22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
A Backpacker About to Hit the Road
'I don't have a style,' Purple Wang, a 26-year-old from Shanghai, told me when our paths crossed in Hong Kong in late May. 'Do I?'
Looking at the clothes she was wearing that day — a brown top, a denim skirt, a printed shirt tied around her waist and hiking shoes — some might agree with her. And yet, as we chatted in the street, the glances she received from passers-by suggested that they also noticed something about her presence. She had, as some say, a vibe.
She was about to head out on a solo backpacking trip, she explained — a welcome break from her job making music for theater productions. 'I play piano, I play acoustic guitar, I sing,' she said, adding that most of her attire was secondhand. 'I like old stuff.'
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