But the happy mood soon changed. The roads in Zhengzhou started being overwhelmed by the thousands of bikes.
Pictures circulating online showed serious congestion on the main roads from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng. One witness told local media Jimu News that his drive on the same route, which usually took one hour, took three.
Some riders shared on social media that they were forced to get off their bikes and push their way through the crowd.
There was no official estimate of the number of bicycles on the road on Friday night. But reports on social media suggest the number ranged from 100,000 to 200,000.
Many of those who made it to Kaifeng didn’t end up having a good time either.
One viral post from a student, who rode more than seven hours, said they couldn’t get a taxi or a hotel room as the demand was overwhelmingly high.
“I really regret going. As I sat in a restaurant eating my meal, I heard the owner criticising college students for having nothing to do… I’m really sorry for affecting the people in Kaifeng,” the student said on social media platform Xiaohongshu.
As the gridlock worsened, three major hire bike platforms in China issued a joint statement urging students to use trains or buses for long distance travel and avoid using bikes at night for safety reasons.
By Saturday afternoon, the companies had started charging a fee for those who ride to a different city.
Multiple posts suggest some universities in Zhengzhou have now asked students to return to their dormitories and imposed restrictions on them leaving the campus.
Some social media users criticised the cyclists for “irresponsible” behaviour such as littering.
Traffic police in both Zhengzhou and Kaifeng closed off some of the main cycling lanes between the two cities on Saturday and Sunday.
It is also not surprising to see authorities in the two cities pushing back as Chinese authorities have always cracked down on big gatherings to ensure stability.
Last month, police in Shanghai silenced celebrations for Halloween over fears the revelries might turn into platforms for dissent.
But Ms Li thinks these events and trends such as the Night Ride to Kaifeng will continue to appeal to young Chinese people.
“People are so stressed these days, so these events are a good thing. Because happiness is infectious.”
Source link
