As the Chinese New Year approaches, a man named Mr. Gong from Qiannan, Guizhou, attracted public attention by riding his motorcycle over 2400 kilometers back to his hometown with his wife to celebrate the New Year. Mr. Gong mentioned that they have already arrived home safely, having traveled the entire journey on the national highway without encountering any traffic jams.
Mr. Gong, a motorcycle enthusiast who calls himself a “civilian rider,” has been working at a brewery in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, with his wife for several years. With the New Year approaching, on January 18th, he set out from Wenzhou with his wife and some belongings to ride the motorcycle back to his hometown in Qiannan, Guizhou.
By January 24th, Mr. Gong had safely arrived at his destination. He told Jiangxi Morning News that it took them 6 days and 4 nights to complete the journey, covering over 2400 kilometers on the national highway, with smooth traffic conditions throughout the entire route, costing them 500 yuan for fuel.
He mentioned that he has been riding back to his hometown for the past 4 years and finds this mode of travel more meaningful. The freedom of riding and the convenience of visiting relatives during the New Year celebration make the trip worthwhile.
They chose the route through Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces, passing through several towns along the way, with each stop feeling like a temporary refuge. Recently, the weather in the two provinces was around 20 degrees Celsius with no rain, and they took measures to keep warm on the road, not feeling too cold during the journey.
Mr. Gong said, “There were many kind-hearted people on the road who even offered us food.”
In response to this, some mainland Chinese netizens questioned whether the 6-day journey, costing 500 yuan for fuel on top of expenses for food, accommodation, and the risks involved in motorcycle riding, was worth it.
Others remarked that in previous years, the difficulty in obtaining train or bus tickets has led many people to resort to riding motorcycles back to their hometowns out of necessity. However, with fewer migrant workers and reduced intensity in the Spring Festival travel rush due to the economic downturn and job losses, the demand for tickets has diminished.
In previous years, it was a common sight before the Chinese New Year for a large number of migrant workers, unable to afford plane tickets or secure train or bus tickets, to form motorcycle convoys to journey back to their hometowns just to be with their families.
Before the outbreak of the pandemic, numerous media outlets reported that provinces such as Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Zhejiang, and Guizhou witnessed thousands of people setting off on motorcycles to return to their hometowns on the eve of the New Year. These motorcyclists, equipped with windproof helmets, raincoats, knee pads for warmth, carrying luggage on the rear seat, some even with their wives and infants, undertook the risky journey of riding day and night for hundreds of miles to reunite with their families for the New Year.
Media reports also documented cases of workers who had no money to return home and had to walk back. For instance, Zhang from Cangzhou, Hebei, who was working in Nantong, planned to return home to celebrate the New Year with his 80-year-old mother after receiving his wages. However, as his boss disappeared without paying him, he had to walk back home along the railway line, begging for food when hungry, covering over 300 kilometers in more than half a month, with another 600 kilometers still separating him from his hometown.
There was also a young man who worked in Heilongjiang and walked for three days in the snow to save money for his journey back home, ending up with frostbitten hands and feet facing amputation.
However, following the easing of restrictions during the pandemic, with the worsening economic situation in China and a wave of unemployment sweeping across the country, many people who couldn’t find work outside chose to return to their villages to engage in farming. The once bustling motorcycle convoys of previous years for the New Year celebration have now disappeared.