This summer, 10 cyclists from the Shell Cycling Club at Beijing Technology University embarked on a ride to raise awareness of bear bile farming.

Their three-week journey took them through 11 Chinese cities, four provinces and nearly 1,000km. Along the way, they told people of the cruelty that was keeping over 10,000 bears in cages countrywide.

Starting from Beijing, the cyclists went through the major cities of Jinan, Qufu, Taian, Nanjing, Shanghai – and ended up in Hangzhou. In every major city they passed, they went to tourist attractions with leaflets describing the horrors of bear bile farming.

At every stop, they asked people to sign their names if they wanted the bear bile industry to end. They also collected promises to never buy bear bile products.

Almost everyone they met took the pledge.

Animals Asia founder Jill Robinson said:

“These young crusaders are a fantastic representation of the 87 percent of Chinese citizens who oppose the bear bile trade. Their passion is something we can expect of future generations – as more learn about the cruelty of the bear bile trade.

“This is the spirit of the Chinese people in action. These young people recognise that bear bile farming shouldn’t exist in our world, and they’re doing something about it.”

Even putting aside the physical demands of the ride, there was plenty more to test the riders. In Nanjing, they encountered a typhoon. And frequently they had to explain that they were animal lovers, not sales people – as they pressed information into the hands of passersby.

Through it all, their resolve hardened. They realised that they could try harder, and they needed to – they were defending bears that cannot defend themselves.

As freshman student and cyclist Fu Liuyuan later wrote:

“Maybe we can’t do much. Maybe we can’t save every single bear. Although we aren’t so powerful, and can only spread our ideas to a few people – we believe our spirit can be transmitted, and take root in Chinese people’s hearts.

“Even if we can only convince one person not to buy bear bile products, maybe that will help one more bear to survive.”

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