A young man from Northeast China rides a horse to the south of the Yangtze River, covering 1,200 kilometers in one month

　　While others perform horse dances on stage or in the streets, the “post-85s” Jilin native’s horseback journey is more like an epic “Long March”—a solo rider and horse traveling from Hebei to Nanjing, covering 1,200 kilometers in one month. This real-life version of “Gangnam Style” has instantly donned the cloak of a wandering knight. “After participating in a TV show, I’m heading to Shanghai. This is just a small part of my life,” Tang Xinyu said with a smile. Young people should step out and explore the world.

　　Horseback ride across bridge broadcast live, causing traffic congestion

　　At 2:42 p.m. yesterday, a netizen named “Zhen Taichai Xiansheng” posted on Sina Weibo that while returning from the north bank to downtown via the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, he spotted a young man riding a horse across the bridge. According to the netizen, the rider wasn’t going fast, but with heavy traffic on the bridge, it looked quite dangerous. The novelty of seeing someone ride a horse across the bridge caused many drivers to slow down and gawk, resulting in some congestion. “Photos posted by the netizen show the young man riding near the fast lane edge, looking relaxed. After the photos were shared, many users reposted them and speculated about the incident. Traffic police also noticed the situation and dispatched officers to find the horse and rider.” “The young man has already crossed the bridge and is heading toward Yancang Bridge,” and “He’s moving slowly southward along Chengxi Dry Road,” other netizens posted updates. Around 4:30 p.m., the horse and rider were finally stopped by Officer Yuan Wei from the Fifth Traffic Police Brigade at the intersection of Beijing West Road and Ninghai Road.

　　Changed four jobs after college, spent 8,000 yuan to buy a horse named “Beast”

　　Predictably, the horse and rider attracted a crowd of curious onlookers, all taking photos. “Be careful, he’s usually gentle but can have a temper. By the way, his name is ‘Beast,’ and I’m Tang Xinyu,” said the young man in a black cotton-padded jacket at the Ninghai Road intersection, first warning the crowd before introducing himself to reporters. “I’ve been out in wind and rain for a month, so I look a bit older, but I was born in 1986—I’m 26 years old,” Tang said with a laugh. He’s from Jilin, attended university in Hunan, and after graduating in 2009, worked four different jobs in three cities. He even ran an advertising company for a time. “You could say my career didn’t go smoothly, or you could say I’ve always had a longing for freedom,” Tang said. On a whim, he traveled to Huailai, Hebei, and bought a horse for 8,000 yuan. “I spent a month learning to ride, then another day and a half taming him. I named him ‘Beast’ because of his unruly nature,” Tang said. He had a dream—and he needed a reliable companion.

　　Dreamed of riding to the south of the Yangtze River, covered over 1,200 kilometers in one month

　　Riding to the south of the Yangtze River was Tang’s dream. Nanjing was just an intermediate stop. On November 6, he set off alone from Hebei, covering over 1,200 kilometers in a month. “I originally planned to head straight south, and then I got an invitation from Jiangsu TV’s ‘Feichang Le De’ (Very Incredible) show,” Tang said. He traveled along National Highway 104, passing through more than 10 cities including Beijing, Langfang, Tianjin, Cangzhou, Dezhou, Jinan, Tai’an, Qufu, Tengzhou, Xuzhou, Suzhou, and Chuzhou, before reaching Nanjing. “I’d never been to Nanjing and really wanted to see the Yangtze River Bridge, but I didn’t expect such a big reaction—even the traffic police showed up,” Tang laughed. This was the second time he’d been stopped by police; the first was in Beijing when he rode onto Chang’an Avenue and was escorted away. “Before setting off, I studied the Road Traffic Safety Law, and there’s no rule against riding a horse into urban areas.”

　　Tang told reporters that the longest he rode in one stretch was from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.—100 kilometers—but most days he kept to around 40 km. After all, horses aren’t cars, and he also wanted to enjoy the scenery. “To let the horse graze, I only stayed in a hotel once during the trip,” Tang said. He carried a tent and would ride to nearby towns or suburban grassy areas as sunset approached, pitch the tent for the night, and let the horse sleep beside him. “It’s cold now, and I wake up several times a night. There’s thick frost outside the tent in the morning,” Tang said. If there was no grass, he would buy corn, sorghum, or carrots from grain shops to ensure “Beast” didn’t go hungry. Tang was also moved by the kindness of strangers along the way—some offered him lodging, others gave him gifts or invited him for meals, sometimes even letting him bring the horse.

　　After the interview, considering the risks of riding in urban areas, traffic police escorted Tang Xinyu to a hotel on Fuhougang in a police motorcycle convoy and reminded him not to ride the horse outdoors again. If he needed to go to the TV show, he could arrange for a flatbed truck. The hotel also set aside a special parking spot for the horse.

　　Reporter: What was your main purpose in coming to Nanjing this time?

　　Tang: One reason was to continue my journey south, and the other was an invitation from Jiangsu TV’s ‘Feichang Le De.’ I also hope to appear on ‘If You Are the One’—I’m 26 and still single.

　　Reporter: Some say you’re doing this for publicity?

　　Tang: I don’t think so. The media is covering me because it’s genuinely newsworthy. For me, it’s just about fulfilling a dream—a small part of my life.

　　Reporter: What’s your plan after the Nanjing leg?

　　Tang: After the show, I plan to sell the horse. My asking price is 20,000 yuan. Then I’ll go home for the New Year. What comes after that is still undecided. If I can’t sell the horse, I’ll ride him to Shanghai.

　　Reporter: Do your parents support you?

　　Tang: I talked to them before buying the horse. They’re okay with it. I think young people should step out and explore.

　　“There are no explicit rules about riding horses on the road,” a Nanjing traffic management official told reporters. The closest legal reference is in the Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law, which states that animal-drawn vehicles must be driven by someone aged 16 or older, not driven side-by-side, and the driver must not leave the vehicle. Also, such vehicles may not overtake in busy areas, intersections, railway crossings, crosswalks, sharp bends, roads or bridges narrower than 4 meters, steep slopes, tunnels, or other hazardous sections.

　　The official noted that while these rules don’t mention horses specifically, it’s certain that motor vehicle lanes are only for motor vehicles. “By definition, horses shouldn’t be on motor lanes.” So does that mean horses can freely roam any road? Not quite—the traffic law may not restrict it, but public security laws can. If horseback riding causes traffic jams, it’s considered disrupting public order, punishable by up to 15 days detention under public security regulations. The official also advised that for safety reasons, it’s best not to ride horses on roads—horses can easily panic and cause accidents.

　　Purchased horse in Huailai, Hebei → ◎ Beijing → ◎ Langfang, Hebei → ◎ Tianjin → ◎ Cangzhou, Hebei → ◎ Dezhou, Shandong → ◎ Jinan, Shandong → ◎ Tai’an, Shandong → ◎ Qufu, Shandong → ◎ Xuzhou, Jiangsu → ◎ Chuzhou, Anhui → ◎ Nanjing, Jiangsu