China cracks down after dumpling-hunting cyclists spark road chaos

Chinese police have cracked down on an internet craze that saw thousands of cyclists throng a highway under cover of night to gorge on dumplings in a nearby city.The aerial photo taken on November 9, 2024 shows college students riding bicycles (top) on the Zhengkai Road in Zhengzhou, in northern China’s Henan province. Chinese police have cracked down on an internet craze that saw thousands of cyclists throng a highway under cover of night to gorge on dumplings in a nearby city. (Photo courtesy of STRINGER / AFP)

By Agence France-Presse

Chinese police have cracked down on an internet craze that saw thousands of cyclists throng a highway under cover of night to gorge on dumplings in a nearby city.

University students sparked the trend weeks ago when they posted on social media about an evening ride from the central city of Zhengzhou to Kaifeng, around 80 kilometers (50 miles) away, to enjoy some famous local soup dumplings, according to state media.

The activity went viral, with images of more recent rides showing a multi-lane motorway linking the two cities crammed with thousands of cyclists, some straddling brightly-colored shared bikes—dubbed the “Night Riding Great Army.”

Authorities initially welcomed the wholesome revelry but later imposed traffic restrictions after the sheer number of participants prompted traffic chaos and safety concerns.

An online statement from the provincial police on Saturday said the road would be “closed to non-motorized vehicles” from 4:00 p.m. to midday on Sunday “due to its occupation by shared bikes and other objects at various points.”

In a separate statement, the Kaifeng city government cited the risk of riders falling and sustaining injuries or blocking other road users from accessing medical care.

“(You) have demonstrated the wilful whimsy of youth,” it said, “but… more and more people are starting to worry about the hidden dangers.”

Three major shared bike companies said Saturday that they would impose new local geographic restrictions, adding that the vehicles would lock automatically if riders persisted in traveling in prohibited areas.

Many riders had documented their trips on social media.

“There were so many people on the road even before we started riding,” read a caption on a video on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok.

“We’re only going to be young once, guys. Life’s hardships are also what give it some spice!” it added.

Chinese social media trends have driven a youthful embrace of cheap travel in recent years, such as “special forces tourism,” where people pack as many sights as possible into extremely tight schedules.

The country has struggled to reverse an economic slowdown that has left millions of young people struggling to find work, overqualified for the jobs that are available, or feeling trapped in its intense work culture.

Other cities briefly in the spotlight for their quirky barbecue style or lip-smacking hotpot have also rushed to cash in before their online fame runs out.

Popular

PBBM cites education as admin’s top priority, pushes for SCS COC in ASEAN 2026 chairship

By Brian Campued President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated his commitment to strengthening the education system in the country, vowing to prioritize education-centric reforms, policies,...

PBBM discusses eGovPH app benefits, commuter-centric transport, and online gambling in podcast

By Brian Campued President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. underscored his administration’s continued push for digital transformation in the government and the importance of transportation that...

PH secures 18 business deals with India during PBBM visit

By Brian Campued On the heels of the New Delhi leg of his state visit to India, which saw the signing of key agreements, including...

PBBM reaffirms PH commitment to international law in fostering regional peace

By Brian Campued President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday cautioned against calling all competing maritime disputes on the South China Sea equal, as he...