A MAN arrived in Shenzhen on Sunday after riding all the way from Venice, Italy, to China on a Silk Road journey that began in September 2015, the Shenzhen Evening New reported.

    Liu Haixiang shared his story of riding across 15 countries in 250 days before touring China with Shenzhen residents and said he wanted to promote his hometown, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, as well as to help Quanzhou become a World Heritage City.

    “Cycling is just one form and cultural exchange is actually the core of my tour,” said Liu.

    An outdoor sports enthusiast, Liu started his riding tours around China while in college. Liu is a photographer and makes a living by taking photos along his tours. Starting Sept. 5, 2015, Liu cycled along the famous Silk Road.

    Liu had produced a video about Quanzhou before he embarked on the journey and played the video to his host families along the journey.

    He made himself special riding suits featuring some unique cultural elements of Quanzhou. He said the most successful thing was that “I returned home alive.”

    He said the most unforgettable experience was riding across Tibet’s “no man’s land.” “It was a vast land of alkali soil with no plants,” said Liu. He said he even fell in love with a woman in Qingdao, Shandong Province.

    (Zhang Qian)