Tour Description

Yunnan and Sichuan - Shangri-La, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang and Chengdu 7-Day Cycling Tour

Dates: Wednesday, May 23 to Tuesday, May 29, 2012
(or earlier, ask!)

Barry and Joyce in Tiger Leaping Gorge

Yunnan and Sichuan - Shangri-La, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang and Chengdu 7-Day Cycling Tour

Dates: Wednesday, May 23 to Tuesday, May 29, 2012
(or earlier, ask!)

This 7-day cycling tour begins in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province and ends in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. This vehicle-supported tour is designed as an easy to challenging ride - riders can choose to cycle as much or as little as they like. Average daily cycling mileage will be about 68 km or 42 miles. Riders will carry only their day-use items in their bike handlebar bag. 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 day before the first day, the group will meet in Kunming and prepare for an early morning flight to Shangri-La (Zhongdian) on Day 1.

On the first day we will fly to Shangri-La (Zhongdian), a predominantly Tibetan town located at about 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) elevation. We will spend one day exploring the area of grasslands and Tibetan temple and visit the Limestone Bridge and hot springs.

On the second day, we will cycle over one of the most scenic rides in Yunnan from Shangri-La to Baishuitai, the back door route to Tiger Leaping Gorge.

On day three, the group will enter the Tiger Leaping Gorge, 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. The night will be spent in the Gorge in simple cabin-like lodgings.

On the fourth day, we will cycle out of the gorge and then along side the Yangtze River to Lijiang. This is the center of the creative Naxi minority group, and we will explore the unique old town with fast flowing open canals and distinctive architecture. After dinner, the group will head for the airport to fly directly to Chengdu arriving about 10:30 PM.

In the morning of day five, the group will visit People's Park to view the some of the many activities that go on there such as Taichi, ballroom dancing, sword twirling, etc. In the afternoon we will visit Wenshu monastery and then cycle to Huanglongxi on a lovely road along a river and visit the unique Yellow Dragon Temple built on the side of a hill and a Chinese cemetery. We will spend the night in Huanglongxi, a historic old town often used for period movie sets.

On the sixth day the group will visit a confiscated landlord manor used as for the re-education of the masses during the cultural revolution and sporting a surprising courtyard with over 100 life-sized clay statues depicting the cruelty of landlord and rent collection from the peasants. In the afternoon, we will return to Chengdu for the evening and a banquet meal.

In the morning of the seventh day, we will make an early morning visit to the Panda Breeding Research Base north of Chengdu when the pandas are most active before they get a belly full of bamboo and nap the day away. Afterwards, there will be a transfer to the Chengdu airport, concluding the bike tour.

A travelogue and photos covering portions of the route:

Cycling Yunnan Province with Bike China Adventures
Photos from Yunnan
Weiss Yunnan Bike Trip Photo Gallery

Itinerary and Tour Details Yunnan and Sichuan - Shangri-La, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang and Chengdu 7-Day Cycling Tour 409 km - 249 miles Route Map
Day	Location	Cycling KM/Miles	Notes
			YUNNAN PROVINCE
0	Kunming	0/0	Group meets in Kunming.
1	Shangri-La(Zhongdian)	30/18	Early morning flight to Shangri-La, visit Limestone Bridge and grasslands
2	Baishuitai	77/47	Ride this scenic route to the back door of Tiger Leaping Gorge
3	Tiger Leaping Gorge	75/46	One of the world's deepest gorges. An up-close look at the raw power of this historical river.
4	Lijiang/Chengdu	86/52	Visit historic old town. Evening flight to Chengdu.
			SICHUAN PROVINCE
5	Huanglongxi	50/31	Visit People's Park and Wenshu monastery in the morning. Afternoon cycle to Huanglongxi, an ancient town used for movie sets.
6	Chengdu	91/56	Cycle to Anren and visit the Li Landlord Manor, then return to Chengdu in the afternoon.
7	Chengdu	0/0	Early morning visit to the pandas and then transfer to the airport concluding the tour.
	Total Distance	409 km 249 miles

Details - Yunnan and Sichuan - Shangri-La, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang and Chengdu 7-Day Cycling Tour

Dates: Wednesday, May 23 to Tuesday, May 29, 2012
(or earlier, ask!)

Start location: Kunming, Yunnan Province

Finish location: Chengdu, Sichuan Province

Tour type: Vehicle-supported - riders carry only their day-use items. A support vehicle will carry luggage (and cyclists when needed).

Geographical location: Southwestern China. Elevation range: 500 meters (1,640 feet) to 3,300 meters (10,800 feet)

Climate: The best weather for touring is in the spring and fall. Chance of rain (or snow at the passes). Historic weather information for Chengdu is available from the link below. Higher elevations will be colder.

Terrain: Mountainous, rolling and flat

Cycling tour level: Easy to challenging

Total cycling distance: Approximately 409 km (249 miles): Average distance per travel day: 68 km (42 miles) Cycling may be supplemented on occasion with vehicle transport when needed.

Days: 7

Nights: 7

Cycling Days:6

Group size: 1 - 8

Accommodations: Will be basic Chinese hotels generally of the 1-2 star variety. One night it will be necessary to use a 0-star guesthouse. The prices are for double occupancy rooms, and will vary depending on the number of people who participate.

Single room supplement: US$210

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.

Tour includes:

Bilingual bike tour guide to accompany the group throughout the tour.

All hotel accommodations for 7 nights.

Meals eaten as group (private meals, snacks and alcoholic beverages are not included).

All group transportation costs (two internal flights: Kunming-Zhongdian, Lijiang-Chengdu; buses, boats, and taxis).

All group entrance fees.

A support vehicle for transport of gear (and cyclists when needed).

Travel insurance for the duration of the tour.
Rental mountain bike with front suspension, handlebar bag, cyclometer, etc.

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

This will be a vehicle-supported ride. This means that riders will carry only their day-use items. A support vehicle will follow with luggage and to carry cyclists when needed.

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

Group size:
1 person: $2,650
2 people: $1,720 pp <<-- Price/person for the next sign-up
3 people $1,580 pp
4-8 people $1,460 pp

Current registrations:

There is one person registered as of

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 transder, or personal check.

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