Arrival in Chengdu

Chengdu - Upon your arrival at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed and escorted to your hotel. Take some time to refresh and relax before attending a safety briefing about the trip later in the afternoon.

With your guides, you will review the itinerary, learn about local road safety and cultural considerations, and have the opportunity to ask any questions. In the evening, a welcome dinner will be held to celebrate the start of your journey. Enjoy some of the finest cuisine Chengdu has to offer as you look forward to the days ahead.

Panda Base, Xinglong Lake, Huanglongxi Ancient Town

Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (Xiongmao Jidi) - A visit to Chengdu is incomplete without seeing the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to this serene park to see China’s most famous animal. Depending on the season, you can see pandas of all ages, with the baby cubs often stealing the show.

Chengdu - After an early lunch, you will be driven to Xinglong Lake, located in the southern part of Chengdu. As you approach the lake, the skyscrapers fade away, leaving the city behind. The large lake is surrounded by greenery and distant mountains. You will cycle around the lake’s circumference before taking country roads towards Tongzhi Dragon Kiln.

Shuangliu County - Visit a beautiful 150-year-old kiln still in use today, where you can witness traditional pottery methods. This labor-intensive operation can fire 10,000 pots at a time and is set in charming surroundings. Nearby, explore Ming Qing Street, a narrow ancient street with 100 years of history, offering an authentic glimpse into historical life.

Huanglongxi Ancient Town - Continue on a greenway through fruit orchards and countryside, and after 39km, reach the ‘Big Buddha Temple.’ Named for the large carved marble Buddhas in the main temple and an even larger Buddha on the hilltop overlooking the Luxi River, it’s just a few kilometers more to reach Huanglongxi Ancient Town.

With over 1700 years of history, Huanglongxi was once a prosperous town along the ancient South China Silk Road. Set beside the river, with three temples and winding alleyways, it offers a quintessential example of an old town and is the perfect place to unwind after your first day’s ride.

Riding Distance: 45km

Elevation: +84m / -102m

Yongshou Township to the suburb of Leshan

Leshan Giant Buddha (Da Fo) - After a short hike through gardens to a natural spring, continue your ride with gentle ascents and descents, following the river through beautiful farmlands to Guanmiao Village. From there, drive the remaining distance to Leshan, home to the world’s largest and tallest carved stone Buddha. Built over 1200 years ago to oversee the river’s quick rapids, the best view of the Giant Buddha is from the river itself. Enjoy a short cruise to admire the 71m carving, majestically towering above.

Besides the Giant Buddha, Leshan is renowned for its cuisine. Before retiring for the evening, savor some of its best dishes, including Sweet Skin Roast Duck and delicious Bo Bo Chicken.

Riding Distance: 60km

Elevation: +302m / -270m

Leshan to Rongxian

Rongxian-Zigong

Zigong-Fushun

Fushun-Luzhou

Luzhou-Chishui

Chishui-Tucheng Ancient Town

Bing’an Ancient Town - Experience a change in language and architecture as well as scenery. Begin your ride on a specially created cycle lane following the Chishui River in a deep valley surrounded by bamboo-covered mountains, leading to the next day’s destination, Maotai.

After 22km, arrive at Bing’an Ancient Town. With 1000 years of history, it has been both an important historical river trading town and a strategic point for the Red Army during the Long March in 1935. Although more touristy than the previous day’s old town, it remains picturesque, set above the river with large rocks and red soil banks. Enjoy snacks like grilled river crabs, purchase Guizhou-related souvenirs, and visit a museum to learn about the Red Army garrison that was once based here.

Xijiu-Maotai

Maotai-Qianxi

Zhijin Cave to Qingzhen

Zhijin Cave of Guizhou - Start the day with a 30 to 40-minute drive to Zhijin Karst Cave. Discovered in the 1980s, it is considered China’s most beautiful cave and the largest non-supported visitable cave in the world. With huge chambers, intricate crystalline formations, and rare stalagmites and stalactites, it requires a 7km walk inside to explore. A geologist’s dream, there are sayings in China: you won’t want to see other mountains after visiting Mount Huangshan; you won’t want to see other water views after visiting Jiuzhaigou National Park; and you won’t want to enter other caves after seeing Zhijin Cave.

After exploring the cave, embark on a shorter bike ride today, allowing you to relax and enjoy one of the journey’s most beautiful days. Cycle through the stunning Guizhou countryside, where the karst mountains are more pronounced, with their unique formations surrounding farms, villages, and water buffalo.

Qingzhen-Qingyan Ancient Town

Qingyan Ancient Town - On the last day’s ride, start on the outskirts of Qingzhen for a final day of varied riding through the Guizhou countryside. Begin on a cycle lane for the first few kilometers, leaving the Qingzhen suburbs until reaching a small lake on the city’s outskirts. Enter an evergreen forest, passing through many villages, offering an interesting glimpse of life outside the cities.

Today’s ride offers variety, winding through villages and countryside, passing rivers and water buffalo. After this ride, summarizing all you’ve seen over the past days, join a cycle path on the main road and enjoy the final kilometers freewheeling downhill to Qingyan Ancient Town.

Large and built in 1378, Qingyan was primarily a military outpost, complete with a large wall overlooking the countryside and distant karst mountains. Explore the town’s unique Christian and Buddhist influences before climbing the wall to watch the sunset over the spectacular karst mountain scenery. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with excellent local food, celebrating the trip and all that has been seen and achieved.

Riding Distance: 45km

Elevation: +431m / -587m

Departure from Guiyang

Qingyan Ancient Town - Spend your last day at leisure, exploring the streets as you wish. If you have any special requests, please let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate you. After enjoying your remaining time, when it’s time, you will be taken to the nearby Guiyang airport for your departing flight. Farewell!

• Water, snacks and local fruits during riding days
• Accommodation of 13 nights based on two people sharing one room
• Bike & Helmet Hire
• English-speaking tour guide service
• Lunch
• Dinner
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Breakfast

• Extra charge of single-room option if you would like to stay in a room alone
• Your international or domestic air tickets
• Your visa fee, if there is any
• Activities not mentioned in the itinerary
• Your other personal expenses

Our journey from Chengdu to Guiyang traverses two provinces, giving passengers a firsthand experience of the varied rural lifestyle, historical background, and cultures of both Sichuan and Guizhou. We begin deep within Sichuan’s countryside, gradually making our way to prime Baijiu production areas located in southern Sichuan and northern Guizhou – components of the ‘golden triangle’. Sichuan is home to some of the oldest fermentation pits in China, and Guizhou houses Maotai, China’s upscale and most sought-after brand.

We provide an opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of this Chinese historical element, whilst also experiencing firsthand some of the ways these significant events continue to shape contemporary China.

We will make stops at several age-old towns and ancient Buddhist sites along the way. With drastic shifts in traditions and dialect, this trip embodies diversity and gives a more truthful glimpse into the rural Chinese life and historical context.

If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.