China Travel Forum

[marrian]

Hey, going on a 2-4 day bike ride around Zhejiang province over October holiday, starting from Hangzhou, possibly as far as the Huangshan area as well, but was thinking of heading to the southwest of the province? Just saw a post about Fulong/Hibiscus village and the Nanxi river near Wenzhou, and maybe will go near (but not too near) Yandang shan
Anyone got any route suggestions? Off the beaten track please.

[kamal]

If you want to stick with your original suggestion of 3-4 days from Hangzhou & back I'd suggest Anji county. It is only about 65Km from Hangzhou (not sure if they measure from centre or outskirts (it is one hour by bus from the outer bus station). Once you get here there are so many wonderful side trips to scenic areas (you'd have to get off your bike & walk in most of them), but also interesting villages & rural scenery.
From what I've heard, the islands off Zhoushan as suggested above sound wonderful. I wouldn't recommend Wenzhou, as apart from the fact that it is about 500 Km from Hangzhou and not at all scenic, it was heavily inundated by last weeks Typhoon, with about 20 deaths.

[Amila]

Get to Ningbo and over to Zhoushan island and then on to Zhujiajian (there is a bridge)... and/or a 40 minute ferry over to Taohua from Shenjiamen.
Too bad you have such a short time.
I spent one year around those islands... put 2000km on my bike exploring places NO ONE else had ever been.
I was the first Laowei on three fantastic islands... Taohua in 2001, Dongji and Guoqi in 2004
(OK... I was kindly escorted off two of these by the local PSB - but only after I had a good look around)
Whatever... get the hell out of Hangzhou and discover these totally unknown islands
You will NOT regret it. An undiscovered PARADISE.
I have the first bike ascents of the biggest mountains on Zhoushan, Zhujiajian and Taohua
Better yet... spend another week or two and get out to Shengsi.
Fantastic place... excellent biking. A two hour fast ferry from Zhoushan island.
Give Putuoshan a miss... (unless you are a Buddhist). Way too pricey and they won't let you bring your bike.
The best seafood you will ever eat in your life... those poor folks in Hangzhou and Shanghai think they are getting good fresh food.... DUH... it's two days late and a few dollars short. get to the source, pal.

[ALTHA]

AND... by the way...
How far do you actually think you can ride in a day.
After thousands of kilometers on bikes, over seven years in China, I'll tell you that realistically you probably won't get more than 80-100 km a day.
Time to stop for snacks, rests, photos, beers, local sights etc...
You won't want to ride on busy roads (I hope) and IF you manage to get into the rural countryside... things slow down - just as you probably will
So in 3-4 daze... you will barely get away from the smog of Hangzhou... only to turn right around and head back into it.
I think you should get a more realistic plan... in 2-4 days you won't get anywhere, or see anything worthwhile.
Sorry to burst your bubble... but just trying to give you a realistic sense of what you can achieve in a very short time riding out of a big, dirty, ugly city.
BUT, that said, in 4 daze... you could have a brief and enjoyable glimpse of at least Zhoushan and Zhujiajian.
A day to Dinghai, by bus... a day biking to the Nansha beach on Zhujiajian... a day back to Dinghai... a day back to the ugly, dirty city - which you will realize how dirty and ugly it really is, after two days on the islands.

[sohra]

Well I have 7 days but was just staying 2-4 so I wouldn't get someone telling me to go around the province 3 times or something.
Would you mind being a bit more specific on the islands, like I did take a ferry to Zhoushan from what wharf? Are you sure its the same these days? My friend was running track on Zhoushan last march... And you can bring your bike on any ferry? What about hopping around on fishing boats? If you want to e-mail me that would be great here,
Thanks, sounds interesting

[DRIN]

woolf... hardest part will be getting your bike on a bus... but there should be room in the baggage compartments of the "fast" buses... expect a surcharge.
Direct buses from Hangzhou to Dinghai... ferry included.
You could probably do the whole island of Zhoushan in 2 daze - some GREAT biking
BUT, with just a week... go directly to Zhujiajian - about 40km to the Nansha beach.
Great places right next to the beach... we used to pay 80-100quai... and can get on the main beach for free - either early or late.
BUT... there are 3 more beaches to the south that are free. We can't count the times we had the whole place to ourselves... biking km after km of hard, golden sand
The trip up to the top of the mountain is a good, stiff hill, but excellent views and a super downhill ride.
Easy day trip from Nansha
Head back to Shenjiamen and take the ferry over to Taohua
No problem with bikes, a small surcharge.
You could spend at least 2 daze on Toahua - a truly beautiful place.
Another good, stiff hill ride to the top of the main peak - but well worth it.
OR... from the far side of Zhoushan, take a fast ferry to Shengsi - you could bike around there for at least 3-4 days.
And on... and on... and on...
These islands are a freaking bikers paradise...
And they were ALL MINE (ok, my wife was with me too...;>)
The locals did not bike where I could (no gears/brakes)... and I NEVER saw another laowai during my time there.
I may send you more later... gotta go for some spicy Sichuan food now.
Cheers...