In 2008, she spent nearly a month cycling from Xiamen to Beijing. The hardships of the journey didn’t deter her—in fact, they ignited her dream of cycling around the world after retirement. Ye Yiming, sitting before the reporter, was full of vigor and energy, showing no signs of being over fifty.
Ye Yiming during her journey
"Sneaking away" to cycle to Beijing
Before the 2008 Olympics, Ye Yiming suddenly got the idea to cycle to Beijing. But her mother and younger brother strongly opposed it. She had already pedaled close to Quanzhou when her brother chased after her by car and brought her back. Ye Yiming stayed quietly at home for a while—actually trying to give her mother and brother the impression that she had given up—but in her heart, she was secretly planning her next "escape."
She chose to set off again at 6 a.m. on June 6. Her son helped load her heavy 10-kilogram luggage onto the back seat of the bicycle. Because the load was so heavy, she wobbled a bit as she started pedaling, but she gave her son a big smile. It wasn’t until she had cycled back to Xiamen that her mother found out her daughter had actually gone to Beijing by bike.
Competing with a colleague along the way
At the time, Ye Yiming was cycling with her colleague Liu Sun, and there were quite a few "little incidents" along the way. Ye Yiming felt that mornings weren’t too hot and wanted to ride faster, but Liu Sun preferred to enjoy the morning scenery and wanted to go slowly. At one point, the two couldn’t agree, and Liu Sun said petulantly, "Then let’s go our separate ways and meet under the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge!" Ye Yiming, equally stubborn, really did set off on her own.
After cycling more than 100 kilometers, Ye Yiming realized that her money and phone were still with Liu Sun. To make matters worse, her bicycle got a flat tire. With no money on her, Ye Yiming walked into a bicycle repair shop and tried to communicate with the owner. Touched by her spirit, the owner not only fixed her tire for free but also gave her a raincoat.
Hoping to find cycling companions for a world tour
Cycling over 12 hours a day, her bottom swollen from the saddle, with 11 flat tires along the way... When Ye Yiming and her colleagues finally arrived in Beijing, it was already July 3. She reflected with emotion, "This time, I measured China’s land mile by mile with my wheels!"
Now, one of Ye Yiming’s biggest wishes is to officially retire in two years so she can cycle around the world. She isn’t just talking—she has already begun actively learning about local customs and cultures, and has seriously studied English. "I want to bring the sports spirit of the Chinese people to every corner of the world," said Ye Yiming.
"Hop on a bike, and let’s cycle around the world together!" said Ye Yiming. She wants to find a cycling companion to fulfill this dream. But this time, she’s in no rush and wants to prepare more thoroughly. She’s also actively learning massage techniques, hoping to gain an extra skill for earning money during the trip: "If I run out of money, I can find work somewhere, earn enough for the next leg of the journey, and then keep cycling!"