Li Yuzhi often goes horseback riding for outings
In Qingdao’s equestrian circles, there is a story about horseback riding that tells of a man from Qingdao who bought two horses in Inner Mongolia and rode them all the way back to Qingdao, taking a total of 19 days. This man from Qingdao is named Li Yuzhi, but he is more often called “Wulanhu,” which in Mongolian means good man. When interviewed by a reporter, Wulanhu said that his bond with horses was destined in his bones, even though he once fell off a horse and lost half of his ear.
Lost an ear due to horseback riding
Wulanhu is a tall, middle-aged man, and when you consider his years-long love for horses, this leisurely demeanor seems to have its roots. When asked when his connection with horses began, Wulanhu scratched his head and said he didn’t know where to start. “It’s like how many people love animals but can’t explain why. I love animals, and among all animals, I especially love horses. It’s been like that since I was a kid.”
During his military service, Wulanhu came into contact with warhorses and heard many stories from his comrades about the loyalty of warhorses, which deepened his affection for horses. His passion for horseback riding almost became an obsession. “December 31, 1989, was a Sunday, and I fell off a horse while riding.” The reason he remembers this date from over 20 years ago so clearly is because the injury was truly severe. “Someone had thrown a bottle on the track at the Haibohe Park racetrack, the horse stepped on it, went down on its front legs, and got startled.” The moment the horse knelt, Wulanhu fell onto the track, his right cheek was completely covered in blood and flesh, and half of his right ear was torn off. “It took me an hour and a half at Qingdao Municipal Hospital to clean the dirt and sand off my face.” Wulanhu said that the stitching didn’t really hurt, but what still makes him shudder when he thinks about it is how the doctor used alcohol-soaked cotton to slowly wipe the dirt and sand out from inside the flesh. Still, that experience didn’t stop him. “A month and a half later, I started riding again.”
19 Days to Ride Back from Inner Mongolia
What Wulanhu is most known for is the story of riding horses back to Qingdao from Inner Mongolia. Talking about this sensational feat, Wulanhu laughed and said it was a childhood dream. “When I was a kid, I had a dream that when I was capable, I would definitely buy a horse and ride it back to Qingdao from Inner Mongolia.” This wish came true in 2002.
That year, during his annual leave, Wulanhu traveled to Inner Mongolia with friends, and horseback riding was, of course, the main activity. Unexpectedly, riding the herders’ horses wasn’t as satisfying as he hoped, “because they weren’t your own horses, and whenever you rode out, someone would always follow you.” As a result, he got the idea to buy a horse. “We agreed on the price, went back to the yurt that night, paid for the horse, and spent the rest of the time drinking.” However, when the herders learned he planned to ride the horse back to Qingdao, they gave him a suggestion: it would be best to have two horses traveling together, otherwise the horse would just run back on its own. So, he bought the only two horses the herder family had, and the original owner of the horses rode back with him. “I work at the airport, and when my boss first heard I was planning to ride back, he didn’t believe me and told me, ‘Alright, if you can ride back, I’ll extend your leave.’”
After 19 days, the Qingdao knight successfully set foot on his hometown soil, bringing his journey of roughing it to a perfect end. “At that time, I kept the horses in the airport warehouse and started a horseback-riding social life. We often rode horses around Mount Lao.”
Wulanhu, a Name Given by a Mother in Inner Mongolia
The name Wulanhu also originated from that trip to Inner Mongolia. “That year, my mother passed away unexpectedly, and I was deeply saddened, so I wanted to go to Inner Mongolia to clear my mind.” As fate would have it, in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, in Damao Banner, there was also a mother longing for her son.
He recalled that this Inner Mongolian mother had a son she was proud of, because he was the only university student in that banner. “He studied at Changchun Agricultural University and hadn’t been home for three years. When I arrived in Inner Mongolia, his mother had just received news that he was coming home.” Wulanhu vividly remembered the moment he met this proud mother. “Because it’s the vast grassland, you have to ride for a long time before you come across a yurt, so opportunities to meet people are rare.” At that time, the mother was standing in front of the yurt, looking into the distance. Soon, someone on horseback appeared in the distance, and as they got closer, it turned out not to be her son. “But Mongolians are very hospitable and believe that every visitor is a guest, so she immediately invited me into the yurt and served me tea and food.” During the meal, he poured out the changes in his family, and the kind-hearted Inner Mongolian aunt, feeling a bond, decided to adopt him as her godson. “The Mongolian mother insisted on giving me a gift. I said if you must give me something, then give me a Mongolian name. The mother thought for a long time and gave me the name ‘Wulanhu,’ which in Mongolian means good man.”