Yesterday noon, reporters met Bai Jian at a hotel near Xi'an Railway Station. His slim figure, hearty laughter, and thick Beijing accent were the first impressions he left on the reporters. Sitting beside him was his somewhat demure wife, Zhao Siqin.
Bai Jian, 32 this year, quit his job in computer maintenance at a company in Beijing before embarking on the trip. Bai Jian said that last August, he decided to resign, bought a folding bicycle, and began traveling with his wife while carrying the bike on his shoulders to climb China’s "Three Mountains and Five Great Peaks," as well as spreading his environmental message to strangers along the way. The day before yesterday, the couple entered Shaanxi from Shanxi and arrived at the Qinling Mountains, where they 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 also climbed Mount Heng, Mount Lu, and Mount Hua," Bai Jian said. Wherever they go, they make it to the summit — but they never ride the bicycles, just carry them.
During the climbs, tourists often ask him, "Why carry the bicycle if you’re not going to ride it?" Bai Jian replies, "Most people try to carry as little weight as possible when climbing, but I choose to carry a bicycle. Because I want to draw attention to this most common and eco-friendly means of transportation."
Due to long-term mountain climbing with heavy loads, Bai Jian has developed mild protrusion of the lumbar intervertebral disc. When talking about this, his wife Zhao Siqin looked visibly concerned. Despite choosing this “ascetic-style” way to complete their honeymoon, Bai Jian and his wife feel they have gained happiness beyond what others might imagine. Bai Jian said that their next destination is Taibai Mountain.