Liu Tao on the road
Plan: Cycling from Chengdu to Singapore
At 00:37 on December 31, 2011, “Yanzhao’s Number One Farmer” updated his Weibo: “Day 13, Total Mileage: 1177 KM, Today’s Trip: Ninglang to Lijiang.” The Weibo posts from “Yanzhao’s Number One Farmer” during this time all included the hashtag #CyclingFromChengduToSingapore. He posted 1–3 updates daily, reporting on kilometers traveled, food, and other journey details. On December 31, 2011, a reporter contacted “Yanzhao’s Number One Farmer,” who turned out to be Liu Tao, a 22-year-old senior at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China from Handan, Hebei.
Liu Tao’s original plan was to leave China, pass through Laos, and then head to Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and finally Singapore. But midway, he received a call from a classmate. “He’s teaching Chinese in Yangon and invited me to celebrate the New Year there.” As a result, Liu Tao changed his itinerary to China → Myanmar → Thailand → Cambodia → Thailand → Malaysia → Singapore. Liu Tao calculated that the total distance would be 6,500 km to 7,000 km. Riding over 100 km per day, plus breaks and sightseeing along the way, Liu Tao said it would take at least 90 days to reach Singapore. “I gave myself 100 days.”
Gear: A borrowed bicycle and one backpack
Before departure, Liu Tao mailed his tent and sleeping bag to Lijiang, figuring they’d come in handy abroad. “Accommodation overseas might be more expensive.” Aside from that, his gear was extremely simple. “The bicycle was borrowed the night before I left.” Liu Tao originally had a bike that had accompanied him for tens of thousands of kilometers, but it was stolen before the trip. A second-hand bike he bought for 600 yuan was too small. So, he dashed to a dorm next door and borrowed another. “It’s pretty high-end and eye-catching.”
For such a long trip, Liu Tao carried just one backpack. “As long as it works.” Inside were some changes of clothes, medicine, and a few bike repair tools. For the trip, Liu Tao planned to spend 6,000 to 8,000 yuan, but he only had 3,000 yuan on hand. What to do about the shortfall? He had it figured out: raise funds in Lijiang, seek “sponsorship” from classmates and friends, and if that wasn’t enough, ask locals for food along the way. What about once he's abroad? Liu Tao said English is the second language in those countries, and he speaks it decently — he shouldn’t go hungry.
Progress: Reached Dali yesterday; parents just found out
On December 18 of last year, the day Liu Tao set off, four friends accompanied him for part of the journey. “They cycled with me all the way to Mount Emei.” Despite covering around 100 km per day, he still made time to enjoy the trip: grilled eggplant, dried tofu, and roast suckling pig in Shimian, visiting Lugu Lake, and even finding time to wash his bike and clothes...
Last night, the reporter spoke with Liu Tao again. He had already reached Dali, with seven days to go before leaving the country, and his final domestic stop would be Ruili. Only yesterday did Liu Tao call his parents to tell them about his trip. “If I had told them earlier, they definitely would have opposed it.” But he only mentioned he was going to Thailand for the New Year. Though they didn’t object, his parents couldn’t help blaming him with concern, asking, “Why go so far for the New Year?”
As Liu Tao wrote in a Weibo post before setting off: “Who knows what kind of world this first step will lead me into?” Liu Tao said he might encounter many difficulties along the way, but he’ll try his best to persevere and finish the entire ride.
At 9 p.m. last night, Liu Tao updated his Weibo again: “I’m currently at Erhai Lake in Dali.”
On the morning of December 18 last year, Liu Tao, a senior at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, set off from Chengdu on a borrowed bicycle with a single backpack. His destination: Singapore!! According to the plan, the 22-year-old Liu Tao would cycle through six countries — Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and others — covering a total distance of 6,500 to 7,000 km over approximately 90 days.
Story: On the road, bitten by wild dogs four times Last year, Liu Tao embarked on his first long-distance cycling trip — from Chengdu to Lhasa, a journey of 2,260 km. It took him 21 days on the road, but a total of 45 days including breaks, “because my grandfather fell critically ill and passed away, and I went home for half a month.” During that trip, Liu Tao was bitten by wild dogs four times. He managed to find a local military unit and got vaccinated at their hospital.
Reporter’s Note: As far as the heart reaches, so does the dream —— A journey exceeding 6,500 km over three months, Liu Tao’s plan is jaw-dropping. That “humble” gear seems hardly worthy of such grand ambition and perseverance. But he set off, and has already been on the road for 17 days without any sign of backing down, even though he’s encountered black ice and falls, and been chased by wild dogs.
This 22-year-old young man from Hebei, well done — he’s earned my utmost admiration. But this is absolutely his style, as his Weibo reads: “As far as the heart reaches, so does the dream.”