A Chinese man cycled across the country To overcome the grief of losing a family

A 90-year-old Chinese man named Zhang Zhongyi has been traveling around his home country on a tricycle for almost 30 years. After losing his entire family, he decided to use this interesting way to cope with his grief and find "peace of mind."

Zhang Zhongyi from Kaifeng has been traveling around the country on a tricycle for almost 30 years, trying to cope with a devastating loss: in the 1990s, his son, daughter-in-law, and eight-year-old grandson were killed in a car accident, followed by the death of his wife a year later. His story gained widespread publicity after a chance meeting with a woman who helped him along the way.

Having lost his entire family in a short time, the man left home, took to his bike, and began a life on the road. Over the years of travel, he has crossed many regions of China—from Xinjiang and Gansu to Shanghai and the southern provinces—riding through mountains, deserts, cities, and coastal regions. Zhang avoids returning home, finding solace in movement and nature, although over time his memory of the past has become less clear.

On his journey, he relies on the help of strangers who share food and support. Despite offers to stay and live comfortably, he declines, emphasizing that this is not a necessary measure, but a way of life he has chosen.