After the rain, cyclists on the road.
Seeing the sea, the cyclists cheerfully strike poses.
Aping works at a ceramics company in Foshan and is a seasoned local cycling enthusiast. Known online as “Che Zai Ping,” he’s something of a “big name” among Foshan’s cycling crowd. Like him, many cycling enthusiasts have explored all corners of Foshan, even venturing out to surrounding areas. They’re now yearning for longer, more challenging road trips—like cycling around Hainan Island. This Spring Festival, he and four other “adventurers” set off to experience a different kind of festive spirit.
Always dreamed of cycling in Hainan
When it comes to long-distance cycling, Aping—who fell in love with biking just a few years ago—was initially a bit intimidated but also eager for the challenge. One Spring Festival holiday, he and another cyclist nicknamed “Bie Chu” almost completed a long ride through western Guangdong. After a day and a half of cycling, the two rode from Foshan to Yangchun City. Unfortunately, continuous rainy weather forced them to halt their journey. They spent two days stuck in a small roadside inn, and once the skies cleared, they had to rush back to Foshan.
Years later, Aping still fondly recalls that slightly regretful yet unforgettable Spring Festival ride through western Guangdong. Over the years, using weekends and various short holidays, Aping has pedaled his bike across Foshan and many nearby cities. But what he really wants to do is cycle the oft-talked-about Hainan Island. With his company giving an early Spring Festival holiday this year, Aping decided to fulfill this long-held wish.
As early as December last year, Aping began posting online to gather fellow cyclists for a one-week island loop ride during the Spring Festival. After over a month of planning, he managed to assemble a group of five—including himself: Mao Zai, Lecong CEO, Ah Hui, and Wu Ming. Among them are teachers, white-collar workers, all skilled riders.
600 km in 4 days
The night before the holiday, they drove from Foshan with their bikes and parked in Xuwen County, the southernmost point of mainland China. By the time they reached Haikou, it was already the next afternoon.
Then, the five cyclists started from Haikou, following Hainan Island’s eastern route through Wenchang City, Bo’ao Town, and Wanning City. They sped along and arrived in Sanya in just two days. After “diving into the sea” in Sanya, they soaked up the sun and had a wild day of fun. After a rest day, the five began their return trip via Hainan’s “central route.” The central route is mostly mountainous, passing through the beautiful Wuzhi Mountain. Their plan was still to cover the distance from Sanya to Haikou in two days. There were very few cars, lots of slopes, stunning scenery, and they often stopped to rest and admire the views—absolutely exhilarating. After a tough ride, the five cyclists made it back to Haikou in two days. Excluding the rest day, they cycled 600 km in four days. “We rode slowly, not too rushed, and stopped to enjoy the great scenery when we saw it.”
“Hainan’s sunshine is great, the sky is blue, and winter is the best season for cycling here. We met many cyclists from all over the country along the way.” Reflecting on the most memorable moments, Aping said, “Near Wanning, we came across a beach. Everyone excitedly rode onto the sand, jumped up, and captured the amazing moments with our cameras.”
Along the way, “Lecong CEO,” who rode with ease, even live-streamed the cycling scenes to fellow Foshan cyclists via QQ group. Meanwhile, female cyclist “Wu Tian Shi,” still on duty back in Foshan, saw the stunning photos from the Hainan loop ride and exclaimed, “Even though we’re in Foshan, our hearts are already riding with you in Hainan. No matter how you travel, you can always discover different kinds of scenery!”
Cyclists reflect
Tired but happy
Along the journey, Aping told reporters that the biggest regret was teammate “Wu Ming” suddenly coming down with a cold and fever after the first day’s ride, feeling weak and having to give up the trip and take a bus to Sanya. Analyzing the teammate’s unexpected withdrawal, Aping said, “It might’ve been because the intensity was too high—he just couldn’t handle it. Other cyclists we met along the way were all riding at a much more relaxed pace. The eastern route from Haikou to Sanya is about 350 km, and they usually take three or four days. We did it in two, riding over 180 km on the longest day, so it was especially tough. Fortunately, by the return trip, ‘Wu Ming’ had mostly recovered and joined us again for the ride.”
First-time long-distance cyclist Ah Hui could totally relate. He vented in the QQ group: “I’ve never tried continuous long rides like this. By the time we got to Sanya, I was completely wiped out. The worst part was seeing my bike and feeling anxious. Everyone was actually really considerate and slowed down a lot for me. But I didn’t want to hold the team back, so I pushed myself as hard as I could. The physical toll was too much, and I couldn’t recover. At one point in Sanya, I even thought about ditching the bike and flying home.”
Faced with the riders’ doubts, their Foshan-based friends offered plenty of encouragement via QQ group. Female cyclist “Wu Tian Shi” said, “Persistence is victory. Sometimes, if you keep going, you’ll realize you’re actually capable of more than you think.”
“Although the journey was exhausting and tough, everyone had a blast. We took turns leading the pack, drafting and saving energy, helping and encouraging each other, and even assisting other cyclists we met along the way with bike repairs. We went through all kinds of challenges and had truly unique experiences—it was so much fun.” Now back in Foshan, Aping told reporters, “Although cycling is a lot of fun, family is obviously more important. So after getting back, I quickly went to the park with my wife for a relaxing ride.”