Office Worker Cuts 1-Hour Commute to 6 Minutes by Paddling Across the Yangtze River

An insurance company worker in central China has been saving precious commute time by traveling to work on a paddle board.

Every day, Liu Fucao, 29, crosses the Yangtze River to reach his office in the district of Wanzhou, Chongqing.

Liu lives on the south bank of the river, while his office is located on the north.

Apparently, the alternative route cuts his land travel time of up to an hour to an enviable six minutes.

In a feature from Pear Video, Liu is seen paddling across the Yangtze River in his work shirt and pants.

He brings with him a bag containing his laptop and coat, which he puts on as soon as he arrives on the opposite end of the river.

To prevent himself from drowning, Liu wears a trusty life jacket and secures his right ankle on a leash attached to the paddleboard.

Liu’s paddling commute covers a distance of 1,000 meters (0.62 miles).

“Driving my own car would take at least 30 minutes, while taking the bus would take more than an hour,” he told reporters. “Land transport is never reliable.”

But Liu, who started the alternative route in July 2018, is actually a professional paddleboarder who has won multiple awards in the past. He received professional training prior to commencing his new commute.

For this reason, he warned the public not to follow his lead without the right experience. He added that he avoids the river under and in anticipation of bad weather conditions.

Liu’s alternative route is a hit on Chinese social media, with netizens praising his innovative thinking and bravery to cross the choppy waters of the Yangtze River.

Weibo users commented:

“His balance is good.”

“This is good, no traffic jams.”

“It looks hardcore, but he has the professional skills.”

“It won’t be long and this river will be full of paddling workers.”

“He saves [land] transportation costs, exercises his body and does not have to deal with traffic.”

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