China Route Information 2015
Check for example http://geo.ebp.ch/gelaendeprofil/ for elevation information. But as this site is based on Google Maps, it doesn’t work in some places (like China) where Google is blocked.
I rated the road sections mostly based on the scenery, where ***** means that it is a must go and no star means „neutral“, i.e. that this part wasn’t spectacular at all for me. this rating depends of course also always on the weather I had during the time I cycled there.
Irkeshtam – Kashgar (S309) (October 2015)
I had to take a taxi for 100 RMB in Irkestham to get to the customs (140 km). It wasn’t allowed to go on the Highway G3012 (39.61, 75.94), but some people managed to do it. I took a smaller road at 39.61, 75.90 instead.
Kashgar – Artux – Aksu (G3012 – G314)
I managed to go on the Highway when I left Kashgar. Later, I wanted to take the S306 after Artux, but foreigners aren’t allowed to go there! Sandstorms are possible. You might see some camels here and there. Carry enough water and food!
*** Aksu – Kizil – Balguntay (G314 – S307 – G217 – S321 – G218)
There was a police checkpoint on S307 (41.56, 81.24), they forced me to take a car for 60km to the next city and to sleep in a hotel. G217 was closed at 43.07, 84.32 (too much snow, I guess) thus I took S321 (instead of G217 to Kuitun). When i reached G218, I went east to Balguntay.
Balguntay – Heijing – Yanqui – Korla (G218 – S305 – S306 – S206 – S325)
Due to a dammaged sleeping matress, i went from Balguntay more south to Heijing. No hotel (for foreigners) in Heijing, but there are some in Yanqui.
Korla – Ruoqiang (bus ride)
* Ruoqiang – Yitunbulake – Huatugou (G315)
Boring desert on the first day after Ruoqiang. I wanted to take the old G315 at 39.00, 88.48, but when I checked my position I already passed 39.00, 88.48, without seeing another road. At 39.20, 88.90, a chinese woman explained that it is not possible to go south on S214 to the old G315, but she didn’t speak english, so don’t know if I really understood what she wanted to tell me.
** Huatugou – Lenghu (G315 – S305)
Surprisingly remote! Some houses at 38.22, 92.07, maybe you can get water there. otherwise, there was NO water. Moreover, if you find water, it will probably be saline water.
*** Lenghu – Hongliuwan – Dunhuang (S305 – G215)
Police checkpoint after Lenghu. Again remote. There are some lakes a few kilometrs away from the road, probably saline water. No water otherwise. Nice sand dunes south of Dunhuang.
Dunhuang – Jiayuguan (G313 – G30/G312)
I wanted to go to Guazhou, but when I checked my position, I was not on G313 anymore. Sometimes it is possible to go on the Highway, sometimes not. But there are a lot of holes in the fences. G312 sometimes didn’t match with my map.
Jiayuguan – Zhangye (hitchhike)
**** Zhangye – Qingshizui – Xining (G227)
Nice passes and beautiful scenery. I don’t know about the water situation (as I melted snow). There is a tunnel at 37.35, 101.40, but it should be possible to take the old road over the pass. Boring and busy around Xining.
**** Xining – Ping’an – Bayan – Linxia (G109 – S203- S202 – S310)
Xining to Ping’an is still boring and busy. Lot of mosques there. S203 is nothing special. Very beautiful valley after Bayan. Nice pass at 35.58, 102.74.
Linxia – Hezuo (G213)
Hezuo is the administrative seat of the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.The road was busy and there are some tunnels.
**** Hezuo – Langmusi (G213)
Tibetan area. Beautiful scenery.
**** Langmusi – Chuanzhusi (G213)
Beautiful scenery. There is a tunnel at 34.02, 102.74, but I took the old, unpaved road over the pass until 34.00, 102.77.
Chuanzhusi – Dujiangyan (G213)
Sometimes very busy. A lot of tunnels after Mao.
* Dujiangyan – Qionglai – Ya’an -Jjiu Xiang – Shimian (S106 – G108/G318 – G108/G5)
G108 was busy from Qionglai to Ya’an. I went to the Highway at 29.78, 102.87, but the police stopped me after one hour. Then, I had to go with the police car to Jiu Xiang. Less traffic after Jiu Xiang.
*** Shimian – Xinshiba – Yutian – Puxiong – Pu Ti Cun – Qing Heng Xiang – Riha – Shanjiang – Baihetan – Hulukou – (G108 – S208)
G108 was closed at 29.17, 102.39, route diversion to S208, but there was never a sign for going back to G108. So i followed S208 to Hulukou. Lot of small villages. A lot of elevation differences! Road sometimes unpaved.
Hulukou – Gongshan – Kunming (S303 – G213)
Maybe it’s worth to ride a detour to Huize instead of going on S303 all the time. I took a bus for the last 100km as I was sick. G213 was not very busy after Gongshan as there is the Highway G85.
