The Gan Jing World 2025 Traveler Contest has officially concluded, following enthusiastic participation from creators around the world.
This year’s contest was organized around six themed hashtags—including #journeythepath and #natureinfocus—and attracted nearly 400 creator channels, with over 3,500 submissions in total. Due to the strong response and continued creative momentum, the competition was extended by an additional month, allowing more outstanding travel stories to be shared.
From stunning natural scenery and vibrant city life to practical travel tips and personal journeys, each entry reflected a deep passion for exploration and thoughtful storytelling. Together, these works highlighted travel as more than movement—it is a way to better understand the world.
After careful evaluation, 16 winners were selected for the 2025 Traveler Contest. Chosen for their creativity, visual quality, and storytelling, their work offered inspiration to audiences worldwide.
Below is the list of this year’s winners:
🥇 Travel Creator of the Year Award: USD $1,000 (1 Winner)
Winning Channel: Across the Four Seas - Vanlife & Travel
Content creator Hiroshi submitted a series of standout videos documenting his vanlife journeys across the United States and his travels in Japan. From deep forests and national parks to historic cities and traditional landscapes, his work combines professional cinematography and aerial footage with practical road-trip insights and photography gear recommendations. Through immersive storytelling, viewers are invited to experience each journey alongside him.
🍂High Altitude Aspen Fall Solo Trip🍂
A solo vanlife journey through Colorado’s high-altitude aspen forests in autumn. Filmed over four days of camping in a signal-free wilderness, the video offers a quiet, immersive self-drive experience surrounded by golden foliage.
Utah’s Most Iconic Natural Wonders: Arches National Park
This video follows a full day at Arches National Park, capturing the changing light, wind, and colors of Utah’s red desert from morning to dusk. Through shifting conditions, the park’s unique stone arches reveal their geological beauty over time.
How do I use these tools to record each adventure?
Hiroshi shares the photography gear he uses on the road, demonstrating how each tool performs in real travel and vanlife settings. The video provides practical insights for creators and travel photographers alike.
🥈 Rising Star Travel Award：USD $500 (1 Winner)
Winning Channel: Where to Go in 1,000 Steps
Taiwanese creators Yuchen and Cheng-Han participated in the #JourneyThePath theme, sharing in-depth travel routes across Taiwan. Their content features one-day itineraries, hidden scenic spots, local food discoveries, and the warmth and character of Taiwan’s communities.
【One-Day Tour in Hsinchu County】 7 Attractions from Xinpu to Guanxi!
With clear and complete route planning, this video connects local farms, markets, historic bridges, and resort destinations to present a one-day itinerary in Hsinchu County. The content is practical and fast-paced, successfully transforming hidden attractions and local experiences into a highly useful travel guide rich in regional character.
🥉 Spirit of Exploration Award: USD $100 (5 Winners)
Winning Channel: The Country Collectors
Winning Work: Tokyo for First-Timers: 5 Places You’ll Never Forget!
This 2025 Tokyo travel guide highlights five must-visit spots, real costs, and local insights to help first-time visitors navigate the city with ease.
Winning Channel: Return to Zero
Winning Work: Exploring Checheng — a nostalgic Japanese-style lumber town
The video takes viewers to Checheng, a historic lumber town in Nantou, Taiwan, featuring old train stations, traditional wooden architecture, and mountain-fed waterways, all captured in a calm, nostalgic atmosphere shaped by Japanese influence and local culture.
Winning Channel: Dmitriy Arbatov
Winning Work: Hanoi City Tour | Train Street | Imperial Citadel | Temples & Vibrant Streets | Vietnam
Dmitriy explores the vibrant city of Hanoi, from the thrilling Train Street where trains rush past at close range, to the Imperial Citadel, Ngoc Son Temple, lively streets, and night scenes. The video blends historical landmarks, cultural alleys, and daily life into a dynamic and surprising Hanoi journey.
Winning Channel: ahliandfan
Winning Work: Newly Released Phuket Self-Drive Deep Tour [Vlog.27 Phuket Day 1] Admire the Famous Michelin-Starred Phuket Restaurant's Exclusive Dongpo Pork
Ahli and Fan participated with a series of in-depth Thailand travel videos, including self-drive explorations of Phuket. Their content covers Michelin-listed restaurants, hidden vacation spots, traditional noodle shops, hotel tours, and nighttime discoveries, alongside programs focused on Thai temples, beliefs, culture, and practical travel tips.
Winning Channel: Daniel 夏明
Winning Work: 10 Days in Japan - Beautiful Kyoto Maple Scenery, BBQ Kobe Beef, Nara Bowing Deer
Daniel takes viewers to Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera to admire autumn foliage, enjoy Kobe beef and matcha, and experience the cultural, culinary, and joyful moments of a ten-day Kansai journey.
🏆 Active Participation Award: One-Year Gan Jing Membership (Value: USD $84) — 9 Winners
Winning Channel: Jackie Wyers
Winning Work: TULUM TRAVEL VLOG 2025🌿🦜 KAN Hotel, Beach Clubs & Shopping!
With over one million followers across social media, beauty creator Jackie Wyers joined the contest with her trip to Tulum, Mexico, showcasing a relaxed seven-day, jungle-inspired getaway—from hotels and beach clubs to boutique shopping—alongside Mexican cuisine, polished makeup looks, and resort-ready outfits.
Winning Channel: Sun Mingguo Photography World
Winning Work: Nectar for Ornate Sunbird
Photographer Sun Ming-Guo captures the delicate and colorful Ornate Sunbird as it flits among flowers collecting nectar, vividly portraying harmonious coexistence between the bird and its natural environment.
Winning Channel: Helilulu Vlog
Winning Work: Winter Escape to a Church Airbnb ⛅ Slow Living in a Small Town Near Melbourne
This video explores a slow winter getaway to Romsey, a small town outside Melbourne, featuring a stay in a converted historic church Airbnb, leisurely mornings, farmers’ market shopping, and winery lunches amid rolling hills.
Winning Channel: Jesse St Louis
Winning Work: THIS is why I keep returning to Vancouver Island
Jesse documents his first day returning to Vancouver Island, Canada, visiting Lower Myra Falls and experiencing the pristine waters and untouched nature that make the island irresistibly inviting time after time.
Winning Channel: Mojo Adventures
Winning Work: Anniversary Mine Narrows OFFROAD & HIKE! ⚒️🥾 Las Vegas Outdoors
This video explores historic mining sites near Lake Mead outside Las Vegas, following hiking routes through narrow canyons where historical remnants meet dramatic natural scenery.
Winning Channel: SightseeingSally
Winning Work: THIS HISTORIC TOWN IN UTAH needs to be on YOUR bucket list!
This episode explores Panguitch, Utah, a historic small town near five national parks, five state parks, and two national monuments, offering a classic local atmosphere and an ideal base for outdoor adventures.
Winning Channel: Living in Australia’s Villages
Winning Work: Strolling through Seoul's Night Market, Grilled Ginkgo and Fish Cake Skewers... Finally Conquered by This Bowl of Noodles
Creator Bob dives into the energy of Seoul’s night markets, where glowing lights, lively crowds, and irresistible aromas set the scene, highlighted by classic Korean noodle dishes that leave a lasting impression of the city.
Winning Channel: TravelingKorea 트래블링코리아
Winning Work: Walking along the cliffside, the new scenic suspension bridge 🏝️ is a trending zigzag hiking spot 💕 with a 360-degree panoramic view restaurant 🗼
This video introduces a scenic wooden cliffside trail winding along a blue river, combining historic homes with a 360-degree observation deck—an ideal destination for a relaxing autumn hike.
Winning Channel: Two Girls-Yiling&Trista
Winning Work: Eating at 4 Tainan Stinky Tofu Spots in a Row—A True Devotion!
Following Trista, the video visits four popular stinky tofu shops in Tainan, sampling crispy, salty, and juicy variations in a flavorful journey through local street food culture.
Additional Outstanding Works
Beyond the award-winning entries, many other exceptional submissions also stood out, including:
Samiaslife: COME WITH ME TO DISNEY WORLD
With over 900,000 followers across social media, Samia takes viewers on a joyful journey through Walt Disney World, experiencing iconic attractions and capturing the magic and fun that define this beloved destination.
Tam Smith: Best FOOD Moments in ASIA | 6 Countries | Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan
This video highlights memorable food moments from six Asian countries—Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan—linking unforgettable flavors with the cities and cultures where they were discovered.
Antoinette Emily: How I Found Peace in Germany 🇩🇪 Exciting Changes To Our Family + Slow Summer living
This work documents a family’s slow-living summer in Germany. Through everyday moments and natural landscapes, it reveals the inner peace and shifts in family relationships that emerge when life slows down, offering a gentle and heartfelt portrayal of living abroad in Germany.
DOUG and MARIE LIFE: Japan Day 1: Snowstorm in Korea, Nikko Adventures, and Our First Onsen Experience!
This video records the first day of a journey to Japan, beginning with a snowstorm in Korea, followed by a visit to Naritasan Temple, and continuing on to Nikko for a stay at a traditional Japanese ryokan and a first experience with public hot springs. It captures the sense of adventure and cultural discovery that define travel.
🎉 Congratulations to all winners!
Please contact [email protected] to complete the prize redemption process.
We extend our sincere gratitude to every creator who participated in the 2025 Traveler Contest. Your work has broadened our view of the world and enriched the meaning of travel itself. Gan Jing World will continue to build platforms where creators can be seen, supported, and discovered by brands—and we look forward to meeting you again on the next journey.
👉 Visit the event page to explore more outstanding entries.
About Gan Jing World
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