During the Ride
During the recent Spring Festival, many people from Chengdu drove southward to warmer places, while even more stayed home with their families. But some cycling enthusiasts hopped on their two-wheelers and headed north into the cold. On New Year’s Eve, reporters spotted on the Weibo page of the Tianfu Cycling Circle that one female fan named “Fish Bone” was planning a bike trip to Xi’an starting from the first day of the Lunar New Year. When the reporters contacted her, she and her boyfriend had already arrived in Xi’an and were visiting the Terracotta Army. What disappointed them was that due to weather conditions, they couldn’t cycle through the Qinling Mountains and had to take a bus to Xi’an instead.
Riding to Xi’an: Just Half a Day’s Preparation Before Departure
This year, both Zhang Jiangpeng and Xue Yan, a couple both 27 years old and living in Chengdu, run their own anime studio and have full control over their work schedules. While netizens were still debating whether the 115-day holiday quota had been met, Xue Yan told reporters, “Cycling takes way more than that.” However, when it came to the long Spring Festival holiday, the couple said they “didn’t want to go home for the festival” because they had always wanted to visit Xi’an, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties.
Although they chose to cycle during the Spring Festival, their families weren’t exactly enthusiastic but also not opposed. “They fully support it from a fitness perspective, but they do have concerns about safety,” Zhang Jiangpeng told the Tianfu Cycling Circle. The couple also invited their regular cycling buddies from Chengdu, Dai Lin and Shi Ting, to join them on the trip.
Thanks to their extensive experience with long-distance cycling trips such as circumnavigating Hainan and riding the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, they didn’t need to prepare much for this journey. Aside from essential winter gear like windbreakers and fleece jackets, they packed tents and sleeping bags for camping. As for the route, there were no issues either. “We’re following National Highway 108, and with today’s powerful smartphone GPS, getting lost is highly unlikely,” Zhang Jiangpeng explained.
The four-person team set off from Chengdu on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year. After arriving in Mianyang, they pitched tents outdoors. “It wasn’t really about saving money, we just thought it would be more fun,” Zhang Jiangpeng said. He also believes that compared to the scenic landscapes along the way, the warmth of human connection is an even more beautiful sight. “On the first night of camping, locals came to watch and even offered us water and firewood.”
Heavy Snowfall Foils Plan to Cross Qinling Mountains
The weather during the Spring Festival was still quite cold, especially as they traveled further north. The first couple of days went smoothly, but when the group reached Jianmenguan, it started to rain. Though they had windproof clothing, their shoes still got soaked. The continuous rainfall over the next two or three days made things tough. “Fortunately, no one got sick, which we attribute to our regular cycling workouts,” Zhang Jiangpeng said.
On the fifth day, after reaching Mian County, their two office-worker teammates, Dai Lin and Shi Ting, had to head back to Chengdu for work and took a bus to Xi’an. Zhang Jiangpeng and Xue Yan planned to press on and cross the Qinling Mountains to reach Xi’an as scheduled. However, at Yang County at the foot of the Qinling Mountains, the excited duo received a reality check—the innkeeper informed them that heavy snow had fallen on the mountains, with black ice covering many areas. “Riding up a snowy mountain is truly easier going up than down, and the abundance of black ice makes it very easy to slip and fall,” Zhang Jiangpeng said. As a result, on the seventh day of their trip, the couple opted for safety and took a bus from Yang County directly to Xi’an. They missed out on riding for three days and covering over 200 kilometers, leaving the journey feeling incomplete. Xue Yan expressed her disappointment to the reporters, saying, “It feels a bit embarrassing to report on this trip when we didn’t even cross the Qinling Mountains.”
Reflecting on the journey, Zhang Jiangpeng noted that without crossing the Qinling Mountains, the trip posed few real challenges. Other than the rain, the main issue was being chased by dogs. “There are quite a lot of dogs along this route, and most of them are free-roaming. Xue Yan was constantly screaming along the way,” he said. In response, Xue Yan offered her “analysis”: “Maybe it’s because the dogs here don’t often see cyclists. The dogs on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway are used to seeing riders—so busy expecting food, they don’t have time to chase.”
The expenses for this trip were also quite low, with each person spending just over 1,000 yuan. “Cyclists with experience know that the big costs aren’t actually on the road. Once you get to the cities, meals, accommodations, and attraction tickets aren’t cheap,” Xue Yan added. She also mentioned plans to stay in Xi’an until the 23rd before returning to Chengdu.
Heading Northbound
Day 1: Mianyang
Day 2: Chengbei Town
Day 3: Jianmenguan
Day 4: Guangyuan Chaotian District
Day 5: Mian County, Shaanxi
Day 6: Yang County, Shaanxi
Day 7: Took a Bus to Xi’an
Bonded Through Anime, Cycling Keeps Their Love Alive
Zhang Jiangpeng started cycling in 2007, initially riding around Chengdu and later joining friends on longer trips. In 2008, Zhang Jiangpeng, who worked as a Flash programmer, met Xue Yan, a Flash cartoon artist, through a work collaboration. At the time, Xue Yan, a girl from Anhui who didn’t cycle or engage in outdoor activities, began cycling with her boyfriend not long after they started dating. “At first, I felt bad for her, but she’s so stubborn. Even when I tried to push her from behind, she’d get upset. Eventually, she mostly rode on her own,” Zhang Jiangpeng recalled.
Since then, aside from cycling weekly, they’ve gone on a long ride every year during National Day, New Year’s Day, and Labor Day. On June 10, 2011, Xue Yan began cycling the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, though Zhang Jiangpeng was too busy with work to join her. Last January, the couple cycled from Guilin to Hainan, spending just over 5,000 yuan for the whole month. During last year’s National Day, they completed the Western Sichuan Loop over ten days. Zhang Jiangpeng said cycling is their love保鲜剂 (love preservative). “Having shared hobbies means more shared topics to talk about.” However, the couple, who live in the moment, currently have no plans to get married.
Not completing the Sichuan-Tibet Highway together remains a regret for both, but Xue Yan said they’re planning to tackle it together. “This time, I want to ride the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway as well!” she declared boldly.