Fan Zhenguo cycles to Nanyang.
The middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is nearing completion and set to begin water diversion. On March 31, a group of cycling enthusiasts in Nanyang welcomed a special guest at the Merida store. He is Fan Zhenguo, a 68-year-old from Beijing who cycled thousands of miles just to see the source of the water diversion project.
A senior with a passion for cycling
When reporters arrived at the Jiefang Road Merida store, Fan Zhenguo was sharing the joy of cycling with many local cycling enthusiasts who had heard the news. With his sun-tanned face, strong arms, and a sun hat covering his completely white hair, it was hard to tell that he was nearly 70 years old.
After retiring from his job at the age of 60, Fan Zhenguo, who suddenly found himself with a lot of free time, fell in love with cycling and never looked back. Each trip lasts anywhere from three to five months, to over a year. His longest trip was starting from Beijing, heading north through the three northeastern provinces, west to Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Xinjiang, then through Qinghai to Tibet. He also cycled solo for 501 kilometers across the Taklamakan Desert.
In eight years, his cycling routes have covered 23 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across China.
Tracing the water’s source to the project headworks
Learning that the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project would be completed and start diverting water in the second half of this year, Fan Zhenguo couldn’t resist the urge to see the source of the diverted water. Recently, he set off again from Beijing, cycling thousands of miles to Xichuan.
Yesterday, after returning from Xichuan and preparing to head home, Fan Zhenguo ran into cycling friends from Nanyang. Unable to resist their warm hospitality, the scene at the beginning of this article unfolded.
“I’ve been to Nanyang twice before. The last time I came was to buy Dushan jade, but this time I came for the Danjiangkou Reservoir. I spent a week in Xichuan, admiring the beauty of the river, visiting many local residents, and expressing my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Nanyang for their contribution to the South-to-North Water Diversion Project,” said Fan Zhenguo.
A clear current shared between two places
“Nanyang is a clean and hygienic city with fresh air—it’s very suitable for living,” Fan Zhenguo remarked with deep impressions from his visit to Nanyang this time.
“Because of this clear water, Nanyang is becoming known to more and more people from Beijing and Tianjin. In the future, even more Beijingers will come here following the water trail. The distance between Nanyang and Beijing is getting shorter, and we also welcome friends from Nanyang to visit Beijing,” Fan Zhenguo extended an invitation to his friends in Nanyang.