Bike China Logo

Tour Description

Chengdu to Shangri-La (Zhongdian)
20-Day Bike Tour

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


Mosu woman near Lugu Lake, Yunnan

Chengdu to Shangri-La (Zhongdian)
20-Day Bike Tour

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

Click here for the Map

This 20-day bicycle tour through southwest China begins in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, and ends in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, known as the "Spring City" and home to China's largest concentration of ethnic minorities. This tour is designed as a challenging ride. Average daily cycling mileage will be about 40 miles (65 km). On a few days vehicle transport will be used to supplement the cycling to get us to the next destination. Riders will carry their own luggage in their bike panniers. This tour will visit both well-known and little-known sights and will appeal to those who have cultural, social and geographical interests.

This tour begins with a tour of brief tour of Chengdu visiting the Panda Breeding Research Base and the Sichuan University Museum. This will give us a chance to test the bike equipment and get a feel for cycling in China. The second day the tour will cycle south to Huanglongxi, the site of a historic event and sample the local specialty. Afterward the tour will travel via van/truck to Leshan to visit the site of the world’s largest Buddha at 232 feet (71 meters). The next day is a short cycle to Emei Mountain, one of China’s sacred Buddhist mountains and will hike around the base and visit a few temples.

After Emei Mountain, the tour travels south to Ebian, a small city seldom visited by foreigners. From there, we will take a night train to Xichang, the heart of the Yi minority.

The route then turns west toward Yunnan stopping at the small towns of Pingchuan and Yanyuan before arriving at Lugu Lake. This is the center area of the matriarchal Mosu culture surrounding a lake at an elevation of 8,800 feet (2685 meters). The tour will spend two days exploring the area and visiting Liwubi Island and Yongning Monastery. The next day the group will cycle to Ninglang.

The next stop is Lijiang, home of the Naxi minority and set in a valley overshadowed by Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. With a picturesque old town including fast moving water through open waterways and wooden architecture, Lijiang makes a good two-day stopover. Visits to surrounding villages will include the 15th century frescoes the Yufeng Monastery and attend a Naxi Orchestra using unique traditional instruments.

The next segment of the tour goes into Tiger Leaping Gorge, a spectacular mountain area. This is one of the deepest and most dramatic gorges in the world and is still quite wild despite the enormous efforts to tame it. The group will visit the narrow spot of the gorge where it takes it name. It is a powerful spot with the whole of the Yangzi River confined to a 20- meter (70-foot) width. The group will spend the night in the gorge at a simple guesthouse.

The following morning, the group will cycle to Shangri-La (Zhongdian). This a predominantly Tibetan town located at about 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). The group will spend two days exploring the area of grasslands and Tibetan temples. The following day the group will fly to Kunming concluding the tour.

Travelogues and Photos along the route

Bike Trip Travelogue
Sichuan Photos
Yunnan Photos

Chengdu to Shangri-La (Zhongdian) Bike Tour
Day Location # of Cycling KM/Miles # of Total KM/Miles Notes
        SICHUAN PROVINCE
1 Chengdu 50/30 50/30 Visit Panda Research base and the Sichuan University Museum to view Sichuan minority dress.
2 Leshan 55/34 195/119 Cycle to Huanglongxi for lunch then bus transport to Leshan. Tour Giant Buddha.
3 Emei Shan 43/26 43/26 Hike the bottom of this Sacred Mountain
4 Emei Shan 0/0 0/0 Hike the mountain
5 Ebian 78/48 78/48 Cycle to Ebian, then take a night train to Xichang
6 Xichang 20/12 325/198 Center of the Yi minority - Visit old city walls and Muslim Mosque
7 Pingchuan 86/53 86/53 Small mountain village
8 Yanyuan 56/35 56/35 Small mountain village
      YUNNAN PROVINCE
9 Lugu Lake 80/50 133/83 Use transport part way. Visit Sichuan side of Lugu Lake
10 Lugu Lake 30/18 30/18 Visit Liwubi Island.
11 Lugu Lake 30/18 30/18 Cycle to Yunnan side of Lugu Lake. Visit Yongning Monastery
12 Ninglang 81/49 81/49 Small town
13 Lijiang 120/75 120/75 Stay in Old town.
14 Lijiang 30/18 30/18 Naxi minority culture. Naxi orchestra at night.
15 Lijiang 30/18 30/18 Black Dragon Lake, Naxi Museum and Baisha Frescoes
16 Dazu 90/55 90/55 Cycle to Dazu, the entrance to Tiger Leaping Gorge
17 Walnut Grove 16/10 16/10 Cycle in Tiger Leaping Gorge.  Spend the night in the gorge
18 Baishuitai 73/45 73/45 Visit the narrowest point in the river and a small rafting museum.
19 Shangri-La (Zhongdian) 105/64 105/64 Mutian Castle and the Tibetan Songzanlin Monastery
20 Kunming 0/0 0/0 Tour of Shangri-La, then fly to Kunming in the evening. End of Tour.
  Total >> Cycling Distance 1,073 KM
655 Miles
1,213 KM/740 Miles << Total Overland Distance

Tour Details

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

Start location: Chengdu, Sichuan Province

Finish location: Kunming, Yunnan Province

Tour type: No support vehicle - riders carry there own luggage and gear.

Geographical location: Southwest and Central China Elevation range: 2,300 feet (700 meters) to 11,500 feet (3,400 meters)

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

Click for Chengdu, Sichuan China Forecast

Click for Kunming Forecast

Terrain:  Rolling and mountainous

Cycling tour level: Challenging

Total cycling distance: Approximately 655 miles (1,073 km): Average distance per travel day: 36 miles (60 km) Cycling may be supplemented on occasion with vehicle transport when necessary to reach the next destination.

Days: 20, Nights: 20

Group size: 1 - 8

Accommodations will be basic but clean Chinese hotels (2-star) and guesthouses.

The prices are for double occupancy rooms, and will vary depending on the number of people who participate.

Private room supplement: US$290

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 or exploring villages along the way.

Prices include the following:

1. Bilingual bicycle tour guide to accompany the group throughout the tour.
2. All hotel accommodations for 20 nights.
3. Meals eaten as group (private meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages are not included).
4. All group transportation costs including buses and trucks as needed and to/from airports.
5. All group entrance fees. 6. Optional rental bike including panniers, helmet, gloves, raincape and lock. (US$0, included)

This will be a self-supported ride. This means that each person will carry their own luggage while cycling. Vehicle transportation will be used 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: $4,330
2 people: $2,990 pp
3 people $2,630 pp
4-8 people $2,390 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.


Click here to send a note of interest or to request additional information


Read some

Testimonials from our Clients


For general ride information that applies to all rides, please visit out FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and the General Info page.


Bike China Adventures, Inc.
Home | Guided Bike Tours | Testimonials | Photos | Bicycle Travelogues | Products | Info | Contact Us

Copyright © Bike China Adventures, Inc., 1998-2012. All rights reserved.