Chinese Man Who Visited 233 Countries in 33 Years Goes Viral Online
Mian Nadeem
Published September 10, 2026 | 11:57 PM
Chen Jinyou, a 53-year-old man from Zhejiang Province, returned to his hometown of Zhuji after completing a remarkable 33-year journey around the globe. He visited a total of 233 countries and territories, according to a report.
Chen began his travels in 1993 with visits to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. At that time, the internet was not widely accessible, so he wanted to see the world for himself. Despite having a machinery company and a family, Chen developed a routine that allowed him to balance travel with his responsibilities. He would return to China multiple times, staying for a month each visit before resuming his adventures.
His travels took him to challenging destinations, including polar regions. He successfully reached Antarctica in January 2016 after a failed attempt in November 2015. He also faced difficulties traveling to Tokelau, a small island in New Zealand, but eventually arrived there after a year and a half.
During his time in Africa, Chen contracted malaria, and he experienced an earthquake in Greece. He learned valuable lessons about dealing with unforeseen circumstances during these encounters.
Chen emphasized that the journey was not just about visiting tourist spots; he aimed to immerse himself in each location’s culture and spend ample time understanding local customs. He even collected currencies from 198 countries, later donating them to charity. His travels cost him approximately $1.5 million, or over 410 million Pakistani rupees.
Now, Chen plans to spend more time with his children and parents.
