Summary
A social media trend encouraging young people to bike 50km from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng for dumplings led to severe gridlock, with 100,000 to 200,000 cyclists overwhelming roads and bike paths.
Originally praised as a show of youthful “passion” and supported by Kaifeng officials with discounts and events, the journey turned chaotic as crowds, congestion, and limited resources strained both cities.
Police and bike rental companies intervened, warning against long-distance night rides, while some universities imposed restrictions.
This trend reflects young Chinese seeking cheap, spontaneous escapes amid economic and job pressures.
User numbers in Pokémon Go did increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. Niantic adapted the gameplay to accommodate pandemic restrictions. These changes made the game accessible even while staying at home. And then as players looked for safe, outdoor activities to break up indoor routines, user numbers went up.