Since early November, the trend of “night riding” from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng gained popularity, attracting broad participation from students and citizens. However, on November 9, it was suddenly halted, and platforms that once supported the event, such as shared bicycle companies, traffic police, schools, Kaifeng attractions, and media, collectively reversed their stance. (Video screenshot)
[November 11, 2024] The “night riding to Kaifeng” event, which initially operated to stimulate the local economy and tourism, was abruptly halted by the Chinese authorities. Universities in Zhengzhou and nearby cities were locked down overnight, exposing the CCP’s vulnerability. Some political and economic observers said that the CCP is creating its own enemies.
Henan Universities Lock Down
Since early November, the enthusiasm for “night riding” from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng increased, involving many students and citizens. However, on November 9, the event was suddenly stopped, and platforms that once supported it, including shared bicycle services, traffic police, schools, Kaifeng attractions, and media, all changed their positions.
On November 9, three major shared bicycle platforms issued a joint announcement: “Rides beyond the designated area will result in forced locking of bicycles.” That afternoon, traffic police in both Zhengzhou and Kaifeng imposed temporary bans on non-motor vehicle lanes on the Zhengkai Avenue within both cities’ jurisdictions.
According to information obtained by the Epoch Times, most universities in Zhengzhou have now locked down their campuses, and many schools in nearby cities have either locked down or restricted students from leaving. Schools began to implement controls on students’ entry and exit.
A student at a university in Zhengzhou told the Epoch Times that since yesterday (November 9), schools suddenly locked down, implying that restrictions had been enforced, prohibiting rides. Now, all schools in Zhengzhou are under lockdown.
“We usually go home after classes on Fridays and return on weekends, but due to the ‘night ride to Kaifeng’ event, students were forced to return to campus, and schools locked down. I guess the lockdown will lift once this dies down,” the student said.
A student at a university in Luoyang told the Epoch Times, “I study in Luoyang, and our school locked down because they feared we’d go out. The school didn’t allow us to participate in the night rides, so this was a convenient excuse to prevent us from going anywhere, even from leaving campus. To go out, we need permission from a counselor. Though we can leave with permission, who knows when this situation will end.”
Reports online suggest that Henan Institute of Technology has already locked down, requiring exit permits for students.
A notice from a school in Xuchang: “Curfew is at 10 PM; students must be in their dorms by then, with three daily check-ins from now on.”
Zhengzhou resident Mr. Li told the Epoch Times, “(Authorities) already stated that shared bicycles are not allowed to be ridden beyond the Fourth Ring Road in Zhengzhou. Exceeding this limit by more than three minutes triggers the bike’s lock. Now, many have switched to walking to Kaifeng. It takes about ten hours to walk the 50 kilometers. Most of them are students; they’re doing it for freedom.”
Mr. Dong, a retired military officer working at a police station in Luoyang, told the Epoch Times, “I also wanted to ride there, but halfway through, I found the road blocked. Yesterday (the 9th), there were too many people; Kaifeng exceeded its capacity and couldn’t host anyone anymore. Most of them were university students.”
He continued, “They stopped people from going as of yesterday (November 8), blocked the roads, and continued to do so until noon today. The crowds are larger on weekends, and fewer on weekdays.”
“Night Ride to Kaifeng” Initially a Commercial Venture Like Zibo Barbecue
Initially, authorities supported the “night ride to Kaifeng” as a commercial benefit, similar to the recent popularity of Zibo barbecue and Tianshui spicy hot pot, following a commercial logic. In addition to local cultural and tourism departments’ promotion, CCP state media also boosted it.
On November 4, Zhengzhou Daily emphasized that Zhengkai Avenue could meet night riding needs; on November 5, Guangming Daily praised it as a “mutual journey” filled with “vitality, passion, and youth.” On November 5, the CCP’s People’s Daily also cheered for “night riding to Kaifeng,” quoting lines like “To buy osmanthus wine and set out, nothing compares to a youthful journey.”
Police patrolled along Zhengkai Avenue, and the three shared bike companies not only enabled inter-city operations but also provided bike transfer stations. Shopping centers in Zhengzhou even set up cycling stations offering free water.
A hospital in Kaifeng prepared beds for resting students, free food, and buses to tourist attractions, even offering acupuncture and physiotherapy for unwell students.
Mr. Li said, “Many people went in groups, riding their own bicycles; many kids here joined too, and some even used skateboards. Even some middle-aged people cycled to Kaifeng in recent days—it was lively. Watching them ride made me happy too.”
He added, “What happiness do we have now? Every day feels stifling and depressing; finding suitable work is hard, job pressure is high, and performance isn’t great. You always hear those officials lying, it’s so oppressive. But when everyone cycles together, the joyful atmosphere is contagious.”
Mr. Dong said, “Seeing those students, aged 18 or 19, isn’t that yourself from ten years ago? We were full of passion back then, but now, working drains all motivation, leaving everyone lifeless. Who wouldn’t want to feel that energy again? There’s so much pressure now—everything’s so competitive, life is stifling, and the economy isn’t good.”
CCP Creating Its Own Enemies
Regarding the sudden halt by the authorities, Mr. Li expressed confusion.
He said, “They shouldn’t impose restrictions. Kaifeng said it couldn’t handle the influx, but even so, people wanted to go. What’s so unmanageable now? Instant noodles and bread are everywhere and not selling well. Food and drink aren’t really an issue; as long as people go, it benefits the economy.”
Mr. Li remarked that if shared bike rides are too long, isn’t there a rule for that? Charging extra and adjusting through market mechanisms would solve it. There’s no need to interfere with our freedom of movement.
“Riding is fun, and exercising makes people happy. (Now) everything feels so oppressive, with schools regulating this and that, things that make no sense. What they should teach, they don’t, but instead, they have students doing nonsense.”
A leaked internal notice from a Henan university shared on overseas platform X indicated that according to official sources, over 200,000 people participated in night rides to Kaifeng, using bicycles, motorcycles, and cars, with many societal participants and even “ill-intentioned anti-social and foreign hostile forces” involved.
Mr. Liang, a political and economic observer who closely monitors China, told the Epoch Times that the CCP’s social governance shows evident borrowing and transmission, with practices being carried forward.
“During the pandemic, the policy of mandatory collection for quarantine in Fangcang hospitals was modeled after the full-scale collection policy of Xinjiang’s internment camps targeting Uyghurs. Today’s campus lockdowns are an extension of pandemic management. With the continued economic downturn, expect lockdown measures to be frequently used in response to collective student actions.”
Political and economic analyst Li Yuxiu commented on platform X that talking about freedom is one thing, but letting young people experience it firsthand is another. Freedom is not just addictive—when young people collectively feel freedom, they also experience a kind of public fervor. This is where their repression lies.
He said, “Whether it’s Halloween or night rides to Kaifeng, these events themselves are not political. The young participants initially had no political motives, but the authorities couldn’t wait to make the events public and politicized.”
“The enemy is one you (CCP) create yourself, aided by your imagination.”
Editor in Charge: Lin Yan
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