About 1000km of riding, nothing flat, 9 days on route and 1 cycling to the airport area.
It was wet and then more wet! It rained every day! Thats what you get for being in China’s most rainy province in the wrong season! The 2h of sun and blue sky in 10 days was nice… Well, next stop Xinjiang, which will be the opposite, 40c strong sun crying for the shade and rain!
The Border of Guangxi and VN was nicer than expected. There is a great loop, linking two CN/VN open borders, cycling on both sides, which I need to post later. Its amazing how many crossings there are, every 50km or so, many just open to trucks!
I made the mistake of getting on some trucking route but otherwise, the roads were very quiet and generally fine for 32mm + road tires. Gear, other than a self-imposed leaky brake all worked out well.
The Karst Loop Ride Diary – VN PRC loop!
Day 1 110KM 1860m
- S: 2, R: 2, H: 1.5
- Dongxing to Nali town
- Finally on my way on the WBR!
- A very wet start with some tropical downpours.
- Cycling in China 🇨🇳 next to Vietnam 🇻🇳 Misty sauna climbs. Nice Guilin noodle lunch.
- Nicer afternoon with minimal traffic.
- Simple clean hotel on the G219 next to the border. Huge dinner.
Day 2 157km 2272m
- S: 2, R: 2, H: 2.5
- Nali to Pingxiang
- Bye bye Rudong. Hello sunburn!
- Long day! Quiet roads and nice views of pine forests on the top of the climbs. Comfort Inn big but clean hotel. Pingxiang area not much character and busy port!
- Hotel
Day 3 90km 1233m
- S: 2.5, R: 2.5, H: 1.5
- Pingxiang to Shuikou
- A nice climb and nice day but tired legs. Basic but clean stay. Catching up on work.
- Hotel
Day 4 99km 1080m
- Shuikou to Detian
- S: 3.5, R: 2, H: 2.5
- Stunning scenery, shitty road! The first 70km packed with pinnacle Karst hills looking fabulous in the mist and rain. I’d love to come back to the area to explore on mountain bike! The last 30km was on big new roads and tunnels and waterfall area is super touristy. Nice stay – various there.
Day 5 153km 1660m
- Detian to Napo
- S: 2.5, R:1, H: 2.5
- nice start.
- Off G219
- Busy road
- Look for side roads
- Hotel
Day 6 100km 2230m
- S: 3.5, R: 2.5, H: 1.5
- Napo to Tianpeng
- Nice ride back to G219
- Remember Vietnam trip
- Tianpeng interesting and reall minorities
- Basic hotel but nice.
- Poor minority border town
- Hotel
Day 7 135km 2540m
- Tianpeng to Xichou
- S: 3.5, R: 3-1, H:4
- Day had everything. Downs up, nothing flat.
- Cobbled mining road. Filth
- Very nice hotel
- Cold and wet
- Hotel
Day 8 83km 1230m
Xichou to Maguan
- S: 2.5, R:2, H:4
- Easy short ride with one main climb. A bit heavy on truck traffic but nothing too crazy. Getting touring legs back… Nice hotel and good value.
- Hotel
Day 9 90km 1000m
- Maguan to Wenshan / Yanshan
- S: 2, R:2, H:2
- Stay in Wenshan and fly out from there. Nothing much is happening in Yanshan.
- Hotel
