Yesterday morning, Li Liang (right) and Xu Xi were just about to set off. Photo courtesy of interviewees.
Perhaps most people, even if they have the courage, may not have the means to enjoy unique scenery like the Chengdu youngster on horseback or the Changsha university student hiking home. But we still have more options for going home: to save money, you can carpool with acquaintances; for convenience during the Spring Festival, you can rent a car and drive home; for a journey that’s both relaxing and challenging, you can cycle home with companions.
Yesterday morning, a group of “riders” from Xiangtan, Hunan, set off from Dalingshan and cycled back to their hometown together.
Carpooling Home
Cut Costs and Make Friends
Zhou Jun, who works in GaoW, posted in an online group inviting others to carpool home for the holiday. At the time of the interview, he said, “There are still seats available for people heading to Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Shenzhen, and Dongguan.” He added that this was the third year he had organized an online carpool for the holidays.
Zhou Jun did the math: the round-trip cost of going home is around 1,000 yuan, but carpooling with others online can cut that in half while also helping him meet new friends.
Unlike Zhou Jun, Zhang Yazhi, a sales worker in Nancheng, carpools to save effort. She said, “Driving to Beihai, Guangxi, isn’t super far, but it’s not close either—it’s tiring to drive alone.” As for the benefits of carpooling, Zhang Yazhi said, “I bought lots of New Year gifts for my parents and daughter, plus my own luggage. Without a car, it would be really inconvenient to bring everything back myself.”
TIPS
Zhou Jun said that carpoolers usually need to submit a copy of their ID and sign a risk-sharing agreement. “We may be familiar, but the agreement must be signed—otherwise, it’ll be hard to assign responsibility in case of an accident.”
Renting a Car Home
Renting a Car Home for the Holidays Is Still Popular
Compared to previous years when companies and factories commonly rented buses for employees, this year’s chartered bus market is quieter. Meanwhile, more individuals are renting cars to go home for the holidays than last year.
“All our small cars were rented out before the 15th. By this time of year, most rental cars are gone too,” said a rental company manager. Typically, those who rent cars to go home are from cities within 1,000 kilometers of Dongguan, keeping costs and risks manageable.
However, some larger rental agencies still have vehicles available. “We still have cars, but the prices are much higher than usual, and the minimum rental period is three days,” a staff member at a Dongcheng, Dongguan branch told us.
TIPS
Choose the right model—preferably a newer car. The last item on the contract is the vehicle inspection form, where both parties confirm the condition of the car. Be thorough.
Cycling Home
Enjoy the Journey When Home Feels Within Reach
In Dongguan, there is a group of cycling enthusiasts who choose to cycle home together to avoid the春运 travel rush. Bonded by shared roots, they’ve even formed a QQ group called “Hunan Riders,” made up of fellow cycling enthusiasts from Hunan.
Li Liang, a 24-year-old from Xiangtan, Hunan, is part of this group and led a small team of “Hunan Riders” cycling home on the 23rd. Around 8 a.m. yesterday, his team set off from Dalingshan Town, heading for Xiangxiang, Xiangtan—their five-day cycling trip had begun.
Li Liang told reporters that several riders in their group had already gone home ahead of them. “In 2012 and 2011, I rode home alone during the春运. This year, after posting in the group, I gathered a team of over ten people. I became the leader, responsible for planning the route and other tasks.”
Li Liang said another reason he chose to cycle home this year was dissatisfaction with how things were going in his career—he wanted to use the ride to let off some steam. “The best part of every ride is when your hometown feels close—that familiar, fresh rural scenery paired with the joy of coming home makes it really pleasant.”
Yesterday’s cycling group also included a 23-year-old girl from Xiangtan named Xu Xi, who decided to cycle home mainly for the experience. “It was a spontaneous idea. About a week ago, when I couldn’t get a train ticket, I joked with a friend that maybe we should cycle home. It started as a joke, but the more I thought about it, the more appealing it seemed—so I went for it.”
Xu Xi told reporters she doesn’t exercise often and is still a bit nervous about her decision, but also happy because she’ll have this experience to look back on. “Some of my friends were upset that they couldn’t join me, and they said they want to cycle home next year too,” Xu Xi said cheerfully.
TIPS
Reporters consulted some experienced cyclists, who summed up their tips for cycling home: plan your route well, stick to the plan, and avoid night cycling; travel in a group and maintain formation; bring supplies and emergency medicine such as water, compressed biscuits, beef jerky, Yunnan Baiyao, cold medicine, etc.; check in with family before departure and during the trip.