Student commutes weekly for 3 days between China and Australia to stay close to girlfriend. It cost...

The student would take three days to complete the round trip from China to Australia. (Representational)

A Chinese student in Australia spent three months commuting weekly between his home country and Melbourne to attend his final semester classes while staying physically close to his girlfriend.

28-year-old Xu Guangli, an arts management student at RMIT University in Melbourne, embarked on this gruelling schedule from August to October. Each week, Xu travelled from his hometown of Dezhou in Shandong province to Melbourne, spending three days completing the round trip.

He would leave home early in the morning, travel to Jinan for an international flight, and arrive in Melbourne the next day for his class. By the third day, he would already be on his way back to China.

“It was my last semester, and I only had one class per week to meet the graduation requirements,” Xu told Dazhong Daily. But what truly motivated him was his girlfriend, who had completed her studies in Australia earlier and returned to China. “Life in Melbourne on my own was lonely,” he admitted.

Xu, who had been studying in Australia for eight years, also used the opportunity to explore work environments in China for his future career. His journeys were documented in videos posted online, earning him nearly 10,000 followers.

One of his videos detailed the cost of a single trip—6,700 yuan (approximately Rs 85,000)—including airfare, taxis, and meals. Despite the high costs, Xu found solace in being with his girlfriend and enjoying home-cooked meals.

“I could have rented a flat in Melbourne for 10,000 yuan a month, but the time and money spent were worthwhile for love,” he said. During his one-night stays in Melbourne, Xu often slept on a friend’s couch to save costs.

The weekly commute also offered unexpected adventures. Xu booked connecting flights through various airlines, allowing him to visit other Chinese cities and even Vietnam during layovers.

Having completed his studies in October, Xu no longer needs to make the exhausting trips. But his story has sparked conversations in China about the lengths people go to for love.