Racpat and patrickensophie, I think the checkpoints along the route in Tibet are actually quite loose, we cycled there and we were never checked by the police at checkpoints (only while we were staying in a cheap guesthouse in Bomi). We are Asian and one of us is Hong Konger, but we met quite a lot of westerners and they have no problem either. Most checkpoints are unmanned or they just don't care at all. Some information written by foreigners said there were checkpoints in Yanjing etc, but i've been there and the checkpoints were for Timber or Insect Disease, not for traveller control.
I think Bikechina seems to be good and very reliable, but it's really expensive, I think cyclists are independent enough, joining a tour may not be the best option...
And also Patrickensophie, I can understand why you want to have all the papers, but to be frankly I have never seen a cyclist in Lhasa who has all the necessary papers...
GalahPhil, there are 3 bike shops in front of the Dongcuo Youth Hostel (near Banak Shol), you can buy a low grade Giant bike for about Y1500, but you may still need to buy a tent or stove and any other necessary camping equipment. I don't think you can rent a bicycle for such a long trip.
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<hr>Illegal in China is always a question of who, where, what, when, and why. And although a fair number of cyclists ride to the Roof of the World (including Chinese ones) bikes pose an interesting problem when they are trying to decide <hr></blockquote>
Very well said, this is so true!
I am glad to have found this thread!!!! I am looking for some China cycling route information and someone may have been there (I am hoping anyway :)
This is leg 2 of the TwoWheelsWhirled Asian Adventure :)
We are picking up some (decent Trek) bicycles in Beijing and heading to Lhasa to ride the bicycles to Kathmandu. The plan to get to Lhasa is this: train from Beijing to Xi'an, cycle from Xi'an to Wudang Shan down to the Yangtze, take the public ferry from wherever we catch it to Chongqing, train from Chongqing to Chengdu, train from Chengdu to Lhasa. We have just under 3 weeks to get from Beijing to Chengdu.
The section I need help with is the Xi'an to Yangtze bit. I have heard that there is a large area (and some roads) that's closed to foreigners south of Wudang Shan (military installation? not sure).
Advice is always welcomed :)
Thanks!
kellbell
twowheelswhirled.blogspot.com
Can't help you with information on that route, but if you are in Xi'an when I'm there, let me treat you to dinner.
A china question:
How easy is it to find bike boxes in Chinese Cities? If I fly into Changsha, Hunan, should I have the hotel hold onto the box until I leave, or just trash it and get another before leaving?
Thanks
Hi All,
I cycled Chengdu to Lhasa last year in August '06 without any permits other than my regular Chinese visa. I was a little nervous initially but in the end made it all the way and without any problems from the authorities, including supposed "hot spots"(Mangkang, Pomi, Bayi,etc) Could have been luck, that restrictions are lightening up or because my partner was Chinese so they may have presumed he was my guide (was just the 2 of us cycling). Whilst on the road we were also staying in very hole-in-the-wall sort of establishments for accomodation, owned by local Tibetans. If you have any q's and would like further trip info or to read my travelogue/see pics of the journey send me an email: katemichellepope@hotmail.com
I can't wait to go back to Tibet when the opportunity arises & am hoping my next trip will be to cycle the Friendship Highway - Lhasa - Khatmandu maybe next year in the summer.
Re: supported trips along Friendship H'way - Grasshopper Adventures & Bike Asia do the trip as does Bike China but all are quite expensive.
Happy cycling, Kate.
I'm thinking of cycling around parts of southerna and maybe western china, and am wondering if it will be possible to carry my bike on chinese buses (local and longer distance) for parts of the trip?
The person who posted this hasn't been on since January, so she's unlikely to answer. Owen, you might want to start a fresh thread for your question.
And to answer it, I'm not a cyclist, but I like meeting them. I had two leave my place this morning. They came part of the way here by bus, because the pollution and coal dust was so bad in Shanxi province. They said they couldn't take the first bus they wanted to, because it was too small to fit the bikes on. A later bus had a larger storage compartment and they put the bikes and their gear there.
Hi there! Do you mean public buses or long distance buses? Public buses, I don't think so but long distance you usually can negotiate to put them either underneath in the luggage storage compartment, or in the storage section in the back of the bus (on some buses) or else on the top (where other luggage, etc is usually stored & carried) Just make sure its securely tied down.
When I cycled in Sichuan & Tibet last year we took a minibus, large long distance passenger bus, both tying bikes onto the top. We also hitched on tractor, pilgrim truck & jeep which were all able to accomodate us our bicycles & for very little, if any money: )
Hope this info helps. Feel free to contact me if you have any other q's.
I have a website too with my full trip notes & other info about road conditions in west Sichuan, permits, etc
Happy Cycling, Kate.
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