The next day, when He saw the man and his family busily repairing their house, he volunteered to transport materials with his excavator.

After one and a half days' work, the task was almost done.

He used the excavator to help other villagers dig drainage ditches, repair roads and assist them in overcoming all kinds of difficulties.

"The village chief came to see me and gave me a thumbs up," he said. "Villagers brought their best butter tea to me, eager to invite me to their homes for a meal."

On Dec 16, on his way from Gansu back to Ningxia, He came across a vehicle struggling to climb a snowy slope.

He used his excavator to clear the snow, allowing the vehicle to proceed smoothly.

In his vlogs, He documented numerous similar anecdotes of helping others, using the excavator to clear rocks and mud from the road, assisting vehicles stuck in ditches, helping an overturned coal truck and filling potholes.

As of Dec 23, He has amassed over 2.7 million followers on the short-video platform Douyin, winning more than 20 million likes.

He is now frequently recognized by fans on the road, and many ask him for photos. In some tourist spots, he has been invited to enjoy local cultural experiences.

"I am very excited about this trip. It's wonderful that I could assist the people I met during this special journey. And that's what encouraged me to keep traveling to more places," he said.

On the evening of Dec 24, He arrived in Gansu's Qingcheng county. The next day, he continued his journey eastward, eager to arrive in Yinchuan for a family reunion.

"After being away for over half a year, my parents and wife have been worried about me traveling outside. My two children are still young in their teens and they need my company," he said.

"I will return home to have a rest and spend quality time with my family. This year I'll continue traveling with my excavator, though I have no detailed plan of where to go yet," he said.

Contact the writers at zhaoruinan@chinadaily.com.cn