Home > Sport for All > Sport for All >
More and more Chinese choose cycling for exercise and entertainment
2006-11-16 17:40 Xinhuanet
HAIKOU, China, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- A 58-year-old man rode a bicycle with his wife from Beijing to Sanya, China's southernmost city, to watch 2006 Tour of Hainan cycling here on Thursday.
Ma Bing, the old man who comes from Urumchi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, values cycling very much in his life.
"Traveling by bike has become a part of my life since my retirement," said he, "I'm very happy I could ride all along from China's capital to China's southernmost city."
Together with the old couple, more than 10 aged people also came here by bike.
Ma believed traveling by bike could not only strengthen the body and relax the mind, but also it is a good way to make friends.
In order to practise body and enjoy beautiful scenes, he rides across the country every year for over 10,000 kilometers, said Ma.
China, known as "Kingdom of Bicycles", owns the largest number of bicycles in the world, with the highest productivity. But the bicycle has long been regarded as a vehicle instead of walk in China.
While in European and American countries, bicycles were no more important in its function as vehicles long ago, but a choice for relax and traveling.
With the promotion of people’s living standards, entertaining sports become popular in China. Cycling, popular in developed countries, is getting beloved by more and more Chinese, old and young, for its convenience.
Ma told that nearly 700 people have become members of Urumchi Cycling Association, among whom most are aged people. The aged have enough time and they like cycling for outing or traveling. While young people in the association like those fashionable activities such as bicycle climbing, small-wheeled cycling, etc.
"Yet, those cycling fans who have not joined in the association are still more," said Ma.
"It's so cool to ride a bicycle!" said Liu Libo, a young guy in Hainan, "I ride by bicycle almost every day, and it’s really enjoyable, especially in beautiful Hainan island, I can enjoy the scene as I ride. "
It's more efficient to ride a bicycle than to drive a car when the traffic is busy, Liu added.
The increasing tour events held in China also attracts more and more people to participate in cycling, said Wang Xuanqing, deputy director of the Cycling and Fencing Center of State General Administration of Sport.
Besides the features of cycling itself, the prospect of the development of cycling is believed promising for its vogue and entertaining charm, Wang added.
In many cycling tour events, no matter the ongoing Tour of Hainan, or Tour of Chongming Island, Tour of Qinghai Lake, large numbers of cycling fans were seen either cheering for the cyclistsor riding along the road behind the cyclists.
The inaugurated 2006 Tour of Hainan cycling race began on November 12 in Haikou, capital of Hainan. The tour will last for six days, covering 860 kilometers in total.
"We plan to turn Tour of Hainan into a carnival, a perfect combination of exercise and entertainment," said Yang Haoqiang, director of Sanya Municipal Culture and Sports Bureau.
Ma Bing, the old man who comes from Urumchi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, values cycling very much in his life.
"Traveling by bike has become a part of my life since my retirement," said he, "I'm very happy I could ride all along from China's capital to China's southernmost city."
Together with the old couple, more than 10 aged people also came here by bike.
Ma believed traveling by bike could not only strengthen the body and relax the mind, but also it is a good way to make friends.
In order to practise body and enjoy beautiful scenes, he rides across the country every year for over 10,000 kilometers, said Ma.
China, known as "Kingdom of Bicycles", owns the largest number of bicycles in the world, with the highest productivity. But the bicycle has long been regarded as a vehicle instead of walk in China.
While in European and American countries, bicycles were no more important in its function as vehicles long ago, but a choice for relax and traveling.
With the promotion of people’s living standards, entertaining sports become popular in China. Cycling, popular in developed countries, is getting beloved by more and more Chinese, old and young, for its convenience.
Ma told that nearly 700 people have become members of Urumchi Cycling Association, among whom most are aged people. The aged have enough time and they like cycling for outing or traveling. While young people in the association like those fashionable activities such as bicycle climbing, small-wheeled cycling, etc.
"Yet, those cycling fans who have not joined in the association are still more," said Ma.
"It's so cool to ride a bicycle!" said Liu Libo, a young guy in Hainan, "I ride by bicycle almost every day, and it’s really enjoyable, especially in beautiful Hainan island, I can enjoy the scene as I ride. "
It's more efficient to ride a bicycle than to drive a car when the traffic is busy, Liu added.
The increasing tour events held in China also attracts more and more people to participate in cycling, said Wang Xuanqing, deputy director of the Cycling and Fencing Center of State General Administration of Sport.
Besides the features of cycling itself, the prospect of the development of cycling is believed promising for its vogue and entertaining charm, Wang added.
In many cycling tour events, no matter the ongoing Tour of Hainan, or Tour of Chongming Island, Tour of Qinghai Lake, large numbers of cycling fans were seen either cheering for the cyclistsor riding along the road behind the cyclists.
The inaugurated 2006 Tour of Hainan cycling race began on November 12 in Haikou, capital of Hainan. The tour will last for six days, covering 860 kilometers in total.
"We plan to turn Tour of Hainan into a carnival, a perfect combination of exercise and entertainment," said Yang Haoqiang, director of Sanya Municipal Culture and Sports Bureau.
Related Story
- China's Sheng Lihao wins 2nd Paris Olympic gold with men's 10m air rifle victory(08-29 19:31)
- Olympics | Day 13: Chinese diver defends Olympic title, weightlifting debutant claims gold(08-09 16:50)
- Olympics | Chinese weightlifters Hou, Li retain gold at Paris 2024(08-08 14:26)
- Olympics | Day 12: Chinese weightlifters retain Olympic golds, artistic swimming team make history(08-08 14:23)
- Olympics | Chinese diver Quan defends women's 10m platform title at Paris Games(08-07 22:37)
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | ||||