Hiker Has Reached China on 25,000-Kilometre Trek
Rainer Mautz has surpassed the 18,000-kilometre milestone in his trans-continental walk toward Singapore.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Hiking
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Walker Rainer Mautz reached the Honghe Ha'nizu Yizu region in China on October 9, 2026, marking 591 days since his departure from Portugal. He has now completed over 18,000 kilometres of his planned 25,000-kilometre journey across Eurasia.
Why it matters
The trek represents one of the longest continuous walking journeys currently underway, documenting diverse terrain and overcoming logistical hurdles. Mautz aims to successfully finish the massive trek ending in Singapore despite regional travel disruptions.
As of October 9, 2026, Mautz has walked a total of 18,124.4 km over 591 days. He is currently approximately 100 km away from entering Vietnam.
The players
Rainer Mautz
He is an endurance walker currently engaged in a multi-year journey spanning Eurasia.
The details
Mautz has navigated a path through 16 countries including Germany, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan before arriving in China. He adjusted his initial route to exclude Mongolia following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, maintaining his progress logs via the Polarsteps platform.
Timeline
February 26, 2025: Mautz began his walk from Cabo de São Vicente, Portugal.
June 21, 2026: Mautz reported desert temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius during his travel.
October 8, 2026: Mautz reached the 18,000-kilometre mark of his journey.
October 9, 2026: Mautz reached Honghe Ha'nizu Yizu, Yunnan, China.
Culture Shift
This journey reflects a growing trend of individuals documenting extreme endurance feats on social-tracking platforms. Mautz's trek follows the logistical patterns established by the pursuit of the record for the longest human-powered trans-continental trek.
For those interested in long-distance endurance, Mautz's journey highlights the necessity of flexible route planning when facing international health outbreaks. His experience underscores the significant time commitment required for such global travel, which takes years to complete.
The takeaway
Large-scale trekking requires constant adaptation to geopolitical and environmental variables. Travelers can use digital tracking tools to maintain detailed records of their progress across international borders.
Further reading
Follow ongoing updates on long-distance excursions in our Hiking section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Independent.
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