Hunting for super cheap tickets, girl traveled to 42 cities in 4 countries for only 69 million VND

Xinxin (25 years old, living in Jiangxi, China) became famous on social network Douyin when she traveled to 42 cities in many countries in 1 year with a total airfare cost of only about 20,000 yuan (69 million VND).

This travel blogger is a prime example of the “iron butt” travel trend - a trend among young people who look for cheap tickets and are willing to spend more time on the road due to budget constraints.

The Cover reported that in 2023, Xinxin graduated with a master's degree from a university in Yunnan Province but had not found a job. She decided to take a year off to explore 42 cities at home and abroad, not only through many Chinese cities but also to Russia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Before each trip, she searches travel websites for the cheapest airfares and train tickets to save as much as possible. For example, in January, she traveled from Jiangxi to Murmansk, Russia, to see the northern lights for just 4,000 yuan (VND13.9 million).

This trip included a connecting flight from Wuhan to Beijing and then to Moscow (Russia) at a cost of 1,600 yuan (5.5 million VND). She also used domestic flights in Russia at a cost of about 100 yuan (348,000 VND) each.

She also took a free train from Jiangxi to Wuhan through a points redemption program on a ticketing website. While in Bali, Xinxin found a hotel that only charged 80 yuan (US$12) a night.

“Many people overestimate the costs associated with travel, what really matters is how you prepare. Before every trip, I thoroughly research the costs of travel and accommodation, focusing especially on exploring the hidden benefits on travel platforms,” Xinxin said.

Many users of China's top travel websites are unaware that they can take a free taxi service from the airport or train station to their hotel, as long as the distance is less than 5km - 10km, she noted.

“Frugal travel doesn’t have to mean a bad experience. With careful preparation, you can experience many interesting things at minimal cost,” she emphasized.

Xinxin expressed her joy at meeting many new friends and gaining more understanding after the trips, which also helped her understand herself from many different perspectives. “Standing between heaven and earth, my vision is broadened. This is the most interesting aspect of traveling,” she confided.

There are many travel bloggers in China who have been known for their “iron butt” style of cheap travel. One 20-year-old man traveled from Yunnan to Laos, Thailand and Malaysia in just over 20 days. He spent a total of 5,000 yuan (US$750) and traveled only by train and bus.