The man began his ride in Rizhao city, East China's Shandong province, intending to go to his home in Qiqihaer city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, but actually ended up in Wuhu city, East China's Anhui province.

A man planning to ride nearly 2,000 kilometers back home for the upcoming Spring Festival ended up much further away than when he started after spending more than one month riding in the opposite direction, Anhuinews.com reported.

The man only realised his mistake when he was pulled over by traffic police in Wuhu city, East China's Anhui province on the expressway last Friday.

Asked what he was doing, the man told them he was heading home to Qiqihaer city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province by bike, only to be informed by traffic police he was going the wrong way.

The man began his journey in December from Rizhao city, East China's Shandong province.

Knowing that he was in Wuhu, a city lying more than 500 kilometers south of Rizhao, the man said he must have been given the wrong directions from passersby.

The poor man is reportedly a casual laborer with few earnings and spent lots of time surfing the internet at internet cafes, which left him no money.

Thinking his hopes of making it home in time for lunar New Year's Eve were over, traffic police and staff at the toll station chipped in to buy him a ticket home.