In Huaming Town, Dongli District, there's an old man named Zhang, 67, who enjoys "nomadic-style cycling" and traveling far and wide. Over 67 days, he cycled 6,967 kilometers, starting from Tianjin and passing through Hebei, Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning to complete his "Northern Drift" journey. Recently, after finishing this ride, he returned to Tianjin.
"I started from Tianjin, with my first stop in Sanhe, Langfang, then passed through Gubeikou in Miyun, Beijing, and traveled via Chengde..." When reporters met Zhang Baohai, he took out an atlas, flipped to one of its pages, and described his "Northern Drift" cycling route. Speaking of his cycling plans, Zhang Baohai was especially excited: "I set off on May 20th this year to begin my 'Northern Drift.' The cycling route was all planned by me. At the beginning of last year, I had already set the route for my 'Southern Drift and Northern Drift' cycling trip. Last year, I cycled along the coastline, ending at Tianya Haijiao in Hainan, completing the 'Southern Drift.' This time, it's the 'Northern Drift.'"
During this "Northern Drift" cycling trip, Zhang Baohai crossed the Hulunbuir Grassland, passed by Wudalianchi, the Greater Khingan Mountains, Changbai Mountain, Mohe at China’s northernmost point, and Genhe, known as the "Cold Pole." Speaking about the rewards of the ride, Zhang Baohai told reporters, "I'm a farmer. Since the spring of 2009, I've been cycling. I long to travel across the country and see the beautiful world beyond the farmlands."
Zhang Baohai’s cycling route is "spontaneous." He abandoned the "planned cycling" of cycling groups, only outlining a general route and then deciding specifics based on conditions during the ride. On this trip, Zhang Baohai passed through Wanshan Forest Farm in Shangzhi City, Heilongjiang, where he encountered heavy rain. Unexpectedly, the bridge over the river was washed away, forcing him to take an alternate route. In the end, he cycled along the railway line from Harbin to Mudanjiang.
Having just finished the "Northern Drift," Zhang Baohai is already planning next year’s trip. He told reporters, "I don’t set fixed cycling routes. I go wherever I feel like going. I value freedom and spontaneity—that’s how you see the most pristine scenery. With a relaxed and enjoyable mindset, you can cycle as far as your heart desires."