Zhengzhou: A night-time cycling trend that began with four Chinese students riding 50km for dumplings has grown to an estimated 100,000 participants, causing major traffic disruptions, overwhelming a small tourist city, and drawing attention from authorities.
The cyclists, mostly using public bike-share bikes, rode from Zhengzhou to the ancient city of Kaifeng in Henan province, taking several hours to complete the journey.
However, Kaifeng quickly became overcrowded, with accommodations, restaurants, and public spaces filled to capacity.
Videos online showed tens of thousands of cyclists clogging Zhengkai Avenue, the expressway connecting Zhengzhou and Kaifeng, as police used loudhailers to urge students to leave, either by bike or via free buses.
To prevent a recurrence, authorities imposed temporary road and cycle path restrictions for the weekend, and bike-share apps warned that bikes taken out of designated zones would be remotely locked.
Some universities in Zhengzhou also banned bicycles on campuses and required students to apply for passes to leave.
On June 4th female college students cycled 50km from #Zhengzhou to #Kaifeng to try the city’s breakfast specialty, soup dumplings. Their 4-hour journey gained attention on social media, celebrated as an expression of "youth, passion, vitality". [🧵] pic.twitter.com/0qS9UM2WjY
— Cycling Professor 🚲  (@fietsprofessor) November 10, 2024
What began as a wholesome, non-political activity quickly gained popularity, with more students joining the ride. Initially supported by local authorities in Kaifeng, which offered incentives like free entry to attractions, the trend was even celebrated by state media as a boost for domestic tourism.
However, the event soon spiraled out of control, with student participation growing from 17,000 to an estimated 100,000-200,000, overwhelming Kaifeng and angering residents, who complained about the mess left behind.
Despite the chaos, many students defended the ride and apologized for the disruption. There was widespread debate over the responsibility of the students, universities, and authorities in managing the event, which quickly grew without adequate infrastructure or support.
The night cycling trend continues to spread to other Chinese cities, although none have seen crowds as large as those in Henan. Some students who were still able to leave their campuses set off on foot, determined to continue the ride despite the new bike bans.
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