Taking a bus, squeezing into a train, or flying home for the Spring Festival? All so outdated.
It’s once again the peak season for college students heading home for winter break. Bus? Train? Plane? All of those are so last year. Zhang Zeyang, a Sichuan University student from Suqian, Jiangsu, has a much more “cheerful” and eco-friendly way to go home—by bicycle.
Setting off on the journey home
Riding 325 km in two days draws online attention
“Heading east all the way home, starting from Sichuan University.” At 8:35 a.m. on January 9, Zhang Zeyang posted this message on Sina Weibo. Then he set off from the Jiang’an Campus of Sichuan University with his backpack and bicycle, beginning his 1,671-km cycling journey home.
At around 8 a.m. on the 11th, Zhang Zeyang’s Weibo showed that he had already cycled 325 km and arrived in Nanchong.
At around 3:30 p.m., Pan Ya, Zhang Zeyang’s roommate and a 2010 graphic design major from the School of Art at Sichuan University, posted on Weibo under the title “Cycling Home, He’s on His Way,” sharing details about Zhang’s journey from Chengdu Shuangliu back to Suqian, Jiangsu. Within just a few hours, the post attracted a large number of online viewers, quickly surpassing 100 reposts.
Many netizens closely followed Zhang Zeyang’s latest updates and sent him their blessings. One user, “Zhen-Tianma Ye,” even joked on Weibo: “Kid, once you make it, you’ll be famous on Weibo. When you get back to school, you can finally escape your single, loser life forever. Reposted. Big bro can only help you this far!”
To fulfill a dream
Carrying only 400 yuan, training for a ride to Lhasa
Pan Ya explained that Zhang Zeyang’s idea of cycling home came about one or two months ago. “It’s really no surprise that Zeyang would think of this. He has two years of cycling experience, is physically strong, and has a lot of creative ideas. I support him, and before he left, I repeatedly reminded him not to push himself too hard and to put safety first. His parents also support him.”
From Zhang Zeyang’s Weibo posts, we learned that due to physical exhaustion and other reasons, he is currently on a train heading to Yichang, Hubei. After bypassing the mountainous section around Chongqing, he will resume his cycling journey.
As of press time, reporters were unable to reach Zhang Zeyang. Pan Ya said that before departure, Zeyang had made ample preparations in terms of route, equipment, and physical fitness. “All kinds of repair tools are also packed in his backpack.” Regarding some netizens’ claims that cycling costs more than taking transportation, Pan Ya stated, “Zeyang only has a little over 400 yuan in cash. He brought a tent and won’t be staying in any hostels.”
Pan Ya, also a cycling enthusiast, explained that an important reason for Zhang Zeyang’s cycling trip home was to train for his dream of riding to Lhasa before graduation. “After cycling to Tibet, he can settle down and focus on what he’s doing now. Otherwise, there will always be an unfinished dream.”