Bike China Logo

Tour Description

Kunming to Chengdu - 14-Day Bike Tour Kunming, Shangri-La (Zhongdian), Lijiang, Lake Lugu and Chengdu

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

Tibetan Buddhists Praying

Kunming to Chengdu - 14-Day Bike Tour Kunming, Shangri-La (Zhongdian), Lijiang, Lake Lugu and Chengdu

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

Tour Route Map

This 14-day bicycle tour begins in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province known as the "Spring City" and the gateway to China's largest concentration of ethnic minorities and end in Chengdu, home of the Giant Pandas. This tour is designed as a relatively challenging ride. Average daily cycling mileage will be about 40 miles (65 km). On some days we may use vehicle transport to supplement the cycling to get us to the next destination. Riders will carry their luggage in their bike panniers. There will be no support vehicle. 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 will meet and there will be a warm-up tour of the city where we will visit the Yuantong Temple, Cuihu (Green Lake) Park and the East/West Pagodas.

The following morning, the group will fly to Shangri-La (Zhongdian). This is a predominantly Tibetan town located at about 3,200 meters (10,500 feet). Here we will visit Songzanlin Monastery, Tiansheng Bridge hot springs and explore dramatic grasslands.

On the fourth day, we will have a challenging ride on one of the most scenic routes in Yunnan to Baishuitai, the back door to Tiger Leaping Gorge.

The following day we continue on the rollar-coaster ride to enter Tiger Leaping Gorge. 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. We will visit the narrow spot of the gorge where it takes it name. It is a powerful spot with the whole of the Yangtze River confined to a 20-meter (70-foot) width. We will spend the night in the gorge in simple cabin-like lodgings.

The following day we head to 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 and Yufeng Monastery.

The next part of this tour takes us east and north to Yongsheng, the entrance to Lugu Lake at elevation 2,685 meters (8,800 feet). Here the Mosu minority lives and still practices matriarchy. At the lake we will visit the Liwubi Island and nearby Yongning Monastery. The route heads back to Yongsheng (via vehicle transport) where we will head into the Guanyinqing valley toward Panzhihua. From nearby Jinjiang we will take the train to Chengdu.

In Chengdu, we will visit the Panda Breeding Research Center and conclude the tour.

Travelogues and photos covering portions of the route:

Cycling Yunnan Province with Bike China Adventures
Abe and Joc's Chinese Odyssey
Weiss Yunnan Bike Trip Photos
Photos from the Grand Tour of Southwest China
Even More Yunnan Photos

Itinerary

Day Location Cycling Distance Miles/KM YUNNAN PROVINCE
1 Kunming

18/30

Meet group members/Brief City Tour - Yuantong Temple, East and West Pagodas, and Cuihu City Park
2 Shangri-La (Zhongdian) 30/50 Fly to Shangri-La (Zhongdian). Explore this Tibetan town with plenty of flavor including a visit to a Tibetan Lamasery

3

Shangri-La (Zhongdian) 30/50 "Shangri-La," and the grasslands
4 Baishuitai 64/105 This back door to Tiger Leaping Gorge is a spectacular and challenging ride
5 Tiger Leaping Gorge 37/60 One of the World's Deepest Gorges, and an up close look at the raw power of this historical river
6 Lijiang 58/95 Snow Jade Dragon Mountain
7 Lijiang 30/50 Zhiyun Temple, Old town, Baisha Frescoes
8 Ninglang 73/120 Great scenery along this route
9 Luoshui 49/81 Lugu Lake
10 Yongning 18/30 Yongning Monastery
11 Yongsheng 18/30 Lugu Lake, Liwubi Island. Afternoon transport to Yongsheng
12 Huaping 70/114 Guanyinqing Valley
      SICHUAN PROVINCE
13 Panzhihua (Jinjiang) 38/63 The industrial center of south Sichuan
14 Jingjiang to Chengdu 12/20 15-hour train to Chengdu then a visit to the Panda Breeding Research Center. End of Tour.
  Total Distance 553/906  

Details

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

Start location: Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

Finish location: Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

Tour type: This is a self-supported tour. Riders carry their own their own gear on the bikes in panniers. (Note: This tour is also available with a dedicated support vehicle at a higher cost.)

Geographical location: Southwest China Elevation range: 6,250 feet (1,900 meters) to 11,000 feet (3,250 meters)

Terrain: Rolling and mountainous

Cycling tour level: Challenging - alternative transportation may be used if needed

Total cycling distance: Approximately miles 553 (906 km): Average distance per ride day: 40 miles (65 km).

Days: 14, Nights: 14

Click for Kunming Forecast

Click for Chengdu, Sichuan China Forecast

Climate: The best time to tour is in the spring and fall. Check the links above for historical weather data.

Group size: 1 - 8

Rental bike:US$0 (included).

Accommodations will be basic Chinese hotels generally of the 1-3 star variety. At least once it will be necessary to use a no-star hotel.

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

Private room supplement: US$ (Call/Email)

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. All hotel accommodations for 14 nights.
2. Meals eaten as group (private meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages are not included).
3. All group land transportation costs: buses, boats, taxis and the train from Panzhihua to Chengdu; plus a flight from Kunming to Shangri-La (Zhongdian).
4. All group entrance fees.
5. Rental bikes and related biking gear including helmets, gloves, bike bags and raincapes (US$0).
6. Bilingual bike tour guide to accompany the group throughout the tour.

This will be a self-supported ride. This means that each rider will carry their luggage on their bikes.

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: - Call/Email
2 people: - Call/Email
3 people: - Call/Email
4-8 people: - Call/Email

* 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; Labor Day ; and National Day.

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.


Read some

Testimonials from our Clients


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


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

Top of Page


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

Copyright © Bike China Adventures, Inc., 1998-2015. All rights reserved.