For some travelers heading home for Spring Festival, the trip is more important than the destination

Luo Wangshu

As the countdown to Spring Festival begins, a sea of people travel home using the quickest, or cheapest, way possible - usually planes, trains and automobiles.

For some travelers during this annual mass migration, however, the journey is more important than the destination. Instead, they choose slower modes of transportation, such as bicycles or even walking.

Three people who opted for an unconventional adventure tell their stories.

On Foot | Wang Gangwei

Editor's note: Wang Gangwei, 27, attempted to walk 1,300 km from Jiangsu province to his home in Shaanxi province. The journey takes roughly 24 hours by train.

Wang Gangwei poses on Jan 12 as he leaves Wuxi in Jiangsu province to walk to his hometown in Shaanxi province. Provided to China Daily

I chose to walk home to Liquan county because I wanted one last adventure before my baby is born. And I got it.

I packed a raincoat, flashlight, blanket, battery charger, 10 pairs of socks, a photo of my wife, food and water and some clothes.

At 8 am on Jan 12, I left Shuofang town in Wuxi, where I had worked at an electronics factory and lived for almost two years.

The first day was the hardest, but I managed to cover 65 km, and I spent my first night on the road in Changzhou. There, I got rid of some clothes and two pairs of shoes, which made my backpack much lighter.

Initially I'd planned to walk 100 km a day. At that rate, I figured I'd be home before Spring Festival. I quickly realized it was impossible, though, and aimed for 60 km instead.

The longest I walked in a day was about 17 hours. I finally stopped at 3 am and slept on the roadside.

One night, I slept in a graveyard. It was creepy, and I only got about three or four hours' rest.

The GPS app on my smartphone was my guide, but it wasn't that accurate. I got lost a few times. Once, near Yangzhou, I walked around for almost four hours trying to find my way. It was cold, dark and lonely.

As I went further northwest the weather got colder. When I passed Yangzhou, the temperature fell to -4 C.

But I like fresh air. It's better than sitting on a factory production line making cellphones.

I lost my ID card some time ago in Shuofang, which caused some problems. First, it meant I couldn't buy a train ticket, and when I was on the road it meant motels weren't legally allowed to let me stay. Many refused me.

Otherwise, the journey was going fine - until the sixth day.

I was walking near Hongze Lake, about 400 km into the trip, when I twisted my ankle. I knew then I couldn't continue.

It was a pity, but I had to take a bus the rest of the way. I arrived home on Jan 22.

Apart from the challenge, by taking the journey on foot I also wanted to raise public awareness about my search for my missing sister. She left home several years ago and has not contacted any family member since then. I thought someone might hear about me and may know my sister.

I'm home now, safe and sound. I wish my sister was too.

Wang Gangwei spoke to China Daily reporter Luo Wangshu.

Motorbike | Zhou Shiliang

Editor's note: Zhou Shiliang, 39, is a painter at a furniture factory in Fujian province. He and his wife have made the 400-km trek to his hometown in Jiangxi province for Chinese New Year on a motorbike every year for the past five years.

I can find my way home with my eyes closed.

Usually I set off from Fuzhou in Fujian province early morning, 3 or 4 am. That way, I can arrive at my family's home in Jiangxi province's Nancheng county before dark. The trip takes 10 to 12 hours.

Riding a motorbike with my wife sitting behind me is a cheap way to go home. It costs about 100 yuan ($16) for gas and food for two of us, one way, while a bus ticket for the same journey would cost more than 200 yuan for each person.

Train tickets are cheap, but they are extremely difficult to get. For the first five years in Fuzhou, I spent night and day in lines at the train station. Some people told me it's even more difficult now.

Although we're saving, riding a motorbike home is not easy. It's very tiring. We eat on the way, crackers or instant noodles, and we don't waste time. We want to see our daughter and my parents as soon as possible. If I could ride a rocket, I'd fly home. We take three or four breaks during the trip, usually less than 20 minutes each time.

It's also not the safest way home. Early morning, before sunrise, I try to keep below 60 km an hour, but I always feel the need to rush and sometimes hit 80 km an hour during the daytime.

We have to keep a close eye on the weather, too. I double-check the forecasts, and if it's raining I have to be extra careful to prevent sliding. For safety, most years we've traveled as part of a group. It allows us to look out for each other.

Last year was slightly different, however. We took part in an activity organized by PetroChina that provided help for migrant workers who rode motorbikes home for Spring Festival. I led a five-bike team, 10 people in all.

We were given free fuel and life insurance. I'd never bought the insurance before, and I don't even know how much it costs. I just imagined it was too expensive. During the trip, one rider got lost and I had to wait two hours. When I arrived home, it was dark, about 8 or 9 pm.

Zhou Shiliang spoke to China Daily reporter Luo Wangshu.

Bicycle | Sun Shaogang

Editor's note: Sun Shaogang, 24, is a student at South China Agricultural University. He cycled from Guangdong province to his hometown in Yunnan province, spending 12 days on the road.

Sun Shaogang in front of the gate at South China Agricultural University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Jan 15, when he started a trip home to Yunnan province by bicycle. Provided to China Daily

The journey was one of self-discovery. It had nothing to do with avoiding the travel peak. I just wanted to enjoy my final adventure as a student.

I'm a senior, and I'll have to enter society soon. I have to be brave and independent. So I wanted to find myself, think about my career, life and love. I wanted to examine the past, present and future.

I had to climb many rugged mountain paths at night in Guizhou and Yunnan provinces. There was a passer-by who asked me once if I was scared, being alone in the dark on a mountain path. But I had no choice; I had to carry on. This journey gave me confidence.

This was my first long-distance cycling adventure, and I spent 1,000 yuan ($160) on a secondhand Hardtail MTB Merida. I used the GPS app on my cellphone as a guide at first, but it wasn't reliable. On Jan 15, the first day, I got lost and wasted three hours. By the end, I was asking people for directions. It was like a dream when I saw a traffic police officer.

During the trip, I camped for nine nights. I didn't slept well. I kept worrying about my bike being stolen. On one of the last nights I pitched my tent in Guizhou and it was very dark, too dark to see, but when I woke up I realized I was right on the Yunnan border. It was amazing to suddenly see how close I was.

The hardest part was the last three days. It was nearly 87 km, all uphill and against the wind. There was no place to eat or rest except the curb.

I had ridden 10 hours a day on average, dusk to dawn. It was cloudy mostly, but on the final day, Jan 26, as I hit Kunming, the sun finally came out. It's funny, but all the difficulties I encountered are treasured memories now.

I didn't tell my parents about the trip. I was afraid they'd overreact and stop me. But I kept a blog along the way, which my brother and parents read. My dad called, and I sent them updates via text messages.

When I finally reached my destination I was thrilled. I almost burst into tears. It had taken me 12 days, but it was worth it. I really did figure something out about my life.

Sun Shaogang spoke to China Daily reporter Luo Wangshu.

Zheng Jinran contributed to this story.

luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 02/05/2013 page4)