The world is the youngest backpacker Wenwen’s kindergarten

By Wood Green

Wenwen,China’s youngest backpacker，is turning six and has hiked through the Himalayas and may be going on a desert journey this year.

Wenwen has been on adventures across China with her parents,Pan Tufeng and Yuan Duan,soon after she learnt to walk.She has never attended kindergarten.

At one year and three months,Wenwen started travelling with her parents,and they have now covered many parts of China,including Yunnan,Guizhou,Sichuan,Tibet and Guangdong.

She became an Internet star after photos of the spunky(勇敢坚定的)girl carrying her 5kg backpack became a hit last year.

This month,the Pan family,who is from Shangrao in Jiangxi,is going to Laos to hike through untouched forests.In September,they plan to visit the Lop Nur desert in north-west China’s Xinjiang province.

Wenwen’s older brother,Boru,has taken 50 days off from school to go on the trip.He is in his second year of primary school.

“His results have not suffered and he even scored 99 marks in a maths examination,” Mr Pan said.

“They have been to the mountains and the seaside.They have not been to the desert.We want to let them see the desert and know how precious water is,”he told Sina.comin an interview published on Sunday.

“I will get a car to back them up this time,” he said,adding “I won’t joke about my children’s lives.”

“Now as a seasoned traveller,Wenwen has grown since she started hiking,” her father said.

“Her body is stronger.When she is faced with difficulties,she doesn’t cry.She volunteers to do housework and when she sees rubbish on the road,she picks it up and throws it into a bin,”said Mr Pan.

In an interview in the China Dailylast year,Wenwen’s parents said they covered 15 to 30 kilometres a day,for about eight months a year.

During the hikes,Wenwen’s meals consist of edible(可食用的)wild herbs and she sleeps in a tent,just like her parents do.

Wenwen’s parents say they plan to keep hiking with their daughter until she starts primary school.

“I hope my child can be independent and tough,and she can adjust herself from setbacks after those hiking practice,”Mr Pan said.

“I’m quite strict.When we were hiking,she cried because of blisters(水泡)on the feet but she had to keep walking.I care for her but I want to train her to face pressure.There will be bigger challenges in her future.”

In the beginning,she could not handle the long walks and sometimes needed to rest in her parents’arms.At four,she could catch up with them on her own.

Wenwen’s grandma said she was initially(起初)against the tough training,but that she could now see Wenwen was physically stronger and well-adapted.

Wenwen’s story has attracted widespread attention online.Some think it is an innovative(创新的)and better way to educate children.

A woman surnamed Fang said she agreed with the Pan’s way of bringing up their children,to some extent,adding she fears her city-born child lacks gratitude and persistence.

“My child even complains it’s exhausting to take the subway when I can’t drive,” Ms Fang said.

But others say excess(过度的)physical training can hurt children,and Wenwen may be too young to remember her travels when she grows up.

Mr Pan says:“I feel that they can absorb the beautiful scenery,and the hardship on the journey will train their ability to adapt.”