Departing with a Dream
A tent, a stove, and a cooking pot — “post-90s” young man Liao Xing arrived in Nanning with his trusty mountain bike, making this city one of the stopovers on his journey to cycle across China and realize his dreams. In fact, there are quite a few “post-90s” like Liao Xing who hold such dreams. In Nanning, some universities have...
Post-90s Cyclists Arrive in Nanning, Eyeing a Ride Across China
Born in 1992 in Jiangxi Province, Liao Xing worked in Guangzhou for over three years as an employee at a private company, where he enjoyed a decent salary.
“When you’re young and driven by the urge to chase your dreams, it’s worth taking the time for an experience that will stay with you for life,” said Liao Xing. Before setting off, he always had second thoughts, but once he actually started, he felt he was already halfway there. However, his family still had concerns about his cycling trip. To reassure them, he tried cycling from Guangzhou back to his hometown in Jiangxi during this year’s Spring Festival.
When he first conceived the idea of cycling across China, Liao Xing made meticulous plans — researching the cultural environment and traffic conditions of the places he would pass through and creating a map for navigation. In early April, he resolutely quit his job and found two like-minded cycling enthusiasts through a Guangzhou cycling group.
The trio planned to spend two months cycling from Guangzhou to Lhasa. Once they reached their destination, Liao Xing would continue solo, cycling through routes including Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Harbin, completing a full circle of China. He also plans to cycle to countries such as Nepal, with the entire journey expected to take over a year.
“Measure China by wheel, leave no regrets in youth.” With this banner in hand, the three set off on April 6. Their luggage included a tent, stove, cooking pot, rice, oil, toiletries, medicine, books, and more — everything they needed. According to their pre-planned navigation map, they arrived in Nanning on the seventh day.
Mutual Help and Love Among Cyclists, Like a Family
Although unexpected situations can arise during a cycling trip, the memories are mostly wonderful. Liao Xing said that there’s an unspoken understanding within the cycling community: whether you know each other or not, everyone feels like family.
On the evening of April 12, Liao Xing arrived in Nanning and planned to stay for two or three days to rest. Shen Chunfeng, a sophomore at Guangxi University for Nationalities, didn’t hesitate to host him, helping arrange accommodation and meals. Before this, the two were just unfamiliar members in the same Guangzhou cycling group. Sharing a common interest, they hit it off immediately upon meeting. That night, Shen Chunfeng took Liao Xing to sample Nanning’s local delicacies and invited members of the Nanning cycling group, who in turn brought along other cycling enthusiasts. A group of young people with shared interests gathered together — lively and soon feeling like old friends.
The mutual help and love among cyclists deeply moved Liao Xing, Shen Chunfeng, and Chen Bo, head of the Guangxi University for Nationalities Cycling Club. Chen Bo said that whenever they organize rides during holidays or weekends, they encounter warm-hearted cyclists everywhere they go. “Do you need any help?” is the phrase they hear most often. Some offer water and food, while others help tune up their mountain bikes.
Cycling, besides fulfilling youthful dreams and enjoying the beautiful natural scenery along the way, is also about making friends with others who share the same passion and feeling the warmth given by kind-hearted people. Trendy activities such as hitchhiking, backpacking, and couchsurfing are spreading positive energy in society. Chen Bo said he once tried hitchhiking in a remote, sparsely populated area in Yunnan, where a kind-hearted company boss offered him a ride in his car to the next stop.
Emergence of Numerous “Post-90s” Cyclists at Nanning Universities
In Nanning, there is also a group of cycling enthusiasts like Liao Xing. In the evenings, weekends, or holidays, it’s common to see young faces riding mountain bikes on the streets — many of them are university students born in the 1990s, such as Shen Chunfeng and Chen Bo.
Chen Bo said he has cycled through Southeast Asian countries before. Currently, the Guangxi University for Nationalities Cycling Club has over 100 members, with about fifty or sixty regularly participating in rides. On weekends or holidays, he often organizes rides for the members. They’ve visited almost every corner of Guangxi. Recently, they cycled to Wuming, Daming Mountain, and Liangfengjiang.
Guangxi University established a bicycle association as early as 2003, with the slogan “Get close to nature, unite and cooperate, endure hardships, and strive for excellence.” The spirit of the association is defined as “unity and cooperation, perseverance, willingness to help, and serving society.”
Chen Bo told reporters that the Xingjian College of Guangxi University is also preparing to establish a bicycle association. In Nanning universities, there is no shortage of “post-90s” university students who love cycling — all hoping to realize their dreams, strengthen their willpower, and broaden their horizons while they’re young.
The costs for cycling trips are rarely asked from their families; instead, they earn money through proper means themselves, such as selling small items at street stalls. Shen Chunfeng never asks his family for money. He buys small goods and sells them at legitimate stalls, saving the earnings for his next cycling trip.
Shared hobbies and dreams have forged deep friendships among these young people. They often gather, avoiding smoking or drinking, and talk mostly about the beautiful things encountered during cycling, the human geography, various experiences, and the uplifting, respectful, and loving spirit they share.