A Chinese martial artist has traded the structure of the ring for the uncertainty of the open road, undertaking a solo cycling journey across Africa that has already stretched close to 10 000km.
He Yuxing, who runs a fight club in China, said the journey is more than travel; it is a personal reckoning.

Yuxing recently spent three days from March 20 to 23 in Sophiatown, drawn by its name and its proximity to the Johannesburg city centre, where he had been warned about crime. The neighbourhood, he said, was quiet and welcoming, offering a sense of calm and familiarity after months on the road.

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He chose not to enter the city centre, remaining in the suburbs, but said the people he encountered were kind and helpful. Strangers, he said, offered food and looked out for him, reinforcing his belief that places are defined by people rather than headlines.

His route began in Ethiopia after flying from China to Cairo and then Addis Ababa, as conflict in Sudan prevented overland travel. He set out seeking to break free from the cycle of city life and rediscover a sense of vitality he felt was fading.

For him, cycling offered immersion, allowing him to stop, speak with locals, and absorb everyday moments often missed by faster travel. Each country has left an impression, but Malawi stood out, where he shared stories with residents and experienced a level of warmth he had not expected.

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The journey has also brought danger, including a close call in Zimbabwe when a speeding truck struck his bicycle and drove on without stopping. Long hours in extreme heat, rain, and cold have tested him physically, while isolation and doubt have challenged him mentally.

There have been moments when he felt like stopping, but he insists his discipline as a martial artist has carried him forward. Language barriers have added further difficulty, particularly in Mozambique, where buying food often requires gestures and a calculator.

Despite this, he said one of his biggest revelations has been how different Africa is from common portrayals. Modern life, he notes, is not far removed from elsewhere, challenging assumptions he once held.

As his journey continues, he remains committed to finishing what he started, viewing each kilometre as both a physical and personal step forward.
With every mile, he moves further from the life he left behind and closer to understanding the world he set out to find, determined to see the continent through his own eyes and to keep going, no matter how difficult the road becomes. He said the journey is rebuilding him piece by piece, reminding him why he began and strengthening a resolve that, once tested by hardship, now feels unbreakable and firmly rooted in purpose.

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