18-day Landscape and Culture China Cycling Tour

Day 1 Arrival at Guiyang (D)

Guiyang is the capital city of Guizhou province located in southwest part of China. We will meet you at the airport and then transfer to hotel. We’ll get together and head out for a banquet of local restaurant. (No matter you are a skilled rider or a newbie, you will be given a professional basic user manual about the bicycle we offer and the matters need attention about this tour. Please take a good rest today and read the user manual.) 

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  UNESCO heritages in southwest Guizhou, China

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  The Ethenic Minority in Guizhou

Day 2 Transferring to Leishan Town  (B, L, D)

The starting point of this tour is Leishan town, over 220km from Guiyang. If your flight arrives early in Guiyang in the morning or before noon on the first day, we will transferred guest directly to Kaili (transferring on expressway from Guiyang to Kaili first, and then on provincial road from Kaili to Leishan town), or we will arrive in Leishan town in the evening on first day. If your flight arrive Guiyang in the afternoon or evening on the first day, we will arrange some visiting of the Miao ethnic villages today, and finally we will arrive Leishan town for rest and bike testing before the tour starts.

Day 3 Leishan -- Yongle  34miles/55km   (B, L, D)

Leigong shan (Mountain road of Guizhou cycling routes, fond by riders worldwide). We start our cycling trip from the Leshan town, our fist day biking is also the most difficult one as riders will cycle uphill twice on long distant slopes along the Leigongshan mountain areas. Cycling uphill is tough and riders without determinations may easily get beaten by those mountain roads, however, if you follow some tips and keep your strength and be patient enough, nothing is difficult. Do follow our leaders and listen to their experience and tips, the cycling uphill might become easier. Total climbing distant today is about 20kms. Finally we arrive Yongle, a small and peaceful town in southern east of Guizhou province. We will stay overnight in the best guesthouse in the Yongle town. You might be attracted by this less commercialized village and the kind people there.

Day 4 Yongle -- Rongjiang   46miles/74km   (B, L, D)

Today we continue our cycling into the countryside areas, the valley, and the rice terraces, the ethnic minority of Miao, Yao, and Dong and their villages are with us. Riders have enough time to visit the local wooden houses and learn more about their unique traditional clothing as today’s cycling is mainly on a well-paved road. We do not have too much trouble from the traffic and the terrain as most of the cycling today will be on level of downhill except one big slope lasting about 10km, finally we finish our trail today in Rongjiang. It is an important county in the southeast of Guizhou. Stay overnight in the Dongxiangmi Grand Hotel, the best hotel of Rongjiang county helps us to restore our strength.

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  The rice terraces are found everywhere during your cycling

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  The cycle racing was once held in Leigongshan areas

Day 5 Rongjiang -- Congjiang   50miles/80km   (B, L, D)

Travelers may have chances to see the local Chinese market-day on weekend in rural areas. On the market fair, traders from surrounding villages come together and sell their own products like hand-made brooms, sickle blades, diverse fruits and spices. The market fair also is a perfect chance to meet people of different minorities. If our group is lucky enough to arrive in Rongjiang on Firday or Saturday, we may have time for a wandering and shopping in the market. During the cycling today, we will see the local farming, the Duliu River, the mother river of Local Miao people; their hard working pattern will surely impress you deeply. We will stay overnight in Congjiang hotel, a 3 star one.

Day 6 Congjiang -- Zhaoxing   34miles/55km   (B, L, D)

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       Beautiful landscapes are found along the road

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       The villages of local minority residents 

Day 7 Zhaoxing Rest Day (B) 

We will stay one more day in Zhaoxing for rest to recover from the mountain climbing and prepare for the long distance cycling in the coming two days. Interesting Miao villages and things to do will be recommended by our tour guide. 

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       Leisure cycling on the rest day in Zhaoxing

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       Bamboo weaving, a traditional culture of China

Day 8 Zhaoxing --Sanjiang   65miles/105km  (B, L, D)

We will finish the cycling in Guizhou province and then enter Guangxi province today, congratulations! The dietary and accommodation condition in Guangxi is better than Guizhou, cyclists may feel comfortable physically and mentally as we may see the ‘most beautiful places in the heaven’ very soon!The distant today is over 100 kilometers but we will not encounter too much long distant slopes today, we will cycle along the river and then finally reach Sanjiang, the important county of Guilin area, a crossing connecting Guizhou, Guangxi and Hunan province. The night views of Sanjiang are awesome! The tower and theater shaped like a bird’s nest decorated by neon lights, the waterwheels, the rivers and bridges connecting the people and houses, Sanjiang is such a good place for traveling. 

Day 9  Sanjiang -- Ping'an   50miles/89km  (B, L, D)

Ping'an is the entrance village of the dragon’s backbone rice terrace scenic areas, the whole areas is pronounced Longji in Chinese.Most of the cycling today will be on level rating, however, many short slopes lasting tens of meters will accompany us. Ping‘an village is located outside the Longsheng county, we will have an inevitable cycling on the busy national road today, please follow the single line rules and do not get over speeding on those places where there are many annoying cars. The scenic area of the rice terraces is on the mountain and we may need to cycle up after arriving Heping village (the entrance village), more attentions are needed in this section due to the common travel cars and guests. We finally arrive at the world famous scenic spot. 

Day 10 Longji Rice Terrace Trekking and Rest    (B, L, D)   4 hours trekking

Today is a walking day for a break from the previous hard biking. The trekking lasts about 4hr on the mostly stone paved paths by the local villagers (walking shoes sound necessary). You will return in the afternoon and relax on the balcony while enjoying the sunset with a soothing cold drink.We will stay overnight at hotel or wood lodge on the rice terraces, local people lives in wooden house as it is warmer in winter.

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         Scenery view room in hotel at Longji 

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       World famous dragon's backbone rice terraces 

Day 13Guilin -- Huixian Wetland Areas -- Yanshan   (B, L, D)     Optional 37miles(60km) or 49miles(80km)

We will start the Guilin section by cycling from the hotel and leaving Guilin from a less busy road. A section of off-road biking is included today. After some small paths and villages we will arrive at Huixian country, then continue our trip to the wetland banks and take a boat and start to enjoy the splendid scenic views. You may even climb the hill to see a complete picture of the wetland. After lunch and rest, we go on riding along the small path and villages to Yanshan town of Guilin and check in hotel for rest. If the group arrives at Yanshan town early, you can have an optional visit to the Garden show park of Yanshan, it’s optional and charged. 

Today the tour takes to enjoy the limestone peaks, crisscrossing rivers, old bridges and ancient routes connecting villages. The level biking is easy but the path crisscross the labyrinth of the small paths. Follow the leader closely.

Overnight in Yanshan town

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  Huixian Wetland Park,Guilin

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  Cycling over the rice paddy fields.

Optional itinerary (Total distance increases to 80KM)
Except the 37miles biking today ends at Yanshan (totally around 4hours biking and 1-2hours for drifting on the Huixian wetland), you can also choose to have a bike visit to the Golden pheasant river reservoir at Luojin town. We may need to ride for a little longer distance. But the reservoir is the most beautiful one of Guilin. It is undeveloped, less polluted and for free. If your group is well equipped, efficient and skilled in biking, think about adding this reservoir into your route because this reservoir is even more beautiful than most of the charging places!

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  The Golden pheasant river reservoir is a hidden highlight

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  Cycling to our undiscovered places in Guilin.

Day 14 Yanshan -- Putao -- Baisha - Yangshuo   46mile/75km   (B, L, D)

During the biking today, you will see meandering rivers, limestone hills, rural countryside with rice paddies and mud brick houses. The amazing karst topography and peaceful country road accompany you all the way to Yangshuo. Our trip is quite different from the traditional tours by cars. The biking route today is not so simple, you will encounter macadam, unsurfaced forest-road with soil or even mud. For most of the time we will not have many chances to see groceries and our support vehicle, so do a cautious ride today. There are many elegant places worth to see. So enjoy the time on the road. We will arrive at Yangshuo before evening.

Overnight at a guesthouse in Yangshuo

Day 15 Yangshuo (B)

You can choose to continue your bicycle tour today with our guide to Gaotian town or any places nearby that interests you. Upon return, we will visit moon hill and climb the 900 or so stairs for a panoramic view of the surrounding farmlands and peaks. It is awesome. Or you may have a free time today. (The lunch will be included if everyone goes to the same destination)

Overnight at a guesthouse in Yangshuo

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  Biking for Moon Hill in Yangshuo

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  Climb up to the Moon Hill for karst scenery

Day 16 Yangshuo -- Xingping   27miles/43km   (B, L, D)

We start our riding today along the Li River, biking through the lanes of peaceful villages, keeping away from the dangerous tunnels and roads for cars. Enjoy a pleasant journey to Xingping, a small town located on the northeast of Yangshuo. This beautiful place is an important wharf of the Li River. 

Optional hill climbing to see panoramic view of Li River
After checking in hotel at Xingping, you will have an optional choice to have a free time or go with the guide to climb the Laozhai Hill. On the top of the hill, a great panoramic view and the great bend of the Li River will definitely shock you! You need to climb over 1000 simple ladders before reaching the top of the hill. Look out for your own safety as it is a bit dangerous to walk on these wild ladders.

Overnight at a guesthouse in Xingping

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  Laozhai hill in Xingping

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  The scenery on 20yuan of Chinese currency

Day 17Xingping -- Guilin  40miles/65km or 48miles/77km  (B, L, D)

We will take a bamboo raft cruise from Xingping to Yangdi and enjoy the most highlight sections of the Li River. Then we continue our bicycle tour from Yangdi (the starting place of the well-known trekking rout of Li River). We choose country roads that close to the nature and also to avoid the pollution from the vehicle exhaust and regular travel groups. 

Optional service and itinerary (Total distance increases to 77KM/48miles)

Choosing the 65KM/40miles today is recommended, as the bamboo cruise offers you a highlight of Li River and makes you comfortable and relaxed after the long trip.

The differences between 65KM or 77KM route is based on the weather, road condition, and customer requests. The 77km one is a cycling route from Xingping – Xitang – Daxu – Guilin on the east bank of Li River, while the 65km is a firstly bamboo rafting from Xingping to Yangdi and then cycling on the western side of the Li river until back to Guilin. The 77km route is possibly affected a lot by the fast train station built in Xingping and the jammed traffic after the main national road's rebuilding between Guilin and Yangshuo (drivers and travel groups will choose this route to Yangshuo).

If the team is strong and skilled, and looking for more exploring on the land, the cruise section can be deleted today. And we will have a whole day biking from Xingping to Guilin (both available on eastern and western banks of the Li River)! The inland areas are of typical Karst land features which make the road rougher and harder than the other days. We shall climb up and down with our bicycles and help each other to finish the challenge today. (Note: When the Li River is flooded, no boat is allowed on river, so we will bike 77km to Guilin.)

All the bicycles will be returned to us after you checking in. We will have another feast of the local specialties to celebrate our great sucess!

Overnight at a city center hotel.

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  Drifting on the Li River with your bicycle

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  Hidden challanging optional route on the esatern side of Li River 

Day 18 Guilin departure or free time (B)

Our trip service ends with the breakfast today. If you want a transfer service, please book before hand with us.

Welcome to our bike rental shop in Guilin at anytime!