Tibet travel blog receives over 2.6 million hits on line

Tibet travel blog showcases her unique experience and has received over 2.6 million hits

Recently, many netizens stood in front of their computer screens waiting for live updates to a travel blog. They say, "I will not leave until Xiao Yan has updated her travel blog." The blog entitled "Xiao Yan travels Sichuan and Tibet on 83 yuan" was posted on http://www.tianyaclub.com on November 21 and immediately attracted wide attention. During the past 20-odd days, it got 2.6 million hits. Why has the Tibet travel blog attracted so much attention? Can one really depend on 83 yuan for a two-month and 10,000-kilometer trip to Sichuan and Tibet? Reporters interviewed Zhang Xianyan, author of the travel blog. She talked about her unique experience.

Tibet travel blog receives over 2.6 million hits on line

She originally intended to visit earthquake-hit Sichuan and eventually traveled for nearly 10, 000 kilometers

At 1:11 am on December 21, Zhang Xianyan was not sleepy. Looking at the computer screen, she began to update her blog while answering questions raised by netizens. This "miraculous girl" was born in Tongcheng, Anhui Province. She has been staying in Chengdu since the huge earthquake struck Sichuan last year. Not long ago, she posted a blog about her travels on http://www.tianyaclub.com, telling about her experiences of traveling to Sichuan and Tibet on 83 yuan. The meandering experience and humorous style of writing made her popular among many netizens. Some of her fans have even created a QQ group for her, discussing about her "Tibet travel blog."

In early May 2008, Zhang Xiaoyan found a job in Chengdu. But the company closed down soon and all of its employees were left jobless. Just at that time, a serious earthquake hit Sichuan Province. "I must do something since I have been in Sichuan," Zhang said. Local Red Cross Foundation staff rejected her application for volunteer membership because they already had enough manpower. Having no choice, Zhang had to grasp every opportunity to do something useful. She once noticed that many children were left unattended to as all the adults were busy reconstructing their hometown. "Children particularly need companions and should have others for support in a time like this." Zhang set up a tent school with A Liang, another volunteer afterwards.

One year had passed and Zhang planned to visit the children living in the earthquake-hit Wenchuan County at the beginning of this year. She had never thought that the plan would end up as a two-month and 10,000 kilometer journey.