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Bicycle Tour Description

Beijing, Xi'an, Sichuan Mountains, and Shanghai 17-day Bike Tour

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

Outside the Forbidden City in Tian'anmen Square

Beijing, Xi'an, Sichuan Mountains, and Shanghai 17-day Bike Tour

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

Click here for the Map

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 followed by an evening flight to Chengdu.

On the fifth day the group will take transport 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 six, 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 seventh 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 eight 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 ninth day the group will cycle from Danba heading southwest and mostly uphill to Bamei, a town 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. Continuing to Kangding partially using transport, we stay in this well-known Tibetan town straddling a fast-flowing river.  The next day will be spent cycling and hiking around this area visiting a Tibetan temple and soaking in a hot spring bath.

On the 12th 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 14, 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 15th 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 fly to Shanghai, China's most modern city and home to 18 million people. Due to time constraints and traffic restrictions, there will be no biking in Shanghai. There will be a city tour of old town, the Bund, Yu Garden, and the Shanghai Museum followed by an evening cruise on Huangpu River.

The tour will end on the 17th day and include transport to the Shanghai Airport for connections home.

Photos covering portions of the route:

Beijing Photos
Sichuan Photos

Itinerary

Beijing, Xi'an, Sichuan Mountains, and Shanghai 17-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 0/0 275/440 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/Chengdu 20/32 75/120 Excursion by motor vehicle to Terracotta Warriors.  Bike around the city wall. Fly to Chengdu in the evening.
        SICHUAN PROVINCE
5 Wolong 25/41 91/145 Take transport part way.  Visit the Wolong Panda Nature Reserve
6 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.
7 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
8 Danba 12/20 12/20 Rest day. Visit the Defensive Towers
9 Bamei 38/60 61/97 Cycle up to the Tibetan Plateau
10 Kangding 38/60 92/147 Cycle on the Tibetan Plateau and visit Tagong monastery. Transport part way.
11 Kangding 12/20 12/20 Rest day. Explore this Tibetan valley town and soak in hot springs
12 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
13 Moxi 0/0 19/30 Hiking in Hailuogou Glacier Park including a walk on the glacier and soak in the hot spring bath
14 Shangli 56/90 115/184 Head back into the Sichuan Basin and cycle to the lush village of Shangli
15 Chengdu 28/45 84/135 Transport back to Chengdu. Acrobat and Sichuan Opera show in the evening.
        SHANGHAI
16 Shanghai 20/32 69/110 City tour in old town, the Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum. Evening cruise on Huangpu River.
17 Shanghai 0/0 28/45 End to tour.  Transport to Shanghai Airport.
  Total Cycling Distance 428 mi
685 km
1,170 mi
1,872 km
Total Distance

Tour Details

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


Start location: Beijing, China

Finish location: Shanghai, China

Tour type: Combination bus and bike tour with three internal flights. Support vehicle will be provided during days five through fifteen from Chengdu into Western Sichuan and back to Chengdu. At other times, riders carry there own day gear (in Beijing and Xi'an).

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.
Click for Beijing Forecast Click for Xi'an Forecast
Click for Chengdu, Sichuan China Forecast
Click for Shanghai Forecast

Terrain:  Flat, rolling hills and mountainous

Cycling tour level: Moderate

Total cycling distance: Approximately 430 miles (700 km). Cycling will be supplemented with motor vehicle transport when necessary to reach the next destination.

Days: 17 Nights: 17

Group size: 1 - 8

Private room supplement: US$ (Call/Email)

Accommodations will be generally 3- or 4-star Chinese hotels. 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 17 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 Chengdu-Shanghai) taxis, buses and van during the bike tour.
5. All group entrance fees.
6. Optional rental bicycle is available.

This will be a vehicle-supported ride during days 5-15. 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$ - Call/Email
Group size: 2 people US$ - Call/Email
Group size: 3 people US$ - Call/Email
Group size: 4-8 people US$ - Call/Email


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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