1. A "Green Quest" in the Desert
Urumqi → Dunhuang
Scenery: ★★★ Difficulty: ★★ Popularity: ★★
Route: Urumqi → Dabancheng District → Turpan City → Shanshan County → Yiwuquan Village → Hami City → Camel Circle Village → Xingxingxia Town → Liuyuan Town, Gansu Province → Xihu Township → Dunhuang City. Total distance: approximately 990 km.
Why it’s on the list: There's a great sense of achievement in traveling from the barren, dry, and lonely Gobi Desert to an oasis abundant with fruit and rich in ethnic culture. This often inspires you to keep going in search of the next oasis.
Route features: Although you’re cycling on desert highways, the road conditions are good with minimal elevation changes. The only major challenge is the wind—headwinds and crosswinds can be tough. Additionally, this route is likely the hottest in China, with large temperature differences between day and night. Nights get cold quickly, so pack warm clothing.
Budget: 1,500–3,000 yuan.
Best cycling season: August to October—cool autumn weather with ripe fruits. Cycling duration: 10–15 days.
Preparation: Each city has fairly professional bike shops. Just master basic repair skills and bring inner tubes, patch kits, and simple tools.
2. Around Qinghai Lake
Scenery: ★★★★★ Difficulty: ★ Popularity: ★★★
Route (clockwise): Heimahe Township → Bird Island → Gangcha County → Xihai Town → Huangyuan County. Total distance: about 360 km.
Why it’s on the list: Cycling around Qinghai Lake is one of the most classic routes, beloved by many. As a sacred highland lake, Qinghai Lake boasts stunning scenery, while Bird Island in the northwest is known as a "kingdom of birds."
Route features: Thanks to the influence of the Qinghai Lake Cycling Race, road conditions are excellent, offering a great environment for cycling. At 3,200 meters above sea level, altitude sickness is generally not a concern. The climate is changeable—mornings and evenings are cold, but sunlight is strong and there's plenty of sunshine. In August, daytime temperatures can reach around 10–20°C under strong sun.
Budget: 2,000–3,000 yuan.
Best cycling season: Summer, especially mid-July to mid-August. The best bird-watching season on Bird Island is May to July, but May is too cold for cycling. It's recommended to visit in summer when vast fields of rapeseed flowers bloom around Qinghai Lake, creating a spectacular view. Cycling duration: 4–7 days.
Preparation: Essential items include cold medicine, anti-diarrheal medication, antihistamines, and injury treatments. It's also wise to bring windproof sunglasses and sunscreen.
3. Silk Road Cycling
Lanzhou → Dunhuang
Scenery: ★★★★★ Difficulty: ★★ Popularity: ★★★
Route: Lanzhou → Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County → Wuwei → Zhangye → Jiuquan → Jiayuguan → Yumen → Guazhou County → Dunhuang. Total distance: approximately 1,100 km.
Why it’s on the list: Following in the footsteps of ancient travelers, moving through oases and deserts, you’ll never know what breathtaking sights await. Traveling along the Hexi Corridor, you'll pass countless historical sites, such as the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, the Jiayuguan section of the Great Wall, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye, the Luoshi Pagoda in Wuwei, remnants of the Small Wall, and old beacon towers.
Route features: The route follows National Highway 312, which has good conditions and mostly flat asphalt roads. Starting from Lanzhou at over 1,500 meters above sea level, there's little elevation change, and Dunhuang sits at around 1,100 meters. The climate in Gansu is dry, with lots of wind and sand, strong sunlight, and significant day-night temperature shifts—with nighttime temps dropping considerably.
Budget: 800–1,500 yuan.
Best cycling season: September to mid-October, which coincides with the fruit harvest season—you can enjoy an abundance of extremely affordable fruits along the way. Cycling duration: 12–15 days.
Preparation: The route passes through many cities with proper bike repair shops, so just carry basic repair tools. It’s advisable to bring two bandanas for sandy stretches—use them to cover your hair, mouth, and nose.
Accommodation and meals: Plenty of options along the way, ranging from motels to star-rated hotels, and food from a few-yuan snacks to hundred-yuan feasts.
4. Grand Canal Cultural Tour
Scenery ★★★ Difficulty ★ Popularity ★★★★★
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Beijing → Tianjin → Cangzhou → Dezhou → Liaocheng → Jining → Xuzhou → Suqian → Huai'an → Yangzhou → Changzhou → Wuxi → Shanghai → Jiaxing → Hangzhou. The total distance is about 1,780 km.
Reason for inclusion: The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal carries profound history and has left countless precious cultural heritages. Traveling southward along the canal allows you to experience the charm of different cities while also feeling the deep cultural heritage of the Chinese nation.
Route features: The route is almost entirely flat, suitable for first-time long-distance cyclists. The journey spans three municipalities—Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai—as well as four provinces: Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.
Budget: 3,000–5,000 yuan.
Best cycling season: Cycling is possible all year round, but temperatures are relatively low in winter, so keep warm. The trip takes about 20–25 days.
Preparation: There are bike repair services almost everywhere along the route, so just bring basic repair tools.
Food and accommodation: Towns and villages are scattered along the way, making food, lodging, and supplies very convenient.
5. Heading North
Beijing → Mohe
Scenery ★★★ Difficulty ★★★★ Popularity ★★
Beijing → Miyun County → Luanping County → Longhua County → Weichang Manchu and Mongol Autonomous County → Chifeng → Tongliao → Ulanhot → Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner (Moqi) → Nenjiang County → Heihe → Tahe → Mohe. The total distance is about 2,800 km.
Reason for inclusion: Heading north offers diverse scenery. From the metropolis to the vast grasslands, then to lush forests, and finally to Mohe Village at China’s northernmost tip, where you can admire the colorful Northern Lights and experience the magical midnight sun.
Route features: This route initially follows National Highway 101, then turns onto National Highway 111 all the way to Heilongjiang Province. The roads are flat and easy to cycle on. The route crosses Beijing, Hebei, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Heilongjiang Province.
Budget: 4,000–6,000 yuan.
Best cycling season: Spring, summer, and autumn are all suitable for cycling. It’s best to avoid winter due to the cold, headwinds, and potential road blockages from heavy snow. The optimal time is June–July, and if you’re lucky, you might see the Northern Lights in Mohe during the summer solstice. The trip takes about 22–30 days.
Preparation: Major towns along the route have bike repair shops. Basic repair skills and tools are sufficient.
Food and accommodation: Major towns along the way make food, lodging, and supplies easily accessible.
6. The Xinjiang-Tibet Highway
Kashgar → Lhasa
Scenery ★ Difficulty ★★★★★ Popularity ★★
Kashgar → Yecheng County → Pusha Village → Yigezhiya → Kangxiwa → Tianshuihai → Jiassangma Ri Village → Jipu Village → Rutog County → Gar County → Banga Township → Zhongba County → Saga County → Shigatse → Lhasa. The total distance is over 2,850 km.
Reason for inclusion: “Riding the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway is harder than traversing the Shu Road; the Kudi Pass is as perilous as the Gate of Hell; the Mazar Pass is steep, rising 5,300 meters; the Heiqa Pass twists with ninety-nine bends; the Jiashan Pass curves so high you can touch the sky…” This is the most grueling, endurance-testing, harsh-environment, and least-populated extreme cycling route, twice as difficult as the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. Taking a path few have traveled and seeing sights few have witnessed likely captures the sentiment of those who choose the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway.
Route features: The Xinjiang-Tibet Highway has an average altitude of over 4,500 meters, making it one of the highest, most treacherous, and harshest highways in the world. Starting from Kashgar in Xinjiang, the route passes through Yecheng, climbs over the 5,200-meter-high Jiashan Pass, traverses the 4,500-meter-high uninhabited Ali Plateau, and finally reaches Lhasa. Along the way, it crosses five passes over 5,000 meters, the highest being 5,248 meters; it also goes through the world-famous Kunlun Mountains, Karakoram Mountains, Gangdise Mountains, and Himalayas, with most of the route in “uninhabited areas.” Challenges include strong winds, freezing temperatures, thin oxygen, unpredictable weather, scarce supplies, and roads that are mostly washboard and gravel with many steep slopes and frequent landslides—earning it the nickname “devil’s road.” Yet its unique alpine landscapes still attract cyclists to conquer, experience, and admire it.
Budget: 3,000–5,000 yuan.
Best cycling season: July–August, as the climate is warmest and success is most likely. The trip takes about 30–40 days.
Preparation: Cycling the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway requires physical fitness, wilderness survival skills, and bike repair experience. Gear differs from the Sichuan-Tibet Highway—you’ll need a chain tool, outer tires, brake cables, gear cables, spokes, and chains. Essentials include a stove, tent, and sleeping bag. Also, be prepared for large day-night temperature differences with warm clothing, and don’t forget your border permit.
Food and accommodation: Most sections of the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway are desolate, so lodging is mainly at road maintenance stations, checkpoints, military posts, or camping. In uninhabited areas, carry plenty of water, and food mainly consists of compressed biscuits and instant noodles.
7. Romantic Sunlight Cycling Tour
East and Central Routes Cycling Tour Around Hainan Island
Scenery ★★★★★ | Difficulty ★ | Popularity ★★★★★
Haikou City → Lingshan Town → Sanjiang Town → Wenchang City → Yelin Scenic Area in Dongjiao Town → Bo'ao Town → Xinglong Tropical Botanical Garden → Sanya City → Wuzhishan City → Qiongzhong Li and Miao Autonomous County → Haikou City. Total distance approximately 650 kilometers.
Reason for Listing: In winter, the sun-drenched island of Hainan is a paradise for cyclists. With its seascape, sandy beaches, and coconut groves, the picturesque scenery combined with moderately challenging cycling routes draws countless riders to Hainan.
Route Features: The East Route includes National Highway 223 and Provincial Road 201. This section is mostly flat with an elevation of around 10 meters, offering smooth road conditions and almost no inclines—making it a real pleasure to cycle. The Central Route mainly follows National Highway 224, passing through Wuzhishan, though with elevations only around 500 meters and few major slopes.
Budget: 1,200–2,000 yuan.
Best Cycling Season: November to May of the following year. Average temperatures on Hainan Island range around 27°C with low rainfall, making it ideal for cycling. Cycling in the scorching summer heat or during the typhoon and rainy season in autumn is not recommended. The trip takes about 8–10 days.
Preparation: Hainan has a tropical rainforest climate, so be sure to bring items for sun protection, heat prevention, rain protection, and mosquito repellent.
Accommodation & Food: Relatively affordable and convenient. Towns are generally found every dozen kilometers or so. Make sure to stay hydrated while cycling.
8. Along National Highway 312
Shanghai → Urumqi
Scenery ★★★ | Difficulty ★★★★★ | Popularity ★★★
Shanghai → Wuxi → Nanjing → Hefei → Xinyang → Nanyang → Xi’an → Pingliang → Lanzhou → Wuwei → Jiuquan → Jiayuguan → Liuyuan Town → Xingxingxia Town → Luotuoquan Town → Hami → Turpan → Urumqi. Total distance approximately 3,900 kilometers.
Reason for Listing: This route is truly a test of endurance for long-distance cyclists and also demands considerable experience and physical strength. From the humid climate of Shanghai to the arid northwest region of Xinjiang, where days and nights have large temperature differences, the scenery may not be particularly soothing—but it offers a unique experience of gradually shifting human and geographical environments.
Route Features: Traveling along National Highway 312 takes you through eight provinces and autonomous regions: Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Xinjiang. The terrain transitions from flat plains to gently rolling hills, then to the deeply gullied Loess Plateau that combines mountains, plateaus, and basins, and finally to the sparsely populated and desolate Gobi Desert. The joys of this journey are beyond simple description.
Budget: 8,000–12,000 yuan.
Best Cycling Season: The route spans three climate types: subtropical monsoon, temperate monsoon, and temperate continental. To minimize climate differences during your trip, it is advisable to go in May–June or October–November. The cycling duration is 40–55 days, which can vary significantly depending on the rider’s experience and stamina.
Accommodation & Food: After such a strenuous journey, treat yourself to more comfortable lodging. It’s recommended to choose better-quality hotels.
9. Grand Shangri-La Loop
Scenery ★★★★★ | Difficulty ★★★★ | Popularity ★★★★
Chengdu → Dujiangyan → Xiaojin County → Danba County → Xinduqiao Town → Litang County → Daocheng County → Xiangcheng County → Shangri-La County → Lijiang → Lugu Lake Town → Yan Yuan County → Xichang → Ya’an → Chengdu. Total distance over 1,500 kilometers.
Reason for Listing: A gathering place of breathtaking beauty. This route highly condenses the essence of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces: the low-altitude glacier of Hailuogou, Kangding—the hometown of love songs, Xinduqiao—the paradise for photographers, Danba—the most beautiful ancient village on the plateau, Daocheng Yading—the last pure land on Earth, Lugu Lake—beauty beyond words, the majestic Tiger Leaping Gorge, and the quaint and charming ancient town of Lijiang... Additionally, this route takes you through many ethnic minority areas, offering a chance to fully experience their vibrant cultures.
Route Features: This route is famed for its natural scenery. The entire journey is long, with most roads winding along mountains and featuring rugged paths. Some sections are made of dirt or gravel. Snow accumulation occurs from September to April, while the most beautiful scenery can be seen in May and from late October to mid-November. The months in between may be affected by the rainy season.
Budget: 4,000–6,000 yuan.
Best Cycling Season: September–October, when temperatures are pleasant and the scenery is at its best. The trip takes about 20–30 days.
Preparation: On long cycling trips (especially those involving climbs), speed depends not on fitness but on how much weight you’re carrying. Since this route involves many climbs, pack as lightly as possible. Ultraviolet radiation is strong at high altitudes, so take care to protect yourself from the sun.
Accommodation & Food: The stretch through Litang County, Daocheng County, and Xiangcheng County sits above 4,000 meters in altitude. Bring energy-boosting snacks like chocolate and peanut candy based on your individual needs. Other sections have relatively convenient food and lodging options.
10. Sichuan-Tibet Highway
Chengdu → Lhasa
Scenery ★★★★ Difficulty ★★★★★ Popularity ★★★★★
Chengdu → Ya'an → Kangding County → Yajiang County → Litang County → Batang County → Markam County → Zogang County → Baxoi County → Bomi County → Nyingchi County → Gongbo'gyamda County → Mozhugongka County → Lhasa. The total distance is approximately 2,200 kilometers.
Reason for inclusion: This is a classic cycling route into Tibet and also the most scenic among all such routes, featuring alternating highland meadows, mighty rivers, and snow-capped mountains. This route attracts cyclists of different regions and ages every year, with the 119th Road Maintenance Camp being particularly well-known among riders. At the same time, it is an extremely challenging route.
Route features: Starting from Chengdu, the route heads westward into the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, crossing a series of north-south mountain barriers formed by the Min River, Dadu River, Yalong River, Jinsha River, Lancang River, and Nu River, along with their respective watersheds. Cyclists must ascend over ten mountain passes, including Zheduo Mountain, Gaosu Temple Mountain, and Mira Mountain, before reaching Lhasa. Except for the Juoba Mountain Pass at an altitude of 3,908 meters, all other passes exceed 4,000 meters in elevation, with the Dongda Mountain Pass and Mira Mountain Pass reaching over 5,000 meters. The entire journey is arduous and perilous, requiring cyclists to cross a major mountain approximately every two days, while also guarding against geological hazards such as mudslides and landslides. Despite the dangers, the scenery is truly unique—this is the most captivating aspect of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.
Budget: 5,000–7,000 yuan.
Best cycling season: Late spring and early autumn are recommended for cycling the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, with a typical trip duration of 25–30 days.
Preparation for cycling: Before departure, it’s advisable to undergo a period of intensive training, including long-distance rides. If possible, include hill-climbing training, multi-day rides, and overnight stays. Without such experience, it’s hard to imagine the challenge of climbing certain passes with a 2,000-meter elevation gain through dozens of kilometers of continuous uphill riding. Beyond physical fitness, familiarize yourself with your bicycle—preferably allow some time for breaking in a new bike before the trip. From Kangding to Bayi, it’s difficult to find truly skilled bike repair technicians, so it’s best to learn basic repair skills such as patching tires in advance and bring essential repair tools.
Food and accommodation: Along the way, meals are mainly available at Sichuan restaurants run by locals. Apart from bringing small amounts of energy-boosting snacks like chocolate, energy bars, and peanuts, there’s no need to carry additional rations.