This old man
whose legs itch if he doesn’t ride a bike
At first, his family didn’t agree with Old Man Wu’s plan. “He’s getting on in years—riding 500 km is enough. But he’s so stubborn, once he decides something, he has to do it.” His son-in-law Chen Teli bought him a car in 2010, but this “old man whose legs itch if he doesn’t ride a bike” drives only about 500 km a year, while cycling around 3,000 km. The family computer has nearly 30 GB of photos and video footage—all materials he collected, edited, and organized during his travels.
“He used to never call home no matter where he went.” For this trip, Old Man Wu made a deal with his family: to call every day to say he’s safe.
An “old man whose legs itch if he doesn’t ride a bike” plans to cycle 6,039 km on a budget of 35,000 yuan over two months, from “Chengdu–Tianjin–Chengdu.” Yesterday at around 6 a.m., 66-year-old Wu Mingquan set off alone on his dream journey.
Chengdu–Tianjin–Chengdu
Planned duration: two months
“From Chengdu to Tianjin, it’s 2,205 km. Day 1: 185 km, stay overnight in Zitong; Day 2: 107 km, stay overnight at Jianmenguan; Day 3: 65 km, stay overnight in Guangyuan... Day 22: 70 km, stay overnight in Tianjin. From Tianjin back to Chengdu, it’s 3,834 km... Day 37: 135 km, stay overnight in Chengdu. Five flexible days are reserved based on weather, road conditions, and physical condition.”
In February this year, 66-year-old Wu Mingquan spent a month creating a detailed round-trip itinerary for “Chengdu–Tianjin–Chengdu,” planning to cycle 6,039 km over two months on a budget of 35,000 yuan.
To prove he’s “as strong as ever in old age,” before setting off, Old Man Wu tested his stamina by cycling round trips to Mount Emei, Langzhong, and Ya’an, getting used to the travel bike he bought for over 2,000 yuan, and buying gear. “Riding there and back was a breeze. I’ll definitely have no problem on this trip.”
Over 40 years of cycling experience
This trip is to fulfill a dream
Yesterday, the weather was kind—Chengdu enjoyed bright sunshine. Wu rode swiftly and had covered 185 km by around 5 p.m., arriving at his first destination of the day—Zitong County.
Before retiring, Old Man Wu was a senior engineer. Born in Shanghai in 1948, he moved to Tianjin with his family at the age of 5 and settled in Chengdu with his daughter in 2005. Before this journey, he had over 40 years of cycling experience. Previously, his farthest trip was from Chengdu to Duyun, Guizhou—a distance of over 1,000 km.
The locations planned in the itinerary are all places Old Man Wu wanted to visit but hadn’t yet been to. He mostly chose highways, cycling longer distances when the road conditions were good and shorter ones when they weren’t, staying in relatively well-developed “big cities.” The final destination, Tianjin, is where he lived before moving to Chengdu in 2005. “This ‘eternal child’ just loves to roam around. This trip is like fulfilling a dream. There are many old friends in Tianjin, so it’s a good chance to visit them.”