HONG KONG (CNN) — What began as a spontaneous late-night adventure for Chinese college students has turned into a mass movement that now has local authorities on high alert. Tens of thousands of students from Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, have been cycling at night to Kaifeng, a historic city known for its ancient landmarks and delicious soup dumplings.
The trend, initially encouraged by local officials to boost tourism, quickly spiraled out of control. Large groups of cyclists, riding shared bikes, embarked on 30-mile journeys in the evening chill, flooding the roads between Zhengzhou and Kaifeng. The massive influx of riders brought intercity traffic to a standstill and left the streets of Kaifeng cluttered with discarded bikes, causing disruptions and sparking safety concerns.
By Friday night, Zhengkai Avenue, the main road linking the two cities, was packed with a continuous stream of young cyclists. Videos on Chinese social media showed police struggling to maintain order as students filled all five car lanes, effectively taking over the road. In response, authorities in Kaifeng and Zhengzhou quickly moved to close bike lanes along the route, while bike-sharing companies implemented measures to automatically lock bikes that left the city limits.
The rapid growth of the cycling trend appeared to unsettle local officials, given the Chinese government's wariness of large, spontaneous youth gatherings. Memories of past protests, such as the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations in Beijing's Tiananmen Square and the 2022 anti-lockdown rallies led by young people, linger in the minds of authorities who prioritize stability.
Though the cycling trips were not overtly political, some participants carried Chinese flags and sang patriotic songs, while others simply joined for the fun of it. The trend began in June when four female university students from Zhengzhou made an impromptu trip to Kaifeng for a late-night snack, sparking a viral social media sensation. The hashtag "youth is priceless" trended as more students followed their example.
State media initially praised the phenomenon, highlighting the energy and camaraderie of youth. Kaifeng's local tourism bureau even offered free entry to attractions to welcome the influx of students. "What started as a simple ride for dumplings has become a vibrant display of youthful passion," reported the People's Daily, a Communist Party flagship newspaper.
However, as the rides grew in scale, so did the logistical and safety issues. Commuters in Zhengzhou struggled to find available bikes, while residents in Kaifeng dealt with traffic disruptions and cluttered streets. The response from the authorities was swift: they closed off bike lanes, imposed restrictions on students leaving university campuses, and issued warnings through bike-sharing platforms.
The crackdown has sparked debate online. Some criticized the students for causing chaos, while others blamed local officials for promoting the trend without adequately preparing for the consequences. "The tourism bureau wanted to cash in but wasn't ready for the surge in visitors," read a comment on Weibo, China's microblogging site.
Beyond the thrill of the adventure, many students saw the night rides as an escape from the pressures of a bleak job market and the stress of academic life. A final-year student from Zhengzhou shared her experience with a state-run newspaper, describing the sense of freedom she felt during her ride to Kaifeng. "Cycling at night felt like a break from reality," she said. "For a few hours, my worries and anxieties faded away. I wished I could keep riding and never go back."
As the cycling craze continues to spread to other cities, the government’s sudden shift from promotion to restriction highlights the delicate balance authorities must strike between encouraging youthful enthusiasm and maintaining public order.
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