Chinese authorities are now clamping down on the activity, imposing new traffic restrictions and controls on bike rental companies to prevent further chaos.

Footage from Friday night showed the blocked highway that links Zhengzhou, the largest city in Henan province, with Kaifeng, an ancient capital famed for its soup dumplings.

By Saturday, pictures showed thousands of the riders – waving the Chinese flag and singing the national anthem – had overrun the small tourist city, sparking complaints from locals.

“Last night’s ‘Night Riding Army’ was spectacular!” one rider posted. “Two lanes were opened, but that simply was not enough: The cycling army accounted for four!”

‘Much more than a bike ride’

“The Night Ride to Kaifeng: Youth is priceless, enjoy it in time,” was the hashtag on social media for the ride, which the state broadcaster CMG said tens of thousands of students had completed by the end of the weekend.

Liu Lulu, a student at Henan University, told China Daily: “People sang together and cheered for each other while climbing uphill together. I could feel the passion of the young people. And it was much more than a bike ride.”