Treasures Of China – Hiking & Biking

Treasures of China – Hiking & Biking Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Your adventure begins in cosmopolitan Beijing where your guide and fellow explorers await. Group dinner and orientation tonight.

  Our trip begins today in Beijing, China. A transfer will be arranged to our centrally-located hotel where our guide will conduct a brief orientation before accompanying us to dinner in a nearby restaurant featuring some of the tasty local cuisine. Enjoy a good night's sleep in Beijing tonight.
  
  All meals are included from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 11.Meals are eaten in a combination of hotel restaurants; small, family-run restaurants and noodle shops, as well as during impromptu picnics. Vegetarians are easily accommodated.

• Day 2 Set out on a walking tour of Tiananmen Square and the historic Forbidden City; fly to Xi'an this afternoon.

  After breakfast, we begin our adventure with a walk through Tiananmen Square and a visit to the Forbidden City, the former residence of 24 Chinese emperors from 1420 until 1911 when China's dynastic system was overturned. This 100-acre landmark can conceivably be a multi-day tour unto itself and group members can return at the end of our trip when the intricacies of China's culture will have even greater significance.

  After lunch, we'll transfer to the airport and board an afternoon flight to Xi'an, a city steeped in national history. Modern Xi'an surrounds the 15th-century medieval city known as the "Old Quarter" which is enclosed by walls that are eight miles long, almost 70 feet high, and as wide as a city street along the top. Famous within China for almost 2500 years, Xi'an drew Europe's attention in the 13th century when the Venetian adventurer, Marco Polo, described the area as the beginning (or end) of the famous Silk Road. In 1974, Xi'an again received international acclaim when a farmer digging a well here discovered the incredible Terracotta Warriors, now considered a wonder of the world. From our hotel next to the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, we walk to the narrow streets of the atmospheric Muslim quarter and survey the specialties available in its bustling market. Xi'an's Muslim quarter is the hub of the local Muslim community and descendants of the merchants that settled here during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) still maintain their traditional businesses and lifestyles. Overnight in Xi'an tonight.

• Day 3 After a stop at the Shaanxi History Museum, enjoy an afternoon cycle ride in the surrounding countryside to Mt. Hua Shan.

  We get an early start this morning and begin the day with a visit to the Shaanxi History Museum. The museum tour is a great primer for many of the places and historical events we'll visit and learn about throughout our trip. Then it's on to Chi Shui Village where, after lunch, we set out for an afternoon of cycling through the rural countryside of Shaanxi Province. Prepare yourself – Western cyclists in rural areas are known to cause traffic jams! By Chinese standards, our bicycles are exotic, our dress is unusual and our hats are very strange. A lovely ride from Chi Shui brings us directly to our hotel for the next two nights at the base of Mt. Hua Shan (Fragrant Flower Mountain), the location of tomorrow's unforgettable hike.

  Cycling to the foot of Mt. Hua Shan: 28 miles.

• Day 4 Full-day hike on Mt. Hua Shan, one of China's five sacred mountains. Spectacular views from the summit reward the climb!

  We have an early breakfast in preparation for our full-day hike up Mt. Hua Shan, one of the five sacred – and most famous – mountains in all of China. Hua Shan has been a pilgrimage site for emperors and the religiously devout for centuries and our objective is to join modern-day pilgrims on their hike to the summit, arriving by mid-afternoon. Although the trail is ancient and trod upon every day, it's still a very challenging hike that includes sheer cliffs and substantial elevation gain (5,000 feet, much of it on stone steps). But the rewards are spectacular…the dramatic scenery is just as impressive today as it must have been a thousand years ago. Plan on carrying extra memory cards as you'll want to capture pictures of all the interesting trail configurations and dramatic rock cliffs we hike along during our ascent. In late afternoon, after spending some time at the top of Hua Shan, we'll walk downhill to the north peak and board a gondola for a quick and relaxing return to the base of the mountain and our nearby hotel.
  
  Hiking: 6 to 7 hours (approx. 5,000 feet of elevation gain) along narrow trails and numerous stretches of steep stone stairs.

• Day 5 Visit the amazing Terracotta Warriors; an army of 8,000 life-size figures, each one unique. Cycle on Xi'an's medieval city wall.

  After a good night's sleep, we board our private vehicle this morning and transfer to the museum containing the world-renowned Terra Cotta Warriors. This army of 8,000 life-sized, individually representative clay figures guards the necropolis of the 2nd-century BC Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The Terracotta Warriors are covered by structures similar to three large aircraft hangars and, in addition to taking time to study the warriors themselves, we'll observe the active, ongoing excavation taking place at this large archeological site (the emperor's actual tomb is yet to be explored!).

  Later this afternoon, we return to Xi'an and visit the City Wall; the most well-preserved and complete city wall still in existence in China. Constructed from 1374-1378, the wall features a variety of imposing guard towers and gates and we'll enjoy a short, fun ride along the top of the wall on single-speed bikes. As we ride along with the locals, we're struck by the contrasting views of the ancient inner city completely surrounded by modern Xi'an outside the towering walls.

  Cycling: 8.4 miles on the City Wall, about 1.5 hours.

• Day 6 Fly back to Beijing this morning and begin a fun two-day spin in the rural countryside.

  We take a morning flight from Xi'an back to Beijing and upon arrival, are transported by private vehicle to the outskirts of the city. Our bikes will be waiting and we'll begin our ride through the rural countryside to the town of Huai Rou where we'll spend the night. Most of today's scenic cycling is on paved roads as we go from small town to small town en route to our hotel.

  Cycling: 26 miles. Terrain: Mostly flat with some rolling hills.

• Day 7 Cycle through tranquil farmland filled with small villages and terraced fields. Afternoon transfer to the Great Wall.

  Our spin today takes us through more picturesque farmland, as we follow a large canal containing local drinking water upstream from the scenic Miyun Reservoir. The road weaves its way around the reservoir, offering spectacular views of the lake and surrounding terraced fields. Later in the afternoon we hop in our vehicle for a transfer to the base of the Great Wall in Jinshanling. We spend three nights at a guesthouse located at the foot of the Great Wall. While the guesthouse is simple, its beautiful courtyard offers a wonderful space for relaxation and amazing views of the Great Wall itself.

  Cycling: 26 miles with options for longer rides. Terrain: mostly paved with some short sections of dirt.

• Day 8 Conquer the Great Wall! Hike on an unrestored section of this wonder of the world, from Gu Bei Kou to Jin Shan Ling.

  Today we set out on our first hike along the Great Wall. We begin our walk on an unrestored and rarely visited section of the Wall known as Gu Bei Kou. Our trail alternates between well-defined ancient stone steps and an undulating path whose steps have been covered by centuries of dirt. As we wind our way back along the ridgeline towards Jinshanling, we marvel at the sweeping vistas and the workmanship of the sturdy stone towers that once guarded our route. Though crumbling, this section of the Wall still has the power to stir up feelings of awe as it stretches on and on towards the distant horizon.

  Hiking: 6 miles. Terrain: many steep ascents and descents on stone steps and/or crumbling sections of the wall with dirt paths and loose stone.

• Day 9 Walk along a beautiful restored stretch of the Great Wall towards Simatai.

  We continue our hiking on the wall today from our hotel in Jinshanling towards Simatai. Parts of this section have been restored with wide, even walkways and ancient stairways. This area dates back to the Ming Dynasty and is considered by many to be the most beautiful section of this 5,000-mile-long wonder of the world. Though the wall is really a series of mainly earthen barriers, conscripted workers in the Ming era enlarged the brick and granite work, redesigning watch towers and adding modern cannons (most purchased from the Portuguese). The Ming Emperors had tossed out the Huns and hoped – fruitlessly – that the walls would keep them out. Though ultimately ineffective as a barrier, the Wall has symbolically, as well as economically, maintained the power of imperial dynasties through the centuries.

  Hiking: 6 miles. Terrain: many steep ascents and descents on stone steps and/or sections of the wall with loose stone.

• Day 10 Final bike ride to the Hutong, narrow alleys formed by rows of traditional Chinese homes. Celebration dinner tonight!

  After breakfast, we transfer back to Beijing where we'll jump on our bikes one final time for a ride to and through the Hutong (historic alley ways) of the city and to the Lama Temple, one of largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world. This afternoon, we'll attend an acrobatic show by skilled local performers before having a chance to share memories and say goodbye to new found friends at a farewell celebration banquet of roast Peking duck and other local specialties.

  Cycling: approximately 2 hours on paved streets.

• Day 11 Our adventure ends in Beijing this morning.

  This morning, a group transfer will be arranged to the Beijing airport for those flying out of the city today.

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted above. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee which is half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available on most departures.

All accommodations; all meals starting with dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 11; all sightseeing arrangements as noted; one private airport transfer on Day 1 and group airport transfer on Day 11; local guides; 27-speed hybrid bikes; support vehicle; acrobat show in Beijing; gondola ride down Mt. Hua Shan; park and museum entry fees as noted.

Air transportation to China; internal flights from Beijing to Xi'an and return ($300 additional cost for internal flights; cost of visas; airport taxes; medical immunizations; insurance of any kind; airport transfers outside of group transfer on Day 11; gondola ride up Mt. Hua Shan for those choosing not to hike; airline excess baggage fees; gratuities; items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages or laundry.

This trip is rated Moderate [3] and will be enjoyed by anyone who is physically fit and likes to cycle and hike. The daily cycle rides (4 days) average 10-28 miles in length on both rural and urban paved and dirt roads over flat or gently undulating terrain. The hikes on the trip (3 days) will range between 6-8 miles and can be strenuous in terms of elevation gain, loss and exposure for both Mt. Hua Shan and the two days on the Great Wall. A gondola ride most of the way up Mt. Hua Shan is an available option for that day of hiking. Some sections of the Great Wall will have loose rocks requiring some scrambling. The tour is fully vehicle-supported and on cycling days, trip members have the option to cycle or ride in the support vehicle as they wish. A regular conditioning program beginning at least 3 months prior to departure is highly recommended for all trip members, even more so for those individuals planning to hike Mt. Hua Shan from bottom to top. Cycling, hiking, walking/running, stair-climbing (vital when conditioning for Hua Shan!) and a daily stretching regimen are all great ways to prepare and will significantly enhance your level of enjoyment on this adventure.

We provide 27 speed mountain/cross bikes. The bikes come equipped with a water bottle cage, map case and rear rack.  The support vehicle carries spare tubes and tools. 

The seasons in the regions we visit are similar to those in the U.S. The days begin with cooler temperatures and gradually warm up to 65-80 degrees. Beijing is prone to higher humidity, and temperatures generally range between 65-90 degrees, with many days in the 80s. Typically, this is a warm trip with cool mornings and evenings. Each trip may also include a thunderstorm or rain shower, so keep this in mind as you pack your gear. It can be cool and windy on Mt. Hua Shan due to the higher elevation.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active adventure trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, a change of clothing (including hiking boots and cycling helmet) and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed. Cameras should also be packed in your carry-on bag.
• There is a 44 pound (20 Kg) weight limit on all internal flights in China.
• The support vehicle has room for one large piece of luggage per trip member. It also carries spare inner tubes, tools and extra drinking water.
• Helmets are required, so please bring your own. We also recommend brightly-colored bicycle clothing for visibility and safety.
• Showers are usually available each evening, with warm to hot water. Laundry facilities are available several times throughout the trip, however, many of the hotels do laundry by hand and will not accept 'personal' garments for washing. Bring lightweight clothes that dry quickly, and hand-wash them in your hotel room.
• There is no heating in some of the guest inns and hotels, but the provided quilts are thick and warm. You will be pleasantly surprised by most accommodations during the trip, with only one or two hotel nights offering extremely basic services and amenities. Remember, relatively few Western travelers have visited many of the locations on our itinerary. The minor inconveniences we may encounter are far out-weighed by the opportunity to see and experience the real China.
• Bringing a few of your favorite snacks, energy bars and drinks from home is a good idea in order to add variety to between-meal food options. Bottled water, green tea, sodas, juices and snacks are available for purchase everywhere we travel.