IN At a time when a day without a smartphone seems unimaginable, a young doctoral student’s decision to travel around China for 134 days without a mobile phone or computer has caught the attention of internet users.

Yang Hao, born in the 1990s and a contemporary art scholar at a British university, set out on this unique adventure last November and returned home in April after traveling to 24 provinces and regions.

According to the South China Morning Post, he wanted to use his experiment to research the impact of digitalization on people’s lives.

“I feel that the mobile phone is like a digital organ for us. Without it, we cannot do many things.

“So I wanted to find out what happens if we have no internet access at all.

“What is the experience, say, over a period of several months?” he was quoted as saying.

He noted that China is a world leader in the rapid development of digitalization and technology.

“Based on doubts and reflections on digitalization, I wanted to conduct an experiment in China to enable an exodus without relying on the Internet,” he said.

He faced numerous challenges during his journey. Since he didn’t have a mobile phone, he couldn’t book hotels in advance, access maps or use ride-sharing services.

In many shops, card payments were not possible, so he had to rely on ATMs to withdraw cash.

Despite these inconveniences, Yang appreciated the opportunity to interact more with strangers and experience life differently.

He said: “Almost everyone who heard that I didn’t use a cell phone was shocked.”

“Some asked if I was doing something bad, others wondered if I had a special purpose, and still others found it interesting to live without a cell phone.”

He found that without a phone he could concentrate better on reading and writing.

“I’m like an old man who has traveled through time to the present day. All these worries and joys excited me. It was definitely a great life experience,” he was quoted as saying.

His trip has caused quite a stir on China’s social media, with reactions ranging from admiration to skepticism.

One user on Baidu reportedly commented: “It’s great. I can’t live an hour without checking my phone.”

Another added: “I think it is necessary to have a cell phone with you. It makes your life easier and can help you in emergency situations.”

Yang plans to publish a book detailing his experiences and make a documentary film using footage from his travels.