Grandpa Wang joins a cycling event
A Canadian public service ad goes viral on Weibo: How do you want to spend your last ten years?
Grandpa Wang and his wife, Aunt Kong, from Wenhua Community in Hangzhou, have given us the answer
Cycling together as a couple, they've ridden nearly 100,000 kilometers over ten years
Braving wind and rain, they've left their footprints across most of China
During the May Day holiday, when young people are off work, seniors who usually have free time at home are actually quite busy. Taking their grandchildren out, shopping and cooking to entertain their children who come home for the holidays — though hectic, they’re happy.
Grandpa Wang from Wenhua Community is no exception, but he also has an important plan: cycling around West Lake with his wife for leisure. For their ten-year cycling journey, this is nothing. Over the past decade, Grandpa Wang and Aunt Kong have pedaled their bicycles across most of China, covering nearly 100,000 kilometers.
From “Phoenix” bikes to “Giant” bikes
Grandpa Wang’s full name is Wang Fengxiang. He is 68 years old and used to work at the Zhongce Rubber Factory. After retiring and having nothing much to do, he joined the Hangzhou Senior Cycling Team in 2003, thus beginning his cycling life.
On the first day of joining the cycling team’s activity, Grandpa Wang pushed an old Phoenix-brand bicycle. This bike had accompanied him for many years and was easy for him to use, but it made his teammates shake their heads. “They said this bike wouldn’t do, that I couldn’t ride it for long, the tires would wear out easily, and advised me to get a Giant.”
This was the first time Grandpa Wang had heard that there was so much to know about cycling, so he spent 600 yuan and decided to buy a Giant. “When I pushed it over, the teammates still said it was just entry-level,” Grandpa Wang said with a laugh.
This entry-level bicycle accompanied Grandpa Wang for over 20,000 kilometers before it was eventually retired. Now he rides a road bike that costs nearly 2,000 yuan. It’s equipped with a cycling computer, a luggage rack on the back seat, and even basic repair tools — truly a major upgrade.
More importantly, seeing Grandpa Wang cycling around all day, Aunt Kong also got the itch. “I got myself a bicycle too, and started cycling with him.” Aunt Kong quietly told us that although they had been married for decades, they used to argue a lot. “But after cycling together, our relationship has gotten better and better, and we even argue less.”
Northernmost: Heilongjiang; Southernmost: Sanya
Grandpa Wang and his wife have cycled to quite a few places. “Northernmost was Heilongjiang, southernmost was Sanya, westernmost was Hohhot, easternmost was Zhoushan.” Grandpa Wang counted them off on his fingers. The one that impressed him the most was the trip to Harbin, Heilongjiang. In May 2006, they set off from Hangzhou, cycled for 28 days, covering a total of more than 3,300 kilometers.
“We took provincial and national highways, first to Jinan, then to Qinhuangdao, went through Shanhaiguan directly to Shenyang, and finally arrived in Harbin.” Although many years have passed, Grandpa Wang still remembers the itinerary from those days very clearly, and the ups and downs of the journey remain vivid.
“By the end of the day, salt crystals would form on our clothes.” Grandpa Wang said, “When we hit uphill sections, we really had to push ourselves hard, but knowing that once we reached the top it would be all downhill gave us hope and energy.”
Cycling for so many days, the hardship was a given. They met many kind people, but there were also unhappy moments. Aunt Kong still remembers that in Shanhaiguan, they went into a shop to order some dumplings, but the owner discriminated against outsiders. “Locals got big bowls, but we got small ones — the portion size difference was huge.” Because of this, Grandpa Wang almost got into a fight with the owner, and Aunt Kong stood in between to stop him. “When you’re out and about, you have to accommodate things — you can’t be too petty,” Aunt Kong said.
The last thing you want to happen is for a teammate to get injured. “That time in Henan, one of our teammates got into a car accident and broke his leg. We immediately took him to the hospital, notified his family, and stayed with him until his son flew in to pick him up and take him back to Hangzhou. Only then did we set off again.” Grandpa Wang said, “We’re a team. When something happens, we help each other. That’s one of the main reasons our children feel reassured and agree to let us cycle across China.”
Spending just 50 yuan per person per day, they traveled frugally across most of China
When many people hear that this couple cycled across China, their first reaction is that these two must be wealthy and have a lot of free time. However, Grandpa Wang told us that while they do need plenty of free time when cycling, they don’t actually spend much money. Their daily expenses are even lower than those of office workers.
“Our daily spending, including food and lodging, is kept to around 50 yuan per person.” Grandpa Wang detailed their daily cycling plan: wake up at 6:30 a.m., cycle for about an hour, find a breakfast stall for a quick meal costing around 5 yuan per person, then continue cycling; ride for an hour, take a break, then ride for another hour, repeating this cycle until lunch and dinner, which cost about 10 yuan per person per meal. For accommodation at night, they usually stay at small guesthouses on the outskirts of counties, sleeping in mixed-sex dormitories with around 10 yuan per person.
Aunt Kong is a native of Hangzhou, loves dressing up, and is also very particular about cleanliness. Can she really handle such an itinerary? “I bring two or three sets of spare clothes,” Aunt Kong said with a smile. “And we make sure the place we stay has hot water for showers — even if it’s just a public shower, that’s fine!” At night, after washing up, Aunt Kong would wash the clothes she wore that day, and they’d be dry by the next morning.
If someone’s bike tire gets punctured or a chain comes off during the trip, there are always skilled repairmen in the cycling team. With glue, tire patches, wrenches, and more readily available, repairs are both free and convenient.
These two seniors have persisted year after year. Over the past ten years, Grandpa Wang and his wife have pedaled their bicycles across most of China, covering nearly 100,000 kilometers.
Cycling and sightseeing along the way, taking in cultural and natural scenery
Cycling isn’t just about enjoying the thrill of the ride — it’s also about meeting many people and seeing many different sights. Grandpa Wang’s cycling teammates are spread all over the country. Whenever they arrive at a new place, they notify local teammates in advance, who then show them around.
Visiting local parks is also a must-do activity for Grandpa Wang and his group wherever they go. “We have senior citizen cards, so we get free entry to parks,” Grandpa Wang said. “The scenery in parks varies from place to place, but there are still differences — for example, there are always elderly people exercising in the mornings, but the types of exercises vary.”
“People in the south enjoy fitness activities like fan dancing or square dancing, while those in the north prefer kicking shuttlecocks or using mops to write big characters on the ground. Southerners tend to be more gentle, while northerners are more bold,” said Uncle Wang.
Uncle Wang has a notebook filled with official stamps from various offices, just like ancient travel passes. Like what’s popular among today’s youth—sending postcards home from each destination—this notebook serves as a record of his travels.
“Seeing how many places I’ve been to gives me a great sense of accomplishment. All the fatigue and hardship fade away, and I only remember the pride and joy of reaching each destination,” Uncle Wang said proudly.
However, when Uncle Wang and his companions return to Hangzhou from their destinations, they no longer cycle. “We ship the bicycles and take the train back. Going there, you’re full of energy and not too tired, but coming back, your strength is running low,” Uncle Wang said with a laugh. “Anyway, the purpose of going out is to kill time and see the sights—both achieved, so that’s good enough.”
Age is not an issue, and the quality of the bike doesn’t matter either.
After traveling to so many places and seeing so many landscapes, Uncle Wang and Aunt Kong still believe that their hometown, Hangzhou, is the best.
When cycling enthusiasts from other regions visit Hangzhou, depending on the season, Uncle Wang takes them on different routes. In spring, the Su Causeway is ablaze with peach blossoms and willows, accompanied by the sweet chirping of birds—cyclists are sure to be spotted there.
In summer, the clear, tinkling springs of Jiuxi Creek are cool and refreshing, no matter how scorching the sun may be, making it a top choice for cycling.
In autumn, Manjuelong is packed with people. Sipping tea or playing cards under the osmanthus trees is incredibly relaxing. Driving there often means getting stuck in traffic for ages, and even upon arrival, parking is hard to find—cycling is the most suitable and also the preferred method for Uncle Wang and Aunt Kong.
If passing by Hupao Park, there’s one place Uncle Wang always takes his friends to. “It’s the public restroom next to the park,” Aunt Kong said shyly. “When we’re outside, what we’re least used to is how dirty public toilets can be—but Hangzhou’s restrooms are really clean. Fellow cyclists who’ve seen them all say how spotless they are. There are even sofas in the waiting area, making it feel like your own bathroom.”
“What do you think we old folks can do?” Uncle Wang spoke pragmatically. “Apart from picking up and dropping off my granddaughter from school, there’s not much else. Staying at home watching TV is too boring, and I don’t enjoy playing cards or mahjong. Finding a group of friends to cycle around is just about doing what we can handle.”
These days, a Canadian public service advertisement has been widely shared on Weibo—how do you want to spend the last ten years of your life? Running on the road or lying in bed? Riding a bicycle or sitting in a wheelchair? Surrounded by loved ones’ laughter or worry? It’s never too late to act—get moving, there’s no excuse not to exercise.
Exactly, Uncle Wang and his wife have set an example for us. “Age isn’t a problem, and the condition of the bike doesn’t matter—the key is having the right mindset,” said Uncle Wang.