If you are interested to learn more about this once-in-a-lifetime adventure and the riding segment ongoing from Guangyuan then have a look at:

AROUND THE WORLD 2014 (Part 4): Guangyuan > Luang Prabang

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Foping to Guangyuan

This morning we take off from Foping to the visiting the Panda reservation. Afterwards we take the G108, the main road between Xian and Chengdu and will have still some of yesterday’s curves in the Qin Ling Mountains. Still going south towards Guangyuan we will come to the flatlands and also more close to Sichuan province.

Early morning - Heiri can´t await riding again

On our way to the Panda reservation.

Rockslides again.

Here we are - closer than ever before. An unbelievable impression!

??? Wasn´t it called a Panda reservation ???

Back at the bikes!

Going south through Qin Ling Mountains ...

... the area becomes more and more open ...

... to finally end up in flatlands ...

... where we found rice fields all around us.

And for sure the roads dont´s stay paved!

And if it is paved the farmers monopolize them to dry the rice ...

... and also corn!

Beautiful sceneries ...

... and impressive constructions on our way ...

... until we approach Guangyuan.

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Xi´an to Foping

After leaving the beautiful city of Xian, we enter the Qin Ling Mountains and perfect motorcycle roads. Curves, curves and curves as well as challenging raod conditions will take us through the mountain range. Qin Ling Shan is famous for its Panda bears that are still living in the wildlife of the mountains, but in reality, today is all about riding. )

Foping, where we stay this night has a Panda help station and the Foping National Natural Reserve protects the wildlife and the animals as much as possible. But this will be a topic for tomorrow ...

Entering Qin Ling Mountanis - after a rainy night the roads are still wet ...

... but become more and more dry!

 and lead us into a great nature with roads made for riding.

 Coffe stop! A Chinese rider shows up and takes the chance to have a chat with like minded people and ...

... being proud on his bike. Actually this kind of vehicle is not very common in China!

Continuing enjoying the curves in that area.

As well as the authentic Chinese food at our lunch place.

Rock slides - a continued incident during the next two weeks ...

Same with this kind of roads!

Another rock slide! You know what? We managed them all ...

 Same with all the puddles!

Probably we won´t get access to the dinner restaurant ...

...

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Xi´an

The Terracotta Warriors is a collection of about 8,000 warriors, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses. This army was built to protect the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in his afterlife. Over 700,000 workers were involved in building the army. Today we can visit the warriors in four pits that are open to the public.

Entering the large pit - it really looks like an army ready to walk in the battle ...

... and what it could look like after!

Unbelievable - not one of the 8,000 faces is the same! Check yourself!

Another warrior being restored.

To get an idea how colorful they have been long time ago.

Our group with the chinese guide explaining some details about the area the warriors were found

How they were manufactured ...

... and burned!

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Pingliang to Xi´an

Xi´an! Ever heared about the Terracotta Warriors? There they are. Reaching this city of 9 million people we are excited about the architecture and the first time real chinese impression as we were expecting it. Located at the end of the Silk road Xi´an´s history goes back 3,100 years. Formerly know as Chang ´an it is one of the four Great Ancient Capitals of China. Among many other historic places today we still can find an intact city wal,l the great mosque, the famous Wild Goose Pagoda and, of course, the renowned Terracotta Warriors.

Chinese office - Jacek working were wifi works best ...

The Muslim Quarter - where people meet at night.

The historic Bell Tower by night

Xi´an - an excursion about food in China: Green Pizza!

Preparing sugarstrings

Quaileggs on a stick with some chilly - jummy.

You order - they prepare. Shashlik on the fly.

Preparing Nutcookies

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Lanzhou to Pingliang

On our todays way to Pingliang we also will come through Huining, which is famous as the meeting spot of the Red Army during the Long March.

One oft he areas within the mountains around Pingliang is Kongtong Shan, which is one of the 12 holy peaks of the Taoist universe. To visit the monastery up there we allow ourselves to take the cable car instead of doing 300m elevation on stairs. This day the area is in clouds and seems kind of miracle to us.

A GS 1200 R as it should look like!

... and why to clean it?

But the todays route also offer great roads and beautiful sceneries ...

The Taoist Monastery of Kongtong Shan - Our  way up by cable car: Not much to see ...

... so - looking for something more interesting )

On the footpath from the cable car station: The monastery in the mist.

The Entrance

Inside views ...

The Hotel offers a great dining experience with the whole group on one table. Just King Arthur is absent ...

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Xining to Lanzhou

A long day ahead again – 420 km to ride. Unfortunately it´s raining …

On our way we also will follow the Yellow River into town where the traffic gets even more crazy than before. In addition big potholes and road construction sites will be taken carefully.

The Yellow River, or Huang He, is the second longest river in Asia, after the Yangtze. At 5,464 km long, it is also the sixth longest river in the world.

Roads we dream of in our nights

Try and error - Part One: How to get your boots wet inside ...

... and to empty them again!

At the lunch place - they still can´t believe that someone does a trip to Bangkok on a MC

Try and error - Part two: Rien ne va plus! (No more bets!) Got stucked in Lanzhou ...

... and getting out of it ...

And as you can see - we arrived the hotel! Claus getting a relaxing shave!

May we have a picture of you???

Wolfgang wanted one, too!

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Qilian to Xining

After a short repair action in the morning we leave the Qilian mountains through the so-called „Little Switzerland“ area towards Xining – flora and fauna give one a certain European feeling.

Reaching Xining we head 26 km more south to visit Ta´er Si - one oft he biggest monasteries of the Gelugpa School which is a subculture of Tibetan Buddhism. Hundreds of monks are living there and 9 Temples can be visited.

Lots of specialists - from not knowing to get the MC running again

Little Switzerland ...

The Swiss presenting his Swiss Knife to this fabulous Chef after lunch.

Relax - almost arrived

Some impressions of the Ta´er Si monastery ...

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Jiayuguan to Qilian

A remarkable day ahead of us. 440 km – 3 mountain passes with altitudes of more than 4000 m – two of them and more than 200 km on fantastic and curvy gravel roads as well as an unbeatable scenery within the Qilian mountains. This ist he story for today.

The Qilian mountains range around 800 km from south of Dunhuang to southeast, forming the northeastern escarpment of the Qinhai-Tibet Plateau and the southwestern border of Gansu corridor. Hightest peak ist Kanze´gyai with 5.808 meters.

Arriving the mountain range

Going up the foothills

First pass is done! Going down ...

... going up again!

Up on the highest point that day

... A good reason to fall on knees in front of the beloved one!

Going down again

Some nice views on the way ...

Visiting a small buddhist monestary on the way to Qilian

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Dunhuang to Jiayuguan

Famous sights are ahead of us. We start early morning to cross another 400 km of dessert and to arrive around lunch time in Jiayuguan where we will visit the fortress of Jiayuguan and the local part oft he Great Wall. Both of them were buildt in 1372 and as well as the nearby Jiayu Pass they were the most western bastion of ancient China.

Along the dessert highway - melons, fresh or dried

Did she shrink in the heat of the dessert? Claudia at the morning coffee stop place ...

Arriving at the Jiayuguan Fortress

Claudia and Joey, our chinesese guide, at the guardian dragon of the fortress

Anything that has wheels - Heiri having fun on his way to the fortress´entrance

Nice view

Big walls ...

... and big guys! You don´t believe? Watch ...

... Josef standing next to one of them!

Inside the fortress

And the view from the top.

The Great Wall seen from Parking area.

Claudia being excited! It´s something special to celebrate birthday at Chinas Great Wall ...

On the way to the top!

Great view to the Qilian mountains

Some more views of the Great Wall ...

And finally - Claudia and her birthday cake )

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Rest Day Dunhuang

Visiting Mogao Grottoes - worldwide one of the biggest collections of Buddhist art. A short ride out of the city and an even shorter walkway leads us to this unbelievable area where 492 grottoes are digged into the stone. During this area´s hight there were 18 monasteries with 1400 monks. The grottoes were used for prays and meditations as well as meeting places for the families who owned and created them.

The afternoon provides a leasure time for the group in the hotel area or also outside in the dunes.

On our way to Mogao

Somewhere in China - our support van driver Mr. He waiting for the group

Mogao area ...

The grottoes from outside

Gabi and Rainer in front of the big temple ...

hosting the second largest buddha statue on earth

Another grottoe - another buddha

Entrance area to another grottoe

The rock wall with the grottoes - almost one km long

Some impressions of our hotel

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Hami to Dunhuang

Today we leave the autonomous province of Xinjiang and enter Gansu province. From now on we will experience China as everybody expects China. Our todays destination, the city of Dunhuang, was one of the strategic locations along the southern silk road and is an oasis in the middle of the dessert.

In Dunhuang we again will have a rest day that gives us the chance to see incredible sights like the Mogao Grottoes or the singing dunes right next to the outskirts of the city.

Crossing different expressions of dessert on the way to Dunhuang

Having a break in the middle of nothing

Heiri being surprised about things that can be found in the dessert, too.

Arriving Dunhuang city ...

... and our hotel for the next two nights.

Having fun while changing engine oil. Josef ...

... and Alois. And Heiri, Rainer, Christoph, Gerhard ...

Open Air Restaurants - typical scenery in China. Two tables, eight seats, one restaurant. Next one ...

He was there, too! )  A very friendly guy asking for some money!

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If you are interested to learn more about this once-in-a-lifetime adventure and the riding segment leading to Hami then have a look at:

AROUND THE WORLD 2014 (Part 2): Almaty > Hami