Join us as we take a 385km bike ride through Xishuangbanna, the southernmost prefecture of Yunnan Province – China’s most southwestern province. Renowned for its tropical climate and lush rainforests, the region is teeming with wildlife, rare plants, and historical & cultural significance. Xishuangbanna is the birthplace of tea cultivation, and is home to the Pu’er tea industry.
The Hutong also brings school groups to Xishuangbanna to study ethnic diversity, the history of China’s borderlands, the pros and cons of economic development, environmental preservation, and to be immersed in nature. We also organize private trips for groups of families and friends.
Our 2015 Chinese New Year trip will run from Saturday February 14th to Sunday February 22nd. To reserve your space and receive an itinerary, contact morgan[at]thehutong[dot]com.
Cycling Info:
During the course of 7 days of cycling, we will complete 385km (give or take) of cycling – give or take, because our itineraries often vary slightly, given the opportunities for exploration and discovery. The Hutong’s Yunnan Bike Journey is just that – a journey on a bicycle. It’s not a race or a competition, but an opportunity to move at just the right speed through beautiful villages, say “hello” to locals, stop for an impromptu pineapple snack, or sneak off into the rainforest for a look at ancient tea trees. It is by no means an easy journey – while some might enjoy an “All Downhill” bike trip, we at The Hutong think that the wonderfully fresh meals and expansive scenery are enjoyed best when earned with a tough uphill.
Biking Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5 (you do not need to be a Tour de France rider, but you will need to be able to take on some hills).
Price:
9,000 RMB; includes accommodations, meals, ground transportation, bike rentals, and fresh pineapples! Excludes Airfare.
Start Date:
Saturday February 14th
Return Date:
Sunday February 22nd
Serendipity:
Hutong trip leaders travel regularly to destinations to develop relationships with local contacts to provide the most authentic cultural experiences possible. As such, trip itineraries are subject to change, pending the discovery of an even better activity or destination. Itineraries may also be subject to change due to weather, traffic, or government policies.
Cultural Tidbits:
China is a country home to 56 unique ethnic minorities. Yunnan China’s most culturally diverse province, with 26 of the nation’s 56 ethnicities.
Tea was first cultivated in Yunnan, before India or anywhere else in China. Many of Xishuangbanna’s ethnicities still consume teas in ways we might find strange – scrambled into eggs, mixed into salads, or cooked into soups.
Though Xishuangbanna is now officially Chinese, it was once ruled as a part of the Thai Kingdom. The tribal leaders in this area paid tribute to Burmese Kings, Thai Royalty, or the Chinese Emperor – as opportunity saw fit.
How to Book:
Contact morgan[at]thehutong[dot]com for booking information.
Still not convinced that a tropical paradise is where you’d like to spend Chinese New Year 2015? See what some of our past riders and adventurers have to say about their experience:
“I have lived in China for five years and this trip will be at the top of the memories I take home with me.”
“Cycling through small villages, vast banana plantations, tranquil rubber tree forests and picturesque valleys is the perfect antidote to the grey, cold Beijing winter.”
“If you’re looking to experience some of China’s beauty — not the heroic modernizing kind but the old-world rural kind — then there couldn’t be a better occasion than The Hutong’s Yunnan Bike Journey. “
