An old man spent one week trekking to Beijing from his home in Tianjin, by walking backwards.

The 67-year-old Ma Runtian, arrived in Beijing's Tongzhou District Sunday, after walking backwards for 90 kilometers from Tianjin, wearing out two pairs of shoes.

He plans to get to Tian'anmen Square in the next a few days, still by walking backward.

Ma said he picked up walking backward 30 years ago when his left foot got injured and he couldn't walk normally.

The pain has lightened since then.

Ma hoped his action of walking backward to Beijing can promote the special way of keeping fit.

(CRI May 23, 2005)