Xu Xiake’s famous saying that sums up his life is: When you return from the Five Mountains, you don’t look at the mountains; when you return from Huangshan, you don’t look at the mountains.

Xu Xiake traveled to 21 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions throughout his life. "The masters go where they have not yet reached, and explore the unknown places where others go." Wherever he goes, he explores the secrets and keeps a travel diary, recording the observed phenomena, humanities, geography, animals and plants, etc.

Xu Xiake opened up a new direction for geography to systematically observe and describe nature. It is not only a geographical masterpiece that systematically examines the landforms and geology of the motherland, but also a tourist masterpiece that depicts China's scenic resources. It is a literary masterpiece with beautiful words and has far-reaching influence at home and abroad.

In Xu Xiake's more than 30 years of travel and investigation, he made four long-distance hiking trips, covering more than half of China, without the support of anyone else. In addition, in more than 30 years of travel, he has mainly traveled on foot, rarely by boat, and often carried his own luggage.

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Xu Xiake’s only motivation for traveling is his parents. When he was nineteen, his father died. Xu's mother was open-minded and reasonable, and actively encouraged Xu Xiake to travel far away without worries.

So, three years later, 22-year-old Xu Xiake finally officially went on a trip. Before leaving, he wore the travel crown his mother made for him, carried simple luggage on his shoulders, and left his hometown. From then on, until his death at the age of fifty-four, most of his time was spent traveling and investigating.

With no support from the government or help from friends, he traveled all over the world alone for more than 20 years, visiting all thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty.