer have to worry about "what your companions can eat" or "where your companions want to go" before setting off. It's all about doing as you please. You can embark on a "special forces-style" trip, catching the nearest flight after work on Friday and taking an overnight flight to your destination to start a two-day, one-night "WeChat step count challenge". Or you can have a laid-back trip, only deciding on the city but not the itinerary, and making decisions about which attractions to visit and where to stay on the way. It's like opening a blind box. Of course, you can also choose a "Western-style" vacation, finding a comfortable and cozy hotel, preferably with a pool and lounge chairs. You can stay in the hotel all day if you want to lie down, or take a stroll around the hotel. Wake up naturally and choose attractions randomly...

Image source: unsplash

Moreover, you can unlock destinations according to your preferences.

Searching for Solotrip on social media, you can see that young people have left their footprints all over the map. From popular travel routes like Xinjiang and Gannan, to ancient cities full of historical charm like Fuzhou, Quanzhou, and Datong, and then to small cities with a slow pace and a touch of local flavor like Pu'er and Leshan, there's no place they can't go alone, only young people who haven't set off yet.

You're also in control of your state.

Some people completely turn off their social switch during a Solotrip and enjoy the "freedom of a cold face" throughout the journey. They don't have to bother finding topics or observing others' expressions. They can just be a happy silent person on the strange streets. Others are keen on playing a "role-playing game". They can be a social daredevil who takes the initiative to strike up a conversation or an urban hermit who quietly observes. "After all, no one knows you, so whether you're an introvert or an extrovert depends on your mood."

When you're in charge of the itinerary, rhythm, and state, the meaning of travel goes beyond sightseeing itself.

I've noticed that almost every young person who has had a Solotrip on social media shares more than just travel guides and beautiful photos when they come back. What they love to share more are the changes and memories that quietly emerge in their hearts after the journey - Some exchange past experiences with strangers they meet on the way, even though they may only see each other once in a lifetime. Others accidentally strike up a conversation with locals at a local diner they walk into and unexpectedly hear the city's secrets that only locals know.

A small supermarket in Zhuozi County, Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia. Image source: unsplash

Everyone has their own heart's desire, but many are trapped at their workstations. Under the posts of travel bloggers, you must have seen comments like "Travel freely on my behalf", "I also want to go", "Will I ever be able to go to XX in my lifetime?" They're not reluctant to set off, but they're always held back by "no time" or "no one to accompany them".

But the "perfect timing" and the "right person" always seem to be out of reach. So, some young people have stopped waiting. Solotrip is like a rebellion against the waiting state for young people. They actively create the conditions to set off and take back the initiative of travel. One person is an army.

On the road, see the world and see yourself

Young people choose Solotrip not because of "loneliness", but because of "sobriety" - They clearly know what they want and dare to achieve it alone.

As netizen @Guangying said, "One can be completely true to oneself during a Solotrip."

Some people choose Solotrip to unlock destinations they've never been to.

I once saw a netizen say that when she graduated from college, she discussed a graduation trip to Xinjiang with her friends. But in the end, because some of her friends had internships or had to go back to their hometowns, they could only compromise and take a short trip around the area. But her obsession with Xinjiang remained. Later, she invited her friends to go to Xinjiang every year, but their schedules never matched.

Until this year, she said, "I don't want to wait anymore. I really want to go to Xinjiang." So she took an annual leave alone, rented a car, and had a six-day, five-night Solotrip. Finally, she visited all the attractions that had been in her favorites for a long time.

Kanas, Xinjiang. Image source: unsplash

Some people want to be the first responsible person for themselves during a Solotrip.

A friend of mine in Shanghai went to Japan with her childhood friend a few years ago. But because they wanted to go to different places, they often had disagreements and almost fell out. In the end, they became "hotel buddies", going their own ways during the day and splitting the hotel bill at night.

This was still okay. I remember there was a popular post where the poster said that she went on a trip with her friend and they argued for five days out of the five-day trip. They didn't have a good time, and she didn't win the arguments either. When she got back, she blocked and deleted her friend. She not only wasted her vacation but also lost a friend. The comment section was full of people advising the poster, "Why don't you just go alone?"

After my friend found that she could solve her own transportation and dining problems and arrange her own itinerary in a foreign country, she suddenly discovered a new world. Since then, she has started traveling alone. Her travel map has expanded from nearby cities like Hangzhou, Ningbo, and Yangzhou to Inner Mongolia and Western Sichuan. She only follows one principle - to make herself happy. After all, why should you be responsible for others' joys and sorrows during the journey?

Some people just want to see themselves during the journey.

A netizen who has had 14 Solotrips said that traveling alone means having more opportunities to communicate with oneself. You have to figure out what you really want to eat, what you want to visit, and what you want to do, and then arrange your daily itinerary. You have to solve all kinds of unexpected situations on the way, such as not being able to catch a taxi, having a language barrier, running out of phone battery, or even losing your documents or luggage. "Although you may be at a loss at first, when all the problems are solved and you see the light at the end of the tunnel, you'll only sigh that you can solve so many things on your own!"

Guilin. Image source: unsplash

Sometimes, there are also many unexpected rewards. When you come to a strange city or country alone without any distractions, you can focus your senses more on the city, connect with locals more easily, and immerse yourself in the local culture and scenery more deeply.

Solotrip is not just a way of traveling, but also a lifestyle that pursues independence, freedom, and self-dialogue. Perhaps that's why it's hard to go back once you've tried a Solotrip. After all, there's nothing more refreshing than being true to yourself.

Set off at any time, no need to wait

The charm of Solotrip lies not only in "where to go" but also in "how to go".

If the solo form allows young people to regain the initiative in travel, then self-driving amplifies the possibility of self-exploration for young people.

Self-driving can solve many problems during a Solotrip. You don't have to end your journey in a hurry to catch the last subway, nor do you have to worry about not being able to catch a taxi on the roadside. Self-driving can also help you capture beautiful scenery, such as the road stretching into the distance, the snow-capped mountains faintly appearing in the distance, a rainbow around the corner, and the whole sky painted red by the setting sun.

More importantly, self-driving adds infinite possibilities to "traveling at a moment's notice" and brings completely different, accidental experiences. You can turn into an unnamed path to take pictures because of a beautiful cloud. You can stop and explore an ancient local mansion you accidentally discover. You can also go to a small diner to taste delicious food because of the aroma of firewood-cooked rice. Breaking free from the route planning of public transportation, you can easily reach places hidden in alleys, deep in the mountains, and even not shared on social media.

Just like netizen @momo was worried and hesitant before going to Taxkorgan County in Xinjiang because of the online comments saying "it's not as good as Northern Xinjiang" or "it's not as good as Tibet". But when he really drove through, he was shocked by the grandeur and desolation of Taxkorgan County and was even "moved to tears alone in the car" by the uncanny workmanship of nature. He finally stayed in Taxkorgan County for three days. This kind of unexpected surprise is something that many carefully planned routes can't bring.

Of course, it's best to have a reliable partner on the road of exploring alone in the distance. And Shenzhou Car Rental has always been a supporter and companion on your journey to pursue freedom.

Whether it's providing vehicle support at any time through convenient outlets and the APP or advocating "go to places you've never been to" in its annual brand TVC, what Shenzhou Car Rental has been doing is trying to awaken young people's longing for the distance and encouraging them to set off to see the outside world. Listening to the slogan "The mountains and seas of Shenzhou, a must-drive in this lifetime" and watching the people in the picture driving to the distance or nearby, passing through the snow-capped mountains and deserts in Xinjiang and the red-brick alleys in Quanzhou, who wouldn't be tempted? Who wouldn't want to set off immediately?

With the steering wheel in your hand, you have the absolute freedom to decide where to go next. Whether you want to chase a seaside sunset, visit a hidden ancient town known only to locals, check in at a long-awaited treasure route, or gallop across the Hulunbuir Grassland, Shenzhou Car Rental, which has outlets all over the country, can help you start easily and reach every place you long for accurately.

People have their longings, and the car is ready. The conditions for setting off are already in place. As long as you're willing, you can hit the road at any time.

Anytime is the right time, and you're the right person. It's time to plan a special route and go to the place you've been thinking about countless times. This time, no more coordination, no more compromise. Step on the accelerator and reach the road that truly belongs to you.

All the decisions, scenery, surprises, and unexpected situations on the road are truly yours to enjoy alone.