logo for bicycle-adventures.com

Home
What's New?
Introduction
My Bicycle Secret
Cycling Is For Everyone
Your Bicycle Stories
Bicycling clothes
Planning
Cycling in China
Cycling in Yunnan
Cycling in Malaysia
Cycling South Thailand
Cycling in Cambodia
Cycling in Laos
Cycling in Myanmar
Cycling in Iran
Cycling in Pakistan
Karakoram Highway
Cycling in Europe
Kunming to Guilin
Cycling in Guangxi
Cycling in Sichuan
Xishunangbana Yunnan
Which Map?
Best Bicycle Auction
Entrance Tickets
Resources
Privacy Policy
Sitesearch/SiteMap
Photo Reports
Link To Us

XML RSS
What is this?
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Add to Google
LEFT for bicycle-adventures.com

 

 

Cycling in Sichuan


When people talk about cycling in Sichuan

, many think of the back door to Tibet, Emeishan, Leshan, Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou and trekking in the Songpan mountains. But there are a few other gems to visit and far less known then mentioned.

The problem with such a country as China is that people always go for the so called "highlights". Those are the places recommended by the Lonely Planet, the places you see on Discovery Channel or read about in the newspapers. And of course they are more then worth a visit. But apart of those places there are lesser or even unknown places to be explored. When cycling in China, there are many such gems. When I was cycling in Sichuan I found quite a few of these gems.

Old chinese lady in China width=
A lady in Sichuan China

As Chengdu is the center of the province, it also contains a few good bicycle shops. See the Chengdu page.

Traveling in Sichuan alone can take you many weeks, even months if you like, as this province is roughly the size of France, it's actually a bit bigger. This province covers an area of 485,000 kilometers (187,000 miles) and has the largest population in China, with 87 million people. Having said that, it doesn't mean you will find heavy populated ares everywhere. In fact, the industrial areas are located in the eastern areas of the province: the flatlands. North, west and south west are mountainous and less populated. The north east is flat and doesn't offer much to the traveler except one thing. Check the road from Xi'an to Chengdu

The central point of all journeys in Sichuan is Chengdu. It doesn't matter in what direction you want to travel, there's little chance you miss the capitol of the province. Going north lead you to Jiuzhaigou and Songpan and further to the amazing little Tibetan village of Langmusi and the bigger cities as Linxia and Xiahe with it's large Tibetan monastery.

You might not have the time to do such long journeys and have no time to cycle to Tibet but still want to experience some of the Tibetan culture. The good news is that Sichuan has some awesome loops to ride, even if you have only two weeks!

Relaxing in the park, Chengdu
Relaxing in the Renmin Park Chengdu

Going to Yunnan can be done in three different ways. The first is follow the route to the west to Kangding and Litang. Another, though far less interesting road follows a big road from Ya'an (which you anyway will pass if you cycle to Kangding) straight south into Yunnan. The third and less traveled road goes to Leshan, Zigong and then south into Yunnan. All three roads I will explain in further detail here.

Descriptions of these roads and some personal personal experiences you will read here.

Back to the top of cyling in Sichuan

Back to the main China page

Back to Bicycle Adventures Homepage

Google
 
Web www.bicycle-adventures.com

Subscribe to my Bicycle adventure RSS feed, if you don't know what this is, please read here more:

AddThis Feed Button

Let others know about this site by bookmarking at your favorite social bookmarking system:

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape

footer for bicycle adventures page

LEFT for bicycle-adventures.com

Xiahe, Langmusi and the road to Chengdu

I did this road some years ago in the winter. It was in the time that Hezhou was still off limits.

Here is more about the road in between Xiahe and Chengdu

and a story how to obtain a bus ticket

The bus ticket

North Yunnan to South Sichuan

Another less traveled road. This road is for people who love the adventure and being off the beaten path

North Yunnan to Sichuan

West Sichuan

A two week loop from Chengdu to Chendu through Danda and Barkam

West Sichuan, the Tibetan Area