On the 27th, Wang Youwei cycled to the intersection of Weizhou Road and Beigong East Street.
Weifang Daily Online, October 30 — According to Weifang Evening News, “In one’s life, there should be at least two impulses: one for love without reservation, and one for travel on a whim.” Many people sigh after hearing this, acknowledging how hard it is to actually travel on a whim. Wang Guodong, a 1987-born native of Weifang, cycled for 110 days covering 10,555 kilometers from Weifang to Tibet and back; Wang Youwei, born in 1989 from Laizhou, cycled for 7 months and 12 days covering 16,560 kilometers through 14 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. Without hitching rides or pushing their bikes, they completed their journeys entirely by cycling, experiencing a truly solid cycling adventure.
Wang Guodong
A spontaneous decision to see off a friend led to a 10,000-kilometer ride
“Departed from Weifang Kite Square on April 9, 2012, returned on July 27, 2012. Total duration: 110 days, total distance: 10,555 kilometers. Of these, I cycled for 74 days, rested for 36 days, rode for a total of 568 hours, averaging 18.55 km/h, with a top speed of 68.69 km/h.” This is recorded in Wang Guodong’s “Journey of Cycling Ten Thousand Kilometers to Lhasa.” On the afternoon of October 28, the reporter met Wang Guodong at Furongyuan Residential Community in Weicheng District. Speaking of last year’s cycling experience, Wang said proudly that although many people go to Tibet every year for various reasons, very few actually cycle all the way. “I didn’t hitchhike or push my bike the whole way, and I completed the 10,000-kilometer cycling plan at an average speed of 18.5 km/h. That’s what I’m most proud of.”
When asked why he went to Tibet, Wang Guodong said there wasn’t any particular reason. “Originally, a friend said he was going to Tibet, and we went to see him off. During that time, we heard about the plan and route, thought it sounded good, and decided to go together.” At the time, Wang was running a custom furniture business with not much work, so after getting his gear ready, he set off for Tibet with his riding buddy just seven days later.
“I remember the departure day clearly. We started from Kite Square, headed south first, then entered Tibet via the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, and returned via the Qinghai-Tibet Highway.” Wang Guodong told the reporter that the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is the most scenic route.
“Along the way, we also met cyclists from Henan and Nanjing. After reaching Wuhan, a friend had to cut the trip short due to personal matters, and the rest of us continued cycling.” As Wang spoke, he opened his self-made cycling route map, where each little star marked a place they stayed overnight. “The line below is the outbound route, the one above is the return. The return trip was truly a solo journey.” Wang recalled that the outbound trip with three or four people took over 70 days, but the return trip alone took just over 40 days.
On the 27th, Wang Youwei cycled to the intersection of Weizhou Road and Beigong East Street. Reporter: Yu Faxin
Wang Youwei
Camping and chatting with fellow cyclists were the most memorable times
At 3 p.m. on October 27, the reporter met Wang Youwei at the intersection of Weizhou Road and Beigong East Street. He had arrived in Weifang that morning from Linzi. His black mountain bike was fully equipped with gear: panniers, cyclometer, kickstand, helmet... The reporter roughly counted at least twenty or thirty pieces of equipment on Wang’s bike. With prolonged outdoor cycling, Wang’s skin was tanned, his face had stubble, and his hands showed deep cracks.
On March 15, he set off from his hometown of Laizhou, Yantai, and over 7 months and 12 days cycled through 14 provinces and cities including Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shanghai, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Tibet, Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, and Henan, completing a loop around most of China with a total distance of nearly 17,000 kilometers. This is Wang Youwei’s cycling record. Although cycling is second nature to him, he is not one for words, and in conversation, he shows a level of composure rare even among those his age, born in 1989.
Wang Youwei said that along the way, he met many people and experienced many things, all of which became valuable treasures. What impressed him most was meeting a sixty-something elder in Yunnan. “When I saw him, he was pedaling with bags of all sizes. He said he was from Hainan and had been doing this for five years.” Seeing that the elder was too old for such a journey, Wang mobilized online cycling friends to donate 1,900 yuan, bought him a ticket home, and sent him on his way.
And there were many such instances. Along the way, Wang Youwei always tried to help scavengers and beggars as much as he could, and his kind nature helped him make many friends. “In Guangdong, I teamed up with five others. Camping at night, sitting around eating and chatting — those were the times I miss the most.” Talking about the fellow cyclists he met, Wang Youwei became excited. He said he met dozens of cyclists along the way, and they offered him tremendous help and support.
Flipping through photos taken along the way, Wang Youwei told the reporter, “Looking at these photos in the future will also bring happiness.”
Reminder
Safety is paramount when cycling to Tibet
For those who want to cycle to Tibet or go on long journeys, Wang Guodong emphasizes safety the most. “Many cyclists chase thrills and ride very fast, sometimes reaching speeds of 60 km/h, especially downhill, without any regard for safety.” Wang said he also suffered from riding too fast. It happened on G318, 15 kilometers from the direction of Yichang, on a downhill section near an 180-degree turn. His speed was 52 km/h, and when he failed to brake during the turn, his bike skidded sideways, sliding from the right side of the curve to the center.
“I had minor abrasions on my knee, right rear elbow, and front right hip, a slight sprain in my right ankle, and a small bruise on the palm of my right hand. When I fell, my pannier acted like a bumper, providing good support and protection.” Wang said that apart from being grateful no vehicles were behind him, his cycling gear also saved his life.
As for whether he’ll embark on another long cycling trip, Wang Guodong said it’s uncertain. “I prefer a spontaneous lifestyle. Maybe one day I’ll just go again.” After returning from Tibet, Wang worked at his job for nine days before quitting. Now he runs his own clothing business. “Working for myself gives me more time flexibility. If I want to go, I can just go.” Wang said contentedly.
Experiences
Most fortunate: Slept while cycling, slid down a slope, and wasn’t injured
Recalling the 110-day cycling journey, Wang Guodong said every day was fun. “I don’t know what other people’s purposes for going to Tibet are, but for me, it was about having a solid cycling experience.”
Among the various “reflections” Wang compiled, he listed the most unexpected, most fortunate, most dangerous, most touching, and most crazy things he encountered. “The biggest gain is having this experience in life and meeting many like-minded friends.” Wang added that many people he met along the way are now good friends, and they stay in touch.
Speaking of altitude sickness, Wang Guodong told the reporter that under the strong sun on the plateau, it’s easy to get drowsy, and even while cycling, you can easily fall asleep. Once, while cycling on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, he dozed off and veered off the road into the grass. Fortunately, roadsides in Tibet are often slopes or grasslands, and incredibly, his bike didn’t even fall over as he slid off the road.
Most lonely: Couldn’t see anyone for dozens of kilometers, really wanted to talk to someone
Wang Youwei showed the reporter the gear in his panniers — moisture-proof mats, tents, gas stoves, cooking pots, and more. “Usually, I solve my meals myself, boiling noodles or sometimes making dishes like tomato and eggs.” Wang said he occasionally eats out at restaurants. For sleeping, he mostly camps, choosing spots like parks, ATM machine areas, roadside areas along national highways, woods, or beaches to pitch his tent. Only when his phone runs out of power does he stay at a cheap hotel or youth hostel for a break.
Wang Youwei admitted that in truth, "loneliness" was his greatest enemy. "After leaving the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, most of the time I was alone—sometimes I couldn’t see a single person for dozens of kilometers, and I really wanted to find someone to talk to," Wang said. When he was alone, he played music on his tablet.
The reporter noticed his tablet was covered in cracks and scratches of all sizes. "I don’t know how many times it’s fallen during this journey—it’s been soaked in bean juice, rained on—but thankfully it still works, barely," Wang said with a rare smile.
Growth
Founding a purpose in life
Despite encountering many difficulties, Wang Youwei never thought of giving up. "The one and a half months in Tibet were the toughest. I missed home terribly back then, but all I wanted was to ride back as quickly as possible—I never thought of quitting," Wang said. His family, too, went from initial opposition and worry to understanding and support, which further strengthened his resolve to complete the ride.
"I’ve seen more, learned more, and grown more," Wang told the reporter. He described himself as someone who used to live aimlessly, without direction or goals. After this bike trip, he came to understand the responsibilities he needed to shoulder and the objectives he wanted to pursue. Looking ahead, he plans to save money to open a youth hostel where he can host and take care of like-minded friends who, like him, are traveling the road. If he achieves this goal one day, he might choose places like Hainan or Yunnan.
On the evening of the 28th, after arriving in Guojadian Town, Laizhou City, his hometown, Wang Youwei posted a status update on QQ: "2013 solo bike trip completed successfully—seven months, 12 days, and 7 hours, 16,560 km, across 14 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions... Home at last, everything feels fresh. Keep going forward. A life without ideals or effort is pitiful!" This marked the perfect ending to his journey.