Sixty-year-old Su Min – known as “Road Trip Auntie” to her 3.18 million followers on Douyin – has become one of China’s most prominent feminist icons over the last four years.
Born in 1964 in Changdu, Xizang Autonomous Region, Su spent most of her life in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. For more than three decades, she took on odd jobs to raise her daughter while enduring violent abuse from her husband. In autumn of 2020, Su made a life-changing decision at age 56: she left her husband, adult daughter and twin grandsons to embark on a solo road trip.
On September 24, 2020, Su set off from Zhengzhou in her small Volkswagen Polo with no set destination and no plans to stop. So far, Su has traveled to over 400 cities across China.
Su documented her epic road trip on social media, attracting millions of followers. Her bold move inspired countless Chinese women, who view her as a feminist role model. Major media outlets have covered Su’s story, including The New York Times on April 8, 2021 with an article titled “A Chinese ‘Auntie’ Went on a Solo Road Trip. Now, She’s a Feminist Icon.”
A film based on Su’s story, Like a Rolling Stone, was released on September 15, and quickly won the hearts of millions with its realistic portrayal of women’s plights and its messages of female empowerment. Highly acclaimed, the film scored 8.9/10 on media rating website Douban, making it the highest-rated domestic women-centered film of the past decade.
On September 30, 2024, Su uploaded a touching video to Douyin addressed to her younger self from five years ago, in which she told her female followers, “The world has bound women with so many fetters. Be proud of yourself for overcoming so much on your own. I hope you find the courage to face future challenges, live freely and cherish every little moment of happiness.” The post received over 213,000 Likes.
Su also filed for divorce from her husband this summer, a process that is still ongoing.
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