Chinese man, 90, cycles across country after tragic losses of wife, son, daughter-in-law, grandson

After enduring the tragic losses of his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, a 90-year-old man in China spent 30 years cycling across the country on a tricycle.

Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin After losing his entire family, a 90-year-old from central China took to the road on a decades-long cycling odyssey in search of solace.

The sprightly Zhang Zhongyi, from Kaifeng in Henan province, remains sharp-witted, articulate and quick to smile.

His story gained nationwide attention after Bai Xiaobai, a woman who encountered him in Putian, southeastern China’s Fujian province, stopped to help push his tricycle.

A smiling Zhang Zhongyi, above, on the road riding his trusty tricycle.

Photo: Baidu As they spoke, Zhang recounted the tragedy that had reshaped his life.

In the 1990s, Zhang’s son, daughter-in-law and eight-year-old grandson were killed in a car crash.

His wife, consumed by grief, died of illness the following year.

After losing his family within two years, Zhang left home and drifted into a life on the road.

His bicycle eventually gave way to a tricycle and over nearly three decades he followed highways across mountains, lakes, deserts and cities.

His journey took him from Xinjiang and Gansu in the northwest to Shanghai and Zhejiang in the east, and as far south as Xiamen and Quanzhou, before he arrived in Fujian in January.

Sharp-witted 90-year-old Zhang, above, hit the road in a bid to deal with his grief.

Photo: Baidu Zhang said he stayed away from his hometown for fear of reopening old wounds, choosing instead to seek peace in motion. “I have let go of the past.

Now I want to spend the rest of my life travelling and taking in the beauty of nature,” he told Bai.

Fujian TV reported that Zhang’s memory is fading and he can no longer recall his exact home address.

Still, he keeps to the national highways, believing that even without a map he will not lose his way in the wilderness.

A cyclist riding a bicycle in Beijing.

Zhang has been helped by fellow bike riders along his journey.

Photo: Shutterstock Over the years, Zhang has relied on the kindness of strangers, with residents and fellow cyclists offering him meals, directions and clothing.

While he was in Putian, Bai visited him daily, taking him out for breakfast, celebrating his birthday and playing Chinese chess with him.

She also bought him a mobile phone and taught him how to use it so they could stay in touch.

In return, Zhang shared historical anecdotes and stories of He

原文链接: 南华早报