A young man from Northeast China rides solo across the country to raise awareness about elderly care

　　“I want to cycle around China to raise funds for a model elderly care project in China!” With these bold words, Jin Yingqi, a young man from Harbin, arrived in Hainan after riding a modified motorcycle. Some people may not be unfamiliar with Jin Yingqi, as this is his fourth time cycling across China. In 2011, he drove a minivan covered in matrimonial slogans across the country in search of a partner, earning him the nickname “Matrimonial Brother.” This time, he’s cycling across the country on a motorcycle, publicly promoting his dream of raising 1.3 billion yuan to build a model elderly care project.

　　In 2005, during his first cycling trip, Jin Yingqi set off from Harbin on a bicycle, taking two years to cover over 80,000 kilometers in support of the Beijing Olympics.

　　In 2007, during his second cycling trip, he rode a motorcycle across the country to promote the Olympic spirit. This journey also lasted nearly two years. Along the way, he experienced the Wenchuan earthquake and volunteered in local disaster relief efforts.

　　In February 2011, during his third cycling trip, his goal was to find a wife. He met a girl he liked during the trip and married her, but the marriage only lasted eight months before ending in divorce.

　　Yesterday morning at 5:50 a.m., Jin Yingqi arrived in Haikou on his motorcycle. The newly arrived Jin Yingqi looked somewhat tired. He told reporters that he had the idea of building an elderly care home many years ago, but had never been able to put it into practice.

　　It is reported that after the Lushan earthquake earlier this year, Jin Yingqi worked as a volunteer in the disaster area for a period of time. After the relief efforts ended, he purchased a motorcycle and began his current journey cycling across China. Starting from Sichuan, he passed through Tibet, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi—Hainan is his sixth stop. He plans to stay in Haikou for two days before heading north along the eastern coastal areas back to Harbin, then setting out from Harbin to other provinces. He expects to complete his “China Tour” in one year.

　　Reporters noticed that Jin Yingqi’s motorcycle was equipped with a sleeping bag, a tent, a can of spare gasoline, a raincoat, and four sets of spare clothes—these are his essentials for the journey. It is understood that Jin Yingqi also carries a briefcase containing a notebook stamped with seals from the fire departments of every city he visits, along with messages written to him. “Every time I arrive in a city, I go to the local fire department to ask them to stamp the notebook as a memento. It’s proof that I’ve been to that city,” Jin Yingqi said. This is his fourth time cycling across China, so he is relatively experienced. “I know all the routes and road conditions of each province like the back of my hand—I could ride with my eyes closed.” Despite his experience, he still encountered many difficulties along the way. Being overcharged 500 yuan for a meal, being robbed at knifepoint of 800 yuan… Although things weren’t always smooth sailing, he managed to turn danger into safety in the end. “Looking back, it’s scary, but at the time I didn’t feel anything,” Jin Yingqi said.

　　This year, he embarked on a journey across the country with the dream of raising funds to build a model elderly care project. Regarding how to raise funds and establish such a model, Jin Yingqi said he only has the idea—he has no certainty about completing this massive project, but hopes to use this form to call on more people to pay attention to the elderly around them. At the same time, he admits that many people question whether he is just putting on a show. “I’ve always been a confident and outgoing person. I just want to do what I want to do,” Jin Yingqi said. His cycling journey has drawn the attention of many citizens along the way, and those who learn he is promoting elderly care encourage him.