15Jun

Countryside Biking in Sichuan

This weekend I was invited by Sichuan Adventure to experience one of their biking tours, exploring the lovely countryside of Sichuan. Like the other trips I have taken with them, the route was carefully designed to provide a tantalising mix of what Sichuan has to offer; the ride takes you through beautiful and varied rural countryside, whilst also allowing opportunity for sightseeing along the way. A lot of the route takes you alongside the lush green mountains of Western Sichuan, marking the beginning of the Tibetan plateau and providing an excellent backdrop to the ride. The biking begins by saying hello to the pandas in Panda Valley, breaks for lunch in Jiezi Old Town and finishes at the gorgeous Baita Lake.

Panda Valley

Our day began by visiting the less visited panda base, Panda Valley. Situated underneath Zhaogong Mountain, this research centre was specifically set up to rehabilitate pandas back into the wild. Of course, the bears destined for the mountains behind are hidden from visitors’ gaze,but there are around 10-15 pandas you’re able to see and a short walk through bamboo and forestry brings you to their enclosures. The particular perks of visiting Panda Valley over the base in Chengdu city? It is much, much quieter. Furthermore, the enclosures are nicer, allowing for more intimacy, and the surrounding nature of the park altogether provides a much more tranquil experience. It’s hard to tire of seeing these furry beasts and commentary about China’s panda history from the knowledgeable Leo provided an added boon.

Biking to an Ancient Town

Biking Trails Between Panda Valley and Mount Qingcheng — Ride through the countryside

After our fill of nature’s cutest bear, it was time to hit the road and we had 20km to complete before lunch. Luckily, the equipment we had to hand would make this a doddle – we were supplied with everything we could need, including excellent bikes, radios and a support car to help us along. Soon after Panda Valley we had a manageable incline which immediately rewarded us with a generous descent. It was a joy to rip through the countryside, with open fields, farmer’s houses and the mountains towering in the distance. It’s thrilling to know that the mountains marked the beginning of ‘The Roof of the World’ – the largest and highest plateau on earth. I couldn’t keep my eyes off them and, nestled in the trees, you could occasionally see the odd temple or building, begging for your exploration. This view gradually broke as the ride went on and we passed through forests, fields and villages, with the odd restaurant or tea house occasionally grabbing your attention, before we reached the ancient town.

Jiezi Ancient Town

Jiezi Ancient town might not have the charm of Xianshi in Zigong, however, it is still beautiful, with interesting history and it provides an excellent place to lunch. Previously, the town marked the last stop for traders to rest and refuel before undertaking the the arduous journey through the Tibetan Plateau. Now, it is full of restaurants, cafés and shops making use of the people coming to enjoy the picturesque architecture, set besides a beautiful bridge and aqueduct. We had a lunch full of Sichuan’s most famous dishes before taking a stroll along the river, complete with teahouses and people cooling off in the water, before continuing on the last leg of our journey through the countryside.

Rural life in modern China

Rural Life Along Chongqing Road

With the mountains firmly behind us we mounted our bikes once again to head to Baita Lake and complete our ride. The afternoon was as enjoyable as the morning and we were soon again passing through beautiful countryside punctuated by the odd village, or group of rural homes. The farmer’s homes are incredibly picturesque. Often nestled within trees or bamboo, they have architecture that is unique to Sichuan, with white washed walls and sloping, tiled roofs. Recent decades have seen a decline in those living in the countryside, often leaving these areas with an ageing population. However, in the last few years, the government has been encouraging the younger generations to return, enticing them with generous business loans. The result of this is the occasional small hamlet with boutique guesthouses, café’s and restaurants in extremely relaxing and picturesque environs. These provide the perfect place to relax, should you want a stay in the countryside.

Finish Biking at Baita Lake

It was an excellent day out in rural Sichuan. The ride itself rarely had any incline and the roads were quiet, meaning you could enjoy biking at your own pace and immerse yourself in the scenery around you. This also means that it is suitable for bike riders of all levels. It was an extremely pleasant and invigorating ride, which ended by taking us off the road into the picturesque villages and farmland surrounding Baita Lake. We stopped, happy and proud of the day’s achievement, and gorged on ripe watermelon.