On this 9-day tour featuring both on-road and off-road cycling, experience Qing Hai’s amazing nature, rich cultures and exotic foods. As you pedal along Qing Hai Lake on a clear day, feel empowered by her seemingly boundless deep blue water. Descend continuously for two km into County, and you feel like riding through an Alpine landscape, looking out at greenish hills covered with dark green forests, farm graze lands and small creeks winding their ways along the road. Stop by traditional Tibetan tents for a small break, sample fresh yoghurt and
feel people’s hospitality and curiosity. Visit a small family run deli, taste vegetarian or meat
food prepared with fresh local produce.
ITINERARY
Day 1 Meet in your hostel in Xi Ning this morning and our mini bus will transport you and your bike to Huang Yuan County 50 km west of Xi Ning City. Get on your bike here and start a 40km long moderate hill climb on the state road until Mount Ri Yue (means mountain of sun and moon), and by now you will have probably gotten used to the high plateau breath! Here you can see Dao Tang River (means reverse flowing river) whose water flows from east to west, which is a rare scene because the general geological pattern in China is higher in the west and gradually descends towards the east. Depending on how fit you are after the climb, continue to cycle on the flat land at the south east corner of Qing Hai Lake until Sang Zhu Camp, or simply hop on the mini bus. Stay in Sang Zhu Camp YHA hostel for the night, and enjoy the sunset and a buffet dinner.
Day 2 Get on your bike here and start a long moderate hill climb on the state road until Mount Ri Yue (means mountain of sun and moon), and by now you will have probably gotten used to the high plateau breath! Here you can see Dao Tang River (means reverse flowing river) whose water flows from east to west, which is a rare scene because the general geological pattern in China is higher in the west and gradually descends towards the east. Depending on how fit you are after the climb, continue to cycle on the flat land at the south east corner of Qing Hai Lake until Sang Zhu Camp, or simply hop on the mini bus. Stay in Sang Zhu Camp YHA hostel for the night, and enjoy the sunset and a buffet dinner.
Day 3 Vsit to the village houses and a Tibetan buddhist temple just behind the hotel. On the way you will probably come across a few curious and friendly young Tibetan lamas. Those with the desire can climb up a small mountain behind the village with a Tibetan style tower made of rocks and tree branches on its top, and get a fascinating bird view of the county, the crops, the winding road leading to Bird Island, and Qing Hai Lake at the far distance. Between every May and July,
around 100,000 migratory birds such as red-crowned cranes and King shags fly all the way from South East to Bird Island for breeding, and literally cover the whole island. Tourists may have a close view of these birds from within the well hidden observatory during the birds' breeding season.
Day 4Depending on how fit you are after the climb, continue to cycle on the flat land at the south east corner of Qing Hai Lake until Sang Zhu Camp, or simply hop on the mini bus. Stay in Sang Zhu Camp YHA hostel for the night, and enjoy the sunset and a buffet dinner.
Day 5Spend an easy day and relax in Xi Hai Town. Pay a visit to the museum of China’s first nuclear research and experiment in 1960s and the beautiful Jin Yin Tan (means gold and silver grassland). In the evening, enjoy a local folk art performance over dinner outside the tent hotel. Day 6 Get on your bike this morning and cycle along the east lake shore road and get inspired by the spectacular sand dunes. Turn on to state road 109 and cycle back to YHA, chill out and refresh for the rest of the day and enjoy a camp fire BBQ dinner (cut cost) in the evening.
Day 7 Meet at Sang Zhu Camp YHA this morning and travel to Gui De Town by the mini bus. Gui De County was built six hundred years ago, it is situated on the low land of the Yellow River valley, hence it has a warmer climate and richer soil. Spend a day exploring the town, visit Yu Huang Ge (means Heaven King's Shrine) and appreciate its ancient architectures and wall paintings.
Day 8 Travel from Gui De Town to Kan Bu La National Park by mini bus and explore the spectacular Dan Xia landscape by bike in the national park. Dan Xia means red clouds in Mandarin, the term describes the sharp, cliffy landscape formed of red color sand stones, which is a result of millions of years of earth plate movement. (Make up an excuse to tourist if entry denied) Ride along the dirt road and enjoy a spectacular view of red cliffs, then take a short ferry trip in Yellow River. At the end of day trip
travel back to Xi Ning City by mini bus.
Day 9 Tour finishes today. We will arrange for your transportation to the airport.
FACTS AND INFORMATION
Group size: Minimum 3, maximum 8 Meeting Point: Airport, Xi Ning city Estimated Total Cycling Distance: 270 km Difficulty: Moderate
PRICE
Trip-only price
Included on the trip English-speaking tour leader Airport and land transfer 8 night accommodation (a combination of hostel and hotel) All meals during the trip
Fees for scenic area and museums Support vehicle Water Excluded on the trip Flights Travel insurance Personal entertainment, drinks Other items not mentioned
Bicycle rental: RMB for the entire trip, including
MTB
Helmet
1. Booking is essential. Showing up without booking is not encouraged.
2. You are encouraged to buy travel insurance before joining a CCT trip.
2. In case of unfavorable weather or less than five tour participants, CCT reserves the right to cancel the trip on short notice. Please make sure you leave your phone number and email upon booking.
PLEASE KINDLY OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING RULES
1. Every tour participant is required to sign a waiver before the tour.
2. Please follow the guidelines set forth by China Cycle Tours in order to ensure your safety during your involvement with the group.
3. If you are on special medication, or have a health problem in nature, please state your situation in the booking form. Privacy will be assured.
4. Do not bring illegal drugs to any China Cycle Tours activities.
5. Do not engage in extreme sports while involved in any China Cycle Tours activities.