Guo Chuan, a 47-year-old Chinese pioneer in extreme sports, embarked on a solo journey around the world in his hometown Qingdao on November18. His voyage will cover 21,600 nautical miles and is expected to take 130 days. He will pilot his yacht across the Pacific Ocean, Cape Horn and the Atlantic Ocean. Guo Chuan is the first Chinese to cross the English Channel and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the first Chinese citizen to take part in the Volvo Around-The-World Ocean race. [Photo: chinanews.com]