A 33-year-old Russian cyclist named Maria has arrived in China after completing an 8,000-kilometre bicycle trip from Saint Petersburg over 90 days.
According to television channel 360, Maria departed from Saint Petersburg on June 1 and spent the entire summer travelling across Russia before crossing into Asia.
Her long-distance route took her through multiple Russian cities before she crossed the international border into neighbouring Mongolia. Mongolia is a landlocked nation located between Russia to the north and China to the south, spanning vast plains and desert terrain.
Overland border crossing in Mongolia
After riding across Russian territory and Mongolia, Maria reached the land border connecting the Mongolian border town of Zamiin-Uud with the Chinese border city of Erenhot.
Zamiin-Uud is situated in the southern Gobi region of Mongolia, directly opposite Erenhot, which lies in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The overland checkpoint serves as the principal transport link between the two nations.
Upon reaching the border, Maria discovered that local regulations prohibit travellers from crossing the checkpoint on foot or by bicycle. As a result, she had to find a driver with a car to transport her and her bicycle across the boundary line.
Maria said she was greatly surprised by how quickly the border formalities were completed once she found a vehicle to take her across.
Accident and recovery during the journey
The 8,000-kilometre expedition was interrupted by a major accident early in the ride. On the 11th day of her journey, Maria suffered a fall from her bicycle that caused her to break her arm and temporarily lose her memory.
Despite the injuries, Maria paused her ride for less than two weeks. She resumed her journey just 12 days after the accident to continue her route towards China.
Final leg to Shanghai
Having successfully entered China, Maria is now working towards her final destination of Shanghai. She plans to visit various Chinese cities as she travels through the country.
Shanghai is located on China's central eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River and is recognised as the country's financial capital and most populous city. Saint Petersburg, where Maria began her journey three months earlier, is Russia's second-largest city and former capital, located thousands of kilometres away near the Baltic Sea.
Maria said she intends to conclude her cycling tour in Shanghai before returning home to Russia by plane. Television channel 360, a broadcaster based in the Moscow region, reported on her completed journey.
