China Biking
Beijing, Xian & the South
Maybe it’s the bike. It’s disarming. Friendly. It shows you China in a way you can’t see by any other means. Ride by a group of school girls, or a farmer in his rice paddy and it instantly changes China. It's no longer about walls you can see from space or newspaper images of students in front of tanks. It's closer than that. It’s real. The foods are richer. The language is spoken with your eyes. Yes, this journey somehow shows you everything from Beijing to Canton and the rural places in between. But what this journey really does is show you the real China face-to-face.
- Experience traditional life in rural villages and modern life in new cities
- The Terracotta Warriors, Tiananmen Square and more
- Marvelous biking by expansive rice paddies and the dramatic karst pinnacles of Yangshou
- The Great Wall, far from throngs of tourists
- Ride Chinese cruiser bikes to the Forbidden City
The Day-to-Day Itinerary
Days 1-3 Experience traditional life in rural villages and modern life in new cities 
By river and bicycle, travel past remote hamlets and expansive fields of rice and sugarcane to the bustling cities of ancient Zhaoqing and Wuzhou For a taste of the everyday, visit a farming family in their home and lunch at an authentic Yu Nan noodle shop Enthusiastic youngsters rush out to greet you; they don’t often see Westerners, especially on bikes!
Days 4-5 Marvelous biking by winding rivers, lush paddies and the dramatic karst pinnacles of Yangshuo Immerse yourself in stunning scenery on a private Li River boat cruise You’ll find embroidered silk, stone carvings, hilltribe crafts and more - plus terrific people-watching - at the night markets.
Days 6-7 The Terracotta Warriors: more than 6,000 life-sized funerary statues stand at attention at the awe-inspiring mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, a World Heritage site Pedal the 500-year-old city walls of Xian, China’s imperial capital for 12 dynasties.
Days 8-9 The Great Wall, far from throngs of tourists - the "world’s most scenic StairMaster" is even more incredible with breathing room Ride through Beijing on Chinese-style bikes, exploring Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City Indulge in delectable Peking duck and other Chinese specialties.
- Premiere Inns: These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.
- Casual Inns: These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the area with such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.
- Deluxe Family Camping: We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.
Other Trips You Might Like:
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Look at what other guests are saying about this trip!
In my opinion, Backroads is the only way to really see and experience China. We loved the routes through rural areas that were not used to seeing North Americans! And in contrast, riding through Beijing with 7 million fellow cyclists was quite a rush! I feel that I really experienced all that China has to offer! Although the days were very full of activity, it was necessary in order to pack it all in. An outstanding itinerary!!!! Thank you Backroads, once again!- Toronto, ON More about this Trip All Guest Reviews
For 32 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the tour experts. To see all our biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning walking and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning multisport tours click here.
China Biking
Premiere Inns*
OYC Hotel
Zhaoqing (1 night) A modern resort with every conceivable amenity and scenic lake views. (pool, spa, tennis)
Cui Ran Ju Hotel
Deqing (1 night) The most charming and comfortable lodging that quiet Deqing has to offer.
* Casual Inn
Wuzhou Riverside International Hotel
Wuzhou (1 night) A simple hotel centrally located in lively Wuzhou, close to restaurants, shops and other attractions.
* Casual Inn
Green Lotus Hotel
Yangshuo (2 nights) Set on the banks of the Li River, this new hotel offers a level of luxury not seen before in Yangshuo.
Hyatt Regency Xian
Xian (1 night) A sleek modern hotel ideally situated within the ancient walls of historic Xian. (pool, spa, tennis)
Peninsula Beijing
Beijing (2 nights) The choice of foreign dignitaries, this luxurious five-star hotel has scores of amenities and a location in central Beijing. (pool, spa)
China Biking
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 2-5 miles |
| 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Ferry to Gao Ming 3.5 hours
- Level 1
1 Route Option Available
- 19 miles
- 100 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 3 to 5 2 Route Options Available
- 33, 56 miles
- 400 - 1800 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 2 to 5 2 Route Options Available
- 30, 60 miles
- 500 - 900 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Bus to Yangshuo 7 hours
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 20 miles
- 50 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 3 2 Route Options Available
- 17, 34 miles
- 100 - 200 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Flight to Xian 1.5 hours
- Guided Walk 2.5 hours
Day 7
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 6 miles
- no elevation gain
- Flight to Beijing 1.5 hours
Day 8
- Guided Walk 3 hours
Day 9
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 5 miles
- no elevation gain
- Guided Walk 1 hour