Left: Wen Di arrives in Wuhan, Hubei province, on Aug 21, 2023. Middle: Wen poses for a photo at the gate of Wuhan University with his acceptance letter in hand on Aug 21, 2023. Right: During his trip, Wen makes a pit stop to perform maintenance on his bicycle.

In February 1938, nearly 300 students and 11 professors and teaching assistants from three prominent Chinese universities — Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Nankai University — embarked on a long and tough journey, covering 1,600 kilometers on foot from Changsha, the capital city of Central China's Hunan province, to reach Kunming, the capital city of Southwest China's Yunnan province.

Their mission had been to allow the universities' functions to continue away from the war-ravaged parts of the country and led to the establishment of the renowned National Southwest Associated University in Kunming. In doing so, the historic expedition demonstrated to the world that, even in the midst of wartime adversity, the Chinese people remained resolute in their pursuit of knowledge and truth.

Eighty-five years later, an 18-year-old high school graduate named Wen Di made a momentous decision. Traveling in the opposite direction to the 1938 march, he cycled from his home in Kunming to Wuhan in Hubei province for his enrollment at Wuhan University

Eighty-five years later, an 18-year-old high school graduate named Wen Di made a momentous decision. Traveling in the opposite direction to the 1938 march, he cycled from his home in Kunming to Wuhan in Hubei province for his enrollment at Wuhan University.

Wen was born and raised in Kunming, a city as romantic and colorful as the jacaranda trees that flourish in the city.

He got his first bicycle at the age of 5 and, since then, bicycles have become his closest companions. Together they have traveled around the province: from Dianchi Lake and Erhai Lake to snow-covered mountains, to Dali and Lijiang.

However, cycling was not only an effective way for him to relax from the stressful life of study, but also developed his firm and calm character and mindset.

During his junior high school years, Wen came across a story in some English reading material about a young man from Anhui province who rode his bike to enroll in university. "I wanted to be like him, to ride to whichever college I get into in the future, preferably Wuhan University," he said.

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Wuhan University had become Wen's dream school since he was quite young. In Wen's eyes, Wuhan is a heroic city. It has witnessed some pivotal events in modern Chinese history, such as the 1911 Revolution, while also making significant contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In preparation for his cycling dream, Wen would participate in rides, long or short, during every vacation.

Every ride presented new challenges and rewards for Wen. For example, when cycling around Dali and Lijiang, covering a total distance of 484 kilometers, he experienced his most serious accident. It rained for several days in a row in Dali, and he didn't have a raincoat. He got soaked, and it was very cold. The road was slippery, and he ended up having a nasty fall from the bike. "But through that experience, I learned to always prepare a raincoat before embarking on long rides, just in case," said Wen.

After successfully completing the college entrance examination, Wen realized his dream of being admitted to Wuhan University. The 2,023-kilometer-long cycling journey was about to begin.

Wen Di. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

With the experience and wisdom gathered from his previous cycling trips, Wen compiled a comprehensive list of long-distance cycling equipment, covering a range of items such as bike lights, a medical kit, spare tires, rain gear, and energy bars. This preparation not only eased his family's concerns but also reinforced Wen's determination to hit the road.

On Aug 2, Wen started his 20-day cycling journey. At the start of each day, he would meticulously study the road conditions, adjust his planned route accordingly, and decide on his overnight stops.

On the very first day of departure, Wen encountered rainy weather. The skies were dim, the road was damp, and passing trucks splashed mud all over him. However, as the splendid world gradually unfolded before him, Wen couldn't help but feel fortunate to have embarked on this special journey.

"From the southwest to central China, there are distinct differences in terrain and landscape. Yunnan has both mountains and plains, but as I entered Guizhou province, the altitude started to drop," Wen recalled. "After I reached Hunan and Hubei provinces, the air became more humid, the terrain flattened, and the roads straightened, with fewer bends."

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Different mountains, rivers, and landscapes of the country, which he had previously encountered only in books, stretched out before him, revealing their varied forms and lasting presence.

Wen traveled alone for most of the journey. Although he sometimes felt a sense of solitude, he also encountered many interesting people and had wonderful experiences along the route. By the banks of the Beipan River, for example, he met a fellow wandering cyclist, and they hit it off instantly.

"Despite the scorching weather and our parched throats, a 10-kilometer uphill climb couldn't deter us from enjoying a lively conversation. It was truly joyful," he said.

And in Changsha, he unexpectedly ran into a middle-school friend whom he hadn't seen for years. There was a special delight and deep emotion in meeting an old friend in a distant place. They strolled down the Huangxing Road Pedestrian Street, and visited the Orange Isle. "When it was time to part ways, neither of us wanted to say goodbye," Wen recalled.

There are always kind-hearted strangers. Once, Wen accidentally punctured a tire while trying to inflate it. When he took it to a repair shop, the owner not only fixed it for free but also gave him a bottle of water.

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For Wen, this unique enrollment journey has opened a new chapter in his life. "In the upcoming four years of university life, I aim to not only acquire knowledge and expand my understanding of the outside world, but more importantly, understand myself. In fact, that's also the essence of traveling," he said.

Wen's cycling adventures won't come to a halt, and he is always thinking of his next destination. "China is so vast, and every corner is worth exploring," he said. "I hope that young people who choose to experience life through their footsteps can make the most of their youth, follow their hearts, and use love and action to observe and experience our country and the world."

Contact the writers at wangyuting@i21st.cn