Bicycle Tour Description

Beijing, Xi'an, Sichuan, and Shanghai 21-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, and Shanghai 21-day Bike Tour

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

This 21-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 Summer Palace. On the third day, the group will take a motor vehicle excursion to one of the more exciting sections of the Great Wall at Jinshanling and hike about four hours to Simatai.

On the fourth day we will visit the Temple of Heaven in the morning followed by shopping in the afternoon at the Silk Market and Hong Qiao Market. In the evening the group will fly to Xi'an.

The next day, the group will visit the Terracotta Warriors by motor vehicle and then explore the city wall by bike in the afternoon. In the evening we will experience a Tang Dynasty-style dinner at the Grand Opera House.

On Day Six, we will visit the Shaanxi Provincial Museum, Big Goose Pagoda and the Muslim Quarter. In the evening, we will fly to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province and home of the Giant Panda.

The next day, the group will take transport 100 km to the Wolong Nature Reserve and cycle to the Panda Research Base where there will ample opportunity to get a close view of these adorable creatures.

On the eight day, the group will head up to Balangshan Pass (partially using transport) through the Wolong Nature Reserve. The pass is at 4,550 meters (14,950 feet) and 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 Girls Mountain. We will spend a day in the area hiking and cycling around this scenic area.

On the following day we will cycle (mostly downhill) first 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. In the afternoon, we will continue 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.

On the eleventh day the group will explore the Danba area including some of the Tibetan Defensive towers the dot the hills around the town.

From Danba we will head south along the Dadu partially using transport first to Bamei, then on to Tagong, the location of an old Tibetan monastery draped with hundreds of prayer flags. Accommodations will be in a simple guesthouse.

On Day 13, we will head to Kangding through the grassland on the Tibetan Plateau. Kangding is a 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 14th day, the group will cycle to 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 the 17th day, the group will return to Chengdu using transport via Luding, a historic place where Chairman Mao crossed the river with his Red Army on his Long March. We will visit the museum and the historic Luding Bridge. Next Back in Chengdu there will be an Acrobat and Sichuan Opera show in the evening.

The next day the group will fly to Shanghai, China's most modern city and home to 13 million people. There will be dinning on the TV tower to get a bird's eye view on old and new Shanghai. A city tour in the old town, the Bund, Yu Garden and the Shanghai Museum. Evening cruise on Huangpu River.

On the 19th day, the group will take car to Suzhou to visit the Classic Four Gardens and tour of canals and silk factories. We will return to Shanghai at night.

On day 20, we will visit the famous Shanghai Museum in the morning and spend the afternoon shopping some Shanghais best markets. In the evening, there will be a cruise on Huangpu River.

In the morning of the last day of the tour, we will see part of Jewish Shanghai by visiting the Ohel Moshe Synagogue. In the afternoon there will be time for some last-minute shopping before departing for the Shanghai Airport on the Maglev concluding the tour.

Photos covering portions of the route:

Beijing Photos
Sichuan Photos

ITINERARY
Beijing, Xi'an, Sichuan, and Shanghai 21-day Bike Tour
Day	Location	Cycling Miles/KM	Notes
			BEIJING
1	Beijing	20/32	Arrive 2:55 PM in Beijing. Transfer to Bamboo Hotel. Biking in Beijing's "hutongs" - narrow allies - to get a feel for the rapidly disappearing Old Beijing.
2	Beijing	20/32	City tour by bike. Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace
3	Beijing	0/0	Excursion by motor vehicle to Great Wall. Four hour hike from Jinshanling to Simatai.
4	Beijing/Xi'an	20/32	Temple of Heaven in the morning. Afternoon Shopping at the Silk Market and Hong Qiao Market. Fly to Xi'an in the evening.
			XI'AN, SHAANXI PROVINCE
5	Xi'an	20/32	Excursion by motor vehicle to Terracotta Warriors. Bike on top of the city wall. Tang-style Dinner at the Grand Opera House
6	Xi'an/Chengdu	20/32	Shaanxi Museum, Big Goose Pagoda and Muslim Quarter. Fly to Chengdu in the evening.
			SICHUAN PROVINCE
7	Wolong	25/41	Take transport part way. Visit the Wolong Panda Nature Reserve
8	Rilongguan	49/80	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 Girls Mountains.
9	Rilongguan	20/32	Hike and cycle in this scenic area.
10	Danba	37/60	Visit Wori Defensive Tower, a Buddhist Temple, an Islamic Mosque and a Catholic Church
11	Danba	37/60	Visit surrounding defense towers
12	Tagong	/32	Visit Tagong Temple.
13	Kangding	61/100	Cycle along the Dadu River. Take transport part way to Kangding.
14	Kangding	20/32	Explore this Tibetan town with a visit to a Tibetan Temple and soak in hot spring baths
15	Moxi	56/92	Scenic and challenging road to Moxi.
16	Moxi	20/32	Explore Hailuogou Glacier Park including a walk on the glacier and soak in the hot spring bath
17	Chengdu	0/0	Transport back to Chengdu through Luding, a historic place where Chairman Mao crossed the river with his Red Army on his Long March. Visit the museum with some artifacts.. Acrobat and Sichuan Opera show in the evening.
			SHANGHAI
18	Shanghai	0/0	City tour of old town, the Bund and Yu Garden.
19	Shanghai	0/0	Transport to Suzhou by car. Classic Four Gardens and tour of Canals and Silk factories. Return to Shanghai at night.
20	Shanghai	0/0	Shanghai Museum in the morning and shopping in the afternoon. Evening cruise on Huangpu River.
21	Shanghai	0/0	Morning to Ohel Moshe Synagogue and shopping to at Xiangyang Lu Market. End to tour. Maglev transport to the Shanghai Airport.
	Total Cycling Distance	494 mi 790 km

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 seven 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).

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 494 miles (790 km). Cycling will be supplemented with motor vehicle transport when necessary to reach the next destination.

Days: 21Nights: 20

Group size: 1 - 8

Private room supplement: US$850

Accommodations will be generally 3- or 4-star Chinese hotels in the cities (except Shanghai when we will stay in the 5-star Ritz Carlton). In the countryside, rooms will be the best available, which in some cases will small hotels or guesthouses and will be basic, but clean.

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 room accommodations (double occupancy) for 17 nights (Shanghai not included).
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 included (US$0).

This will be a vehicle-supported ride during days 7-17. 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$5,890pp
2 people US$4,260 pp
3-4 people US$3,990pp
5-8 people US$3,570pp

* 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.

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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