Group dumpling-eating bike ride goes viral, attracts thousands in China, blocks roads and sparks controversy

Tens of thousands of people gathered to bike between Zhengzhou and Kaifeng in central China after a social media post suggesting a cheap nighttime bike ride to pick up dumplings went viral. The crowds caused gridlock and prompted bike-sharing companies to suspend their services, CBS News affiliate network BBC News reported.

The idea for the event came from four college students who made the same 30-mile trip to get soup dumplings over the summer. It appears to have emerged from a trend where young people struggling with China's tough job market are looking for low-cost travel options.

“You only have one teenager. “You have to try a spontaneous trip with your friends,” one of the four students told local media, according to the BBC.

“Everyone was beaming with energy and interacting with the people around them. It was like going back to my college days,” another participant told the BBC.

But the popularity of the event attracted so many people that some even found it difficult to attend. Some reported having to get off their bikes and walk through the crowd.

One student said on social media that he joined the bike tour but could not find a hotel room or a taxi in Kaifeng due to the crowds.

“I really regret going there. As I sat in a restaurant eating my food, I heard the owner criticizing the college students for having nothing to do…I'm really sorry for affecting the people of Kaifeng,” said the student the BBC.

The BBC reported that as traffic conditions worsened, three bike-sharing companies released a joint statement urging students to take buses or trains for long-distance travel. Eventually, companies began charging additional fees when bikes were taken to another city.

The traffic police closed some cycle paths in both cities over the weekend.

But despite the backlash, some participants said young people in China would continue to take part in similar events.

“People are so stressed these days, so these events are a good thing. Because happiness is contagious,” one participant told the BBC.