Yesterday at noon, the reporter met Bai Jian at a hotel near Xi'an Railway Station. His slim figure, hearty laugh, and thick Beijing accent were his first impressions on the reporter. Sitting next to Bai Jian was his somewhat quiet wife, Zhao Siqin.
Bai Jian, 32 this year, quit his job at a Beijing company where he worked in computer maintenance before starting his journey. Bai Jian said that last August, he chose to resign, bought a folding bicycle, and began taking his wife with him while carrying the bicycle to climb the "Five Great Mountains and Three Sacred Mountains," as well as spreading his environmental ideas to strangers he met on the way. The day before yesterday, the couple entered Shaanxi from Shanxi, arrived at the Qinling Mountains, and climbed Cuihua Mountain in the rain. "So far, we've been to more than ten places. Mount Wutai in Shanxi was our first stop, and we've climbed Mount Heng, Mount Lu, and Mount Hua." Bai Jian said that they aim to reach the summit of every mountain they visit, but the bicycle is never ridden—just carried.
While climbing, tourists often ask him: "Why carry a bicycle and not ride it?" Bai Jian said: "Other people try to carry as little weight as possible when hiking, but I choose to carry a bicycle. Because I want to draw attention to the bicycle, the most common and also the most environmentally friendly mode of transport."
Due to the long-term strain of carrying heavy loads while hiking, Bai Jian has developed a slight herniation of the lumbar intervertebral disc. When talking about this, his wife Zhao Siqin looked very distressed. Choosing this kind of "ascetic" way to complete their honeymoon trip, Bai Jian and his wife feel they have gained a happiness that others can't imagine. Bai Jian said their next destination is Taibai Mountain.