Chapter 1: The scene of the Spring Festival more than ten years ago
More than 10 years ago, the Spring Festival transportation scene at the junction of Guangdong and Guangxi was unique. As the Chinese New Year approaches, the area becomes a transit point for motorcycles, who are migrant workers from Guangdong. At that time, motorcycles were the main means of transportation for these people to return to their hometowns. The rise of this phenomenon is not only related to local economic development, but also closely related to factors such as the difficulty of finding train tickets and the high cost of bus fares during the Spring Festival travel period. This phenomenon of motorcycle army has become a unique scenery during the local Spring Festival.
Chapter 2: The Reasons for the Sharp Decline in the Number of Motorcycles
In recent years, with the continuous improvement of social infrastructure and the improvement of people's living standards, the number of motorcycle armies has decreased sharply. According to 2022 data from the Guangdong Provincial Transportation Department, the size of the motorcycle army has been declining year by year since the peak of 1.1 million vehicles in the Spring Festival in 2013. This change is inseparable from the development and change of society. New means of transportation and more convenient modes of transportation have taken the place of motorcycles, making the past increasingly unfamiliar.
Chapter 3: The reporter's discovery along the route of Zhaoqing's return home
On the first day of the Spring Festival in 2024, the reporter visited along the Zhaoqing homecoming route and found that the motorcycle army was no longer in full swing. What was once a bustling army is now only a sporadic number of cyclists, most of whom have traveled three to four hundred kilometers home. This change marks the decline of the motorcycle army and the fact that migrant workers have more options for the mode of transportation to return to their hometowns.
Chapter 4: The story of Wang Zhengnian's return to their hometown
Through interviews with migrant workers Wang Zhengnian and his wife, we can gain insight into the story of the motorcycle army more than a decade ago. Wang Zhengnian and his wife chose to ride a motorcycle back to their hometown because train tickets were difficult to obtain and bus fares were high during the Spring Festival, while riding a motorcycle was a cost-effective and convenient option. They experienced severe cold, rain and snow, and it took them five days and four nights to successfully return to their hometown in Guizhou. This special experience of returning home left a deep imprint on their hearts.
Chapter 5: The Reasons for the Decline of the Motorcycle Army
Over time, the number of motorized armies decreased dramatically. In this section of the article, we will explore the reasons for this change. Guangdong's economic restructuring, the reduction in the number of factories, and the increase in the income level of migrant workers are all key factors that have led to the decline of the motorcycle army. With the development of society, people's choices and lifestyles have changed, and the motorcycle army has gradually withdrawn from the stage of history.
Chapter 6: The Comparison of Today's Young People with the Motorcycle Army
Finally, the article will reveal the social changes behind this change by comparing the reasons why Wang Zhengnian and his wife chose to ride a motorcycle in the first place and the choices of young people today. Today's young people pay more attention to the feeling of riding and enjoy the feeling of freedom, and they chose motorcycles to save money and convenience. Although the motorcycles are no longer in full swing, this special experience of returning home will forever be cherished in their hearts and will become an indelible part of the bygone years.