Malaysian Pesmond Lee and other 23 Harley-Davidson enthusiasts from Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Germany, and China completed a tour to Northeast China in October.
Within 10 days, they covered a distance of 3,300 km and visited nine cities, including Dalian, Dandong, Shenyang, and Harbin.
"It is an unforgettable experience. We touched the snow at the Changbai Mountain and reached the borders between China and North Korea and Russia," 33-year-old Lee recalled.
"China is a very beautiful country. I hope I can see all of China on my Harley-Davidson," he added.
The tour was to celebrate the opening of Harley-Davidson's authorized dealership in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning province.
When they rode back to Dalian on October 26, the riders were welcomed by Sean Stein, Consul General of the United States Shenyang and Steve Wasser, managing director of Harley-Davidson China.
"Harley-Davidson is an iconic American brand. It represents the individual spirit of freedom: free to experience the world, and free to express oneself," said Sean Stein at the welcoming ceremony.
The consul general soon entered into the spirit of the riders and was invited by Lee to visit Malaysia.
"We established a friendship very soon. Now I want to buy my own Harley-Davidson motorcycle," Stein told China Daily.
Steve Wasser said Harley-Davidson aims to create a unique brand experience for the motorcyclists by promoting outdoor activities, travelling, and culture interchange and other events.
"Most of our customers are successful, dynamic, and adventurous. When they ride together, they create a special heartfelt bond with each other," said Wasser.
Since it officially entered the mainland market in 2005, Harley-Davidson has opened six authorized dealerships in Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Xiamen, Wenzhou, and Dalian.
In addition to this NE China tour, Harley-Davidson China has organized ride tours to appreciate beautiful places such as Lijiang in Yunnan, Mountain Tai in Shandong, and the Taiping Lake of Huangshan in Anhui.
"Since 2003, when I bought my first Harley-Davidson, I participated in most of its influential activities in China. Through these activities, I gained a lot of friends," said Han Bing, an owner in Dalian, who even participated in two ride tours in the US.
"Harley-Davidson motorcycle is a carrier of freedom, individuality, and fashionable lifestyle. It matches my personality and accompanies me like a friend to see the world," said Han.
According to Han, Dalian, which is surrounded by sea on three sides, is particularly well-suited for riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The seaside mountain roads, which are clean and winding, are the motorcyclists' favorite.
The newly opened authorized dealership is expected to organize more activities taking advantage of the natural resources in Dalian, said Han.
