Up to 200,000 cyclists took over Kaifeng, the former capital of China's Song Dynasty.
Surprised by the massive crowds that gathered in the middle of the night, the Chinese authorities rushed to control.
This is Beijing correspondent Kang Jeong-gyu.
[Reporter]
The road was filled with young people on bicycles.
He drove all night from Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China to Kaifeng for more than 50 kilometers.
It is difficult to accurately estimate 100,000 to 200,000 people.
[Kaipung Bike Tour Participant: Cheer up! [Fighting! Passion!]
The beginning was a video of a bicycle trip posted by four female college students on social media in June.It was very popular to leave in the middle of the night to eat juicy dumplings called
'Guantangbao'.
[Kaipeng Bike Tour Participant (Last 9th): "Jungkai Boulevard" at midnight. This is youth, this is Henan!]
Each one has a different distance and time, but it's ready with a shared bicycle fare of around 2,500 won.
Friends who arrive at their destination before dawn take a nap in parks and restaurants to save on accommodation costs.
In front of Kaifeng Goseong, there was a mountain of shared bicycles that were returned randomly.
[Kaipeng resident (last 10 days): I can't walk by. I can't get around the car, and the gates are jammed.]
Most of them flew the Five Star Red Flag and chanted patriotic slogans such as 'unification of the motherland', but
Sensitive and challenging expressions like
'freedom' and 'occupation' also appeared.
[Kaipeng Bike Tour Participant (last 9th): Armed police who have served for 8 years can't be left out. Kaipung's night attack! [Five-year air force also advanced!]
When there were even signs of spreading to the capital Beijing, public security authorities rushed to control it.
They closed the bike lanes around Kaifeng and blocked the movement of shared bicycles between cities.
Some university dormitories have even been banned from going out, drawing backlash from students.
The night attack by a large group of shared bicycles did not escalate into a situation such as the 'blank demonstration' two years ago.
However, there are many aspects of Chinese society, including the reality of tough young people and the sensitive reaction of the authorities.
I'm Kang Jeong-gyu from Beijing.
Photo editing: Gokwang
Design: Park Yoo-dong
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