Travelers check their luggage on an expressway in Hunan province on Saturday. They all work in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and shared a car to return to their homes in Huaihua, Hunan province, for Spring Festival. Many people are considering alternatives to travel home during the annual rush. (Photo source: He Maofeng / China Daily)

As the countdown to Spring Festival begins, a sea of people travel home using the quickest, or cheapest, way possible ¡ª usually planes, trains and automobiles.

For some travelers during this annual mass migration, however, the journey is more important than the destination. Instead, they choose slower modes of transportation, such as bicycles or even walking.

Three people who opted for an unconventional adventure tell their stories.