Over nine days, covering 1,400 km and crossing four provinces... A journey that could be completed in just two hours by plane, but 27-year-old Xu Lingfei from Inner Mongolia chose to cycle for nine days. Because his lover was transferred this summer from Baotou to the Qingdao Development Zone, he decided to follow her footsteps and commemorate his first job transfer in this special way. From Baotou to the Development Zone, the journey involved scorching heat, heavy rain, and countless little incidents—but nothing could stop Xu Lingfei, who has already cycled three times before. Cycling has become a "necessity" in his life. He says his lover shares his love for adventure and challenges, and the couple has a shared dream of participating in an Ironman triathlon together.
Nine-day cycling journey, spanning 1,400 km
From Baotou to Qingdao, how would you go? You might choose a twenty-hour train ride, maybe a two-hour flight, or even a twenty-plus-hour drive. But Inner Mongolian youngster Xu Lingfei opted for a nine-day bike ride, pedaling across 1,400 km in the sweltering heat to reach the Development Zone.
When first meeting Xu Lingfei, with his dark skin, slim build, not-so-tall stature, glasses, and gentle demeanor—even speaking slowly—it’s hard to imagine such a young man has such a self-challenging personality. “I think everyone has their own dreams, and many are shelved for one reason or another. I just want to say, don’t give yourself the chance to regret—before we get too old, let’s be a little crazy.”
Xu Lingfei is an employee at China Metallurgical Group Corporation East Construction. This summer, as his lover’s workplace shifted from Baotou, Inner Mongolia, to the Qingdao Development Zone, he followed her there. “Since I’ve always loved cycling, I thought why not cycle here this time too.” And so, after a simple packing-up, on July 20th, he set off on the road to the Qingdao Development Zone.
Cycling journey full of “roadblocks”
Along the way, he consistently met his daily distance goals. Setting off before 8 a.m., he would cycle until noon, grab a quick lunch at a roadside eatery, and if the weather was hot, he’d lay out his raincoat in the shade for a short nap before continuing. By 7 or 8 p.m., he’d reach his planned destination city, check into a hotel, and rest.
“Although I was well-equipped and had decent experience, I still encountered all kinds of difficulties along the way. On the first day, when I cycled from Baotou to Hohhot, I ran into trouble.” Xu Lingfei said that midway, his bicycle had a minor malfunction, but there were no repair shops around, so he had to ride while holding the luggage behind him with his hand, basically pushing it along. “After leaving Datong, I had to climb steep hills—the slope was tough, pedaling was exhausting, my knees felt like they were being stabbed, and the heat was intense. Sweat poured into my eyes, making it hard to keep them open.”
Of course, his “roadblocks” didn’t end there—40°C heat, heavy rain in Cangzhou blocking the road, sudden tire punctures, and terrible road conditions... Even so, Xu Lingfei kept cycling. “This is my hobby and my dream. Despite the many difficulties, the joy in my heart is something others can’t experience.”
Blush-worthy moment: wheels hit asphalt
Later, Xu Lingfei excitedly told reporters about many “embarrassing incidents” during his cycling trip. “On the first day, I arrived at a pre-booked hotel only to find it was on the sixth floor—and there was no bike shed downstairs. The building had no elevator either. Too tired to look for another place, I ended up carrying my bike up six flights of stairs. Almost died from exhaustion.”
“While cycling, you often run into road construction and have to detour briefly into oncoming lanes before getting back. Once, I took a shortcut and rode straight onto freshly paved asphalt—no cars in sight, the surface super smooth, I was feeling great—until I noticed an old man walking nearby and realized something was off.” Xu Lingfei said that seeing the road worker’s sandals squishing in the muck made him realize the truth: his tires had picked up a ring of asphalt. When he got back to the normal road, he picked up a bunch of small stones stuck to the tires that wouldn’t come off, making a clattering noise as he rode. Eventually, though, they wore off after some time.
On July 29th, after a long and arduous ride, Xu Lingfei finally arrived at the Development Zone.
Has crossed the Hoh Xil uninhabited area
During the interview, the reporter learned this wasn’t Xu Lingfei’s first cycling adventure. Back in college, he joined the school cycling club by chance and fell in love with the sport. “My first long ride was in my sophomore year, cycling solo from Hohhot to Nanjing. After finishing, I felt an incredible sense of achievement and just couldn’t stop after that.” During his junior year summer break, he cycled with a friend all the way from Hohhot to Tibet.
“Every time I went cycling, I didn’t dare tell my family—they definitely wouldn’t agree. I’d always tell them after I got back, because there is some danger involved.” Xu Lingfei said that during the Tibet trip, they also passed through the Hoh Xil uninhabited area, and due to the high altitude in Tibet, people with weaker physical conditions definitely couldn’t make it. “The weather there is quite changeable—one place can experience all four seasons in a single day—but the scenery is also the most beautiful. I’ve never seen such blue skies, felt like I could just reach out and grab a cloud.”
Xu Lingfei told the reporter that every cycling trip involves taking national highways, planning the route in advance, and making ample preparations. Cycling carries certain risks—not everyone can just hop on a bike and go. One must consider physical fitness and the unexpected situations that may arise along the way. “My lover has always supported me. We’re both people who love adventure and challenges. We share a dream of one day participating in an Ironman triathlon together.”