Holding up a sign that reads “I’m from Humen” during the journey (provided by interviewee).
Biking over 5,000 kilometers alone, conquering several high-altitude mountains, starting from Guizhou via the Sichuan-Tibet Highway to Xining, then returning to Dongguan via Chongqing. To prove he’s no less capable than the young, 58-year-old Liang, a Vietnam War veteran from Dongguan, spent 52 days undertaking an epic “solo long ride.” The “painful yet joyful” journey allowed the elderly man to witness breathtaking scenery he’ll never forget—but also brought him face-to-face with death multiple times.
Defying age and setting off in a fit of determination
Liang’s full name is Liang Jinming. He is 58 years old this year and is a veteran who fought in the Vietnam War. At 25, he retired from the military and returned to his hometown in Humen, Dongguan, where he made a living by farming. Six years ago, to treat his back pain, Liang took up cycling and fell in love with the sport.
“My back doesn’t hurt anymore,” Liang said, convinced that cycling is truly beneficial. In fact, aside from his sun-darkened complexion, the black-haired Liang, dressed in camouflage and with a lean, muscular build, looks quite young and exudes strength. As a cycling enthusiast, Liang usually rides around the Pearl River Delta area and has made friends with many like-minded individuals. “They’re all young people. They call me Uncle Liang, and they all dream of biking the scenic Sichuan-Tibet Highway,” Liang said. But everyone doubted his ability to make the ride, thinking he was too old. That opinion hurt him deeply, and at the time, he had only one thought— he was going to do it anyway.
Over the next six months, Liang prepared diligently. The most important tasks were downloading route maps and identifying supply points along the way. But even as he was about to set off, many tried to dissuade him, including his family. “Some even offered me tens of thousands of yuan to give up on this crazy idea, but if I wait a few more years, I’ll be even older and my health will decline, making it impossible to go. This was my last chance to experience it.”
Surviving on dry rations and sleeping in caves
On May 28, fully equipped, Liang took a truck from Humen to Zunyi, Guizhou, the starting point of his bike ride. From there, he traveled through Ya’an in Sichuan and Lhasa in Tibet, eventually reaching Nagqu. Still not satisfied, Liang then took a train to Xining in Qinghai, biked to Qinghai Lake, circled the lake, and then took another train to Chengdu to begin his return trip. “On the way back, I biked to Dujiangyan, Wenchuan, Chongqing, Longchang, and other places,” Liang said, noting that several of these areas were disaster zones, which he wanted to see for himself.
Fifty-two days later, he returned to his hometown of Humen, Dongguan, having traveled over 5,000 kilometers. Even after all this time, Liang still recalls the journey as “painful yet joyful.” In his quest to prove himself, the solo rider often pushed himself hard. He would set off at around 6:30 a.m. each day with just simple dry rations and five bottles of water, biking until he reached the next place to stay. On the toughest day, he biked for 14 hours, covering over 130 kilometers.
Throughout his ride, Liang lived frugally, eating and sleeping rough, spending a total of just over 10,000 yuan. “I basically didn’t have lunch—either compressed biscuits or baked flatbread,” Liang said. He didn’t bring a tent and often stayed in small guesthouses costing around 20–30 yuan per night. When he couldn’t find lodging, he’d sleep in caves.
Narrowly avoiding a landslide
As a cyclist, his bike was Liang’s most vital tool. In fact, the bike wasn’t store-bought but was assembled piece by piece by Liang himself over half a year using materials he purchased, costing over 30,000 yuan. The most expensive part was the frame, a second-hand item he bought from Hong Kong for over 10,000 yuan. Next came the shock absorbers, costing more than 5,000 yuan. Then there were the tires, each priced at over 600 yuan—more expensive than regular car tires.
This bike gave Liang the confidence to venture into Tibet alone. It was not only lightweight but also extremely sturdy—the frame wouldn’t break even if dropped from a 10-story building, and the tires could last 100,000 kilometers. As for speed, Liang said that as long as he had the strength, he could go as fast as he wanted. It’s reported that his top speed was 47 km/h, though not on uphill or downhill sections. “The uphill sections are long and steep. I usually take a break every half hour. There was one spot where I had to push my bike for the last 3 kilometers,” Liang said. Downhill speeds can be the most deadly, and many accidents happen because of that. He generally kept his speed around 25 km/h.
Along this route, Liang witnessed breathtaking scenery but also came close to death. That happened on the way from Ya’an to Luding when a mudslide blocked the only path forward. Liang arrived there around 9 a.m. Though not as fierce as the night before, the mudslide still sent mud and rocks flowing down the mountain, with muddy water submerging the ground up to his shins. “Motorcycles turned around to find another route, and most cyclists just waded through the mud,” Liang told reporters. He spent two trips slowly carrying his luggage and bike across, a distance of just a few dozen meters, but it was a life-threatening risk.
Next, the elderly man has set his sights on a new cycling goal—heading to Shanghai and then Qingdao.