Hsieh's involvement with the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre goes back to 2004, when Lin Hwai-min won the Executive Yuan's National Cultural Award. With NT $ 600,000 provided by the award money, Lin established the "Nomad Project," which supports young people under 30 in foreign journeys of exploration. The grant stipulates that travelers must go it alone, living simply for 60 days.
謝旺霖與雲門的因緣起於 2004 年，當時林懷民榮獲行政院文化獎，他慨然將獎金 60 萬元捐出來成立「流浪者計劃」，贊助 30 歲以下的年輕人出國看世界，計劃規定必須獨自一人完成 60 天的清貧之旅。