Three years ago, a Chinese packed his simple possessions into a rickshaw, and pedaled his rickshaw all the way from China to Landon to "promote the Olympic spirit".
Three
years
ago
,
a
Chinese
packed
his
simple
possessions
into
a
rickshaw
,
and
pedaled
his
rickshaw
all
the
way
from
China
to
Landon
to
``
promote
the
Olympic
spirit
''
.
After pedaling 37,500 miles through 16 countries, he arrived in London in July,2012, just before the 30th Olympic Games.
After
pedaling
37,500
miles
through
16
countries
,
he
arrived
in
London
in
July,2012
,
just
before
the
30th
Olympic
Games
.
Now, Mr.
Now
,
Mr
.
Chen Guanming, a 58-year-old farmer from China, wanted to do it again, pedaling his rickshaw to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for the 2016 Olympics.
Chen
Guanming
,
a
58-year-old
farmer
from
China
,
wanted
to
do
it
again
,
pedaling
his
rickshaw
to
Rio
de
Janeiro
in
Brazil
for
the
2016
Olympics
.
Using tickets donated by an airline, he arrived in London in July,2013.
Using
tickets
donated
by
an
airline
,
he
arrived
in
London
in
July
,2013
.
Earlier this month he set off on the first leg of a trip which will be at least 5,800 miles.
Earlier
this
month
he
set
off
on
the
first
leg
of
a
trip
which
will
be
at
least
5,800
miles
.
First, he pedaled to Liverpool, where friends secured free transport of the rickshaw to Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada, ready for Mr. Chen's journey south.
First
,
he
pedaled
to
Liverpool
,
where
friends
secured
free
transport
of
the
rickshaw
to
Halifax
in
Nova
Scotia
,
Canada
,
ready
for
Mr.
Chen
's
journey
south
.
However, for a Chinese speaker with only four words of English - one of which is "toilet" - pedaling a rickshaw on England's highways is not easy.
However
,
for
a
Chinese
speaker
with
only
four
words
of
English
-
one
of
which
is
``
toilet
''
-
pedaling
a
rickshaw
on
England
's
highways
is
not
easy
.
In Cambridgeshire he was stopped on the A14 when his rickshaw caused traffic jams.
In
Cambridgeshire
he
was
stopped
on
the
A14
when
his
rickshaw
caused
traffic
jams
.
Near Stoke-on-Trent he again came to the attention of police, pedaling along the A50, a road heavily used by trucks.
Near
Stoke-on-Trent
he
again
came
to
the
attention
of
police
,
pedaling
along
the
A50
,
a
road
heavily
used
by
trucks
.
They offered him an escort to "more suitable roads", but he refused.
They
offered
him
an
escort
to
``
more
suitable
roads
''
,
but
he
refused
.
Asked why he insisted on using A-roads, Mr Chen said: "It's too complicated to use small roads because I don't have a GPS.
Asked
why
he
insisted
on
using
A-roads
,
Mr
Chen
said
:
``
It
's
too
complicated
to
use
small
roads
because
I
do
n't
have
a
GPS
.
I can recognise signs on bigger roads and know I'm going the right way."
I
can
recognise
signs
on
bigger
roads
and
know
I
'm
going
the
right
way
.
''
John Beeston helped him plan the journey to Rio.
John
Beeston
helped
him
plan
the
journey
to
Rio
.
He joined Mr Chen on Monday as they said goodbye to the rickshaw at the Port of Liverpool.
He
joined
Mr
Chen
on
Monday
as
they
said
goodbye
to
the
rickshaw
at
the
Port
of
Liverpool
.
With the rickshaw already on its way to Canada, Mr Beeston had to find a way for his friend to travel and eventually an airline offered an "affordable" flight from Heathrow on Saturday.
With
the
rickshaw
already
on
its
way
to
Canada
,
Mr
Beeston
had
to
find
a
way
for
his
friend
to
travel
and
eventually
an
airline
offered
an
``
affordable
''
flight
from
Heathrow
on
Saturday
.
Mr. Chen will then continue the next leg of his Olympian journey, with his friend tracking his progress.
Mr.
Chen
will
then
continue
the
next
leg
of
his
Olympian
journey
,
with
his
friend
tracking
his
progress
.
With his sights set on Rio, does Mr. Chen think 2016 will be the year he finally returns to China?
With
his
sights
set
on
Rio
,
does
Mr.
Chen
think
2016
will
be
the
year
he
finally
returns
to
China
?
"I will keep going.
``
I
will
keep
going
.
It is my job now to tell the people of the world about the Olympics and about peace.
It
is
my
job
now
to
tell
the
people
of
the
world
about
the
Olympics
and
about
peace
.
I'll never stop doing the job I love until I die."
I
'll
never
stop
doing
the
job
I
love
until
I
die
.
''
he said.
he
said
.
Three years ago, a Chinese packed his simple possessions into a rickshaw, and pedaled his rickshaw all the way from China to Landon to "promote the Olympic spirit". After pedaling 37,500 miles through 16 countries, he arrived in London in July,2012, just before the 30th Olympic Games.  Now, Mr. Chen Guanming, a 58-year-old farmer from China, wanted to do it again, pedaling his rickshaw to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil for the 2016 Olympics.  Using tickets donated by an airline, he arrived in London in July,2013.  Earlier this month he set off on the first leg of a trip which will be at least 5,800 miles. First, he pedaled to Liverpool, where friends secured free transport of the rickshaw to Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada, ready for Mr. Chen's journey south.  However, for a Chinese speaker with only four words of English - one of which is "toilet" - pedaling a rickshaw on England's highways is not easy. In Cambridgeshire he was stopped on the A14 when his rickshaw caused traffic jams. Near Stoke-on-Trent he again came to the attention of police, pedaling along the A50, a road heavily used by trucks. They offered him an escort to "more suitable roads", but he refused. Asked why he insisted on using A-roads, Mr Chen said: "It's too complicated to use small roads because I don't have a GPS. I can recognise signs on bigger roads and know I'm going the right way."  John Beeston helped him plan the journey to Rio. He joined Mr Chen on Monday as they said goodbye to the rickshaw at the Port of Liverpool. With the rickshaw already on its way to Canada, Mr Beeston had to find a way for his friend to travel and eventually an airline offered an "affordable" flight from Heathrow on Saturday. Mr. Chen will then continue the next leg of his Olympian journey, with his friend tracking his progress.  With his sights set on Rio, does Mr. Chen think 2016 will be the year he finally returns to China?  "I will keep going. It is my job now to tell the people of the world about the Olympics and about peace. I'll never stop doing the job I love until I die." he said.