The dashing 71-year-old cyclist Lü Xuzhe has pedaled 3,500 kilometers.
On the Double Ninth Festival, when chrysanthemum wine is sipped and people revel with the blossoms, good news came from Qinyang City, Henan. On October 9, after 22 days and 3,500 kilometers of cycling, 71-year-old Lü Xuzhe of Qinyang City returned by bike from South Korea—this being his 18th country visited by bicycle.
Despite language barriers and tough roads, the elderly man says the greatest joy comes from cycling itself, which keeps him motivated. “I aim to tour all five continents within three years, and Australia is my next stop!” said Lü Xuzhe confidently.
In an interview, the elderly man revealed that he fell in love with cycling nearly 60 years ago. Though over 70, he has maintained regular exercise, staying strong and healthy. Whenever he can, he hops on his bike to travel around the province and beyond. Over the past 20-plus years, he has completed 15 self-funded cycling trips covering more than 100,000 kilometers across China and visited ten countries in Asia and Southeast Asia.
It is understood that China’s Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly clearly designates the ninth day of the ninth lunar month (the Double Ninth Festival) as Senior Citizens’ Day, and for 71-year-old Lü Xuzhe, this Senior Citizens’ Day is destined to be extraordinary.