Young adventurer does solo walk across Lake Baikal

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By CGTN's World Insight

Has it ever occurred to you that someone could walk across Lake Baikal – the world’s largest freshwater lake in southern Siberia – all by themselves with no support at all?

This seemingly impossible mission has just been accomplished by one young Chinese man.

Xu Jiangjun spent 23 days walking 700 kilometers through the deserted wilderness where temperatures regularly dropped to 30 degrees Centigrade below zero.

Xu Jiangjun Photo

It makes him just the eighth person in the world to make the crossing from the south side to the north.

Using his camera and a GoPro, Xu made a video record of his journey, the results of which were edited to make the 32-minute documentary, “China to Siberia: Crossing the Loneliest Lake”.

Xu initially started his epic adventure with a Russian traveling companion, who, in the middle of the journey, quit due to snow blindness.

"He had double vision and he felt like there was sand in his eyes and he had to quit. That was a very scary moment," explained Xu.

That left Xu alone in his quest to overcome the worst Mother Nature could throw at him, combined with testing his physical endurance to the limits.

Throughout his journey, Xu developed a deep friendship with the local people, who either gave him equipment or provided him with free accommodation when he arrived in small towns.

Xu Jiangjun Photo

His film tells an age-old story: man against nature.

So what did he get from this extraordinary journey?

“Well, when you look around, that’s all the reward,” he smiled.

World Insight with Tian Wei is a 45-minute global affairs debate and exclusive interview show on CGTN. It airs weekdays at 10.15 p.m. BJT (1415GMT), with rebroadcasts at 4.15 a.m. BJT (2015GMT).World Insight with Tian Wei is a 45-minute global affairs and debate show on CGTN. It airs weekdays at 10.15 p.m. BJT (1415GMT), with rebroadcasts at 4.15 a.m. BJT (2015GMT).