Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd Nov 2019
3 days
RMB 2800 – 3500 depending on group size
Meet up points:
Zhu Hai or Kaiping.
In the late 1800’s – people from the four counties in the Pearl River Delta of Canton, began to defy the emperor, abandoning the sacred mission to grow rice, weave silk, and generally be good peasants – instead setting sail down the Pearl for Macau and Hong Kong. There they boarded ships for the Gold Mountain otherwise known as San Francisco.
The gold rush was on.
Some hit it rich, and with fortunes in their pockets, began a mini-reversal of the great South China diaspora.
Along with new ideas, they brought with them a taste for gold-rush-era architecture – lots of flounce and baroque mixed with corinthian columns, overlaid onto traditional Chinese forms. Venetian archways were wildly popular and suited the muggy climate.
Bandits had for a long time been a problem in the Pearl River Delta – and all of this newly imported bullion was like an open invitation to children into the lolly shop.
Towers called diaolou were built to watch out for them – baroque ones – that also let everyone know the returnees status as worldly and cosmopolitan peoples..
These are a few of the Diaolou.
They had a little hey-day from the Gold Rush through Art Deco to fall into disrepair with the depression, and later the war with the Japanese, becoming immensely unfashionable after the 1949 communist revolution,
Highlights of the trip
Two days of flat, easy back road riding along farmers pathways in the rice fields and bamboo groves of an almost forgotten backwater of the Pearl River Delta.
Two wheel exploratory of the the east-west 1920’s art-deco inspired architectural gems of the returned-ChineseDiaolou watchtowers, and Yanglou Mansions.
Stylishly-retro accommodation in a refurbished 1980’s lighting factory.
Delicious Chikanese snacks, Taishanese and Cantonese feast.
Itinerary
Friday Meet up in Zhuhai at 7.30 pm, or at Zhongshan Port at 9.30 pm or make your own way to Kaiping – we’ll pick you up from the train or bus stations.
Its a two hour ride from Zhuhai. One hour from Zhongshan.
Check in to our cool countryside Inn. Its an old watch factory in a Diaolou Village setting, lovingly converted into a boutique hotel.
Or:
join us earlier in the day for lunch and an urban bike exploratory of Zhuhai before we transfer to Kaiping.
Saturday Introduction to the Diaolou with a rambling cycle exploratory of the Diaolou most local to us. For lunch we head to Majianglong Lou – one of the UNESCO restored Diaolou clusters – with some of the most iconic towers of region. we loop through the Guangdong Green way onto braided farmers pathways down along the edge of the Tan River – an everglades environment where you navigate by the watchtowers poking their way out of the tangled Riverine vegetaion.
Sunday: Cycle to the famed Li gardens, Zili village – afternoon transfers to Kaiping bus station and Zhuhai airport.
Included: All meals twin-share accommodation (single supplement available for RMB 350 per night), mountain bike, two days guided cycling, private transfers to and from Zhuhai.
Getting there
Kaiping is on the Western Pearl River Delta.
It’s a four hour bus ride from Hong Kong via the Shenzhen Bay Border crossing.
It’s two hours South West of Guangzhou Airport in a private car (800 RMB) or 4 hours by public transport.
It’s 1hr 40 minutes from Zhuhai which is just across the border from Macau – both have airports.
Its about an hour by car from Zhongshan which is a 90 minute ferry ride from the China ferry terminal in Hong Kong. Last ferry is at 8PM.
And about forty minutes from Jiangmen – where some of the cross border buses from Hong Kong terminate slightly later (departing 20.45 from Prince Edward and 20.40 from Causeway Bay).
Meet up options
Zhuhai is the most central and practical place for a meet up.
It has an airport which is good for those coming from Beijing, Shanghai and other fly in places.
It’s right next to Macau which also has an airport – often cheaper than both Zhuhai and Guangzhou.
Join early
Join us for lunch at 12 pm and an urban exploratory of Zhuhai by bike.
Join late
Zhuhai – November 1 Evening meet up (19.30 pmish) from where we transfer for 2 hours by private vehicle.
Zhongshan Port at 9.45 (a good option for those in HK who cannot get off work any earlier)
Kaiping – any time you like.
Let us know your likely arrival time and we’ll have someone pick you up and take you to our hotel in the countryside.
Departing from Hong Kong
Ferries depart from the China ferry Terminal to Zhu Hai (70 minutes). Alternatively – try out the new Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau bridge – the longest sea bridge in the world.
Cross border buses depart several buses stations across Hong Kong to to Zici Station in Kaiping. Kaiping is listed as KY on the booking form drop down of the Trans Island Bus Company
Buses run from 7.30 am from numerous stations. the last one is at 7 pm from Prince Edward Station.
There is a 20.45 pm from Prince Edward to Jiangmen which potentially doable with a taxi or pick up for the last leg (about 45 minutes in a car).
There is similarly a 20.40 pm from Causeway bay’s time Square. I think these are the latest. Check the https://www.tilchinalink.com/index.php website as there are numerous pick up points you can choose.
From Shanghai
The new bullet speed take about 8 hours from Shanghai to Guangzhou. There are many flights to Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and Macau.
If you fly to Guangzhou – its a long schlepp by public transport, or an extra 800 RMB by private car which might be splittable. Easier to fly into Zhuhai. fares are very reasonable.
From Beijing
The train takes from 8 – 10 hours hours from Beijing to Guangzhou. There are many flights to Zhuhai, and Macau.
If you fly to Guangzhou – its a long schlepp by public transport, or an extra 800 RMB by private car which might be splittable but easier to fly into Zhuhai and transfer with the group from there. Fares are reasonable.
Return Options
The trip finishes at 4 pm with drop offs at Kaiping Bus Station for 5pm. (there are buses to Guangzhou and Shenzhen and Hong Kong and Zhu Hai from Zici station).
We may also put on a car for an airport run. This will be jigged around peoples actually schedules , but plan for Zhu Hai as your airport, as its more likely that we can split the costs for people all going in the one direction.
Contact bruce@bikeaways.com to reserve your place.
cof 
