Zhang Xinyu and Liang Hong on their yatch Photo: Courtesy of Youku

Traveling around the world with a lover is a fantasy that most people have dreamed of, though few have ever made this come true.

But Zhang Xinyu and Liang Hong are two lovers who have decided to live out their dream. The Beijing based couple, who ran a successful trading business together, decided to change their lives after witnessing the tragic events of the 2008 earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan Province.

"We wanted to change our lives but did not know how to. So we decided to start the journey of lifetime. And for now, we found that this trip is exactly what we want," said Zhang, 36, who wrote in an email to the Global Times while still out on sea in his yacht.

The lovers decided to document their trip on video. When they tried to upload their 300-hour worth of footage to the China's largest online video site Youku, the website's staff were attracted by what they saw. "We were touched by the scene where Zhang held a flag which bore the Chinese characters for China when he was only a step away from the lava of Vanuatu's Marum crater," said Li Li, vice president of Youku.

After communicating with the couple and discovering their itinerary, Li decided to create a reality show, named On the Road, which featured their videos and interviews conducted with the travelers they had met across the globe.

The first season of this show, which consists of 15 episodes, has reached over 103 million views on Youku since its release this June. The second season was made available to viewers last month and is updated every Thursday. The episodes are a candid view of the couple's travels on their yacht, which cost Zhang a staggering 10 million yuan ($1.6 million). Zhang and Liang aim to sail across the globe on a 34,000 nautical mile path, taking them through the Pacific Ocean, across the Straits of Magellan, along the Cape Horn and down towards Antarctica.  

Risky business

 "We have been preparing for this trip for five years, and we were hoping to complete our trip in 10 years. If all goes according to plan, we will reach our final destination around 2017," said Zhang.

In the first season of the show, the couple explored some of the world's most dangerous destinations.

In Somalia, the pair wore body armor and hired guards to protect them from gunfire. In Oymyakon, a Russian village that has been dubbed "the coldest in the world," they camped out for a whole night and poured a glass of boiling water onto the ground, watching it turn into ice right before their eyes.

As dangerous as their destinations may sound, Zhang and Liang do not want to risk their lives. "We have licenses to drive both planes and ships. We have got all the certifications that we could get," said Zhang.

More of their friends are set to join Zhang's team in the second season. Besides Zhang's best friend Wei Kai, Zeng Qiao worked alongside Zhang during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake relief effort. Chen Ye is a passionate fan of sailing and Su Zhenyu is a video producer by trade.
Global support

The first season of the reality show was well received by netizens and some foreign video companies and TV stations who were in cooperation with Youku, said Li. For overseas audiences, On the Road is also available on Youtube with bilingual subtitles in Chinese and English.

"We compiled a team for the couple, inviting experts on sailing, exploration, gaming and military to discuss the content of the show and how it could be improved," said Li.

"And we also added some interactive parts for our netizens, who are able to vote on routines and destinations for the couple, differing from traditional TV shows," Li added.

The couple have been supported by many viewers overseas. When they were filming in Los Angeles and Great Canyon, some strangers beckoned his nickname on the show, 270, which comes from the Chinese measurement of Zhang's weight.

When asked about how Chinese travelers differ from others, Zhang stated that there are hidden advantages, as he has stumbled upon gems that could pass other travelers by.

"We found a tape from the 1980s at the Somali national TV station. It featured a recording of the Chinese old song 'Without the Communist Party, there would be no new China' in Somali and was played using local instruments, it was amazing," Zhang said.

Zhang has not received any financial support so far and is incurring all the costs himself.

"Joking that we have no money left has some truth in it. We have to pay for local guides, maintenance for the yacht and filming permission, which can sometimes be the most expensive part of our trip."

All you need is love

Knowing each other for almost 28 years, Zhang and Liang are each other's first love. Having met while attending the same elementary school, the couple went on to start a successful career together that has lasted for over 18 years.

When asked why they have decided to marry now after so many years together, Liang said, "In the past, both of us believed that we should be devoted to our careers before thinking about marriage and starting a family. We are sure that we will undoubtedly stay together for the rest of our lives."

"The trip is only a part of our future plan. We already had knowledge of life at sea, and have found both the fun and power of nature through sailing," said Liang.

"But this not the only goal in our lives. We are trying to experience different styles of life. We are on the road, feeling life's joys."