It started with a quest for dumplings on social media, but ended with thousands of cyclists causing traffic jams between two cities in central China.
What should have boosted the economy of the ancient city of Kaifeng backfired when the trend went viral: tens of thousands of people on rented bicycles cycled through the night from nearby Zhenghou , to have their breakfast.
A six-lane highway between the two cities quickly filled with cyclists. Police used loudspeakers to tell them to leave and bike rental companies warned they would remotely lock bikes removed from Zhengzhou.
The event is part of a trend of young Chinese traveling more cheaply at a time when the economy is in decline and job prospects are few.
The trend was started by four university students who cycled the 50km from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng in June to try guantangbao, a type of soup dumpling.
“You only have one young person, you must try a spontaneous trip with your friends,” one of the four told local media.
The message struck a chord with other young people in this city of 12.6 million, at a time when many Chinese complain of burnout due to an overly competitive job market.
A social media trend called “Night Ride to Kaifeng” was born. State media initially hailed the trend as a demonstration of young people's “passion.”
The local government saw an opportunity to recreate the instant fame Zibo town enjoyed last year with its barbecues.
Before Friday night's standoff, Kaifeng officials had even announced special discounts and events for students. They also implemented additional traffic control measures to protect cyclists.
Ms. Li, 27, traveled to Kaifeng by motorbike with the students on Friday evening. She said she saw an article about the trend and decided to join it and “live like a young person for once.”
“Everyone was radiating energy and interacting with the people around them. It was like I was at university,” she told the BBC.
There was a heavy police presence along the way, she said.
“Ambulances and traffic police cars could be seen on both sides of the roads quite often, and there were also drones flying in the sky to monitor traffic,” she explained.
But the good mood quickly changed. Zhengzhou's roads began to be overwhelmed by thousands of bicycles.
Images circulating online showed severe traffic jams on main roads linking Zhengzhou to Kaifeng. A witness told local media outlet Jimu News that his journey on the same route, which usually took an hour, took three.
Some riders shared on social media that they were forced to dismount their bikes and push their way through the crowds.
There was no official estimate of the number of bikes on the road Friday evening. But reports on social media suggest that number ranged between 100,000 and 200,000.
Many of those who arrived in Kaifeng didn't have a good time either.
A viral post from a student, who drove for more than seven hours, said he could not find a taxi or hotel room because demand was extremely high.
“I really regret going there. While I was sitting in a restaurant having my meal, I heard the owner criticizing the students who had nothing to do… I am very sorry “affecting the people of Kaifeng,” the student said on social media. Xiaohongshu platform.
As traffic jams worsened, three major bicycle rental platforms in China issued a joint statement urging students to use trains or buses for long-distance travel and avoid using bicycles at night for reasons security.
By Saturday afternoon, companies had started charging fees to those traveling to another city.
Several publications suggest that some universities in Zhengzhou have now asked students to return to their dormitories and imposed restrictions on them leaving campus.
Some social media users criticized cyclists for “irresponsible” behavior, such as littering.
Traffic police in Zhengzhou and Kaifeng closed some of the main cycle paths between the two cities on Saturday and Sunday.
It is also not surprising to see authorities in both cities react, as Chinese authorities have historically cracked down on large gatherings to ensure stability.
Last month, Shanghai police silenced Halloween celebrations, fearing the festivities could turn into platforms for dissent.
But Ms Li believes events and trends such as the Night Ride to Kaifeng will continue to attract young Chinese people.
“People are so stressed these days, so these events are a good thing. Because happiness is contagious.”
