Southwest China 14-Day Bike Tour: Chengdu to Guiyang (pandas,dinosaurs,liquors)

Continuing on a greenway through fruit orchards and countryside it is hard to imagine that you woke up in the city and after 39km we will reach ‘Big Buddha Temple’. It is named after the large carved marble Buddhas found with within the main temple and an even larger Buddha sitting behind on the hilltop, looking out over the Luxi River. It is just a few km more until we reach the day’s destination, Huanglongxi Ancient town. With over 1700 years of history, Huanglongxi was once the most prosperous towns along the ancient trade route – the South China Silk Road. Set beside the river, with three temples and winding alleyways, it provides a particularly quintessential example of an old town and is the perfect place to unwind after your first day’s riding. Riding Distance: 45km Elevation: +84m / -102m

After taking a small hike through the gardens to a natural spring inside, we will continue our ride with some gentle ascents and descents, continuing to follow the river and making our way through some beautiful farmlands to Guanmiao Village – from here we will drive the remaining distance to reach Leshan, home of the largest and tallest carved stone Buddha in the world. Built over 1200 years ago to watch over the quick rapids of the river below, the best way to see the Giant Buddha is from the river itself. We will take a short cruise to visit the site and appreciate the 71m carving calmly and majestically towering and watching out over above us. Besides the Giant Buddha, Leshan is also famous for its food. Before retiring for the evening, we will sample some of its best, including such dishes as Sweet Skin Roast Duck and tasty Bo Bo Chicken. Riding Distance: 60km Elevation: +302m / -270m

Taking a short drive outside of Lehsan, we will begin our ride by taking an off-road country track, immediately bringing you into rural countryside. Today is all about having a close look at laid back rural life set within stunning lush green scenery and we will ride through paddy fields, farmlands and bamboo on small tracks which occasionally take us off road. The first 43km take you through this peaceful scenery and all the way to The Ethinic Minority Museum of Qianfo Town, set within the traditional compound of the Leichang Residence – the largest traditional residence of this type in south-western Sichuan and built in the 1700s. The fact it is a poor example of a museum is a complete blessing – it is an extremely rare example of traditional architecture and the lack of exhibits mean that you are free to wander the courtyards and rooms soaking up the incredible atmosphere of a place that it seems time forgot. Repurposed during the Cultural Revolution to be used as a Re-education Centre, you can still see slogans from the era painted onto the walls. With the rooms lacking anything besides the odd piece of decrepit furniture and moss reclaiming the buildings, it’s almost as if it was abandoned after the youth from the cities were sent to receive their lessons on the ideals of the era. Quickly after leaving the museum we are back into the countryside and the tree covered hills roll out from out underneath you. We continue to take secluded tracks from here with plenty of bamboo and terraced paddy fields to keep you company. After around 65km we reach a huge tea farming area and this almost marks the end of our riding for the day. After a few km of tea plantations, we reach a small dirt track which, for the more adventurous, provides an excellent mountain biking experience for 2-3km to our finish point. At 75km we will dismount and drive the remaining 40km to Rongxian. Along the drive we will pass Tiechang Town, which is famous for making the large earthenware pots used to store rice wine，provides opportunities for sightseeing, time and interest depending. Riding Distance: 75km Elevation: +1198m / -1196m

If the previous day was focussed on seeing the more laid-back side of rural life, today’s ride provides you with a chance to see rural life in action. Again riding through the stunning scenery of southern Sichuan’s countryside, we will wind through country roads and tracks through plenty of terraced paddy fields and a few points of interest along the way. At 10km we will pass a soybean paste production centre. A mixture of soy and broad beans, often with a healthy dose of chilli and salt, it is a slowly fermented paste which provides the heart and soul of Sichuanese cuisine. At 26km we come to Chengjia Town, a bustling rural town which provides the perfect opportunity to stop and have a cup of tea in one of the lively roadside teahouses. After this, we have another ride which includes some gorgeous rice paddy terraces until we reach Zigong, passing through the quaint town of Aiye on the outskirts of the city. Zigong holds one of the largest concentrations of dinosaur bones in the world and has a salt mining history spanning back nearly two millennia, being the first place in the world to develop the type of mining which was used to fuel the oil rush in America during the 1800s. After our ride we will visit the museum holding an archaeological pit of dinosaur bones and a salt mine which is still in use to date and both shine a light into this city’s fascinating history. Riding Distance: 41km Elevation: +330m / -345m

After exploring the ancient town, we will continue on a country road that follows the Fuxi river until we reach a couple of ‘farmer’s home’ restaurants, which provide an excellent pit stop for lunch. Like the name suggests, these types of restaurant are set up in the countryside by local farmers and have become more and more popular in recent years, with good quality food sourced from the surrounding countryside. It is only a further 25km ride in the afternoon, winding through rural countryside, following the river to Fushun. The old town of this county level city is set beside the river and is very charming. It also holds Fushun’s Confucian Temple. It is a particularly beautiful example of this style of temple and is typical, besides being built on tiered ground and one other extraordinary feature. On top of one of the temples is a tiny statue of a man without clothes and it is impossible to see him without the use of a telescope – to this date, no one knows who the statue represents, why he is naked, or when he was added to the temple, as it has had many alterations during its one thousand years of history. Riding Distance: 43km Elevation: +297m / -298m

Again, beginning from the edge of the city, today’s distance is larger and we are able to get a closer look at the farming life of this region. Through the hazy morning light, typical of the Sichuan countryside, we will join a single-track road going through farmlands. Set amongst the bamboo trees, you will see people going about their lives, doing everything by hand, allowing for an intimate look at a way of life that hasn’t changed for decades. We will also be entering the heart of baijiu territory and from about 10km onwards, we will be passing through more and more terraced fields of sorghum – the grain used to make one of the most fearsome liquors in the world. It is from here that we know we have firmly entered the ‘golden triangle’ of baijiu production. At 26km we come to Huangjia, a surprisingly lively village with a narrow single road. Venders line the street and the locals are sure to delight in the travellers taking the opportunity to a have a rest in one of the simple yet fascinating tea houses on the side of the road, set amongst all the hustle and bustle. The day’s ride will continue to take us through plenty of out the way track and roads, occasionally following the river and passing through the odd riverside town and village until we meet a busy road and drive the remaining distance to Luzhou, Sichuan’s most important city for brewing. Luzhou is home to Luzhou Laojiao, one of China’s most famous baijiu brands and owner of the oldest fermentation pits in the country, if not the world. The pits have around 500 years of history and are still in use today, contributing to the fragrant flavour of the brand. We will visit the Luzhou Laojiao Museum which houses the pits and have an opportunity for tasting. Riding Distance: 83km Elevation: +813m / -779m

After a 10km drive we will join a single-track road and mount our bikes. Today, we will tackle one of the more serious ascents of the trip and we will also cross the border between Sichuan and Guizhou. It is also a day for lots of riding through bamboo. The bamboo begins almost as soon as we begin our ride and punctuates the beautiful farmlands around us. After almost 10km we reach a climb of several kilometres, which provides us with the most challenging section of the trip so far, but also one of the most rewarding. The road takes you up so you straddle a mountain ridge, providing amazing views over either side. The rest of the day’s ride winds us along the top of the mountain and brings us into a sea of bamboo. After about 50km we will begin to wind down the mountain and slowly leave the bamboo forests behind us, as we approach the city of Chishui. As soon as we arrive, it is very clear we have entered a different province – the language, people and architecture will have all noticeably changed, providing a different feel from the town you woke up in. Before taking you to your hotel, we will visit Datong Ancient Town. Set within a valley, beside a slow paced and wide river, it is extremely picturesque. One of the first attractions is a baijiu tasting room and we are able to taste test 1, 3 and 8-year aged local baijiu – you will notice that today’s liquor is less aromatic than the previous day’s, another clue that we have changed regions. Walking through the old town, it is immediately apparent that it is set up less for tourists, than it is for the locals to continue living in. Complete with an active temple and political education centre, plus the odd curio workshop, the main draw is the river itself. During the warmer months, you are completely free to dive in and soak off the day’s hard work. Riding Distance: 58km Elevation: +1104m / -1165m

After 50km, the mountains begin to get larger and larger and the geology begins to change; Guizhou is famous for being covered in karst mountains, which provide an immensely impressive backdrop to the scenery. A further 12km brings you to Tucheng Ancient Town, our end point of the day. As well as having a very large ancient town, this riverside spot also boasts a modern art gallery and Red Army museum – both are excellent. The art gallery is surprisingly large and showcases a range of modern Chinese and international art, set in a modern exhibition room. The Red Army Museum is also better than average for the country and provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about the history of the Long March and the Communist revolution, which preluded the founding of modern China. Riding Distance: 67km Elevation: +371m / -250m

Due to the easier nature of the cycle lane, we should complete our ride efficiently and after 50km arrive in Maotai in time for a relaxed lunch, before an afternoon visiting the ‘Chinese Liquor Culture City’. Set in pretty surroundings, with traditional style exhibition halls, the museum is incredibly well thought out, with excellent translations to lead you through China’s history of alcohol with, of course, a focus on its national drink. Baijiu is inextricably linked to Chinese history and the exhibits will guide you through the brewing, cultural and political histories before you have the chance to have a tasting of this famous drink. Riding Distance: 50km Elevation: +337m / -327m

Today’s riding will be the most challenging of the trip, with a larger distance and plenty of ascents and descents. However, it is also one of the most varied in terms of the scenery and culture we will encounter. We begin with a 30 to 40-minute drive to Wuma Town. A gorgeous and lively country riverside town, people from the surrounding villages come here to buy and sell all they need. Straight from Wuma, we have the day’s most challenging climb. Although gentle and peaceful, it winds up the hillside for over 5km before levelling out. Once we reach the top, you will be rewarded with a generous scenery of sorghum terraces, which tier out bellow you. Continuing our way through the countryside, we have some gentle descents winding through the hills and villages around until we reach a large flat valley, which opens up in front of you and marks the beginnings of Jinsha Town, where we will break for lunch. Rested we will take another smaller drive to bring you back into the countryside, this time with gentle rolling hills covered in trees, with villages and country homes scattered about and architecture that is typical to this region – white washed homes with grey tiled rooftops. After a total riding distance of 45km, we will reach a lovely downhill which will bring us into more open countryside and, now, sorghum has been replaced by tobacco, as the crop of choice – we will have a chance to have a closer look at their drying and aging processes. After this we continue through some extremely varied scenery, with a couple of generous down hills, rewarding you for the morning’s effort, until we reach the county city of Qianxi. Riding Distance: 96km Elevation: +2214m / -1531m

At about 10km we cycle through Xinpu Village, an old place where you can see the elderly sitting on the street side smoking traditional pipes, with tobacco undoubtedly from the surrounding areas. At about 15km we will reach a harsh uphill, which provides a particularly enjoyable descent. After 20km, the scenery changes again and we begin to ride through forested valleys, bringing us to the end of our riding and a short drive to Qingzhen City. Riding Distance: 30km Elevation: +385m / -243m

Today is our last day’s ride and we will begin on the outskirts of Qingzhen, for a final day of the varied riding that the Guizhou countryside can offer. We begin on a cycle lane for the first few kilometres, taking us out of the Qingzhen suburbs, until we reach a small lake on the outskirts of the city. From here we enter an evergreen forest, after which, passing through many villages, providing an interesting look at life just outside of the cities. Today’s ride is another one for variety and, as well as passing through the forest, we will wind through villages and countryside, passing the occasional river or water buffalo on the way. After this ride, which could be considered to provide a summary of all you’ve seen over the past days, we will join a cycle path on the main road and enjoy our final few kilometres freewheeling downhill all the way to Qingyan Ancient Town. Large and built in 1378 Qingyan was predominantly built as a military outpost and is complete with a large wall, looking out over the countryside and karst mountains in the distance. We will explore the town, with its unique Christian and Buddhist influences before climbing the wall to view the sun setting over the spectacular karst mountain scenery around us. In the evening, we will hold a farewell dinner, with excellent local food, celebrating the trip and all that we have seen and achieved. Riding Distance: 45km Elevation: +431m / -587m

Your last day is free for you to relax and wonder the streets as you wish. Of course, please let us know if you have any special requests and we will always do our best to accommodate you. After spending your day enjoying the remaining time you have, when it’s time, we will take you to the nearby Guiyang airport for your departing flight and bid you farewell!