Student gets on his bike for epic 4,000km trip to college
Print Edition
A STUDENT has completed an epic 22-day 4,000-kilometer journey by bicycle from his hometown to his new college.
Lin Jinmin, 18, comes from Guigang, a city in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. He was accepted to study at a medical college in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province this year. While most students choose to travel by train or plane, Lin made a bold decision — to cycle.
Lin left home on August 1, and over the next three weeks rode his bicycle through nine provinces and two municipalities, until he reached his college in the city of Qiqihar.
“I wanted to toughen and cultivate myself into a brave, fearless person,” he said.
Lin said his passion for cycling stemmed from his childhood.
“When I was in junior high school, I would always ride to and from school, around 20 kilometers each way,” Lin said. “Sometimes I would ride different routes up to around 100 kilometers on the way home.”
Before his impressive journey to Qiqihar, Lin had already done some long distance rides. One summer vacation when he was in high school, Lin set out on a two-month journey touring cities and counties in Guangxi. Another time he traveled by bicycle around the southern island province of Hainan.
However, when Lin told his parents about his plan to cycle to college, they initially tried to discourage him.
“They thought it was a crazy idea,” Lin said. “But they eventually agreed, because they know that I am a determined person.”
Before setting out, Lin packed two changes of clothes, some tools, a spare tire and an umbrella. “My luggage weighed less than 10 kilograms.”
During the journey Lin traveled through many different cities. Whenever he passed a college, he stopped to take a photograph in front of the gate as a memento.
Lin said he rode around 12 hours a day, and more than 15 hours on his longest day.
“The scariest time was when a tire blew in the darkness,” Lin said. “At that time, I pushed myself to ride to the next village, where I could rest and change the tire.” By staying in small hotels and eating noodles that cost around 10 yuan per bowl, Lin was able to spend just 1,700 yuan (U$258).
“I plan to start a cycling group at college,” he said. “I hope that more people like me can share their experience and go on cycling trips together in the future.”
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