A university student, a mountain bike, a backpack — a journey across 5 countries, covering a total distance of 7,200 kilometers in 105 days, plus non-stop live updates on Weibo.
Most Recommended A
Since the launch of public nominations for the "China's Finest – Tianfu Role Models 2012 Media Awards" a few days ago, netizens have been eagerly recommending their admired role models.
A university student, a mountain bike, a backpack — a journey across 5 countries, covering a total distance of 7,200 kilometers in 105 days, plus non-stop live updates on Weibo. Liu Tao, a university student from Chengdu, chose to conclude his college years in this remarkable way. His popularity soared, and he was strongly recommended by netizens as a candidate for this year’s Tianfu Role Model — “Micro Role Model.”
Original motivation: Fulfilling a university dream
On December 17, 2011, "@YanZhaoFirstFarmer" posted on Weibo: "Setting off tomorrow, not sure what kind of world this step will lead me into? Riding south, full speed ahead." Over the next 105 days and across 7,200 kilometers, this Weibo account continuously posted updates, sharing beautiful scenery, delicious food along the way, occasionally with photos of himself and his mountain bike, sending messages to his followers: all is well, heading steadily south. "@YanZhaoFirstFarmer" is actually Liu Tao. At the time of departure, he was a senior at a university in Chengdu. The bicycle was borrowed, his gear consisted of just a backpack, and the travel budget was estimated at 6,000–8,000 yuan. But almost no one expected that he would actually make it alone across 5 countries to fulfill his dream of a southward journey. "I posted on the campus forum before leaving. Many classmates came to watch, but they were skeptical about me."
Why choose long-distance cycling? Liu Tao said that cycling is his hobby, and completing an ultra-long cycling trip was a dream of his university years. If he didn’t do it then, once he started working, the dream would become just that — a “dream,” unlikely to happen for another ten or eight years. “The idea was very simple, the goal very clear: to go cycling.”
Unexpected gain: Cycling experience boosted job interview
Before leaving Chengdu, and before reaching Singapore, Liu Tao’s teacher was quite worried — how could this kid just quietly go so far away? What if something happened? For various reasons, his trip was nearly called off at the last minute. But when he returned to school after completing the ride, what greeted him wasn’t scolding, but his teacher’s beaming face.
Even more surprising was yet to come. Liu Tao now works at a headhunting firm called ManGo. Before landing the job, he went through six rounds of interviews and was nearly eliminated in the first round. Jiang Quan, a senior consultant and interviewer, still couldn’t help laughing when recalling Liu Tao’s first interview. That day, Liu Tao was dressed casually and had no advantage in appearance. When the interview began, the interviewer looked over Liu Tao’s resume — it wasn’t polished and lacked clear highlights. Liu Tao was also a bit nervous and didn’t speak very fluently.
Jiang Quan said that if the interview had ended there, Liu Tao wouldn’t have stood a chance of moving to the second round. But then Liu Tao started talking about his cycling trip in Singapore. Jiang Quan said the interviewers were instantly captivated. He believes members of his team need to be outgoing, eager to communicate, persistent, and fluent in English. Even without asking anything else, just knowing about Liu Tao’s 105-day journey told them the young man met all those criteria. “Being alone abroad, if you’re not thick-skinned or determined, you definitely won’t make it.” If quantified, that cycling trip added about 80 points to Liu Tao’s first-round interview.
Life is full of surprises, but only for those who are prepared. You never know which step of yours might one day bring a qualitative change to your life. To quote Liu Tao: Youth is capital. Do what you’ve set your mind to, and don’t regret it.