Four seniors experience the ups and downs of Hainan
By Pan Qingyun and Shen Li |
March 26, 2013, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LIU Lingying, Liu Shijie, Gao Xuecai and Wang Fengzhen, all over 60 from Jiading Senior Cyclists Team, decided to ride their bicycles around the Hainan Island in southern China.
"Hainan is a sacred place for the cyclists," said Liu Lingying, the head of the group. "The breeze from the sea, the beaches and the coconut trees, all these have attracted us deeply, and we believe that we can get the uttermost pleasures only by cycling around the island."
Having got off the train from Shanghai on January 13, they began their seven-day adventure at Haikou, the provincial capital.
Following the east side of the island, they went south through Wenchang, Qionghai, Bo'ao, Wanning, Xinglong, Lingshui and Mount Wuzhi before finally arriving at Sanya. They toured more than 40 scenic spots on the route and took a flight back to Shanghai from Sanya.
Hainan's weather is quite pleasant and only a shirt and light coat are needed during the winter. On their journey, they saw people transplanting rice seedlings in the fields, where people can harvest rice three times a year.
They said the air was cool and clean and the scenery was spectacular with mountains and forests on one side and the endless sea on the other. Liu said it was both relaxing and refreshing at the same time.
"You cannot have such feelings on a tourist bus and this feeling only belongs to cyclists," Liu Shijie said.
Referring to the lodging and meals, Liu said they were quite thrifty. They brought an electric cooker with them and after reaching an inn, they would go to a wet market to buy vegetables, meat and noodles so they could cook their own meals.
Liu said it was a big challenge as the terrain was hilly.
"The roads in the province are not broad and only have two lanes. The roads are usually uphill or downhill," he said.
"Going uphill makes one sweat and breathe heavily but going downhill is also not easy as you have to be alert due to the speed and keep the bicycle under control. If you loose the brake of the bicycle, you could be going 40 kilometers per hour and the wind would be blowing at your two ears, which will make you frightened. Cycling 50 kilometers on such roads will tire you out more than cycling 90 kilometers on flat roads."
After returning from the tour, the four all agreed that cycling was not only a good way to enjoy roadside views, but also a good exercise to keep fit.
"Hainan is a sacred place for the cyclists," said Liu Lingying, the head of the group. "The breeze from the sea, the beaches and the coconut trees, all these have attracted us deeply, and we believe that we can get the uttermost pleasures only by cycling around the island."
Having got off the train from Shanghai on January 13, they began their seven-day adventure at Haikou, the provincial capital.
Following the east side of the island, they went south through Wenchang, Qionghai, Bo'ao, Wanning, Xinglong, Lingshui and Mount Wuzhi before finally arriving at Sanya. They toured more than 40 scenic spots on the route and took a flight back to Shanghai from Sanya.
Hainan's weather is quite pleasant and only a shirt and light coat are needed during the winter. On their journey, they saw people transplanting rice seedlings in the fields, where people can harvest rice three times a year.
They said the air was cool and clean and the scenery was spectacular with mountains and forests on one side and the endless sea on the other. Liu said it was both relaxing and refreshing at the same time.
"You cannot have such feelings on a tourist bus and this feeling only belongs to cyclists," Liu Shijie said.
Referring to the lodging and meals, Liu said they were quite thrifty. They brought an electric cooker with them and after reaching an inn, they would go to a wet market to buy vegetables, meat and noodles so they could cook their own meals.
Liu said it was a big challenge as the terrain was hilly.
"The roads in the province are not broad and only have two lanes. The roads are usually uphill or downhill," he said.
"Going uphill makes one sweat and breathe heavily but going downhill is also not easy as you have to be alert due to the speed and keep the bicycle under control. If you loose the brake of the bicycle, you could be going 40 kilometers per hour and the wind would be blowing at your two ears, which will make you frightened. Cycling 50 kilometers on such roads will tire you out more than cycling 90 kilometers on flat roads."
After returning from the tour, the four all agreed that cycling was not only a good way to enjoy roadside views, but also a good exercise to keep fit.
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