BEIJING, May 23-- Rays of summer sun stream through the window of Guo Chuan's cozy study in Beijing in early May, casting light on a white model sailboat that alludes to the master's passion.

As Guo, a stocky middle-aged man casually outfitted in a gray T-shirt and black running shorts, rests in a white leather armchair, only the skin peeling from his knees and feet are evidence that he recently completed a legendary voyage.

From Nov. 18, 2012 to April 5, 2013, the 48-year-old completed a solo around-the-world odyssey aboard a Class 40 yacht. His 138-day journey started in Qingdao, a coastal city in northeast China's Shandong Province. From there, he sailed across the Pacific Ocean and down to Cape Horn off the coast of South America before making his way into the Atlantic Ocean and back to Qingdao. His 21,600-nautical mile (40,000-kilometer) journey took him through the most dangerous waters on the planet and set a world record for solo non-stop circumnavigation in a Class 40 yacht.

His boat, the Qingdao, arrived back in the city of Qingdao on the morning of April 5. Though only several meters away from the pontoon, Guo couldn't wait to jump into the sea and swim to his wife and two sons.

Kneeling in front of his family, he burst into tears of pride, excitement and gratitude.

About a month has passed since he ended his adventure through biting cold, scorching heat and other types of severe oceanic and climate extremes.

"All the adversities flashing back are like surreal dreams," he says calmly, listening to his wife teach their younger son to speak in the next room.

Guo was the first Chinese to traverse the Atlantic Ocean by himself and the first Chinese to complete the around-the-world Volvo Ocean Race, a nine-month race from October 2008 to June 2009.

Summarizing his accomplishments, he simply says, "I just follow my heart."