Damien, a 30-year-old skateboarder from Los Angeles, has lived in China for five years, evolving from a newcomer into a fluent Chinese speaker and a true "China hand." In September 2024, he embarked on an extraordinary adventure—a cross-country skateboarding expedition starting from Manzhouli in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Throughout his journey, Damien captured every landscape and every heartfelt encounter with his camera. "Chinese people are so kind and welcoming!" he exclaimed. From the northern to the southern China, no matter which city he visited, friendly drivers often stopped to offer him free rides without a cent in return. He was also constantly "fed" by Chinese people, with snacks and fruits stuffed into his backpack. "It's like everyone was worried I wasn't eating enough," he recalled with a laugh.

Damien first came to China in 2019, originally planning to cycle from Guangzhou back to the US. When the pandemic kept him grounded, he began to learn Chinese, make friends, and fell in love with Guangzhou's lifestyle. During the period, he met Mama, a local woman who became both his girlfriend and a key partner in learning Chinese. "Food like Beef with scrambled eggs, Hong Kong milk tea, and clay pot rice is so delicious!" he said. The city's relaxing pace and the companionship he found helped him grow attached to Guangzhou.

Long before this cross-country skateboarding adventure, Damien had already completed several long-distance cycling trips within China, including routes from Guangzhou to Hainan, Guiyang to Shenzhen, and Lanzhou to Beijing. To document and share his experiences, he began filming travel vlogs, quickly gaining a large following. "I just want to share joy with everyone and spread the passion I have for life," Damien said.

Source: Lingnan on the Cloud

美国青年滑板穿越中国 一路邂逅温暖无数

来自美国洛杉矶的30岁滑手大米（Damien），在中国生活了五年，已从初来乍到的“老外”变成能说流利中文的“中国通”。2024年9月，他从内蒙古满洲里出发，展开一次前所未有的冒险——用滑板横穿中国。

旅途中，大米用镜头记录每一段风景与人情。“中国人实在太热情了！”大米提到，从北到南的一路上，无论是哪个城市，总能遇到热情的司机提出载他一程，而这些司机从未收他一分钱。他也常被“投喂”，零食、水果塞满了背包。“大家好像总怕我吃不饱。”他笑着回忆。

大米2019年来到中国，原计划从广州骑行回美国，但因疫情留下后，开始学中文、交朋友，并爱上了广州的生活。期间他认识了广州姑娘玛玛，两人相恋，玛玛也成为他学习中文的重要帮手。他说：“牛肉滑蛋饭、港式奶茶、煲仔饭……实在太好吃了！”轻松的生活节奏和亲密的陪伴让他渐渐把广州当作了“家”。

早在滑板穿越中国之前，大米已在国内进行过几次长途骑行，如从广州到海南、贵阳到深圳、兰州到北京等等。出于分享和记录生活的目的，大米开始拍摄旅行Vlog并迅速吸引了一大批粉丝。他分享道：“希望和大家一起分享快乐，传递给大家我对生活的热情。

文丨王隽杰 实习生 张运烽
图丨受访者提供
视频｜记者 王隽杰 姜雪媛 实习生 张运烽
剪辑｜黎杰文
译｜盛嘉 柯妃娟
英文审校｜洪婷 曾敏