The Flying Pigeon Project

History of the Brands: Wu Yang, Hong Mian and Kapok

After a bit of a vacation, I am starting a new series on the history of the brands of China. Starting with one of the largest, but also the youngest. Wu Yang of Guangzhou. Wu Yang, of crouse means "Five Rams in English and it is named after the famed Five Rams statue in downtown Guangzhou.   Recently I was written by Andy, a Guangzhou bike enthusiast, who wanted to know more about his favorite brand, Kapok, a brand I had only known in passing. Seldom seen in the north of China, these bikes are a staple of the south and still in heavy use as cargo bikes.

Looking at the Wu Yang Website, you might be forgiven for thinking that the factory only started in 1970. In truth the name Wu Yang was applied to the factory a full 10 years earlier. Only the bicycles weren't called Wu Yang...they were called Hong Mian or "Red Cotton Tree". This solves something of a mystery as to where the "Zhongguo" badged bikes have come from.

Now, take a look at the two attached images. One is from an old "Red Cotton Tree" bike....

Snow in Beijing

It almost never snows in Beijing. The city is too close to the Gobi and therefore too dry for much snow. Winter is typically one long very cold, very dry season, but today, November First, we woke to a little surprise that allowed for some very pretty pictures.

 

And yes. People are still pedaling around aplenty. Westwood rims are no deterrent.

Wu Yang Clan

Bikes of Guangzhou

That's Canton for you westerners. Guangzhou is occasionally called the "Five-Rams" city and so it is no surprise that the main bicycle manufacturer here is called Five-Rams or Wu Yang in Chinese. A recent trip to Guangzhou gave me the opportunity to check out some of their products...which offered a lot in the way of surprises.

First off Wu Yang's main business these days is motorcycles, but moto che are BANNED in Guangzhou. It is the equivalent of Harleys being banned in Milwaukee. Electric bicycles are also absent. The hole in the transportation hierarchy created by the lack of motorized bicycles is filled by pedal powered Wu-Yangs.

Most of these were a dark green, where as the Forevers and Flying Pigeons common in Beijing are always black. Also, most of the diamond framed bikes were "Double Bars", meaning that they have two top bars to reinforce the frame. Some times this is called a "pig bar" bike, because supposedly these were designed to carry a pig to market.

Honestly , I don't see how this could work. It would be impossible to pedal with a pig, live or dead on the top bar. Your legs would have nowhere to go. Indeed the usual method for carrying a passenger or any cargo is to put the weight on the package rack. Passengers usually sit side saddle. In any case, I saw more double bar bikes in 1/2 hour in Guangzhou than in my entire year in Beijing.

Finally, While most Beijing bikes tend to be 22" frames with 28" rims, the majority of Guangzhou bikes were 20" frames with 26" wheels.

Lots of delivery bikes. One gentleman was stacked 2 stories high with styrofoam. While it is not uncommon to see this in Beijing, it is usual a tricycle hauling the load. Not a bike.

There were other surprises as well. Check out the pictures. Let me know what you think