Tens of hundreds of college college students launched into nighttime bicycle journeys looking for soup dumplings, creating an surprising social phenomenon that later confronted restrictions from authorities as a consequence of its overwhelming recognition in central China’s Kaifeng metropolis.
The motion gained momentum on Chinese language social media after 4 feminine college college students from Zhengzhou travelled to Kaifeng to pattern its famend “tangbao.” Their journey impressed hundreds of scholars to take part in related adventures.
College students employed shared bicycles and travelled in teams throughout nighttime from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng. The 40-mile journey alongside the Yellow River attracted quite a few individuals, united by the motto “youth is priceless.”
The huge gathering moved at a sluggish tempo, with some individuals displaying the Chinese language flag while others rested in parks upon reaching Kaifeng, as evidenced by shared pictures and movies.
Ji Pengbo, a 19-year-old engineering pupil, participated within the Friday night time journey after discovering it on Douyin. The occasion’s slogan notably motivated his participation, as he and his associates sought to expertise the thrill firsthand, reported NBC Information.
Ji described encountering quite a few fellow college college students, supportive law enforcement officials, and volunteers providing water through the journey. He shared his expertise of driving within the night ambiance, surrounded by the collective enthusiasm of fellow cyclists.
Nevertheless, authorities applied restrictions by Saturday afternoon. The Henan police closed nonmotorised lanes between the cities till Sunday midday, citing questions of safety.
Subsequently, China’s main bike-sharing companies – Hellobike, DiDi Bike, and Mobike – issued warnings in opposition to driving past designated areas, implementing computerized locks and extra expenses for violations.
Initially, native tourism authorities embraced the development. Kaifeng’s tourism bureau celebrated the phenomenon, providing varied incentives together with free admission to points of interest and annual passes for biking guests.
The authorities’ stance later shifted in direction of criticism. China Remark, a Communist Occasion journal, emphasised the societal prices of such actions, advocating for accountable freedom by means of self-discipline.
Hongsheng Zhu, from Lingnan College, Hong Kong, attributes the phenomenon’s nationwide prominence to social media algorithms and mainstream media protection.