Chinese student rides 1,300 km for the environment

Riding 1,300 kilometers in 19 days, imparting environmental knowledge to more than 5,000 people along the way... All of this is destined to be an unforgettable experience for Huang Xi.

Huang Xi poses for a photo with a street cleaner on past part of his 19 day environmental awareness adventure from Hubei to Shanghai. [Photo provided by Huang Xi to thepaper.cn]

Huang Xi is a sophomore at the Wuchang University of Technology in Hubei who is majoring in environmental engineering. On August 3, Huang began his massive bicycle journey from the city of Xiaogan in Hubei Province, enroute to Shanghai. Along the way, he says he conducted environmental research into areas along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Huang Xi tells thepaper.cn that while his research is part of his university studies, he says he was also able to pass on environmental knowledge to local people he would encounter on his ride.

The bicycle and baggage used during Huang Xi's 1,300 km ride. [Photo provided by Huang Xi to thepaper.cn]

Late summer often sees farmers burn off their chalf from the harvest, something Huang Xi says he tried to convince farmers along his route not to do. "Very few of the villagers understood the harm they are doing to the local environment," said Huang.

His 19 day journey wrapped up with a train trip from Shanghai back to Hubei on August 22 after meeting around 5,000 different people during his adventure. "(But) environmental protection is more than just talking. It needs more people to take practical action and effort," said Huang Xi.