A social media trend that began as a lighthearted quest for breakfast dumplings spiraled into chaos when thousands of cyclists caused gridlock between two central Chinese cities.
What was intended to be a fun and spontaneous ride turned into a logistical nightmare as tens of thousands of cyclists, many on rented bikes, cycled through the night from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng, leading to traffic jams and police interventions.
The six-lane expressway connecting the two cities quickly became clogged with cyclists. Police used loudspeakers to urge the riders to leave, while bike rental companies warned they would remotely lock the bikes taken out of Zhengzhou.
What was meant to be a boost for Kaifeng’s economy instead turned into a major disruption for local authorities.
This event is part of a larger trend of young people in China opting for affordable, spontaneous travel experiences amidst an economy that is struggling and a job market that leaves many feeling disillusioned.
“You don’t get a second chance at youth, so you must go for a spontaneous trip with friends,” one of the four had told local media.
It all began in June when four university students cycled 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng to try guantangbao, a traditional soup dumpling. The students’ message about seizing youth and enjoying spontaneous adventures struck a chord with many young people facing burnout from the demands of a competitive society.
The “Night Ride to Kaifeng” quickly went viral, with young people across the region embracing the challenge. Initially, state media celebrated the trend, calling it a demonstration of youthful energy.
Meanwhile, local officials in Kaifeng saw the ride as a chance to boost the city’s profile, hoping to replicate the success Zibo experienced last year when millions of visitors arrived for the city’s famous barbecues.
In preparation, Kaifeng officials offered discounts and planned activities to draw college students, even implementing traffic control measures to manage the influx of cyclists.
However, things quickly took a turn for the worse. Ms. Li, a 27-year-old woman who joined the ride after seeing posts on social media, described the event as a mix of excitement and frustration. Along the route, police presence was overwhelming, with ambulances, traffic police cars, and even drones monitoring the situation.
“It felt like a blast from my college days,” she said, but the sheer number of cyclists on the road soon became unmanageable.
As the thousands of cyclists made their way from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng, major traffic congestion ensued. What would usually be a one-hour drive stretched to three hours, and many cyclists were forced to abandon their bikes and push through the traffic. While there was no official count, estimates on social media suggested the number of cyclists ranged from 100,000 to 200,000.
When they finally reached Kaifeng, many riders found the city ill-prepared for the influx of visitors. One student, who rode for over seven hours, expressed regret, writing that they couldn’t find a taxi or a hotel room. “I’m sorry for affecting the people in Kaifeng,” the student wrote in a viral post.
As the situation worsened, criticism of the cyclists’ behavior began to surface, with some accusing them of being “irresponsible” due to actions like littering. The bike-sharing companies involved issued a joint statement urging students to use trains or buses for long-distance travel instead of riding bikes at night, citing safety concerns.
By Saturday afternoon, these companies began charging riders who had traveled to different cities, and universities in Zhengzhou began imposing curfews on their students. Traffic police in both Zhengzhou and Kaifeng also closed off key cycling lanes between the two cities over the weekend.
Authorities in both cities were unsurprised by the crackdown, as China has long imposed strict controls on large gatherings, fearing they could lead to protests or political unrest. For instance, police in Shanghai silenced Halloween celebrations last month over similar concerns.