Over 90 students from 17 universities attended CAPU’s 2022 Summer Expedition Seminar (Photo: Wang Yanqiao)

Peking University, March 14, 2023: Students gathered at the Student Center on March 5, 2023, for the 2022 Summer Expedition Seminar hosted by the Cycling Association of Peking University (CAPU, founded in 1995). The event showcased the successful journey of three teams of students cycling from Hohhot in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to Mianyang in southwest China's Sichuan Province in the summer of 2022. One of the teams also shared their findings from their field research project in a traditional village inhabited by ethnic Baima people in northwest China's Gansu Province. 

The event was attended by Prof. Lu Fuquan, faculty advisor to CAPU, members of CAPU, 90 representatives from cycling associations of 17 other universities as well as other student societies of PKU. 19 students from 13 other universities also attended the seminar online. 

Prof. Lu Fuquan welcomed students and introduced several of PKU’s initiatives in promoting cycling and cycling education in China, emphasized the importance of cycling education in the promotion of the sport, and highlighted PKU’s role as a national leader in course development. He also encouraged students to join the VR Campus Tour project recently launched by PKU, which engages universities to film footage of scenic routes on their campuses for the benefit of prospective students. Prof. Lu also announced that CAPU is working hard to stage the return of an inter-university cycling race after years of COVID-19-related disruptions, and invited students from universities across the country to take part in the race.  

Prof. Lu Fuquan introducing the VR Campus Tour project (Photo: Hu Xinyue)

Next, Du Yeting, co-president of CAPU, gave an overview of the preparation work leading up to the 2022 Summer Expedition. She shared insights on the preparation timeline, route choice, training and selection process of team members. According to Du, CAPU has well-defined functional roles to facilitate a safe and successful journey. At the core of such roles are sophisticated training pathways for members to develop skills of bicycle maintenance and repair as well as first aid and medication, where prospective team members are given opportunities to polish their skills while supporting the association’s daily operations and weekend cycling trips. Despite COVID-19-related challenges, a burning passion for cycling, perseverance, and determination guided CAPU in overcoming uncertainties and difficulties to deliver a highly successful Summer Expedition.  

Du Yeting introducing the process of selecting a Summer Expedition route (Photo: Hu Xinyue) 

With a better understanding of the Summer Expedition, attendees then had the opportunity to hear from the captains of the three teams. Han Hongbo, captain of the Social Project and Long-Distance Cycling Team, presented his team’s field research on the development of Tielouxiang, a village of ethnic Baima people in rural Gansu. With a focus on rural area revitalization and ethnic minority communities, the team conducted field visits and interviews to produce an extensive report, covering various aspects of the community ranging from education and healthcare to cultural heritage and tourism.  

Han Hongbo, captain of the Social Project and Long-Distance Cycling Team (Photo: Hu Xinyue)

To add to the theme of CAPU’s involvement in social projects, Xie Xingyu drew the audience’s attention to the history and evolution of CAPU’s unique model interweaving social engagement with cycling. He shed light on the variety of social projects delivered. While this year’s team followed the footsteps of many predecessors in doing field research, other CAPUers have made choices more significant to their time, cycling to celebrate the establishment of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions in 1997 and 1999 respectively. In 2014, students even volunteered to teach in underserved rural regions. Xie Xingyu believed that CAPU’s pursuit of developing an in-depth understanding of society and celebrating history is a proud tradition to be preserved. 
 

Xie Xingyu introducing the history of CAPU’s social projects (Photo: Hu Xinyue)

Yang Hanbin, social project director of the 2022 Social Project and Long-Distance Cycling Team, echoed Xie Xingyu’s remarks. He introduced the preparation, findings and reflections from their field research in greater detail. To him, the greatest takeaway from field research was the unparalleled connections built with the place and its people.  

Yang Hanbin sharing insights from their field research (Hu Xinyue)

Chu Weikang, captain of the Long-Distance Cycling Team and Chen Yihang, captain of the Flexible Long-Distance Cycling Team, shared perspectives from their journeys. Chu Weikang’s team covered 2,500km in 36 days with 20,200m of elevation gain. Leading his team through one of the most physically demanding trips in recent years, Chu Weikang believed that overcoming challenges together was what built trust and buoyed the team up in face of the scorching heat, heavy rainfall, rock falls and other tests along the way. On the other hand, Chen Yihang’s team benefitted from higher flexibility in scheduling, but there is also a wider age gap among her teammates. To Chen Yihang, showing gratitude and helping each other were crucial factors in creating a smooth and enjoyable journey. Chen Yihang also encouraged fellow cyclists to start preparations early to allow sufficient time to overcome supply shortages in essential equipment and deal with defects on newly ordered bicycles. 

Chu Weikang, captain of the Long-Distance Cycling Team (Photo: Wang Yanqiao) 

Chen Yihang, captain of the Flexible Long-Distance Cycling Team (Photo:Wang Yanqiao)

Throughout the seminar, attendees were given ample opportunities to raise questions and share their experiences. Attendees showed interest in a variety of issues, including the transportation of bicycles, fundraising, liaising with local communities for field research opportunities, and managing disparities in experience and fitness levels within a team. 

 Yang Hanbin, Ren Zhiyuan, Chen Yihang and Chu Weikang (from left to right) addressing questions from the floor (Photo: Wang Yanqiao)

To conclude the seminar, Ren Zhiyuan, co-president of CAPU offered a preview of the 2023 Summer Expedition. Departing from Xi’an on the Loess Plateau, a new cohort of cyclists will immerse in the rich culture of this historical city which served as the capital of 13 dynasties. From the eastern terminus of the Silk Road, students will head northwest across the Gobi Desert, reaching the magnificent Qinghai Lake, before arriving at their destination of Jiayuguan in Gansu Province in northwestern China, which marks the end of the Great Wall constructed in the Ming Dynasty, in the 14th century. 

 Ren Zhiyuan introducing the 2023 Summer Expedition (Hu Xinyue)

Attendees were impressed by PKU students’ presentations and looked forward to attending more events hosted by CAPU. 

Related reading: Feature | PKU students travel across mountains and rivers on two wheels

Written by: Wong Mei Yue
Edited by: Dennis Meng
Photos by: Hu Xinyue, Wang Yanqiao