Hundreds to make friendship bike ride to Pyongyang

More than 300 people will cycle from Beijing to Pyongyang next year as part of a 'new friendship project' that organisers hope will promote peace and understanding between China and North Korea.

The Beijing-Pyongyang Bicycle Ride will take place in April, with the cyclists to ride from Tiananmen Square to Pyongyang's Arch of Triumph. The 1,400km journey is expected to take about seven days.

'The cycle will be the biggest-ever non-governmental sports and cultural exchange event between China and North Korea,' said Wang Hui, secretary-general of the International Economic and Cultural Exchange Centre of China-Korea Friendship Federation.

Some Chinese and North Korean veterans of the Korean war would also be taking part in the ride as a reminder of the long-standing friendship between the two allies, he said.

'The initiative has been given the full support of the North Korean government,' Mr Wang said, 'as they also believe the event will improve mutual understanding between the Chinese and Korean people, strengthen our traditional relationship, and promote peace on the Korean peninsula.'

The organisers said that each cyclist should cover their individual expenses, which they estimated would be about 4,000 yuan (HK$3,760), but they would be approaching sponsors to subsidise the trip.