An old photo of Lao Tang during his cycling journey
On the morning of the 13th, an excited 67-year-old man from Shanghai could hardly contain his enthusiasm: he was about to depart from Fuqing, head to Pingtan, and take the “Sea Star” ferry to Taiwan today. His mission is quite impressive — to complete a cycling tour around Taiwan in just over ten days.
The man, named Tang Xianggen, has long had a dream since retiring: to cycle around Taiwan. Nine days ago, he set off alone from Shanghai on his bicycle, traveling along national highways through cities such as Jiaxing, Hangzhou, Taizhou, Wenzhou, and Ningde. After covering a distance of 1,133 kilometers, he arrived in Fuqing city the previous evening.
In April last year, Lao Tang gained online fame after cycling solo along the 318 National Highway to Tibet, earning him the nickname “Cycling Hero” among many netizens.
“After returning from my Tibet cycling trip, I’ve been planning a round-the-island cycling tour of Taiwan,” said Lao Tang. Initially, his family opposed the idea, but eventually agreed due to his persistence.
So he got to work. After obtaining his Exit & Entry Permit for Taiwan and Taiwan Travel Permit, he set off southward from Shanghai on May 3rd. Despite persistent heavy rain and fog, he never gave up.
“Since my permitted stay in Taiwan is only 15 days, I plan to cycle around 100 kilometers per day, which will take just over ten days to complete the loop.” According to his plan, he will take the high-speed “Sea Star” ferry across the Taiwan Strait to Taichung City. After completing the island loop, he will return to Fuzhou by ferry and then take a train back to Shanghai.
Lao Tang said that to save money, he opted for affordable small eateries and accommodations along the way. The cycling route was also one he “researched” online himself — the most eco-friendly and cost-effective option — keeping total round-trip transportation costs under 1,000 yuan.
Lao Tang’s luggage is very light, weighing only about 20 kilograms. In addition to essential clothing and bike repair tools, the most eye-catching item is his old laptop, which he carries with him. “For this trip, to let everyone keep up with my progress, I even learned how to go online and create a blog,” joked Lao Tang, adding that although he’s older, he’s still pretty “trendy.” Each day upon arriving at his accommodation, his first task is to spend two hours live-updating his blog with travel updates, and many netizens cheer him on.
On the 12th, a small hiccup almost disrupted Lao Tang’s trip to Taiwan. After arriving in Fuqing that day, he immediately went to the Sea Star ferry ticket agency to purchase tickets. As he hadn’t booked in advance, tickets for the round-trip ferry to Taiwan were in short supply. After learning his story, the staff communicated with the Pingtan Sea Star ferry service. After several twists and turns, they managed to secure his round-trip tickets for free, which deeply moved the elderly man.
After a brief one-day stopover in Fuqing, on the morning of the 13th, Lao Tang packed his bags and prepared to head to Pingtan. He will take the “Sea Star” ferry to Taiwan today. “After completing my cycling tour around Taiwan, I won’t stop here!” said the nearly 70-year-old man before departure. His next cycling adventure may take him to Southeast Asia, Russia, and beyond...