Sophomore takes a year off to cycle across China
A sophomore still in his second year of university decided to take a year off, ride a self-assembled bicycle, and travel across most of China. Through this experience, he personally found it "very worthwhile," and his parents felt he had "grown up overnight." Yesterday, Qi Ye, a sophomore at Hubei University, posted his travel diary on a website, which quickly garnered attention.
Takes a year off to cycle across China
Qi Ye is from Ezhou and developed a love for cycling as early as his first year of high school.
After starting university, with more freedom, Qi Ye quickly joined the campus cycling club and even served as its president for a time. Whenever he had time, he would go on long rides with friends.
In November 2010, Qi Ye suddenly had an idea: take a year off to cycle across China. When he told his parents about it, his father, Qi Weibing, initially opposed the idea, saying, "I’m worried about my child cycling alone."
However, seeing how determined his son was—and being a sports enthusiast himself—Qi Weibing eventually relented. He made a "deal" with his son: no matter where Qi Ye went, he had to call home every day.
In early 2011, Qi Ye applied for a leave of absence. On March 5, he set off on his bicycle from Hubei University.
Travels 9,000 km in 8 months
Qi Ye’s gear was simple but sufficient. His bicycle, which he bought for 4,000 yuan on Taobao and assembled himself, was paired with four large packages weighing exactly 100 pounds. These included a camera, GPS, clothing, cooking utensils, a tent, and more.
On the first day, he rode from Hubei University to Xiliuhe in Xiantao, stayed overnight, and continued the next day. Over eight months, he passed through the Dongxing border to reach Guangxi, traveled along Yunnan’s borders, crossed Tibet, arrived in Kashgar via Lhasa, and journeyed from Urumqi through Turpan and Hami to Dunhuang, retracing the Silk Road.
Qi Ye said his trip had no fixed destination, just a general direction—he’d ride as far as he felt like. Every month, his mother would deposit 1,500 yuan into his account, which he mostly used for food. For lodging, he relied on his tent. Qi Ye had a few rules for setting up camp: stay away from roads and choose flat ground. A few times, when riding through areas that were uninhabited for days, he prepared instant noodles in advance. When hungry, he’d set up a pot and cook noodles; when tired, he’d sleep in the tent.
The most unforgettable part of the journey was crossing Tibet. When he reached Shangri-La, he began experiencing severe altitude sickness—"I had no strength at all and could barely breathe." Fellow travelers helped push his bike to the mountaintop, and he only managed to ride downhill. Despite the altitude sickness, he decided to press on.
In November 2011, Qi Ye completed his journey and returned to Wuhan. According to his equipment’s readings, he had traveled over 9,000 kilometers, nearly crossing most of China.
You only understand after experiencing it
Qi Ye said that in the beginning, he kept asking himself why he was doing this. After two months, he figured it out: cycling is an experience, and doing what you love is what matters most.
During his travels, Qi Ye experienced many things. On the northern Sichuan route, as the altitude increased, his tent couldn’t keep him warm. He had to ask local Tibetans for shelter. However, the villages he passed through were almost undeveloped, and no one could understand Mandarin. Desperate, Qi Ye lay on the ground to show he wanted to stay, but the Tibetans still didn’t get it. Just as he was about to set up his tent, a Tibetan family brought him hot water and several packets of instant noodles. "I almost cried from being so moved," he said.
Speaking about his son’s year-long journey, father Qi Weibing felt it was very worthwhile. "He seemed to grow up overnight and became much more mature," the father said. "Many things, you only understand after experiencing them."
(Editor’s note) A sophomore cycling across China shows great courage. Along the way, he broadened his horizons and strengthened his willpower, reaping many rewards. But from another perspective, a university student taking a year off to travel, sacrificing precious time for learning, is a case of "losing sight of the bigger picture." For college students, academics should come first. Exploring the great rivers and mountains during breaks is the wise choice that "doesn’t interfere with responsibilities."
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