Cycling Tour Description

Silk Road and High Road to Sichuan 37-Day Bicycle Tour - Xi'an to Chengdu via Gansu and Qinghai

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

Silk Road and High Road to Sichuan 37-Day Bicycle Tour - Xi'an to Chengdu via Gansu and Qinghai

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

This 37-day cycling tour begins and in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province and ends in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. This tour is designed as challenging ride. Average daily cycling mileage will be about 86 km or 53 miles. Cyclists 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.

On the first day, the group members will greeted at the Xi'an airport and transferred to their hotel in Xi'an. The remaining day will be for rest or exploring on your own. The next two days in Xi'an will be spent visiting sights including the Terra-Cotta Soldiers, Banpo Neolithic Village, Bell Tower, Grand Mosque, the Muslem Quarter and the Shaanxi Museum, one of the best in China.

On the fourth day we will transfer gear into panniers and cycle northwest to Qianxian to visit Princess Yong Tai's Tomb with tomb paintings of palace servants and the exquisite carvings on the coffin. Afterwards we will cycle to Famen.

On the following day we will visit the Famen Temple and museum before heading to Baoji 102 km west and visit the Zhouyuan Site in Qishan, Dong Lake in Fengxiang and Jintai Taoist Temple in Baoji.

For the next six days we will continue to follow the Silk Road west into Gansu province passing through Manping, Tianshui, Wushan, Weiyuan and Lintao before reaching Yongjing where we will stop for two nights and get a well-deserved rest. Along the way there are Shennong Shrine, Maijishan Grottoes, Daxiangshan Grottoes, Shuiliangdong Grottoes, Baling Bridge, Weiyuan Tower, Majia Kiln Site, Liujiaxia hydroelectric Station and theBinglingsi Grottoes on the Liujiaxia Reservoir by boat.

On the 13th day, we will leave the Silk Road and head west to Linxia and latter into Qinghai province stopping in Xunhua and Tongren, the home of Tibetan Buddhism arts where tankas are made.

On days 15-18 we will visit a several Tibetan temples and monasteries stopping in Xiahe (home to Labrang Monastery, one of the six largest Tibetan monastic institutes), Hezuo, Luqu and Langmusi (home to another well-known Tibetan monastery).

On days 19 - 21 we will travel along the heavily wooded White Dragon River, a scenic and historic route. Though most local Tibetans are highly sinicized, they can still trace their ancestry back to the border armies from the time of Tibetan kings. The exceptions are those of the ancient Bon tradition which have survived in a remote corner of the river valley. This route is little known so far by travelers and tourists.

During next three days we head to Jiuzhaigou, one to the natural wonders of China with spectacular alpine scenery in a Tibetan area. There will be a rest day here for exploring the park.

On the 26th day, we will bicycle to Chuanzhusi and the following day cycle to Huanglong National Park to visit the incredible natural multi-colored pools.

On the 29th day, the group will take transport over a very rough section of road fro 48 km to the top of the pass on the Tibetan plateau and then cycle to Zoige.

For the next several days, we will visit Tanke,Hongyan,Shuajinsi,Miyalou and Taoping. This area is mostly Tibetan and Chang groups. In Taoping, the group will stay in a traditional Chang village stone house.

On the 35th day, we will cycle 80 km to Wenjiang and the take transport to Chengdu. The next day we will take a tour of the city visiting Wenshu Monastery (where there is a charming outdoor teahouse), River Viewing Pagoda (in a park with 150 varieties of bamboo) and Sichuan University Museum (with a display of minority group dress). In the evening we will have a banquet.

On the last we will transfer the group members to the airport, concluding the tour.

Below are several travelogues covering portions of the route.

Spoke Notes
Bike Trip to Ganzi, Qinghai and Gansu
Patrick Jennings eJournal

Itinerary and Tour Details Silk Road and High Road to Sichuan 37-Day Bicycle Tour - Xi'an to Chengdu via Gansu and Qinghai 2,853 km - 1,740 miles Route Map
Day	Date	Location	Cycling KM/Miles	Notes
	May			SHAANXI PROVINCE
1	18	Xi'an	0/0	Arrive in Xi'an from Beijing. Airport transfer to hotel and rest.
2	19	Xi'an	20/12	Visit the Terra-cotta Warriors and Banpo Neolithic Village by bus. Explore the city on bike including the Muslim quarter and the Grand Mosque.
3	20	Xi'an	20/12	Explore the Xi'an by bike including the massive city walls, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and one of China's best museums, the Shaanxi Museum.
4	21	Famen	125/76	Cycle to 85 km Qianxian to visit Princess Yong Tai's Tomb with tomb paintings of palace servants and the exquisite carvings on the coffin. Then cycle to 40 km to Famen and visit the Famen Temple and museum.
5	22	Baoji	102/62	Visit the Zhouyuan Site in Qishan, Dong Lake in Fengxiang and Jintai Taoist Temple in Baoji.
Day	Date	Location	Cycling KM/Miles	GANSU PROVINCE
6	23	Manping	95/58	Visit the Shennong Shrine on the way out of Baoji.
7	24	Tianshui	113/69	Visit the Maijishan Grottoes
8	25	Wushan	109/66	Visit the Daxiangshan Grottoes
9	26	Weiyuan	127/77	Visit the Shuiliangdong Grottoes, Baling Bridge and Weiyuan Tower
10	27	Lintao	101/62	Majia Kiln Site
11	28	Yongjing	130/79	Liujiaxia hydroelectric Station
12	29	Yongjing	0/0	Rest day - Visit the Binglingsi Grottoes on the Liujiaxia Reservoir by boat.
13	30	Linxia	80/49	Visit a Dongxiang people's home.
Day	Date	Location	Cycling KM/Miles	QINGHAI PROVINCE
14	31	Xunhua	105/64	Shala people's home by Yellow River. 800 years ago they came from Central Asia with their camels.
15	June 1	Tongren	72/44	The home of Tibetan Buddhism arts where tankas are made.
Day	Date	Location	Cycling KM/Miles	GANSU PROVINCE
16	2	Xiahe	92/56	Labrang Monastery, one of the six largest Tibetan monastic institutes.
17	3	Hezou	69/42	13-story Milarepa Temple, the highest in its kind.
18	4	Luqu	81/49	Visit a hillside monastery.
19	5	Langmusi	107/65	Two large Tibetan Monasteries
20	6	Diebu	62/38	Small Mountain village
21	7	Luoda	91/56	Small Mountain village
22	8	Zhouqu	62/38	Small Mountain village
23	9	Wudu	75/46	Small Mountain village
Day	Date	Location	Cycling KM/Miles	SICHUAN PROVINCE
24	10	Nanping	70/43	Small Mountain village
25	11	Jiuzhaigou	50/31	National Natural Reserve
26	12	Jiuzhaigou	0/0	Rest day - National Natural Reserve - spectacular alpine scenery in a Tibetan area.
27	13	Chuanzhusi	88/54	Mountain village
28	14	Chuanzhusi	120/73	Cycle round trip to/from Huanglong - Incredible natural multicolored pools.
29	15	Zoige	100/61	Take transport 48 km over bad roads to the top of the pass and cycle 100 km to Zoige.
30	16	Tanke	69/42	Monastery
31	17	Hongyuan	79/48	Small Tibetan town.
32	18	Shuajinsi	140/85	Location of a Scripture Printing House
33	19	Miyalou	70/43	Small Tibetan and Chang town.
34	20	Taoping	49/30	Stay in a Chang minority village
35	21	Chengdu	80/50	Cycle to Wenchuan then transport to Chengdu
36	22	Chengdu	40/24	Tour of Chengdu sights - Wenshu Monastery, River Viewing pagoda and Sichuan University Museum
37	23	Chengdu	0/0	Transport to airport. End of tour.
		Total Distance	2,853 km 1,740 miles

Details - Silk Road and High Road to Sichuan 37-Day Bicycle Tour - Xi'an to Chengdu via Gansu and Qinghai

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

Start location: Xi'an, Shaanxi Province

Finish location: Chengdu, Sichuan Province

Tour type: Self-supported - riders carry their own luggage. Transport will be provided for riders and gear on portions of Day 29.

Geographical location: Southwestern China. Elevation range: 900 meters (3,000 feet) to 4,050 meters (13,300 feet)

Climate: The best weather for touring is in the spring and fall. Historic weather information for Chengdu is available from the link below. Higher elevations will be colder.

Terrain: Mountainous, rolling and high plateau

Cycling tour level: Challenging

Total cycling distance: Approximately 2,853 km (1,740 miles): Average distance per travel day: 86 km (53 miles). Cycling may be supplemented on occasion with vehicle transport when necessary to reach the next destination .

Days: 37

Nights: 37

Group size: 1-3

Accommodations will be basic Chinese hotels generally of the 1-2 star variety. On some occasions will be necessary to use a 0-star hotel/guesthouse. 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 three people. This will permit more flexibility in the program and allow more spontaneity for taking photos or exploring villages along the way.

Tour includes the following:

1. All hotel accommodations for 37 nights.
2. Meals eaten as group (private meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages are not included).
3. All group transportation costs (buses, boats, and taxis) including transport to/from the airports.
4. All group entrance fees.
5. Transport of gear and cyclists when necessary. Riders will carry their own luggage.
6. Optional bike rental (US$200) includes bike, panniers, lock, raincape, gloves and helmet.

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

Group size:

1 person: US$7,930
2 people: US$5,680
3 people: US$4,280

4-8 people: US$3,880

* Holiday Periods require a 30% surcharge to the basic price due to increased costs of hotels and transportation. Tours with overlapping dates will be prorated. These periods are: Chinese New Year (Feb. 7, 2008) from Feb 1-17, 2008 and (Jan. 26, 2009) from Jan. 19 to Feb. Feb.2, 2009; Labor Day Apr. 24 - May 10; and National Day Sep. 25 - Oct. 10.

Bicycle rental is available for $210 including bike, panniers, lock, gloves, raincape and helmet.

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

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.

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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