The Year China’s Road-Tripping “Auntie” Found Freedom
Su Min, a 60-year-old Chinese grandmother, never intended to become a feminist icon. She simply sought an escape from her abusive marriage when, in 2020, she hit the road in her white Volkswagen hatchback with a rooftop tent and her pension. What started as a journey for freedom has since turned into a movement, as her story has resonated with millions of women across China.
“I felt like I could finally catch my breath,” Su Min recalls, reflecting on the moment she drove away from her old life. “I felt like I could survive and find a way of life that I wanted.” Over the next four years, Su Min traveled over 180,000 miles across China, documenting her adventures and the pain of her past. Her video diaries have earned her legions of online supporters, who affectionately call her the “road-tripping auntie.”
Su Min’s story became a hit film, Like a Rolling Stone, released in September 2024. Her inspiring journey even earned her a spot on the BBC’s list of 100 most inspiring and influential women of 2024. Reflecting on this monumental year, Su Min describes 2024 with one word: “freedom.”
A Road to Freedom
The moment Su Min began driving, she felt an immense sense of freedom. Speaking to the BBC from Shenyang, she explained that her journey on the road was the beginning of something transformative. “It wasn’t until 2024, when I filed for divorce, that I experienced another kind of freedom,” she says. The divorce process has been complicated, as her husband refused to grant the divorce unless she paid him a hefty sum. However, Su Min remains resolute: “I’m saying goodbye to him.”
Her life on the road is centered around her own needs and desires. Despite traveling solo, she never feels lonely. Su Min films her daily experiences, sharing everything from her cooking to her plans for the next day. Along the way, her followers travel with her to stunning locations like Xinjiang’s snow-capped mountains, Yunnan’s ancient river towns, and vast deserts.
Her candid storytelling has inspired many, especially women who feel trapped in their own lives. “You’re so brave! You chose to break free!” wrote one follower. Another commented, “Live the rest of your life well for yourself!”
For others, Su Min’s videos are more than just inspirational – they offer practical lessons. One follower shared, “After watching your videos, I’ve learned that as women, we must own our own homes, work for financial independence, and invest in unemployment insurance!”
Through her travels, Su Min also processes her own painful past. A stray cat she encounters reminds her of her own struggles and resilience. A visit to the market, where she smells chili peppers, evokes “the smell of freedom” because spicy food was once forbidden by her husband.
Enduring Abuse
For years, Su Min lived as a dutiful daughter, wife, and mother, enduring repeated abuse from her husband. “I was a traditional woman and I wanted to stay in my marriage for life,” she reflects. “But eventually, I saw that I got nothing in return for all my energy and effort – only beatings, violence, emotional abuse, and gaslighting.”
Her husband, Du Zhoucheng, has admitted to hitting her, though he downplays it as something “ordinary” in marriage. “In a family, how can there not be some bangs and crashes?” he said, justifying his actions in a recent video shared by Su Min on TikTok’s Chinese platform, Douyin.
A Marriage Made Under Pressure
Su Min’s marriage was arranged by a matchmaker, a common practice in the 1980s. Raised in Tibet, she had moved to Henan with her family when she was just out of high school. At the time, many of her female colleagues were already married. “I wanted to change my life,” she explains.
Her marriage to Du was not born out of love, but rather a desire to escape her father’s control. They met only twice before marrying, and while she hoped love would grow after the wedding, it never did. She had a daughter, but felt duty-bound to stay in the relationship for her sake.
Su Min endured the abuse for years, convincing herself that she needed to stay for the sake of her child. But as time passed, she realized her daughter did not want her to endure this pain. “The child really doesn’t want you to endure, they want you to stand up bravely,” she says, reflecting on the impact her situation had on her daughter.
Finding the Strength to Leave
In 2019, while browsing social media, Su Min stumbled upon a video of someone living in a van while traveling. It sparked an idea: this could be her way out. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Su Min left her home in Zhengzhou in September 2020, beginning her journey through more than 400 cities and 20 provinces across China.
Her story has inspired countless women across China, many of whom feel trapped in their own marriages. “We women are not just someone’s wife or mother… Let’s live for ourselves!” wrote one of her followers. Many others have shared that Su Min’s journey gave them the courage to leave their own abusive relationships.
“You are a hero to thousands of women,” one follower commented, while another said, “When I turn 60, I hope I can be as free as you.”
Living for Herself
Su Min’s journey isn’t just about escaping abuse – it’s about finding herself. She hopes to inspire women everywhere to pursue their dreams, no matter their age. “I want to tell you that no matter how old you are, as long as you work hard, you will definitely find your answer,” she says. “Even though I’m 60 now, I found what I was looking for.”
Although her divorce is still pending, Su Min continues to plan new adventures, hoping to travel abroad someday. Despite concerns about language barriers, she is confident that her story will resonate with women worldwide.
“I want to say that no matter what environment you are in, you must be good to yourself. Learn to love yourself, because only when you love yourself can the world be full of sunshine,” she says.
Su Min’s journey is one of strength, resilience, and the pursuit of freedom, offering a powerful message to women everywhere: never be afraid to live for yourself.
