Sichuan's Khan region is situated in the western part of China, the eastern border to Qin Hai Tibetan Plateau. An area inhabited by Tibetan, Qiang, Hui and Han peoples, decorated by towering snow capped mountains, cascading rivers and lakes, thick forests. The scenery is similar to the Alps in Europe. Enroute, we can appreciate the natural scenery as well as the unique folk customs of the locals, especially the folklore of Jiarong Tibetan.

Our journey begins and ends in Chengdu, whose history can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 - 220 BC). Our first leg takes us to the scenic wonders of Mt Emei and the Giant Buddha of Leshan, carved from a mountain side. Then turns westward, as we ascend to the Qin Hai Tibetan Plateau. Leaving the forests behind, we enter a magical world of vast grasslands and glacier shrouded mountain ranges.

The Kingdom of One Thousand Castles holds our attention for a couple of days of pedaling, with ancient towers and citadels dotting the many hillsides surrounding our bicycle tour route. Descend through some lovely river canyons and back out into the green countryside, thick forests of bamboo which serve as habitat for China's renowned Pandas. A wide array of incredible cycling scenery complimented by Sichuan's awesome cuisine and delightful lodges.

Itinerary (day-by-day)

Day 1 - Arrive in Chengdu, China's fourth largest city. We shuttle to our hotel located on a traditional merchant street, something not see very often in modern China. The day is free to explore until our welcome dinner and Chinese Opera performance.

Day 2 - We start with a leisurely, non-cycling day, a chance to get over jet lag and explore several important sites without the headaches of traffic. We will be exploring Huanglangxi, a town with several thousand years of history and a favorite location for movies, and the Leshan Buddha, the world's largest sitting Buddha which was carved out of the side of a cliff. Afternoon will find us ascending Mt Emei by bus and cable car to our hotel on top. This mountain is one of the four most important Buddhist mountains in China.

Day 3 - An early knock on the door is necessary, as sunrise from the top on Mt Emei is something not to be missed. If luck is with us, perhaps we will witness the rare "Buddha's Halo" phenomena. After breakfast we descend the mountain and shuttle to Jiang Ju from where we start a ride through rural countryside, passing tea farms, scenic reserviors, small villages and more. Our goal is the market town of Ya'an. 37 mi / 60 km

Day 4 - Pedaling out of Ya'an we begin our first ascent towards the Tibetan Plateau. The first leg takes you along the scenic banks of the Qingyi River and through its canyon. Due to some tunnels we will shuttle over the 3700 meter Mt Elangshan, then remount for the descent to Luding. This town and its iron chain bridge gained notority during the Red Army's liberation of China under the command of a young Chairman Mao. 72 mi / 116 km

Day 5 - Departing Luding, you will enjoy a scenic ride along cascading rivers and deep valleys, as we pedal the short distance to Kangding town. Kangding is a traditional blending point between the Tibetan and Han (Chinese) cultures and you will notice the traditional Tibetan dress mixed amongst the modern Chinese styles. 40 mi / 65 km

Day 6 - We start the day with a shuttle over a 4250 meter pass to the town of Xinduqiao. From here we set off for a ride through the Tagong Grasslands. We will visit the Tagong Monastery with its spectacular Scripture Pavilion and enjoy spectacular views of the holy mountain - Mt Yala. In the afternoon, the road turns upward again, as we ride out of the Tagong Grasslands and down into the Bamei Basin. Tonight we will enjoy our first Tibetan guesthouse. 44 mi / 71 km

Day 7/8 - This morning our route rolls across the basin, visiting Huiyuan Temple, a Tibetan monastery and through forests of golden birch. Then up over the shoulder of Mt Liangzi, followed by a 70 kilometer descent through the awesome canyon of the Yak River. Our goal is a small traditional Tibetan Village near the town of Danba, where we enjoy a two night stay as guests of the mayor and his family, a chance to discover the traditional daily lives of the villagers. The region around Danba is known as the "Kingdom of a Thousand Castles", with watchtowers and citadels scattered throughout. We will enjoy some leisurely explorations of several of these historic sights on our layover day. 52 mi / 83 km

Day 9 - Departing along the Dadu River, we will be pedaling through an area that supplies large numbers of apples, pears and walnuts from its groves. Watchtowers still dot the horizons, with mountains further beyond, making for some beautiful landscapes to ride. Our overnight lodging will be in Rilong located on the edge of the Four Sisters and Giant Panda National Parks. 64 mi / 103 km

Day 10 - We will start the day with a shuttle up over a 4100 m pass and then start our leisurely afternoon on the shores of a reservior. Today's mostly downhill ride goes through a beautiful canyon and lush bamboo forests. This area is part of the Giant Panda Reserve and is where in the 1800s a French explorer first documented the exsitance of the Giant Panda, previously thought only to be a mythical animal. Our overnight stop is in Bao Xing. 32 mi / 52 km

Day 11 - Continuing our descent off the Tibetan Plateau, we enjoy another long stretch of continuous downhill through deep gorges and spectacular landscapes. Breaking out of the mountains and back into the Sichuan Basin, we will visit a couple of craft towns, one specializing in marble sculpting, the other in wood carving using old preserved tree stumps. We will briefly visit Ya'an again, before heading north to visit Shangli, a historic town and the Hot Springs at Zhougongshan our home for the night. 57 mi / 92 km

Day 12 - Once again we find ourselves heading back to the hustle and bustle of Chengdu. A stop of the Chengdu Panda Research Center will afford a glimpse of these shy, beautiful animals. We arrive back at our hotel early enough for folks to get in some last minute shopping or sightseeing, before our delicious end of the tour feast at a unique Herb restaurant.

Day 13 - All things must come to an end. Shuttles will be offered to the airport throughout the morning and early afternoon.

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