Reported by Changjiang Daily on May 17, 1981
Thirty-one years ago, rode from Guiyang to Hankou
“China’s No. 1 Cyclist” still rides without owning a car
On the 4th, “Zheng Qunli, China’s No. 1 Cyclist” uploaded a clipping of the May 17, 1981, Changjiang Daily on Weibo. This yellowed piece of newsprint records the moment in 1981 when Zheng Qunli and his companion Yu Jianjun set off from Guiyang to cycle across the country and were warmly welcomed in Wuhan. Yesterday (the 5th), reporters spoke with 62-year-old Zheng Qunli to learn more about the story behind “China’s No. 1 Cyclist.”
Saved money for two years to buy a bicycle
“We set off from Guiyang on April 10, 1981.” By September 1982, when they arrived in Lhasa, their recorded cycling distance was 243,333 kilometers, which was considered a first in the history of Chinese cycling.
Zheng Qunli, a graduate of Beijing Sport University, was originally a teacher at Guizhou University; Yu Jianjun was a physical education teacher at an elementary school on a farm in Guiyang at the time.
“Except for Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau, we traveled through all 29 provinces of China at that time.” Having retired last year from his teaching position at Sichuan Police College, Zheng Qunli is now organizing materials and preparing to write his life “biography.”
In 1980, Zheng Qunli’s monthly salary was only a few dozen yuan. He saved 5 yuan a month for two years to buy a bicycle.
Stayed in Hankou for a week, invited to tour East Lake
The two initially just wanted to use the summer vacation to ride from Guiyang to Yu Jianjun’s hometown of Changsha, but unexpectedly, the “journey” stretched longer and longer, eventually turning into a bike trip around China.
“At that time, our cycling diet basically relied entirely on what we could carry ourselves. There were even long stretches where we had to climb snowy mountains on an empty stomach.” They experienced many dangers during the trip, but ultimately came out unscathed.
The Changjiang Daily report showed that they arrived in Wuhan on the afternoon of May 13 that year. “They stayed in Wuhan for about a week, received a warm welcome, and also visited East Lake.”
In 1995, Zheng Qunli transferred from Guizhou University to Sichuan Police College. Despite moving many times, he has always treasured his worn-out diaries documenting his cycling journey, along with clothing and other items, considering them “treasures.” “Looking at these old things, it feels like I’ve returned to the roof of the world, back to sleeping under the stars on snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and deserts.”
Many of Zheng Qunli’s colleagues have long since bought cars, but there are six bicycles in his home today. “Bicycles don’t need gasoline. They’re convenient and safe. The worst risk is maybe just taking a tumble.”