Lin Sen, a Russian student at Jiangsu University, is on his journey across western China. [Photo/Jiangsu University]

For Russian student who goes by the Chinese name Lin Sen, China was first a place he discovered through a video game. This summer, he explored it the hard way — on two wheels.

A computer science and technology undergraduate at Jiangsu University, Lin set off from the university on July 1 for a 2,950-kilometer cycling journey. The 42-day adventure took him through mountains, tunnels and remote stretches of the country, with 25 nights spent camping outdoors.

Lin's fascination with China began with Cyberpunk 2077, whose Little China district prompted him to start looking up everything he could about the country. The more he learned, the more intrigued he became. He eventually taught himself Chinese and chose Jiangsu University for his undergraduate studies in 2024.

Cycling across China was a natural next step. Before this trip, Lin had already ridden through Nanjing, Changzhou, Yangzhou and Taizhou, as well as completed a cycling challenge around Taihu Lake.

He spent a month preparing for the latest journey, planning his route, buying equipment and checking weather conditions along the way.

His bike weighed more than 40 kilograms, loaded with a tent, sleeping bag, food and a full set of repair tools. But the toughest challenge was not climbing — it was riding into headwinds.

Lin reaches an elevation of 4,100 meters. [Photo/Jiangsu University]

On the plains, strong winds slowed him down. In the mountains, however, they could bring him to a standstill on winding roads more than 4,000 meters above sea level.

The most frightening moment came in Sichuan's Baiyu county, when Lin rode through the 3.5 km tunnel. There were no lights inside, while broken pavement, loose rocks and potholes made the passage even more dangerous. Trucks roaring past in the darkness left Lin with little room for error.

Yet he kept going.

"I found a paradise that truly belongs to travelers," Lin said on social media after reaching the Que'er Mountain Pass. The road was so rough that cars could not make it through, leaving hiking and cycling as the only ways to reach the destination.

For Lin, the journey was about more than the scenery or the physical challenge. What stayed with him most was the sense of freedom and security he experienced along the way.

Lin is treated to beautiful views along the way. [Photo/Jiangsu University]

"In China, I can sleep soundly wherever I am," he said, describing the freedom to stop whenever he wanted and set off whenever he was ready.

After each long-distance ride, Lin makes a post reflecting on the experience. For this journey, he summed it up in eight Chinese characters: "Good people, good country, good civilization."