Source: The Guardian (11/10/24)
100,000 Chinese students join 50km night-time bike ride in search of good soup dumplings
Authorities impose restrictions on bike hire after huge group blocks a highway between Zhengzhou and Kaifeng in China, as night biking trend takes off
By Helen Davidson in Taipei
College students from Zhengzhou cycle to Kaifeng. Photograph: VCG/Getty Images
A night-time cycling trend that started with four Chinese students riding 50km for dumplings blew out to a reported 100,000 people on Friday, jamming major roads, overwhelming a small tourist city and drawing the attention of authorities.
The pack of students, mostly on public share bikes, rode several hours through Henan province from their campuses in Zhengzhou to the ancient city of Kaifeng.
“People sang together and cheered for each other while climbing uphill together,” Liu Lulu, a student at Henan University, told China Daily. “I could feel the passion of the young people. And it was much more than a bike ride.”
But Kaifeng quickly reached capacity, with accommodation, restaurants and public spaces packed to bursting, officials said. Video circulating online shows tens of thousands of cyclists filling the six-lane Zhengkai avenue, the expressway between Zhengzhou and the streets of the much smaller Kaifeng, as police used loudhailers to ask students to leave, by bike or on a free bus.
To prevent a repeat of Friday’s event, authorities announced temporary restrictions on roads and cycle paths for the weekend, and bike share apps warned they would remotely lock any bikes taken out of designated zones in Zhengzhou.
Some Zhengzhou universities also enacted measures including banning bicycles on campuses and requiring students to apply for passes to leave the grounds.
College students from Zhengzhou cycle to Kaifeng, 50km away. Photograph: VCG/Getty Images
The trend started in June when four Zhengzhou university students decided to ride several hours to Kaifeng on share bikes in search of the city’s famous oversized soup dumplings, guan tang bao. Posts from their journey gained attention on social media, launching a hashtag “youth is priceless, night ride to Kaifeng has it”.
The trend caught on, with more and more students making the journey. The wholesome and non-political activity was initially welcomed by authorities. Kaifeng, which is one of many Chinese cities trying to attract more domestic tourists, offered incentives including free entry to attractions. Official state media outlet, the People’s Daily, celebrated the “surge of young travellers” to Kaifeng, which it prematurely predicted had peaked at about 2,000 last weekend.
“Upon arriving in Kaifeng, many students took the opportunity to explore the city’s cultural and historical attractions, bringing a fresh sense of excitement and energy to the ancient city,” the paper wrote on Thursday. “These youthful adventures embody a vibrant spirit—full of curiosity, determination, and a zest for discovery—that adds new dimensions to the tourism industry.”
But that evening the number of students riding rose to a reported 17,000, and then on Friday increased as much as ten-fold, with estimates of between 100,000 and 200,000 students jamming the road.
The huge number sparked complaints, particularly from residents of Kaifeng, who said their city was overrun, and that bikes and garbage were left behind. Online many students were apologetic for the mess but defended the ride. There was strong debate over the actions of the students, the reaction of universities, and whether authorities and media had encouraged the activity without putting in place appropriate support and infrastructure.
“At the beginning, it was hyped up, but in the end it all ended in collapse and failure,” said one commenter on Weibo. “You media should reflect on yourselves. At the beginning, you all encouraged and praised this behaviour.”
The night cycling trend appears to be gaining popularity in several major Chinese cities, but none have reported crowds the size of those seen in Henan.
On Saturday some students who were still able to leave their dorms appeared determined to try again – despite the bike ban – and set off on foot.
“I followed my boyfriend on a night ride to Kaifeng, now the traffic police don’t let people go to Kaifeng by bike any more,” said one student on social media on Saturday. “There are so many bikes parked on the side of the road, and so students have started walking. It’s so good to be young, this is youth!”
Additional reporting by Chi-hui Lin