Paul Salopek treks across China as part of his yearslong ‘Out of Eden Walk’

The World’s hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler talked with National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek about his experiences walking across China and beyond as a part of his “Out of Eden Walk” project.

The World

January 29, 2024

Paul Salopek has been walking across the world for the past 11 years. He’s tracing the historic path of human migration from Africa through Asia and into the Americas.

The journey is part of his “Out Of Eden Walk” project in collaboration with the National Geographic Society.

To date, he’s walked 16,000 miles and just recently was in China where he crossed seven provinces. He will return to China this spring — he plans to cover 24,000 miles altogether.

The World’s hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler talked with Salopek about his experiences in China and beyond.

See some of the sights from his journey in the photo gallery below. To hear the full interview with Salopek, click on the audio player above.

man near ruins — Madain Salih, Saudi Arabia, 2013. Paul Salopek wanders through the ancient Nabataean ruins of Madain Salih, carved into sandstone outcrops some 2,000 years ago. These structures were used as tombs for the wealthy during the Nabataean era. The kingdom stretched from its capital Petra in Jordan south to Madain Salih in the Hejaz region of present-day Saudi Arabia. Join the journey at outofedenwalk.org. Photograph by John Stanmeyer, National Geographic

two men in the field — Afar, Ethiopia, 2013. National Geographic Fellow and writer Paul Salopek and his Ethiopian guide, Ahmed Alema Hessan, leave the village of Bouri in the Afar region of northwestern Ethiopia. Join the journey at outofedenwalk.org. Photograph by John Stanmeyer, National Geographic

man with guides and camels — Afar, Ethiopia, 2013. National Geographic Fellow and writer Paul Salopek follows local guides into the Afar Desert on a 22,000-mile walk to retrace the human diaspora. Join the journey at outofedenwalk.org. Photograph by John Stanmeyer, National Geographic

man near tomb — Anatolia, Turkey, 2014. National Geographic Fellow and writer Paul Salopek leads his mule past a royal tomb near Nemrut in eastern Turkey. Join the journey at outofedenwalk.org. Photograph by John Stanmeyer, National Geographic

Writer and National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek has embarked on a 24,000-mile storytelling trek across the world called the “Out of Eden Walk.” The National Geographic Society, committed to illuminating and protecting the wonder of our world, has funded Salopek and the project since 2013. Explore the project here. Follow Salopek on X at @outofedenwalk and also at @InsideNatGeo.