Kanas, Xinjiang

Located in Burqin County in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and sharing borders with Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia, Kanas Natural Reserve boasts an ecosyostem formed of lakes, rivers, glaciers, forests and grasslands.

The area is among the most alluring resorts in northern Xinjiang and one of its highlights is Kanas Lake, described as a pearl shining on the river. The color of the lake varies according to the seasons and weather. Sometimes it’s blue, sometimes green, while sometimes it’s as white as milk.

It is about 360 kilometers around Kanas and it takes about four to five day to finish the whole journey on a bicycle.

About 25 percent of the route is along the Altay Mountain, which is difficult for cyclists, but the view makes it all worthwhile.

Bicycles can be rented easily in the reserve.

It is recommended that you stay with a local family in Hemu Village if you want to experience the lifestyle of the area, which has barely changed since ancient times.

Transport: You can fly to Urumqi from Shenzhen International Airport and transfer to a flight or a coach to Altay City and rent a motor car to Kanas. You can also ride a horse with local guides from the city to Kanas.

318 national highway

The Sichuan-Tibet section on the 318 national highway is an excellent cycling route due to its challenging conditions and spectacular scenery.

The highest park on the section is more than 5,000 meters above sea level and cyclists have to negotiate abrupt slopes, strong winds and landslides along the way. Once you leave a town or village, you will see nobody for miles.

However, it is called the most beautiful road in China as many mysterious towns and cities, such as Ya’an, Kangding, Xinduqiao, Bomi, Nyingchi, Lhasa and even Mount Qomolangma, are all located along the road. So if you are confident in your body, endurance and bicycle, you should not miss the adventure.

The whole journey is about 2,000 kilometers and should be completed in one month. Once a man finished the journey by himself in only eight days and 13 hours, but it is unadvisable to compete with such a man. The recommended way is to stop for several days in every city to take a rest, enjoy the view and prepare for the next journey.

A full preparation for physical health and materials is needed and a good schedule is also very important to ride on such a dangerous road. It is better to ride in groups of at least three in case of emergencies.

A whistle is also needed to scare away Tibetan dogs.

It is also very important to respect local customs and religious habits, so drinking alcohol is discouraged.

The recommended route is to ride from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, to Lhasa, Tibet.

Transport: Fly to Chengdu from Shenzhen airport and start the journey from Chengdu. (Wang Yuanyuan)