Returns from cycling trip to Singapore
At 10 a.m. on the 31st, Liu Tao, a Chongqing native who cycled from Chengdu to Singapore, returned to Chengdu. From December 18 last year to yesterday, the journey lasted 105 days！
Passing through 5 countries and covering 7,298 km, he fulfilled his first long-distance cycling dream.
This journey left him with 15,000 beautiful photos, 1,000 smiling faces, help from countless kind people, a successful 12 kg weight loss, and experience for his next long ride.
Going home
The bicycle stayed in Singapore
"Got off early at Chongqing North this morning, transferred to a bullet train, arrived in Chengdu at 10 a.m., back home, done！The weather in Chengdu is really nice today!" At 10:17 a.m. yesterday, Liu Tao posted this message on Weibo.
At 1:30 p.m., in the library of a university in Chengdu, a backpack sat in a corner, a man dozed at a desk with a pair of glasses beside him. By instinct, a reporter approached him, softly called "Liu Tao," and he immediately woke up with a smile, "That's me." With a crew cut, glasses, neat teeth, the slim and tall Liu Tao had dark skin, looking healthy but tired.
When he returned at 10:15 a.m., he was still carrying a large backpack, drawing curious glances from juniors. Suddenly, six people walked up to Liu Tao and asked in uncertain tones, "Liu Tao?" He nodded. Unexpectedly, they immediately gathered around, "You're back?""Weren't you still in Guangzhou?""What did you do with your bike?"
Liu Tao never expected to meet "fans" right after returning, "I felt a bit embarrassed." It turned out these juniors had been following Liu Tao’s Weibo and reports, and "Liu Tao" had already become an admired figure in their eyes.
Liu Tao’s bicycle remained with an alumnus in Singapore. Though the bike was his closest companion on the journey, he didn’t want to invest too much emotion in material things. If someone wants to buy it, Liu Tao will sell it; if someone wants to ride it to Chengdu, China, he’s willing to let them. Of course, if no one takes an interest, he might start another journey on it in a few years.
Cycling adventure
"Unexpected encounters" on the cycling route
Staying at a Malaysian girl’s home
105 days, passing through 5 countries—how many stories could happen? This sincere young man, who always flashes a row of white teeth when he smiles, still finds it unbelievable that he met three Malaysian girls during the trip.
On the 33rd day of Liu Tao’s ride, in Bagan, Myanmar. While Liu Tao and his companions were visiting pagodas, they saw three girls. Sitting on opposite sides taking a break, both groups were observing each other. "They weren’t locals—foreign travelers often share a common language upon meeting." They started chatting, and Liu Tao learned the girls were all 24, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, also seniors in college. One of them was named Yan Shihui (phonetic). "We mostly talked about our cycling experiences." Of course, this long journey left the three girls both incredulous and full of admiration. When parting, they exchanged emails. Liu Tao said they made a pact—if he and his companions made it to Kuala Lumpur, they’d look up the girls.
On the 91st day of the ride, Liu Tao arrived in Kuala Lumpur and, as promised, informed the three girls. "Yan Shihui offered us her living room to stay in and covered all our food, lodging, and travel expenses." Liu Tao said it was a chance encounter, but not quite a "romantic fling."
The "Burger Guy" who admires cyclists
When Liu Tao reached Slim River, Malaysia, he only had 2 yuan left—completely broke. One afternoon, while walking in the rain, he looked for shelter. At a street corner, he saw a local Malaysian man waving him over to take cover.
Only then did Liu Tao realize the man ran a burger stand.
The man asked where he was from and where he was going. Upon hearing Liu Tao’s story, the man immediately said seriously, "I’ll buy you a burger. Do you want one, two, or three?" They spoke in English. Liu Tao found the man’s reaction odd—why was he so earnest just because Liu Tao was cycling?
It turned out this was the famous "Burger Guy," who had been selling burgers for six years and always gave free burgers to passing cyclists. "French, British, Japanese… all have eaten his burgers." And Liu Tao was the first Chinese person to receive one. The reason? The man simply admired the cycling lifestyle and revered long-distance riders.
Successfully lost 12 kg
Cycling isn’t just about exhaustion—it’s also about enjoyment. Along his route through Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia, Liu Tao was most proud of learning parts of the languages of four countries.
Over 7,298 km, Liu Tao shed 12 kg, now weighing just 65 kg. The physique many dream of, Liu Tao achieved after one cycling loop. "Want to lose weight? Go cycling."
The future
"Cycling is addictive"
For those who love cycling, the first experience often leads to addiction—and it’s usually impossible to quit. Liu Tao is no exception. He’s already planning his next trip and has prepared two routes.
Within five years, Liu Tao might set off from China, traveling along a route through Central Asia and Europe. Alternatively, he may start from Singapore, making his way through Indonesia and Australia all the way to New Zealand. "My car is still in Singapore, maybe it will accompany me on another journey."
Reporter's Notes
He Challenged Himself
Liu Tao’s long-distance cycling journey has come to an end. This university senior challenged himself and earned applause.
At first, many people—including me—doubted whether this cycling trip would “fizzle out.” Having not yet left school, with limited social experience, high physical demands, and too many unpredictable risks, could Liu Tao really make it through?
We thought of the challenges, but Liu Tao had already anticipated them. His bottom line was that anything short of life-threatening was acceptable. Along the way, he traveled and enjoyed himself—beautiful people, beautiful scenery, delicious food. He took more than 15,000 photos, nearly 1,000 of which were smiles. He’s a sunny young man who yearns for a carefree life.
He brought back three notebooks: a diary, an account book, and an address book. Years later, these three notebooks may become his most cherished memories of youth, even if the paper yellows and he grows old. He also brought back a stack of foreign coins. Perhaps just a casual act, but it could mark the beginning of his coin collection. The countries Liu Tao plans to visit are far more than just these five, and the types of coins he’ll collect at home may grow from five to fifty.
Passing through 5 countries and covering 7,298 km, he fulfilled his first long-distance cycling dream.
This journey left him with 15,000 beautiful photos, 1,000 smiling faces, help from countless kind people, a successful 12 kg weight loss, and experience for his next long ride.
Going home
The bicycle stayed in Singapore
"Got off early at Chongqing North this morning, transferred to a bullet train, arrived in Chengdu at 10 a.m., back home, done！The weather in Chengdu is really nice today!" At 10:17 a.m. yesterday, Liu Tao posted this message on Weibo.
At 1:30 p.m., in the library of a university in Chengdu, a backpack sat in a corner, a man dozed at a desk with a pair of glasses beside him. By instinct, a reporter approached him, softly called "Liu Tao," and he immediately woke up with a smile, "That's me." With a crew cut, glasses, neat teeth, the slim and tall Liu Tao had dark skin, looking healthy but tired.
When he returned at 10:15 a.m., he was still carrying a large backpack, drawing curious glances from juniors. Suddenly, six people walked up to Liu Tao and asked in uncertain tones, "Liu Tao?" He nodded. Unexpectedly, they immediately gathered around, "You're back?""Weren't you still in Guangzhou?""What did you do with your bike?"
Liu Tao never expected to meet "fans" right after returning, "I felt a bit embarrassed." It turned out these juniors had been following Liu Tao’s Weibo and reports, and "Liu Tao" had already become an admired figure in their eyes.
Liu Tao’s bicycle remained with an alumnus in Singapore. Though the bike was his closest companion on the journey, he didn’t want to invest too much emotion in material things. If someone wants to buy it, Liu Tao will sell it; if someone wants to ride it to Chengdu, China, he’s willing to let them. Of course, if no one takes an interest, he might start another journey on it in a few years.
Cycling adventure
"Unexpected encounters" on the cycling route
Staying at a Malaysian girl’s home
105 days, passing through 5 countries—how many stories could happen? This sincere young man, who always flashes a row of white teeth when he smiles, still finds it unbelievable that he met three Malaysian girls during the trip.
On the 33rd day of Liu Tao’s ride, in Bagan, Myanmar. While Liu Tao and his companions were visiting pagodas, they saw three girls. Sitting on opposite sides taking a break, both groups were observing each other. "They weren’t locals—foreign travelers often share a common language upon meeting." They started chatting, and Liu Tao learned the girls were all 24, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, also seniors in college. One of them was named Yan Shihui (phonetic). "We mostly talked about our cycling experiences." Of course, this long journey left the three girls both incredulous and full of admiration. When parting, they exchanged emails. Liu Tao said they made a pact—if he and his companions made it to Kuala Lumpur, they’d look up the girls.
On the 91st day of the ride, Liu Tao arrived in Kuala Lumpur and, as promised, informed the three girls. "Yan Shihui offered us her living room to stay in and covered all our food, lodging, and travel expenses." Liu Tao said it was a chance encounter, but not quite a "romantic fling."
The "Burger Guy" who admires cyclists
When Liu Tao reached Slim River, Malaysia, he only had 2 yuan left—completely broke. One afternoon, while walking in the rain, he looked for shelter. At a street corner, he saw a local Malaysian man waving him over to take cover.
Only then did Liu Tao realize the man ran a burger stand.
The man asked where he was from and where he was going. Upon hearing Liu Tao’s story, the man immediately said seriously, "I’ll buy you a burger. Do you want one, two, or three?" They spoke in English. Liu Tao found the man’s reaction odd—why was he so earnest just because Liu Tao was cycling?
It turned out this was the famous "Burger Guy," who had been selling burgers for six years and always gave free burgers to passing cyclists. "French, British, Japanese… all have eaten his burgers." And Liu Tao was the first Chinese person to receive one. The reason? The man simply admired the cycling lifestyle and revered long-distance riders.
Successfully lost 12 kg
Cycling isn’t just about exhaustion—it’s also about enjoyment. Along his route through Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia, Liu Tao was most proud of learning parts of the languages of four countries.
Over 7,298 km, Liu Tao shed 12 kg, now weighing just 65 kg. The physique many dream of, Liu Tao achieved after one cycling loop. "Want to lose weight? Go cycling."
The future
"Cycling is addictive"
For those who love cycling, the first experience often leads to addiction—and it’s usually impossible to quit. Liu Tao is no exception. He’s already planning his next trip and has prepared two routes.
Within five years, Liu Tao might set off from China, traveling along a route through Central Asia and Europe. Alternatively, he may start from Singapore, making his way through Indonesia and Australia all the way to New Zealand. "My car is still in Singapore, maybe it will accompany me on another journey."
Reporter's Notes
He Challenged Himself
Liu Tao’s long-distance cycling journey has come to an end. This university senior challenged himself and earned applause.
At first, many people—including me—doubted whether this cycling trip would “fizzle out.” Having not yet left school, with limited social experience, high physical demands, and too many unpredictable risks, could Liu Tao really make it through?
We thought of the challenges, but Liu Tao had already anticipated them. His bottom line was that anything short of life-threatening was acceptable. Along the way, he traveled and enjoyed himself—beautiful people, beautiful scenery, delicious food. He took more than 15,000 photos, nearly 1,000 of which were smiles. He’s a sunny young man who yearns for a carefree life.
He brought back three notebooks: a diary, an account book, and an address book. Years later, these three notebooks may become his most cherished memories of youth, even if the paper yellows and he grows old. He also brought back a stack of foreign coins. Perhaps just a casual act, but it could mark the beginning of his coin collection. The countries Liu Tao plans to visit are far more than just these five, and the types of coins he’ll collect at home may grow from five to fifty.