Explore Sichuan by Bicycle

This 9-Day bike tour has been designed to offer cyclists an intimate look at rural Sichuanese countryside, and the rich cultural and religious history this province has to offer. Taking you through ancient towns which formed the beginnings of the ‘Old Tea Horse Road’ and religious sites with over 1500 years of history, we have carefully designed the route so that the ride takes you through tranquil roads and greenways allowing you to relax and enjoy the classic lush greenery of rural Sichuan.

Predominantly riding on greenways, small country roads and village tracks the ride is comfortable and manageable for most riding levels.

Day 1: Arrive in Chengdu

Arrive in Chengdu. Enjoy our Weclome Party while getting briefed for the thrlling cycling tour. 

Day 2: Wenjiang - Pixian of  "Chengdu’s Garden" 

The tour starts from 8 a.m. You'll get transferred for 1.5 hours to arrive at Wenjiang, the Garden of Chengdu.  The first 15 km of our ride takes us past many garden centers famous for cultivating Sichuanese Bonsai tree of over 1,000 years old.  Continuing for a 15 km of riding on the greenway, you'll go through the extremely quiet and peaceful small villages, farmlands and bamboo while the Jiangan River occasionally comes into view. With an additional 10 km of biking, you'll reach our final for today -  Sichuan Cuisine Museum, where you'll take our car to transfer to Dujiangyan to rest for tonight.
Riding Distance: 43 km

Overnight: DujiangyanSightseeing 

Activities:Sichuan Cuisine Museum  Road Quality: Predominantly concrete or tarmacked greenways in good condition, with one short gravel track. 

Day 3:  Dujiangyan Panda Valley – Anren Ancient Town 

First, you'll visit Dujiangyan Panda Valley to meet with adorable giant pandas and cubs waiting for you. You'll start your ride on a calm country road which provides views of the mountains marking the beginning of the Tibetan Plateau on your right. You'll ride about 50 km all the way to Jiezi ancient town, historically one of the last towns before the Tibetan Plateau on the Tea Horse Road.   After lunch, you'll  continue your ride along one of Sichuan’s most beautiful, and less-explored, country roads, Chongqing Road. It will take you through beautiful countryside and villages, before we finish the ride on the outskirts of Anren, dubbed "China’s Museum Town." For another 10 km, you'll arrive at Anren’s ancient town, known for boutique shops, cafes, restaurants and workshops. Feel free to explore and enjoy in the evening.

Riding Distance: 73 km

Elevation: +115m / -334m

Meals: All

Overnight: Anren Ancient Town

Sightseeing / Activities:

• Visit adorable giant pandas & cubs

• Jiezi Ancient Town

Road Quality: Predominantly tarmacked country roads in excellent condition 

Day 4: Pingle Ancient Town – Shangli Ancient Town 

Begin with a 40-minute drive to Pingle, a riverside town in a tea-growing area of Sichuan. Cycle into the countryside through plantations and increasingly mountainous scenery. After about 30 km, take on a seven-kilometer ascent through tea terraces to around 1,500 meters. A three-kilometer descent leads to White Horse Spring and its unusual intermittent flow. Finish in Shangli Ancient Town, known for its wooden buildings.

Riding Distance: 45 km

Elevation: +1098m / -721m

Meals: All

Overnight: Ya’an

Sightseeing / Activities:

• Pingle Ancient Town

• White Horse Spring

• Shangli Ancient Town

Road Quality: Predominantly tarmacked country roads in excellent condition 

Day 5: Caoba – Hongya

After a 30-minute transfer to Caoba Town, follow the Qingyi River by bicycle. Climb the mountainside for views from the summit, then descend beside the reservoir and red cliffs toward the rapids below Caoyutan Dam. Cross the dam and continue along a single-lane country track through forest, bamboo, and small hamlets to Hongya, the day’s destination.

Riding Distance: 55 km

Elevation: +402m / -476m

Meals: All

Overnight: Hongya

Sightseeing / Activities:

• Qingyi riverside riding

• Caoyutan Dam

Road Quality: The first half of the day is on tarmacked country roads in excellent condition and the second half is on smooth concrete tracks.

Day 6: Hongya – Leshan

It is another day of varied scenery on a small road, with views alternating from the river and its cliffs to terraced tea plantations and dense forestry. Riding 30 km, you'll meet the Sichuan Hand Made Paper Museum that records China's invention of paper in  the ancient time. Later, you will come across Jiajiang County’s Thousand Buddha Cliff with buddhist inscriptions carved into the rock by scholars from the Tang and Song Dynasties.  Conitnuing with a 30 km of ride, you will arrive at Leshan, home of the largest and tallest carved stone Buddha in the world.  You will take a manageable uphill on a small road which rewards you with stunning views of tea plantations tiered out around and below you.  You will take a short cruise to visit the site and appreciate the 71m carving calmly and majestically towering and watching out over above you. 

Riding Distance: 64 km

Elevation: +446m / -514m

Meals: All

Overnight: Leshan

Sightseeing / Activities:

• Sichuan Hand Made Paper Museum

• Thousand Buddha Cliff

• Leshan Giant Buddha

Road Quality: Predominantly small tarmacked country roads and concreted tracks with one 3 km section of a dirt and gravel track.

Day 7: Leshan – Huanglongxi Ancient Town

Your biking begins on a single lane road that quickly begins to take you through farmlands, with mountains on your left. After a few kilometers, the Mingjiang River appears, which flows from the day’s destination, Huanglongxi Ancient Town, until you reach Zhongyan Temple, which is inside a large park holding Buddhist carvings with over 1500 years of history.  You  will continue our ride through a bamboo lined road, with the river and its broad low-lying banks, accompanying us on the left, until we reach Yongshou township to finish the day’s ride. From Yongshou it is an hour’s drive to Huanglongxi, where we will spend the night.  

Riding Distance: 55 km

Elevation: +302m / -270m

Meals: All

Overnight: Huanglongxi Ancient Town

Sightseeing / Activities:

• Visit Zhongyan Temple

• Huanglongxi Ancient Town

Road Quality: Predominantly small tarmacked country roads.

Day 8: Huanglongxi – Xinglong Lake

On your final cycling day, ride about 20 km from Huanglongxi Ancient Town toward Tongzhi Dragon Kiln. Follow country roads through rice fields, farmland, and rural settlements, then learn about traditional pottery methods at the kiln. Finish the ride at Chengdu’s Xinglong Lake and enjoy a celebration meal.

Riding Distance: 50 km

Elevation: +84m / -102m

Meals: All

Overnight: Chengdu

Sightseeing / Activities:

• Tongzhi Dragon Kiln

• Xinglong Lake

Road Quality: Predominantly tarmacked country roads in excellent condition

Day 9: Chengdu Departure

Airport or train station transfer. 

Meals: Breakfast