Spending 20 days and 3,500 yuan to cycle from Xi'an to Sinuiju, North Korea, is just a small chapter in the rich "cycling history" of Zhao Yunfei and Liu Chao, two 25-year-olds from Xi'an—but it was a very meaningful trip: “North Korea is relatively mysterious compared to other countries, and cycling there to experience its sights and people firsthand feels very different from previous rides within China.”
Zhao Yunfei said that before every trip, he checks Google Maps. But once he saw that North Korea showed up as a blank area on the map, which piqued his curiosity. “I hadn’t originally planned to go to North Korea, but after cycling to the northeast, the idea of visiting North Korea became very strong.”
His friend and neighbor Liu Chao instantly agreed with the idea. Soon, the two formed a duo. On August 20 of this year, they set off from Xi'an bound for Sinuiju, North Korea.
Starting from Xi'an, over 20 days, they cycled together through Weinan, Sanmenxia, Luoyang, Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Heze, Qufu, Linyi, Lianyungang, Rizhao, Qingdao, Yantai, Dalian, Dandong, and finally reached their destination: Sinuiju, North Korea.
“Looking at North Korea from Dandong on the banks of the Yalu River, the buildings there are quite low, giving me the impression of China in the last century,” Zhao Yunfei said.
Zhao Yunfei said the biggest gain from his journey was no longer fearing challenges. “When you encounter problems, you just figure out how to solve them. I plan to cycle to Moscow before I turn 30—that will be my final long ride. Why? Because I think the saying elders often tell us is very true: do what’s appropriate for your age.”
“The first time I took a train to Beijing, I was scared and nervous, not knowing what to do,” he said with a laugh. “Later on the road, I built up my courage, and my interest shifted from sightseeing at first to simply enjoying the journey—so I didn’t take many photos. As some people say, many 'see the world through a camera,' but I’m gradually trying to 'see the world with my own eyes.'”
“I’ve loved playing around since I was a kid, and after gradually getting into the cycling scene, I started traveling all over the country, making lots of friends along the way and learning a lot,” said Zhao Yunfei, whose job allows him to stay in one place for only a few months each year—the rest of the time he spends almost entirely traveling.
Zhao Yunfei always cycles with good friends from his compound, researching routes and travel plans together. “In total, we spent about 2,000 yuan, with accommodation being the biggest expense. We’re not foodies—we don’t fuss over meals or make a point of visiting tourist spots,” he said.