Police in central China imposed traffic restrictions over the weekend to curb a viral frenzy in which thousands of university students borrowed shared bikes to ride overnight through the city of Kaifeng in search of a snack. A “night riding army,” as some participants described it, blocked a highway on Friday, as photos posted on social media showed, a turnout for a rolling flash mob that had been building for months. Was collecting passengers. “Last night’s ‘Night Riding Army’ was fantastic!” one rider posted. “Two lanes were opened, but that was not enough: the cycling army numbered four!”
The event was part of a trend of young Chinese to travel cheaply – “like special forces” – and spend as little as possible at a time of scarce job prospects, when salaries are under pressure. Riders traveled more than 60 km (37 mi) along a straight road along the Yellow River, connecting Zhengzhou, the largest city in Henan province, with Kaifeng, the ancient capital famous for its soup dumplings.
Chinese media said the trend started in June, when four female college students recorded their morning dumpling-eating trip on social media. The hashtag on social media for the ride was, “The Night Ride to Kaifeng: Youth is priceless, enjoy it in time,” state broadcaster CMG said, adding that thousands of students had completed it over the weekend. Key to its success was the abundance of shared bikes that could be rented for as little as $1.95 per month. Photos posted by riders showed thousands of bikes had moved through downtown Kaifeng by Saturday.
In addition to traffic control, the largest bike-sharing platforms, HelloBike, Didi Bike and Mobile, said their vehicles would be locked if they went out of a designated area, while the media asked students to be more vigilant. “Youthful independence doesn’t mean following the trend and indulging yourself,” one news outlet warned in a commentary. The caption of another read, “Kaifeng is worth approaching slowly and savoring carefully.”
Chinese authorities have cracked down on other spontaneous gatherings. Last month, police deployed in Shanghai’s commercial center to prevent a repeat of the 2023 Halloween celebrations, with some revelers protesting over issues such as the stock market, youth unemployment and strict COVID-19 restrictions. Dressed in a mocking costume.
(Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
