Tour Description

Beijing-Xi'an-Dunhuang 2-Stage 44-Day Bike Tour

Dates: Contact us with the dates that work for you.

Julie meets some Tibetan monks

Beijing-Xi'an-Dunhuang 2-Stage 44-Day Bike Tour

Dates: Contact us with the dates that work for you.

Join us on this epic journey across China from Beijing to Dunhuang passing many scenic areas and cultural places. Stage 1 starts in Beijing and heading west we first visit the archelogical site of the Peking Man. Two days later we pass the Great Wall and then head to one of the four sacred mountains in Chinese Buddhism, Wutai Shan. There will be a day to hike this pillgrimage site.

We then head to Taiyuan, the capital of Shaanxi province, and then to the ancient walled city and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pingyao. Continuing southwest we will visit Hyang Besalt Hall and Nasi Tang Pagoda on the way to the ancient capital of China Xi'an. This ends Stage 1 of the tour.

Stage 2 begins in Xi'an and heading first to the Tonmb of Princess Yongtai. In Baoji we will need to take transport through an area closed to foreign cyclists for about 50 km to the Gansu border. We will visit the Shuilandong Grottes before reaching Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province. There will be a rest day here and we will visit the Binglingsi Grottes next to a resersior on the Yellow River. Turning northwest, we will visit the Luoshi Pagoda and a Confucian Temple on the way to western end of the Great Wall at Jiayuguan. The final desination is Dunhuang, where we will have a chance to visit the Mogao Grottoes.

A flight to Beijing concludes the tour.

Day	Location	# of Miles/KM	Notes
			STAGE ONE - BEIJING TO XI'AN
			BEIJING
0	Beijing	0	Airport pickup. Transfer to hotel.
1	Zhangfang	51/83	Leave Beijing, Visit the Peking Man Museum.
			HEBEI PROVINCE
2	Zijinguan	57/94
3	Laiyuan	39/64	Great Wall crossing
4	Fuping	68/108
			SHANXI PROVINCE
5	Taihaui	45/74	Foot of Mt. Wutai, 1 of 5 sacred mountains
6	Taihuai	0/0	Cycling rest day. Hike Mt. Wutai
7	Wutai	44/72
8	Xinzhou	41/68
9	Taiyuan	42/69	Capital of Shaanxi Province
10	Pingyao	58/88	Anceint Walled City
11	Pingyao	0/0	Rest Day, explore on your own
12	Houzhou	60/99
13	Xiangfan	54/89
14	Hejin	56/91
			SHAANXI PROVINCE
15	Heyang	52/85	Baslt Hall
16	Pucheng	44/72	Nasi Tang Pagoda
17	Xi'an	68/112	Ancient Capital of China
18	Xi'an	0/0	Rest Day, explore on your own - Terracotta Warriors. End of Stage 1.
	Stage 1 Total Distance	773 Miles 1,268 KM
			STAGE TWO - XI'AN to DUNHUANG
19	Xi'an	0	Airport pickup for those starting here.
20	Qianxian	52/85	Princess Yong Tai Tomb
21	Fengxiang	55/90	East Lake Scenic Area
			GANSU PROVINCE
22	Tianshui	57/93	Cycle to Baoji then bus to Gansu Border through closed area
23	Wushan	66/109	Shuilandong Grottes
24	Weiyuan	68/111	Weiyuan Tower Baling Bridge
25	Lintao	50/82
26	Lanzhou	53/87	Capital of Gansu Province
27	Lanzhou	44/72	Cycling rest day. Visit Binglingsi Grottoes
28	Yongdeng	68/112
29	Gulang	63/104
30	Wuwei	47/77	Luoshi Pagoda, Confucian Temple
31	Yongchang	45/74
32	Shandan (Qingyuan)	62/102
33	Shahe (Linze)	60/98
34	Qingyong	70/115
35	Jiayuguan	54/89
36	Jiayuguan	0/0	Rest day. Explore the Jiayuguan Fort and the western edge of the Great Wall
37	Sujin	52/85
38	Qiaowan	62/102
39	Guazhou	63/104
40	Dunhuang	66/108	Dunhuang Grottoes
41	Dunhuang	0/0	Dunhuang Grottoes
42	Dunhuang	0/0	Dunhuang Grottoes
43	Dunhuang	0/0	Dunhuang Grottoes
44	Dunhuang	56/91	Fly to Beijing. End of Tour.
	Stage 2 Total Distance	1,114 Miles 1,827 KM
	Stage 1 & 2 Total Distance	1,888 Miles 3,095 KM

Dates: Contact us with the dates that work for you.

Start location: Stage 1: Beijing, Stage 2: Xi'an

Finish location: Stage 1: Xi'an, Stage 2: Dunhunag

Tour type: No support vehicle - riders carry there own luggage. (Note: This tour is also available with a dedicated support vehicle at a higher cost.)

Geographical location: North Central China

Elevation range: 300 feet (100 meters) to 8,200 feet (2,500 meters)

Climate: The best weather for touring is in the spring and fall. Click on the links below for detailed historical weather data.

Terrain: Flat, rolling and mountainous

Cycling tour level: Moderate to Challenging

Total distance: Stage 1: Approximately 773 miles (1,268 km): Average distance per ride day: 48 miles (79 km)
Stage 2: Approximately 1,114 miles (1,827 km): Average distance per ride day: 59 miles (96 km)

Days: Stage 1: 19, Stage 26

Nights: Stage 1: 18, Stage 2: 25

Cycling Days: Stage 1: 16, Stage 2: 19

Rest Days: Stage 1: 3, Stage 2: 7

Group size: 1 - 8

Rental bike: Stage 1: US$120, Stage 2: US$140, both US$200 including panniers, helmet, gloves, raincape and lock.

Accommodations will be basic Chinese hotels generally of the 1-3 star variety. A few times it will be necessary to use a 0-star hotel. The prices are for double occupancy rooms, and will vary depending on the number of people who participate.

Private room supplement: Stage 1 US$290; Stage 2: US$360

The tour is limited to no more than eight people. This will permit more flexibility in the program and allow more spontaneity for taking photos or exploring villages along the way.

Prices include the following:

Bilingual bike tour guide to accompany the group throughout the tour.

All hotel accommodations for 19 nights.

Meals eaten as group (private meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages are not included).

All group transportation costs including buses, boats, and taxis as needed and to/from airports.

All group entrance fees.

This will be a self-supported ride. This means that each person will carry their own luggage throughout the trip. Alternative transportation (buses, trucks or taxis) will be used if necessary if members become too tired to continue, ill or time is insufficient to complete the ride before dark. If, however, there is a desire by some members have a support vehicle, I will provide cost information.

If you decide to do something on your own, you will be responsible for those costs.

Cost: Prices depend on the total number of people going on the tour and the time of year. Below are the price per person (pp) and quoted in US dollars (US$) for non-holiday periods*:

Stage 1 Group size:
1 person: $3,990
2 people: $2,380 pp <<- Price per person with next registrant
3 people $2,090 pp
4-8 people $1,770 pp

Stage 2 Group size:
1 person: $5,470
2 people: $3,190 pp <<- Price per person with next registrant 3 people $2,790 pp>
4-8 people $2,330 pp

An announcement of the cost of the tour will be made to the group 45-days prior to the start based on the number of registered members.

A deposit of $500 per person is required. This is fully refundable up to 45 days prior to the start of the tour. Submission of a deposit will guarantee your place on the tour. Balance is due at least 45 days prior to the beginning of the tour and payable by credit card, wire transfer, or personal check.

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