| What about cycling in China? Is it possible? Is it | | | | there are some good shops. For ordinary repairs |
| crazy? Is it really not as difficult as it seems? | | | | you will be able to find bike repairs at every |
| China is not a country, it's a continent, I | | | | street corner. Bike repair comes usually with a |
| sometimes tell people. China is also the country | | | | hammer and screwdriver. Tires are not difficult to |
| with the most bicycles in the world although | | | | find though you may get 2.10 inch tires with a lot |
| Holland has probably a bigger density of bicycles | | | | of profile. These tires usually do not last more |
| per head of the population. | | | | then 500 to 1000 km. |
| Cycling is fantastic, there can be no doubt. But | | | | Where to start? |
| what about cycling in a country like China? There | | | | Where to start cycling in China? Beijing? Hong |
| are two ways to approach the problem and they | | | | Kong? Shanghai? Personally I am not a fan of big |
| depend on the time you have available. | | | | cities but I admit, Beijing is a city you have to |
| If you have limited time, say 3 or 4 weeks, limit | | | | visit. However, I would prefer Hong Kong as a |
| yourself to one area, even a province like Yunnan | | | | good starting point. In Hong Kong you can get |
| is already as big as France or Texas. However, if | | | | easily a good Chinese visa, 2,3, 6 or even 12 |
| you have time on yourself, you can easily spend | | | | months without a problem. |
| a year, even two in China. Even in two years you | | | | Another advantage of Hong Kong is that you can |
| will not need to do roads double. China is huge. | | | | get quite easy out! Take for example the boat to |
| What to bring | | | | Zhaoqing at the other site of the pearl river delta |
| China is a cheap, apart of the big cities. Most of | | | | and you are directly in the flatlands of China. I did |
| what you need in terms of clothes you will be | | | | the road to Guangzhou too but I would not |
| able to buy. In cities like Beijing, Kunming and | | | | recommend this. Read here why. |
| Chengdu there are these days outdoor shops in | | | | From here you can cycle to Yangshuo, still a |
| case you need outdoor material. However, bring | | | | backpackers paradise and worth a visit. In fact if |
| your own shoes as big size shoes are hard to | | | | you visit south China, Yangshuo with it's limestone |
| find. | | | | mountains is a must and it's only about a week |
| Good bicycle shops are rare. Your best choice is | | | | cycling from Hong Kong. |
| Hong Kong but in Beijing, Kunming and Chengdu | | | | |