Happiness on Two Wheels
"So Young" has been a trending term lately, and now a real-life version has unfolded in Nanning. A 24-year-old man from Nanning and his two friends set off from the city, biking 450 kilometers over four days to reach Mengshan County in Wuzhou City, where they pulled off a romantic marriage proposal for the woman he loves. Their "proposal journey" was uploaded online and quickly went viral, racking up over 20,000 views. One netizen joked in the comments, "Dude, you're famous—you're the real So Young of Nanning!" What’s the story behind this "proposal journey"? What happened along the way? Under the shade of trees on the campus of Guangxi International Business Vocational College, the protagonist Xia Yankang and his biking companions shared their story with reporters.
The Love Plan: Proposing on a Bike Like Their Parents Did
With a sun-tanned face and glasses perched on his nose, the somewhat shy Xia Yankang is the star of Nanning’s So Young story. Beside him are his close friends Qin Qiu and Yu Yifan. The trio graduated two years ago from Guangxi International Business Vocational College’s Accounting and Auditing programs and were entrepreneurship stars at the college’s business incubator. While Xia Yankang was born in 1989, the other two are post-90s.
"On July 6 last year, the day after my girlfriend Huang Xianan got her college diploma, we went and registered our marriage," Xia Yankang said. He and Huang Xianan met, fell in love, and grew close during their university years. Though they were already married, he always regretted not having proposed to her in a formal, romantic way.
Xia Yankang discussed with his close friends how to propose to Huang Xianan in a memorable way. They brainstormed several options: proposing by car, which is fairly common; proposing by tractor—an interesting idea but hard to pull off since they didn’t know where to find one; or arriving in a bridal sedan chair, though they had no clue where to get one. Eventually, they asked their parents’ generation how they used to propose. The elders said they rode bicycles to their weddings. "Bicycles? The groom sits at the front, the bride hugs his waist from behind—how romantic!" In the end, Xia Yankang decided on the fourth option.
"We chose biking not only to let everyone witness the four years of love between Huang Xianan and me, but also to honor the brotherhood we’ve shared through thick and thin. Plus, many young couples nowadays opt for low-carbon, eco-friendly weddings, and we wanted to support that too," Xia Yankang said with a smile.
The Journey of Love: Moments of Doubt, Moments of Perseverance
"These past few days of biking can be summed up as sore backs, aching legs, and cramped muscles. We faced all kinds of challenges along the way," the trio said while showing reporters their sunburned, peeling arms. Even days after the ride, their arms still bore patches of red and white.
"At first, we were chatting and laughing, but our mood dropped like a plunging stock market—cheerful in the morning, barely smiling at noon, and expressionless by afternoon," Xia Yankang recalled. They tied promotional flags to the back of their bikes, drawing curious glances from passersby. One elderly woman even said something that deeply moved them: "Youngsters, I believe you can make it to Mengshan. Keep going!"
Xia Yankang said that as first-time bikers, tackling 450 kilometers was incredibly tough. Each of them drank at least eight bottles of mineral water and two energy drinks daily, yet they rarely needed to pee—the water mostly came out as sweat. On the first day, all three experienced varying degrees of dehydration. It wasn’t until the second day that they realized they needed to replenish salt. With a strict schedule to reach Mengshan on time, every day’s ride was tightly planned.
"Honestly, there were moments when I felt so exhausted I thought about quitting. But then I remembered my promise, and I steeled myself to keep going," Xia Yankang said.
The Witness of Love: Sweet Romance and True Friendship
Xia Yankang said this "commemorating youth" bike journey was to honor both his love for Huang Xianan and the brotherhood he shares with his entrepreneurial partners.
In 2009, freshman Huang Xianan joined the school’s basketball association. "I first met her at the association’s first meeting. She was wearing jeans and an orange jacket..." Recalling that first encounter, Xia Yankang feels as if it happened just yesterday. By the end of that year, their shared interests brought them together, and they’ve been inseparable ever since.
April 29, 2013, remains the most beautiful memory for Xia Yankang and Huang Xianan. When Xia Yankang finally appeared after four days of biking and said, "Will you marry me?", Huang Xianan nodded through happy tears. After embracing, Xia Yankang took her for a ride around Mengshan’s streets, singing and cheering along the way, sharing their joy with everyone.
The 450-kilometer, four-day ride witnessed not only sweet romance but also enduring friendship. Xia Yankang said that after graduation, he began the tough journey of entrepreneurship, with Qin Qiu, Yu Yifan, and other college friends standing by his side. "Biking and entrepreneurship are actually quite similar—when you get closer to your goal, you encounter more obstacles and challenges," Xia Yankang said. That’s why he’s so grateful for the friends who fought alongside him.
Netizens React
Netizen "Tiny Bit of Blue": The journey leaves behind footprints and takes away memories—and happiness. Totally worth it.
Netizen "Firefly in Summer Night": Such a simple yet romantic wedding. Congratulations, congratulations.
Netizen "Local Outsider": As someone from Mengshan, I sincerely wish you both happiness. These days, we see more people crying in BMWs—but you’re laughing on a bicycle. That’s truly touching.
Netizen "Xiao Wei": This is Nanning’s version of So Young. It makes us feel the power of youth—vibrant and full of life.