A retired Chinese couple have just completed a 19-day driving adventure through the western United States - despite being able to speak almost no English.

Chen Aiwu, 64, a former bus driver, and her 66-year-old husband, Wang Dongsheng, spent just 10,000 yuan ($1,500) on the road trip that covered thousands of kilometers.

To cut costs, they slept in their rented car and ate from a portable rice cooker, which they filled with rice brought from home and free water provided by convenience stores and fast-food restaurants.