Apart from staying in Guangzhou for local tours or flying abroad for holidays, there's another unique way to travel during vacations—cycling. A reporter from Yangcheng Evening News also spoke with a college student who has extensive cycling experience to uncover his travel insights: how to get free meals at restaurants and how to enter attractions without buying tickets. He said, "It's because of the trust between people that I was able to fulfill my dream of cycling across China."
Please tell us about something memorable from your travels.
Wang Wei (a torchbearer for both the Beijing Olympics and the Guangzhou Asian Games, and China’s first college student to cycle across the country): With just 200 yuan in my pocket, I set off. At lunchtime, I arrived at a restaurant on my bike loaded with luggage. Starving but broke, the restaurant owner looked at me and asked if I wanted a meal. I said, “Sister, I’m a college student traveling. Can I eat here? I’ll wash dishes in exchange for a meal.” The owner didn’t say anything but handed me the menu to order.
Actually, I was still a bit nervous, worried she might scam me or mess with my luggage or bike, so I only ordered an egg rice dish. To my surprise, after the meal, the owner said, “No need to wash dishes, young man. Go on your way, and be careful.” That really moved me. Of course, I also encountered places that turned me down, but roughly one in every three or four would help me.
So you solved the food issue, but what about entrance fees for attractions?
Wang Wei: When I went to the Yuelu Academy, I wanted to get the attraction’s postmark. I approached the management and honestly told them I was a college student determined to cycle across the country during my studies. I showed them my ID, and they were very moved and basically didn’t doubt me.
Before the trip, I posted my itinerary on a cycling travel website. In almost every city I passed through, many local netizens hosted me, invited me for meals, or even let me stay at their homes. There was almost no sense of suspicion between us.
What do you do when you meet strangers during your journey?
Wang Wei: When I see people in need, I offer help. In one county town, I came across two kids struggling to push their broken motorcycle uphill. After seeing them, I let them push my bike while I helped with the motorcycle. By coincidence, that evening I stayed in a nearby village and ran into the same kids again. Their mother was very grateful and asked the inn next door to give me the lowest possible rate.
In addition, I once donated over 3,000 schoolbags along with some books and stationery to students in a mountain village in Guizhou. Because I had received a lot of help in Guizhou myself. Because of trust, others were willing to help me, and I was willing to accept their help. Because of trust, I was able to fulfill my dream. The cost of trust is very low, and it brings us joy. When I’m in a position to give back, I will use my actions to repay those who have helped me. It’s a chain of kindness, a spread of positive energy.
Do you have any tips for those interested in budget travel?
Wang Wei: I think communication is key. If you need help from others but they don’t know you, they may find it abrupt. So you need to communicate sincerely, give them a chance to get to know you, and earn their trust. Once, at the Taojin Road subway station in Guangzhou, I saw an aunt carrying two big bags and looking very tired. I offered to help, but her first reaction was to refuse. I told her I was a university student volunteer and asked her to trust me. Eventually, she let her guard down, not only let me carry her things but also chatted with me about all sorts of things. So the most important things are communication and sincerity.