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Limestone karst mountains, mud brick villages; Guilin rice noodles; rustic farming traditions, cormorant fishermen
Designed as a weekend getaway for city-workers this three day two night trip starts with your private transfer from either Guilin Airport / train station or from Gongcheng train station.
To make a true eco adventure, we strongly encourage travellers to arrive by train.
Guangzhou/ Shenzhen to Guilin is just 2- 3 hours on the new high speed rail.
Bike Aways Style
Bike Aways self guided rides are designed to fully immerse you in China’s most stunning landscapes independently.
We pick you up, supply you with a fitted bike, a pannier, maps and information, repair kits, pit-stop recommendations, accommodation and the best places to get a meal.
You do the navigating, and have all the fun.
Our routes avoid tourist traps in favour of the road less travelled…rustic villages… backroads tand secret shortcuts that only work on a bike.
Designed for reasonably fit riders, you can take the ride as fast or slow as you like.
We include a hill or two as the most amazing places in Guangxi are in the hills where few other tourists go.
Bikes fit our philosophy of low impact and spreading our travel dollars to lesser-known places.
We support home-stays and heritage projects in our accommodation choice.
UNESCO karst-scapes, rustic villages and the best rice noodles in the world.
The South China Karst System inscribed by UNESCO as world heritage in 2007 (and extended in 2014) is simply stunning around Yangshuo. Miles of limestone mountains rise from the rice paddies, eroded by wind and water into shapes that local villagers describe as dragon’s dancing, horses flying, and young maidens calling to their lovers.
Rivers look like jade, the bamboo lining the banks is feathery like the phoenix tail it is named for, and in more remote villages the homes are made of golden coloured mud brick, or expertly fired Qing Grey Brick with curly dragon tail eves… though these are disappearing amidst more mundane block housing.
This older poetic Yangshuo we seek-out by cycling the lesser known country roads.
We are also fix our intentions on finding the most delicious rice noodles – a famed dish that will change your world – when you taste it prepared countryside fresh.
You will support heritage conservation by staying in a traditional mud and rare grey brick Qing dynasty village that has been restored through the efforts of local preservationists.
Cycling in Yangshuo is relatively flat, but we have found new routes through the hills with stunning views to make this a more challenging ride. This is a very different ride from the standard Yangshuo itineraries.
Getting there:
From Hong Kong:
Dragon Air has one flight per day.
Three bullet trains depart daily from Shenzhen North Station, more from Guangzhou.
It takes forty minutes on the Shenzhen metro to Shenzhen North station, from the Hong Kong border at Futian.
From Beijing
It’s ten hours on the G529 train from Beijing
There are 4+ flights a day from Beijing to Guilin.
From Shanghai
The regular train is approximately 20 hours, though it may be possible to do this in around 10 on the high speed network changing at Changsha.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Airport / Train station pick up, transfer to Yangshuo town, welcome drink and trip briefing.
Day 2 – Yangshuo Full day cycle, overnight in traditional Yangshuo countryside village at Xingping.
Day 3 – Back roads to Fuli (a great market town), Gaotian, the Yulong Valley and back to Yangshuo Town – think drinks, massage, shopping – then transfers to airport / train station.
Included
Twinshare accommodation for two nights, quality mountain bike, helmet, airport/train station transfers, route maps and information kit, luggage storage, pannier.
Not included
Travel to and from Guilin, China Visa, meals water, beer and other personal needs. We have a good agent for train tickets who delivers – if you need help booking your tickets.
Return options
We recommend you arrange your travel back from 6pm onwards. Travel to airport / train station takes roughly 90 minutes. Your transfer is included.
Contact bruce@bikeaways.com
No.30 Ta Ho Tun Ha Wai, Saikung, New Teritories, Hong Kong www.bikeaways.com