Man cycles from China to London on rickshaw for London 2012 Olympics

A Chinese farmer claims to have spent two years cycling from his home in China's Jiangsu province to London for the Olympics.

In two years, Chen Guanming travelled nearly 40,000 miles through 16 countries, surviving flood, warzones and extreme temperatures, the BBC reports.

Businessman John Beeston found Chen looking 'completely lost and downhearted'. Beeston, who speaks Mandarin, listened to Guanming's extraordinary story.

Guanming told Beeston how he travelled through Afghanistan and Iran, was kicked out of Myanmar, and snowed in for four days in Turkey.

Chen was inspired to make his journey by seeing London Mayor Boris Johnson accept the Olympic Flag during the Beijing Olympics closing ceremony four years ago.

Chen's rickshaw is covered in photos from his journey, including one of him next to the Eiffel Tower. He says he made the journey to 'spread the Olympic spirit' and is still looking for a ticket to today's opening ceremony.

Picture gallery - London 2012 Olympics: