Liao Xing Sets Off with a Dream
With just a tent, a stove, and a pot, the post-90s young man Liao Xing arrived in Nanning with his old friend—the mountain bike. This city is one of his stopovers on his journey to cycle across China and realize his dream. In fact, there are quite a few post-90s like Liao Xing who chase their dreams. In Nanning, some universities have established cycling associations, whose members ride all over Guangxi, even venturing to other provinces and Southeast Asian countries. The riders help each other, fostering a healthy, uplifting, and mutually respectful spirit.
Post-90s Cyclists Arrive in Nanning, Planning to Cycle Across China
Born in 1992 in Jiangxi Province, Liao Xing worked in Guangzhou for over three years as an employee at a private company, earning a decent salary.
“While I’m still young and driven by the urge to fulfill my dreams, it’s worth spending time on an experience I’ll cherish for life,” said Liao Xing. Though he often hesitated before setting off, once he did, he felt he had already succeeded halfway. Still, his family had concerns about his cycling trip. To reassure them, he rode from Guangzhou back to his hometown in Jiangxi during this year’s Spring Festival.
When the idea of cycling across China first came to him, Liao Xing made meticulous plans—researching the cultural environment and traffic conditions along the route, and creating a map for navigation. In early April, he resolutely quit his job and found two like-minded cycling enthusiasts on a Guangzhou cycling group.
The trio planned to spend two months cycling from Guangzhou to Lhasa. After reaching their destination, Liao Xing would continue solo, cycling through routes such as Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Harbin to circle all of China. He also plans to cycle to countries like Nepal, with the entire journey expected to take over a year.
“Measure China by wheel, leave no regrets in youth.” With this banner in hand, the three set off on April 6. Their luggage included a tent, stove, pot, rice, oil, toiletries, medicine, books, and more—everything they needed. Following their pre-planned map, they arrived in Nanning on the seventh day.
Mutual Help Among Riders Feels Like Family
Though unexpected situations can arise during the ride, the memories are mostly wonderful. Liao Xing said there’s an unspoken understanding among cyclists: whether you know each other or not, everyone feels like family.
On the evening of April 12, Liao Xing arrived in Nanning and planned to stay for two or three days to rest. Shen Chunfeng, a sophomore at Guangxi University for Nationalities, didn’t hesitate to take him in, helping arrange food and lodging. Before this, the two were just unfamiliar members in a Guangzhou cycling group. But with shared interests, they quickly hit it off. That night, Shen Chunfeng took Liao Xing to try Nanning’s local cuisine and invited members of the Nanning cycling group, who in turn brought along other cycling enthusiasts. A group of young people with common passions gathered together, quickly becoming friends as if they’d known each other for years.
The mutual help and camaraderie among riders deeply moved Liao Xing, Shen Chunfeng, and Chen Bo, head of Guangxi University for Nationalities’ cycling club. Chen Bo said that whenever they organize rides during holidays or weekends, they always encounter warm-hearted riders at every stop. “Do you need any help?” is the most common question they hear. Some offer water or food, while others help adjust their mountain bikes.
Cycling not only fulfills young dreams and lets you enjoy beautiful natural scenery along the way—it’s also about making friends with others who share your passion and feeling the warmth from kind-hearted people. Trendy concepts like “hitchhiking,” “backpackers,” and “couchsurfing” reflect positive social energy. Chen Bo shared how he once hitched a ride in a remote, sparsely populated area of Yunnan, where a kind company CEO gave him a lift to the next stop.
Nanning Universities See Surge in Post-90s Riders
In Nanning, there’s also a group of cycling enthusiasts like Liao Xing. In the evenings or on weekends and holidays, young faces on mountain bikes are a common sight on the streets. Many are post-90s university students, such as Shen Chunfeng and Chen Bo.
Chen Bo said he has cycled through Southeast Asian countries before. Currently, Guangxi University for Nationalities’ cycling club has over 100 members, with around fifty to sixty regularly participating. On weekends or holidays, he often organizes rides. They’ve been to nearly every corner of Guangxi. Recently, they cycled to Wuming, Daming Mountain, and Liangfeng River.
Guangxi University established its bicycle association as early as 2003, with the slogan “Get close to nature, unite and cooperate, endure hardship, and strive for excellence.” The club’s spirit is defined as “unity and cooperation, perseverance, willingness to help, and serving society.”
Chen Bo told reporters that Guangxi University’s Xingjian College is also preparing to establish a bicycle association. In Nanning’s universities, there are countless post-90s students who love cycling. Everyone wants to realize their dreams, strengthen their willpower, and broaden their horizons while they’re young.
For the expenses during their rides, they rarely ask their families for money, instead earning it through proper means, such as selling small items at street stalls. Shen Chunfeng never asks his family for money. He buys small goods and sells them at legitimate stalls, saving up for his next cycling trip.
Shared hobbies and dreams have forged deep friendships among these young people. They often gather, don’t smoke or drink, and mostly talk about the beautiful things they’ve seen while cycling, the cultural and geographical environments, and various experiences, all while embracing a positive, respectful, and loving spirit.