China ‘iron butt’ woman travels to 42 cities, spends US$2,800 on tickets

A young woman in China has gained popularity on social media for traveling to 42 cities at home and abroad in the past year, all for just 20,000 yuan (US$2,800).

The 25-year-old Douyin blogger, known by the alias Xinxin, exemplifies the trend of “iron butt” travel – a movement among younger generations who seek out inexpensive tickets and are willing to spend more time on the road due to budget constraints.

Xinxin, originally from Jiangxi province in southeastern China, graduated last year with a master’s degree from a university in Yunnan province but has yet to find employment.

During her gap year, she explored 42 cities across the mainland, as well as in Russia, Thailand, and Indonesia, as reported by the news portal The Cover.

Before each journey, she diligently searched travel websites for the lowest air and train fares to maximise her savings. For instance, in January, she travelled from her hometown in Jiangxi to Murmansk, Russia, to see the northern lights for just 4,000 yuan.