Bicycle Tour Description
Beijing, Xi'an, Sichuan Mountains, and Three Gorges Cruise 22-day Bike Tour
Dates: Friday, July 17 to Friday, August 7, 2009
Outside the Forbidden City in Tian'anmen Square
Beijing, Xi'an, Sichuan Mountains, and Three Gorges Cruise 22-day Bike Tour
Dates: Friday, July 17 to Friday, August 7, 2009
This 17-day tour begins in Beijing, the capital of China. After arriving in Beijing and getting settled at the hotel, the group will cycle through Beijing's old neighborhoods and along the narrow alleys called hutongs. The following day the group will tour by bike to visit Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. On the third day, the group will take a motor vehicle excursion to the Great Wall to hike from Jinshanling to Simatai, and then fly to Xi'an in the evening.
On the fourth day in Xi'an, the group will visit the Terracotta Warriors by motor vehicle and then explore the city wall by bike in the afternoon. The next day we will visit the Grand Mosque and Muslin quarter in the morning and new Xi'an museum in the afternoon. In the late afternoon, we will fly to Chengdu.
On the sixth day the group will take transport to the Panda Research 100 km to the Wolong Nature Reserve and cycle to the Panda Research Base. We will spend the night at Wolong and visit the Panda Research Center in the morning when the Giant Pandas are most active with plenty of photo opportunities.
On day seven, the group will head up to Balangshan Pass (partially using transport) through the Wolong Nature Reserve. The pass is at 4,523 meters (14,835 feet). Yaks can be seen grazing on the slopes tended by Tibetan herdsman. At the top of the pass we will then coast down into a gorgeous valley to Rilongguan, at the base of Four Sisters Mountain. We will spend a day in the area hiking and cycling around this scenic area.
On the eighth day, we will cycle (mostly downhill) to Xiaojin Xian where there is a Buddhist Temple, an Islamic Mosque and a Catholic Church where Mao spent some time on the Long March. We will continue downhill to Danba located on the Dadu River, a major tributary to the Yangtze. Along the way we will visit a lamasery and a Tibetan Buddhist Temple.
The ninth day will be a rest day and the group will explore the Danba area including some of the Tibetan Defensive towers the dot the hills around the town.
On the tenth day the group will cycle from Danba heading southwest and mostly uphill to a small guesthouse halfway up the mountain located next to a hot springs to relax in. The following day we will continue up the mountain to Bamei located on the edge of the Tibetan plateau.
The following day we will cycle on the Tibetan plateau and visit Tagong, a small Tibetan town with colorful monasteries. The next day we will continue to Kangding partially using transport across the plateau and stay in this well-known Tibetan town straddling a fast-flowing river and soak again in a hot spring bath.
On the 15th day, the group will cycle through Luding, a historic place where Chairman Mao crossed the river with his Red Army on his Long March. Next stop is in Moxi, the gateway to Hailuogou Glacier Park, the lowest glacier in Asia at the foot of 7,554-meter Gongga Mountain. The next day will be spent cycling and hiking around the glacier.
On day 17, we will head over the Erlangshan Pass back into the Sichuan Basin and cycle to the lovely green village of Shangli with lots of bamboo and old houses.
On the 18th day, the group will return to Chengdu using transport. In the evening will be an Acrobat and Sichuan Opera show.
The next day the group will go on their own to take a 3-hour train to Chongqing and board a ship for a cruise down the Yangtze through the Three Gorges and the now completed Three Gorges Dam.
The tour will end on the 23rd day and include an air ticket to Beijing.
Photos covering portions of the route:
Itinerary
Beijing, Xi'an, Sichuan Mountains, and Three Gorges Cruise 22-day Bike Tour
Day | Location | Cycling Miles/KM | Total Miles/KM | Notes |
BEIJING | ||||
1 | Beijing | 20/32 | 20/32 | Biking in Beijing's "hutong" - narrow allies to get a feel for the rapidly disappearing Old Beijing |
2 | Beijing | 20/32 | 20/32 | City tour by bike. Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven. |
3 | Beijing/Xi'an | 0/0 | 571/913 | Excursion by motor vehicle to Great Wall to hike from Jinshanling to Simatai. Fly to Xi'an in the evening. |
XI'AN, SHAANXI PROVINCE | ||||
4 | Xi'an | 20/32 | 75/120 | Excursion by motor vehicle to Terracotta Warriors. Bike around the city wall. Fly to Chengdu in the evening. |
5 | Xi'an/Chengdu | 20/32 | 236/377 | Visit the Grand Mosque and new Xi'an Museum. Fly to Chengdu in the evening. |
SICHUAN PROVINCE | ||||
6 | Wolong | 25/41 | 91/145 | Take transport part way. Visit the Wolong Panda Nature Reserve |
7 | Rilongguan | 49/80 | 64/103 | Take transport part way and/or cycle to the Balangshan Pass (4,550 meters, 14,950 feet). Cycle 31 km down to Rilongguan at the base of Four Sisters Mountains. |
8 | Danba | 75/120 | 75/120 | Visit Wori Defensive Tower, a Buddhist Temple, an Islamic Mosque and a Catholic Church where Mao stayed during the Long March |
9 | Danba | 12/20 | 12/20 | Rest day. Visit the Defensive Towers |
10 | Sitting Buddha Guesthouse | 30/48 | 61/97 | Relax in the hot springs |
11 | Bamei | 31/49 | 31/49 | Cycle up to the Tibetan Plateau |
12 | Tagong | 12/20 | 12/20 | Rest day. Cycle on the Tibetan Plateau and visit Tagong monastery. |
13 | Kangding | 31/49 | 58/92 | Cycle across the Tibetan plateau and then down into this Tibetan valley town and soak in hot springs |
14 | Moxi | 31/49 | 58/92 | Cycle through Luding, a historic place where Chairman Mao crossed the river with his Red Army on his Long March |
15 | Moxi | 0/0 | 19/30 | Hiking in Hailuogou Glacier Park including a walk on the glacier and soak in the hot spring bath |
16 | Shangli | 56/90 | 115/184 | Head back into the Sichuan Basin and cycle to the lush village of Shangli |
17 | Chengdu | 28/45 | 84/135 | Transport back to Chengdu. Acrobat and Sichuan Opera show in the evening. |
CHONGQING | ||||
18 | Chongqing | 0/0 | 231/369 | End of guided tour; group continues on their own by train to Chongqing to board the cruise ship in the evening. |
19-21 | Yangtze River Cruise from Chongqing to Yichang | 0/0 | 405/648 | Ship departs early morning with excursions to the fabled "City of Ghosts" Fengdu, Wanxian, or "the Pearl of Yangtze" Shibaozhai, largely depending on the river conditions. At Wushan, we disembark our ship and board small vessels to navigate either Daning River or in Badong visit the Shennong Stream. These are optional extra-cost excursions. |
22 | Beijing | 0/0 | 895/1432 | Flight from Yichang to Beijing. End of tour. |
Total Cycling Distance | 428 mi 685 km |
3,008 mi 4,812 km |
Total Distance |
Tour Details
Dates: Friday, July 17 to Friday, August 7, 2009
Start location: Beijing, China
Finish location: Beijing, China
Tour type: Combination bike, train, and river cruise tour with three internal
flights. Support vehicle will be provided during days six through seventeen from Chengdu into Western Sichuan and back to Chengdu.
At other times, riders carry there own day gear (in Beijing and Xi'an). Cruise is provided by a third party and only including first class accommodation. Food and off-ship excursions are extra.
Geographical location: Northeast, Southwest and Eastern China
Elevation range: Sea Level to 14,950 feet (4,550 meters)
Climate: The best weather for touring is in the spring and
fall. Summer will be hot and rainy. Click on the links below for historic
weather information.
Terrain: Flat, rolling hills, and mountainous
Cycling tour level: Moderate
Total cycling distance: Approximately 460 miles (740 km).
Cycling will be supplemented with motor vehicle transport when necessary to
reach the next destination.
Days: 22 Nights: 21
Group size: 1 - 8
Private room supplement: US$580
Accommodations will be generally 3-star Chinese hotels, or best available.
The prices are for double occupancy rooms, and will vary depending on the
number of people who participate. This tour is limited to no more than eight
people. This will permit more flexibility in the program and allow more spontaneity
for taking photos and exploring.
Prices include the following:
1. Bilingual bicycle tour guide.
2. All hotel accommodations for 22 nights.
3. Meals eaten as group (private meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages are not included).
4. All group transportation costs including three flights (Beijing-Xi'an, Xi'an-Chengdu and Yichang-Beijing), taxis and van during the bike tour, and a train from Chengdu to Chongqing.
5. All group entrance fees.
6. Optional rental bicycle is included (US$0).
This will be a vehicle-supported ride during days 6-17. This
means that each person will carry only their day packs while cycling. Vehicle
transportation will carry the luggage (and cyclists when necessary).
If you decide to do something on your own, you will be responsible for
those costs.
Cost: Prices depend on the total number of people going on the tour and the time of year. Below are the price per person (pp) and quoted in US dollars (US$) for non-holiday periods*:
Group size:
1 person US$8,560 pp
2 people US$5,470 pp
3 people US$4,960 pp
4-8 people US$4,280 pp <<-- Price per person with the next registrant
Current registrations:
There are three people registered as of
An announcement of the cost of the tour 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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