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China’s Dumpling-Hunting Cyclists Cause Chaos

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The Rise and Fall of China’s ‘Night Riding Army’: A Social Media Phenomenon

In June, four college students in China sparked a trend after they chronicled on social media their evening ride to gorge on dumplings in a nearby city.

The Birth of a Trend

The riders travelled on a straight road more than 60km long beside the Yellow River that links Zhengzhou, the largest city in Henan province, with Kaifeng, an ancient capital famed for its soup dumplings.
The activity went viral among young people, with images of more recent rides showing a multi-lane motorway linking the two cities crammed with thousands of cyclists, some straddling brightly coloured shared bikes — dubbed the “Night Riding Great Army”.
Key to its success was a glut of shared bikes, which can be rented for as little as $2.95 a month.

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

The Crackdown Begins

The provincial police closed the road to non-motorised vehicles “due to its occupation by shared bikes and other objects at various points”.
The Kaifeng city government cited the risk of riders falling and being injured, or blocking other road users from accessing medical care.

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

Three major bike share companies said they would impose new local geographic restrictions, adding that the vehicles would lock automatically if riders kept travelling in prohibited areas.

The Aftermath

Chinese media told the students to grow up.
“Youthful freedom does not mean following the trend and indulging oneself,” one news outlet said.
“Kaifeng is worth arriving slowly and savouring carefully,” read the headline of another.

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.

“Last night’s ‘Night Riding Army’ was spectacular!” one rider posted. “Two lanes were opened, but that simply was not enough: The cycling army accounted for four!”

The Impact of Social Media Trends in China

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 delicious hotpot have also rushed to cash in before their online fame runs out.
Chinese authorities have cracked down on other spontaneous gatherings.

Last month, police turned out in force in the commercial hub of Shanghai to deter a repeat of 2023 Halloween celebrations in which some revellers wore costumes poking fun at issues such as the stock market, youth unemployment and tough COVID-19 curbs.

The internet trend took off because of an abundance of shared bikes, which can be rented for as little as $2.95 a month. Source: AFP / Stringer




Conclusion

The story of China’s ‘Night Riding Army’ highlights the power of social media to create and spread trends among the younger generation. While the initial excitement and enthusiasm led to chaos and safety concerns, it also sheds light on the challenges faced by Chinese youth in a rapidly changing society. As authorities crack down on spontaneous gatherings and online fame, it becomes clear that the balance between freedom and responsibility is a delicate one in the digital age.

FAQs

What sparked the trend of the ‘Night Riding Army’ in China?

The trend was sparked by four college students who chronicled their evening ride to gorge on dumplings in a nearby city, which went viral on social media.

Why did Chinese authorities impose traffic restrictions on the ‘Night Riding Army’?

Authorities imposed restrictions due to the sheer number of participants causing traffic chaos and safety concerns on the roads.

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