Amsterdam 23/10/2005 at 15:30 Day 23: Beijing – Xi’an: Arrival in Xi’an At the station in Xi’an we found that there were absolutely no problems with the bikes. As usual the gears had been changed, but we were getting used to that. Outside the station we met hordes of sales people who wanted to sell anything from hotels and taxis …
Day 22: Beijing – Xi’an: Chinese Bureaucracy
Amsterdam 23/10/2005 at 15:30 Day 22: Beijing – Xi’an: Chinese Bureaucracy ***** 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY ***** – Although we didn’t realize that ourselves until on the train to Xi’an. Instead we got the day going with in-the-room “home made” breakfast and got busy packing, making final arrangements with the Vlieg & Fiets agent in Beijing, and eventually checking out of …
Beijing: Back in the Capital
Beijing, 05/10/2005 at 23:00 The weather the last couple of days has been mostly good, but always a bit cloudy. Warm enough, though, for shorts. Below is a quick rundown of most of the events of the days 18-21.
Day 21: Beijing: Tai Chi in the Temple of Heaven Park
Beijing, 05/10/2005 at 23:00 Day 21: Beijing: Tai Chi in the Temple of Heaven Park Getting up very early we left the hotel at 06.00 to see people do Beijing wake up in the Temple of Heaven Park. “Waking up” in Beijing includes various sports including easy gymnastics, running, tai chi, kung fu with and without weapons, singing, screaming, tennis, …
Day 20: Shanhaiguan – Beijing: Back to the Base
Beijing, 05/10/2005 at 23:00 Day 20: Shanhaiguan – Beijing: Back to the Base As agreed our contact in the taxi underworld of Shanhaiguan had kept his word to arrive with a mini bus to bring us to Beijing. We hadto take the bikes partly apart, but at the end everything fitted and we were brought safely to Beijing. The driver …
Day 19: Shanhaiguan: End of the Wall
Beijing, 05/10/2005 at 23:00 Day 19: Shanhaiguan: End of the Wall Finally ready for a bit of sightseeing in Shanhaiguan this day was about seeing the first part of the Wall. We started out early in the morning at “The First Pass Under Heaven”, which is the first important tower on the Wall. Having enjoyed this we took the cableway …
Day 18: Bei Dai He – Shanhaiguan: Lost in China
Beijing, 05/10/2005 at 23:00 Day 18: Bei Dai He – Shanhaiguan: Lost in China A few times during our holiday the biking route guidebook has been a bit of a challenge – on this day more than ever. After 12 kilometers we decided to return to Bei Dai He and start over. Again we didn’t make the guidebook fit reality …
Bei Dai He: Finally Online Again
Bei Dai He, 01/10/2005 at 23:00 We DID say that it would be a while before you’d see us online again, but that it should take six days until our next post was unforeseen. Below is a rundown of the events that have passed from day 11 through day 17.
Day 17: Golden Coast – Bei Dai He: Happy Birthday China
Bei Dai He, 01/10/2005 at 23:00 Day 17: Golden Coast – Bei Dai He: Happy Birthday China On the 1st of October 1949 the People’s Republic of China was declared, which makes today China’s 56th birthday. We celebrated with a short ride to beach resort Bei Dai He in good weather and spent all afternoon on the beach relaxing and …
Day 16: Xing An – Golden Coast, Ghost City at the Beach
Bei Dai He, 01/10/2005 at 23:00 Day 16: Xing An – Golden Coast, Ghost City at the Beach Yipiiiiiiieeee – dry all day ! We passed a few village markets and were followed by school kids by bike. Halfway throgh this ride we entered a wine district where we had lunch in yet another family restaurant. Very nice experience where …