Under the blue sky, straight asphalt roads stretch to the horizon; on winding mountain passes, the Nujiang River roars below the cliffs; in the cool breeze, the clear waters of highland lakes are serene and sweet... This year, Guangxi netizens "Bingshuang" and "XiaoQQ" embarked on two motorcycle trips, with the longest covering over 26,000 km.
Speaking of travel, who doesn’t love it? But to spend months on end, riding a motorcycle to cover tens of thousands of kilometers, witnessing all four seasons—few can manage that.
110 days, over 30,000 km on a motorcycle
At the end of December, when we met "Bingshuang" and "XiaoQQ" near Qinzhou Motorcycle Commune by Liu Yongfu Square in Qinzhou City, they had just returned from Lhasa. Long-term riding, exposure to wind and rain, had given their faces a healthy dark-red hue. Especially "XiaoQQ"—though a middle-aged woman—looked dashing and particularly cool.
In late November, "Bingshuang," "XiaoQQ," and their friend "Huaxie" set off from Guangxi on motorcycles, entering Yunnan via Baise and then heading north to Dali. They later looped around to the Yunnan border and entered Tibet. They arrived in Lhasa in early December but had to abandon their plan to cross the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau due to heavy snow and impassable roads. In mid-December, they took a train back to Guangxi. "XiaoQQ" said that after getting used to motorcycle travel, sitting on the train was unbearable. "Our bikes are still in Lhasa—we’ll set off again from there next year."
"Bingshuang," 35, was born in Harbin but grew up in Beihai. "XiaoQQ" and "Huaxie" are native Qinzhou residents. On July 15 this year, "Bingshuang" and "XiaoQQ" started from Qinzhou, rode through Baise out of Guangxi, and headed to Yunnan, Tibet, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, then through Hebei, Henan, Hubei, and Hunan, returning to their starting point by late October. Including their second trip in late November, the total duration exceeded 110 days, covering 30,000 km.
"Bingshuang" used a blue pen to map their entire route. Then he outlined another route in red, crossing 23 provinces and municipalities, passing Mount Everest, Tianshan, Xikou, and Guandong. He said, "This was my 2009 route, taking 94 days and covering over 25,000 km." "Bingshuang" admitted he’s hooked on motorcycle travel.
Documenting the journey along the way
On a journey of tens of thousands of kilometers, without proper documentation, it’s hard to convince others, let alone showcase the thrills and beauty encountered. During their July-starting trip, "Bingshuang" and "XiaoQQ" posted updates on two local forums and one motorcycling forum. They carried cameras and laptops, updating posts whenever possible—but sometimes signal issues forced them to pause.
These posts were consistently pinned and highlighted by moderators, with the highest views exceeding 200,000. Readers and commenters from across the country avidly followed their daily progress. One netizen commented that their travelogue read like an exciting TV series.
"Past Mayuqiao, the mysterious face of Ngari gradually unfolded before me. The sheep here are so docile, lined up neatly waiting for their owners to milk them—a sight that broadened my horizons."
"Bangong Lake is stunning but desolate. Strangely, the Chinese side is mostly freshwater, rich in fish, while the Indian side is mostly saline, teeming with shrimp."
"The mysterious ancient Guge Kingdom vanished overnight 300 years ago, leaving only ruins that record its glorious cultural achievements. 'XiaoQQ' pushed open the ancient gate with her strong hands..."
Their posts documented where they went each day, what they saw, paired with photos. Azure skies, lush mountains, crystal-clear lakes, perilous winding roads, snow-capped peaks, and warm locals—whether beautiful, mysterious, pure, or rustic, all stirred longing. Many netizens were tempted to follow suit.
Riding on cliffs with wobbly legs
Motorcycle travel offers fresh air and breathtaking scenery, best enjoyed at a leisurely pace. But the dangers and hardships are inevitable challenges. Most routes are manageable, but the toughest stretches are in Yunnan, Tibet, and Xinjiang.
"Bingshuang" highlighted the "Bingchacha" road from Yunnan into Tibet. "'Bingchacha' is a name we riders coined—it’s not even on maps," he explained, tracing it on the map. This roughly 350-km route, only 2–3 meters wide, is made of gravel and dirt, flanked by rocky mountains on one side and sheer cliffs dropping to the roaring Nujiang River on the other. Riding up it for the first time left their legs shaking.
Besides "Bingchacha" and the Tongmai Danger Zone, National Highway 219 through Tibet and Xinjiang is also notable. With altitudes over 4,000 meters, many struggle to adapt.
In mid-August, "Bingshuang" and "XiaoQQ" reached the infamous "Dead Man’s Gully" on Highway 219. "We planned to press on to Dahongliutan, but 10 km short, we were blocked by knee-deep rushing meltwater. It was midnight—cold, hungry, and scared—we had to turn back."
In mid-August, "Bingshuang" and "XiaoQQ" reached the infamous "Dead Man’s Gully" on Highway 219. "We planned to press on to Dahongliutan, but 10 km short, we were blocked by knee-deep rushing meltwater. It was midnight—cold, hungry, and scared—we had to turn back."
At dawn, they found a Xinjiang construction camp and tried pitching a tent by its barracks, drawing the attention of workers. "There’s an empty room—get inside, you won’t survive outside," a staffer kindly offered, words "Bingshuang" still cherishes.
Perils and memorable stories
Perils and memorable stories
Motorcycling is full of unknown risks, but their gear was minimal: bikes, cameras, laptops, two sets of cold-weather clothes, meds for colds and diarrhea, and food bought en route. "Bingshuang’s" bike could go 500 km on a tank, but "XiaoQQ’s" was a ladies’ scooter requiring an 18-liter spare fuel can. They also carried basic tools—"XiaoQQ" admitted they barely knew how to use them, but the tools offered peace of mind.
In August, they reached Xinjiang’s Karamay, home to the Devil’s City. Whether staying at inns or eating, locals asked, "Are you here for rock hunting?" Puzzled, they learned the nearby Gobi Desert held beautiful jade. They stayed days to collect stones, later polishing them into jewelry. "XiaoQQ" and "Bingshuang" showed off their pendants and bracelets.
In September, visiting "Bingshuang’s" hometown Harbin, he rode to see family. But his dusty arrival moved relatives: "Don’t ride back next time—we’ll send you a flight ticket."
Daily distances varied with road conditions. On good days, they covered 600 km; on slow days, just 70–80 km. They navigated by map but sometimes got lost. In October, they wandered at a crossroads in an Hubei city until a local car recognized "XiaoQQ": "I’m a rider too—I follow your posts. I spotted your bike’s flagpole!" He guided them out of town.
Deciding to keep riding
Deciding to keep riding
"These long rides let me see China’s wonders, broaden my mind, and make great friends," "Bingshuang" said.
He learned to ride in 1990, using it as transport. In 2007, a friend introduced him to a motorcycling club, revealing travel possibilities. He started with regional rides, then nationwide, and hopes to explore Southeast Asia by bike.
"Bingshuang" isn't married yet, while "Xiao QQ's" daughter is already in high school, but their shared interests have made them comrades who help and encourage each other. Some people think that those who travel by motorcycle must be wealthy and have plenty of free time, but "Bingshuang" has only an ordinary job in Beihai, and can only go traveling by saving up his days off. "Actually, traveling by motorcycle is the most economical option. A round trip from Beihai to Tibet only costs about 5,000 yuan. The daily average expense is between 120 and 150 yuan."
"Xiao QQ" used to run a printing shop in Qinzhou, but she temporarily closed it because she went traveling by motorcycle. While she was away on her motorcycle trips, her daughter often went online to check posts and follow her mom’s journey. "Xiao QQ" said that she would occasionally run into fellow bikers along the way, but most of them were teachers traveling during school holidays.
