Zhang Huimin, an 8-year-old girl from south China's Hainan Province, is preparing for a south-to-north journey across the country - by running. [Photo: hinews.cn]

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Zhang Huimin, an 8-year-old girl from south China's Hainan Province, is preparing for a south-to-north journey across the country - by running.

A local newspaper in Hainan reported on Wednesday.

The epic journey is scheduled to start on July 4, the day following the girl's final examination of the semester, according to her father Zhang Jianmin.

After a kick-off ceremony, the little runner will take off from Sanya, China's southernmost city. She plans to run all the way northwards, through the provinces of Guangdong, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong and Hebei, before finally reaching Beijing. The trip is expected to take two months.

Jiangsu and Hebei are expected to be highlights along the way, said Zhang Jianmin. In Jingsu, they will pass by his old hometown; and in Hebei, he wants his daughter to take part in an international marathon competition.

"An international marathon tournament will be held in Hebei on August 15," said the ambitious father, "We hope we can join the race."

They will bring flags and banners along with them, asking each local government office to sign and stamp them, and then give them to the Chinese Olympic Committee as a gift, he added.

The 8-year-old, nicknamed "little magic deer", has been in spotlight since January this year when she spent 17 days on an 840-kilometre long run around Hainan Island. Since then, she has joined in several international marathon tournaments with astonishingly good results.

At present her father is raising funds for the trip.