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Great China Ride 2007
NOW BOOKED OUT - NO MORE SPACES - SORRY ! Following the enormous success of the 2006 Great China Ride, the Ghost Riders are again taking a group of cyclists to ride through Yunnan Province to Tiger Leaping Gorge. This will be an even longer ride to the one undertaken in 2006. The ride component will be approx 14 days, although many particpants will probably wish to extend their trip with extra time in China or Thailand. Alternatively you could use Bangkok as a springboard to head off to India or Europe. If you choose to head straight back to Australia the total time out of Australia will be 16-17 days. We will be taking no NO MORE than 15 riders. This is to enable efficient use of support vehicle and staff and also to keep the group to a manageable size. Who can come? Any Ghost Riders, friends, relatives, web site readers, members of other cycling groups. The main requirement will be that each person will need to be responsible for their own needs. We will not be taking anyone under the age of 25 years. What is Required? All participants will need to be physically prepared for extended times on the bicycle, sometimes in hilly and challenging conditions. Training will be essential. How Much Does it Cost? The cost of the Chinese part of the trip will be $1895 Australian per person. You will also need return air fares to Kunming at a cost of approx $1600 - $1700. You will also need a 35 day entry visa for China (available from the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne for $35). Travel insurance is also recommended. Obviously extra spending money for souvenirs, drinks, etc. Total costs all up should be no more than $4000. What is Provided? The Chinese section of the Trip is being organised by the same company that ran our 2006 trip. The trip starts in Kunming in Yunnan Province in Southern China. From there it is a short plane flight to Li Jiang for the start of the cycle trip. We will then proceed to Tiger Leaping Gorge, before cycling south to the historic city of Dali where we catch the train back to Kunming. The basic cost includes most meals, accomodation, bicycles, plane and train transfers, backup vehicle, guides, etc. Accomodation is provided for every night of the trip in good standard hotels, mostly with private showers and toilets (western style). All meals are excellent. Dates: We are planning to depart Australia late on Thursday 29th March, arriving in Kunming on the afternon of Friday 30th March. The Chinese leg will officially finish on Sat 14th April, so you could be back in Australia for Monday 16th April. This corresponds to the Victorian School Vacation. The detailed itinerary is as listed below Thurs 29th March - depart Melbourne Ring me on 03 5968 4706 to discuss any aspect of this trip with me. 2006 China Ride - DVD now available. You can get a better idea of what to expect by reading about our 2006 trip to Tiger Leaping Gorge. This account can be found here. A DVD of the trip is also available. The total running time of this DVD is approx 45 minutes and it is now available by mail order for only $20 a copy. This would give prospective particpants a good idea of what to expect in the 2007 ride.
Some of the places you will see: KunmingKunming lies 1895 m above sea level in South West China and is the capital of Yunnan province. With it's mild year round climate, it is know as the "spring city" or "Capital of Flowers". Its population of 3.5 million has an ethnic mix of more than 10 nationalities. One of Kunming's most famous attractions is the Stone Forest, 80 hectares of incredibly shaped, towering limestone peaks formed by erosion over millions of years.Li JiangLi Jiang is situated 2400m high in the North West of Yunnan close to Tibet, lying in a small valley below a stunning backdrop of towering mountains. The old town of Li Jiang is truly a "living museum" with a maze of cobbled streets crisscrossed with canals. The Lijiang Old Town is built along the lie of mountains and the flow of rivers, providing a very precious sample of the research on the old-time architecture. The unique geographical location, historical background and multiracial inhabitants make the town special. On December 3rd, 1997, the Old Town of Lijiang was put in the list of the World's Relics by the World Cultural Heritage Commission of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization). The charming Old Town is now a famous tourist attraction for its traditional ethnic culture and customs, inimitable buildings and the wonderful natural views. It is the centre of the Naxi minority people, descended from the Tibetan nomads. DaliDali has a cool mountain climate, and is home to the Bai minority people who settled the area 3000 years ago. Dali's countryside, its architectural style and the culture contrast greatly with those of the tropical south. A small area of narrow cobbled streets and tile roofed stone buildings, the old city is surrounded by walls and entered only by the impressive North or South Gates. Tiger Leaping GorgeThere is too much about the Tiger Leaping Gorge to cover here, however a simple Google Search will reveal as much information as you can handle. There are two main treks which can be undertaken - the High Trek or the Low Trek. Which to take? The high trail or low? The High Trail is longer (22 km) but more varied with fantastic scenery -mainly mountain views: a challenge for most but well worth it. At a moderate pace, including rests, hiking the high trail should take 6-10 hours from Qiaotou to Walnut Garden. About 2 hours from Qiaotou there is a local farmhouse called Naxi Family Guesthouse. About four hours way from Qiaotou is a local farmhouse called TeaHorse guesthouse, About five to six hours from Qiaotou there is at Bendiwan village a guesthouse called Halfway (just name of the G.H). From Halfway it takes about 2 hours going down to Walnut Garden. Between Halfway and Walnut Garden there are many beautiful waterfalls with clean drinkable water.The high trail joins the lower trail 2 km from Walnut Garden there is Tina;s House.(be careful there)where the trail crosses the Gorge's main waterfall in a large ravine (DaShengGou), now has bring new bridge crosses the waterfall. The lower trail was just a few years ago a simple mule rack. Now it has been all the way road up to zhong dian from Qiaotou through gorge is 190 kms,widened into a tarred road crossed by several waterfalls. The road follows the Yangtze below it so there are more views of the river, and a stronger sense of being in a gorge than on the upper trail. It is also a shorter, less strenuous hike or bike ride (22km) to Walnut Garden) Allow 5-6 hours from Qiaotou to Walnut Garden.if walking.and two hours if cycling. At the 5th kilometer from Qiaotou there is an exhibition center about rafting the Yangtze river, with an art studio opposite. At the 10th kilometer, just before a tunnel in the road, there are some steps right down to water level where you can feel the full force of the Yangtze's power.Actually I found some more info on the Internet relating to this tour. This was the detailed itinerary for a previous group but gives soem useful information about each day's activities. You can find the pdf file here.
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Rides & Activities for February & March 2012 (or download full calendar HERE)
Ride StoriesPlease note that ride stories are now published in the FREE weekly newsletter - why not subscribe now ? For all previous weekday ride stories click HERE Previous Overseas Adventure ChallengesClick HERE for 2006 China Ride 2011 - European Ride - Ulm to Vienna - Completed
2012 Under African Skies - African Safari (bookings now closed)
2012 "Turkish Delights" Adventure (now full)
NewsletterDid you know that we also have an e-mail mailing list? If you would like to be informed/reminded of future cycling events by e-mail just drop a request to me at the following address ghostriders@netspace.net.au You can also download previous newsletters here
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