Backpacking on the road, ringing in a stylish Spring Festival. Photo provided by Wen Yuxia.
Are you just having a reunion dinner, watching the Spring Festival Gala, and visiting relatives — is that how your New Year is passing? There are always different ways to celebrate that make life more colorful — some chase their dreams and choose to gather around a hot pot in their faraway workplaces to celebrate the New Year; others yearn for freedom, meet up with friends, and cycle south together to spend the holiday. The festive atmosphere back home is strong, but the festive vibe elsewhere has its own unique charm...
Wen Yuxia, 25, and two friends took a train to Hainan before the New Year to meet up with fellow cyclists. Together they shared group meals, camped on the road, and saw off 2012 while welcoming a joyful new year.
Besides the three girls, over 30 cyclists from various cities joined this special New Year group. This is part of a trendy lifestyle that’s becoming increasingly popular: you can connect with cyclists or travelers from other cities, accept their invitations or hospitality, and embark on group or team trips together. Maybe next time they come to your city, you could be the host.
This trip恰好 spanned from 2012 into 2013.
Celebrating the New Year by cycling: tired but happy. “I felt really joyful, especially at this time of the year,” said Wen Yuxia, who had just finished her journey and was a bit worn out but full of gains. She and her friends “You’er” and “Rose” set off for Haikou on February 6, then cycled all the way to Sanya. “On the 9th, we met up at a local cyclist’s home in Hainan. We shared a group meal, chatted and drank until past 11 p.m.” She said she regretted falling asleep before the countdown began because she had been cycling during the day.
This was also the first time Wen Yuxia had celebrated the New Year in this way. She laughed and said her parents were, of course, worried, but she texted and called them regularly to reassure them.
“I received many texts and blessings during those days,” Wen Yuxia replied on Weibo: Many family and friends sent their wishes, and I got them, thank you all so much. My blessings to you remain the same. May 2013 be a year where you love yourselves, love your families, and love those around you who care. Sending my warm wishes from beautiful Sanya, Hainan!” Simple reunion meals were just as heartwarming. Weibo posts from Wen Yuxia documented her days in Hainan.
February 11: We pitched our tents on the beach of a five-star hotel in Yalong Bay — temporarily unnoticed. But the sound of the waves was really loud.
February 12: Today we went to Yalong Bay Tropical Rainforest Park, the filming location for If You Are the One. It’s really beautiful, and there’s the Bird’s Nest Hotel. Turns out the place we asked about yesterday for 5,980 RMB per night was actually quite cheap — the Bird’s Nest Hotel is 39,800 RMB per night.
“Everyone had a great time,” Wen Yuxia said. The itinerary was planned together as a group, and on the 13th, they said goodbye to each other. “Our reunion meal on the road was simple. Though there wasn’t a feast of fish and meat, it felt very different — because of the unity and trust among friends.”