On the evening of June 3, the Han City Scenic Area in Pei County, Jiangsu, was lit up with lights as night fell. In front of the Songfeng Terrace, a colorful mushroom-like tent had been set up. Jipu, a young man from Hunan who had been cycling for 253 days, fulfilled one of his dreams by sleeping in the long-desired land of emperors—Pei County. Early the next morning, Jipu packed up his belongings and enthusiastically toured the Han City Scenic Area, immersing himself in the unique charm of Han culture. He visited the World Liu Clan Ancestral Hall and the Dafengge Square.
On June 5, the "Jipu" who appeared before the Pei County cycling enthusiasts had delicate features and fair skin. It was hard to associate him with a cyclist who had been on the road for nearly 300 days and traveled over 15,000 kilometers, were it not for the thick layer of dirt on his hiking boots. "I’ve taken good care of myself. I always gear up fully while cycling, using scarves, face masks, and sun-protective sleeves," Jipu explained cheerfully in response to everyone’s curiosity. Among his comprehensive cycling gear, what stood out were musical instruments such as a saxophone, hulusi (a Chinese gourd flute), and a harmonica. His bike also carried a fully functional speaker. "Jipu" plans to cycle across the country over two years and occasionally performs or sings for locals along the way, accepting their support. At everyone’s request, "Jipu" played the hulusi, saxophone, and harmonica.
"Jipu" said that he has a special connection with Jiangsu because he spent four years of university in Nanjing and started a business in Hainan after graduating last year. His real name is Zhang Xinghong, but his online alias "Jipu" is far more well-known than his real name. When talking about passing through Pei County during his cycling journey, the shy "Jipu" explained that he came for Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang and the land of emperors. He said that he had a girlfriend during university, but after graduation and starting work, they were separated by distance and eventually broke up, which deeply affected him. He realized that people need to have some spirit, and thus, he came up with the idea of cycling across China for love and carrying that love through to the end.
On "Jipu’s" Weibo, it can be seen: What I’m doing: delivering letters! You can give me a letter, a postcard, or anything else that conveys emotion, and I will cycle to where the recipient is and deliver this gift to them. They will not only receive a surprise but also a touching moment, and as a stranger, I will also share this feeling with you, allowing this genuine emotion to continue to be passed on. This is also why "Jipu" took 253 days to cycle alone to Pei County. Sometimes, to deliver a single letter, he had to take a detour of hundreds of kilometers.
"Jipu" took out a thick stack of letters from his mailbag to show everyone, most of which were exquisite postcards. Among them were two letters entrusted by Pei County cycling enthusiast Qiu Tianfei, asking "Jipu" to deliver them to cycling friends along the China-Russia border. "Jipu" said that these letters are not just between lovers; most are from classmates, pen pals, or fellow cyclists. He believes that every letter has a story—whether beautiful or sorrowful, delicate or rugged. Each letter carries the weight of time and deep emotions. Along the way, he carefully safeguarded these letters, making sure they never got wet in the rain. Speaking of a letter he carried from Xiamen University to Henan University, it took a full six months to arrive, traveling through Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, and Henan, covering nearly 2,000 kilometers, before finally being delivered to the recipient. When the recipient excitedly opened the letter, "Jipu" also shared in the joy.
"Jipu" said that the greatest gain from his journey so far has been meeting a group of friends. People always warm the hearts of those on the road with the most sincere intentions. In the afternoon, he will leave with the deep affection of the people of Pei County, heading to Zaozhuang in Shandong.