The Three Gorges of the Yangzi

Key features

For thousands of years, the beauty of the Three Gorges has been a source of inspiration for countless poets and painters. This tour will lead you from the ancient metropolis Xi’an and its world famous terracotta warriors to the Yangzi, crossing the Qinling mountain range which divides northern from southern China.

We cycle off the beaten tracks of mass tourism and discover the rough beauty of provincial China as well as the fascinating waterway culture along the country’s longest river. The cycling tour will be framed by a three-day stay in the capital Beijing at the beginning and a visit to Shanghai, China’s “secret capital” at the end.

Key features

Difficulty • 3/3
Days Total • 25
Active days • 15
Cycled Distance • 1100 km

Included

China By Bike Tour Guide
Baggage Transfer and Support Vehicle
Bicycle Rent
Boat Trip on the Daning
Train Rides: 1st Class Sleeper Beijing-Xi'an and 2nd Class Seat Yichang-Shanghai

Not included

Flights to and from China
Meals
Ticket Fees

Book This Tour

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Beijing

From the Capital Airport, a transfer is organized to our Hotel which is located within the protected old town. After a short break for relaxation we go on a first stroll through the surrounding “Hutongs”, the traditional Beijing back-alleys.

Day 2

Temple Of Heaven, Tian’anmen Square And Forbidden City

Cycling and walking through the city, we experience the stunning remains of Imperial China. We cycle to the Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing’s landmarks which is still a popular meeting point for locals doing their morning exercise. Then we head northwards, walking over Tian’anmen square to reach the Imperial Palace Museum, aka the Forbidden City. Finally we climb Jingshan hill north of the Palace to enjoy the view over the roofs of the Forbidden City and its surroundings.

Day 3

Climbing the Great Wall

Today, we go on a hike on the Great Wall of China. By bus, we reach the Great Wall at Huanghua, a section located 70 km north of Beijing which is still untouched by mass tourism (optional). In the evening we board a comfortable sleeper train to Xi’an.

Day 4

Xi'an, China's Historic Capital

In the morning we reach Xi’an. After a short rest in our hotel we discover the city which once was Chinas capital and the world’s biggest metropolis. We visit the old city wall and explore Xi'an's muslim old town.

Day Trip

Day 5

The Legacy of the First Emperor: The Terracotta Warriors

We cycle from Xi’an to Lintong where we visit the world famous Terracotta Warriors in afternoon.

58 km Cycling Distance

Day 6

Through the Loess Plateau to Mt. Hua

This stage leads us from Lintong to Mount Hua (Hua Shan), the westernmost of Chinas five sacred Daoist mountains. We stay two nights stay in a hotel at the foot of the mountain.

106 km Cycling Distance

Day 7

Mountain Peaks and Daoist Temples

Daoism will be the main theme of today’s six hour hike to the peaks of Mount Hua. On our ascend we pass numerous temples which have recently regained their significance as centres of religious worship.

Day Trip

Days 8-11

Deep into Central China

For the next three days we head southwards through the Qinling Mountain Range. Far off the usual tourist routes we cycle though scenic valleys and picturesque villages. Passing Luonan, Shangluo, Shanyang, we reach the old merchant town of Manchuan on day 12. After our arrival we go on a stroll through the old town.

Day 8: 89 km Cycling Distance

Day 9: 45 km Cycling Distance

Day 10: 62 km Cycling Distance

Day 11: 95 km Cycling Distance

Days 12-13

Along the River Han

Crossing dreamlike highlands we reach the valley of the river Han in the afternoon. After one overnight stop in Shuhe, we follow the river’s course to Ankang.

Day 12: 97 km Cycling Distance

Day 13: 108 km Cycling Distance

Day 14

Ankang

In Ankang, a pleasant mid-size city at the banks of River Han, we stay for a whole day. You can join us on a little cycling trip to explore the city or simply enjoy an earned day of rest and relaxation around the hotel.

Days 15-16

On Historic Merchant Routes to the Yangzi

During the next days we slowly approach the Yangzi valley. Staying on mostly flat terrain we reach Pingli on day 16. Through rugged valleys our tour carries on towards Zhenping on day 17. Cycling through this area, we get a picture of the simple farming methods still applied to cultivate the patched fields in China’s mountainous areas.

Day 15: 67 km Cycling Distance

Day 16: 119 km Cycling Distance

Day 17

Along the River Daning

At the Jixinling mountain pass we reach the “geographic centre of China” as well as the watershed between Northern and Southern China. After a long and beautiful descent on smooth roads we carry on cycling through the narrow gorges of the River Daning towards Wuxi.

98 km Cycling Distance

Day 18

Reaching the Yangzi

We get up early to ride todays mountainous stage with no time pressure. In the afternoon we reach Fengjie, the town which used to be the marker to the beginning of the Three Gorges for many centuries. Parts of the city have been swallowed by the water during the flooding of the the Three Gorges, a process which was famously documented by director Jia Zhangke in his atmospheric film “Still Life”.

86 km Cycling Distance

Days 19 and 20

To Wushan and Boat Cruise on River Daning

On our way to Wushan, we stop to visit Baidicheng, the “White Emeror City” which used to be subject of many poems and songs. Cycling further on we cross two mountain passes before arriving in Wushan which lies at the confluence of Daning and Yangzi. On the next day we explore the picturesque “Little Three Gorges” of the Daning on a small boat and stay for another night in Wushan.

Day 20: 70 km Cycling Distance

Day 21

Boat Trip on the Yangzi and Three Gorges Dam

On a chartered Boat we navigate through two of the famous Three Gorges of the Yangzi. At Xin Zigui, a city newly built after the flooding of the Gorges, we go ashore and visit the gigantic Three Gorges Dam in the afternoon.
NOTE: Due to changing traffic regulations it might not be possible for us to take the boat all the way from Wushan to the dam. Before the start of the tour, we will inform you about the current situation and possible changes in the itinerary.

Day 22

Xiling Gorge

On our last cycling stage, we ride through the Eastern part of Xiling Gorge to Yichang. On our way we pass Huangling Miao, a temple dedicated to the the sage emperor Yu who is famed for his introduction of flood control in ancient China.

60 km Cycling Distance

Day 23

Train Ride to Shanghai

In the morning we board a train to take us East. Through the train windows, we watch the fertile plains of central China roll by as we approach Shanghai, our final destination.

Day 24

Shanghai

A stroll through Shanghai, China’s gate to the west, will be the final venture of our journey. We walk over the World famous Bund and stroll through the city’s shopping district at Nanjing Lu and visit the beautiful Yu Garden. We then cross the Huangpu River and enjoy the view from the top of Pudong’s giant skyscrapers. The afternoon can be used for further sightseeing, shopping or other individual ventures.