great wall cycle challenge, china Your demanding cycling challenge starts in the given a challenge briefing and have the opportunity to village of Changping, in the Ming Tomb Reservoir ask any questions of your expedition leader. Overnight area north of Beijing City, and takes in a massive lodge. range of scenery from the mountain ranges in the Beijing province that play host to their beautiful reservoirs and rivers, down to the agricultural fields and villages of rural Northern China. Each day you will cycle between 75kms-105kms, winding your way up and over the mountains that support the Great Wall of China. You will have the chance to visit spectacular parts of unrenovated wall and ancient Ming Tombs along the way. This incredibly scenic challenge covers a route along one of the world’s best known UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is a demanding cycle yet a rewarding challenge, taking you through some of Northern China’s most beautiful countryside, and allowing you to witness the country’s rapidly changing rural life from your saddle. On completion of your cycle challenge you will Day 2: Changping to Heavenly Lake, Yanqing – return to Beijing to explore some of the many approx 83km cycle. (5-6 hours of cycling) attractions of China’s capital: the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and Tiananmen Square. This morning you will start with a short ride along the Ming Tomb reservoir, where you will enjoy your first International Flights taste of Chinese history at the mausoleum area, where Flights are not included as part of the challenge 13 Ming emperors from 1409 to 1644 were buried. From costs. You will need to organise your own the gentle start, you will be heading up (and down!) two international flights to arrive in Beijing on Day 1 (see tough hills along the mountain road, with some below). absolutely breaktaking views along the way, including of Please contact us at [email protected] the Great Wall in the distance. The afternoon’s ride will BEFORE you commit and pay for your flights. We can pass through the market of the ancient town of help you organize your flights, and put you in touch with Yongning, before continuing on flat terrain for the final our partners at Flight Centre. two kilometres. The Heavenly Lake is actually another reservoir called the ‘White River’ reservoir, and is a Day 1: Arrive Beijing beautiful end to your first day on the bike. After you make your booking, Charity Challenge will advise you of what time to arrive into Beijing. Upon Dinner and overnight lodge. arrival in Beijing you will meet the rest of the group, as well as our Charity Challenge local agent who will Day 3: Yanquing to Yunmeng Mountain - transfer you (approx 2.5hrs) to your Lodge in the Ming approx 105km cycle. (8-10 hours of cycling) Tomb Reservoir Area of Northern Beijing. After check in, Today you leave your lodge, which will overlook the you will have the rest of the afternoon to relax and have reservoir, and cycle into the ‘landscape corridor’, a bike fitting. In the evening after dinner, you will be between Yanqing and the town of Tanghekou in Huairou County. You will see the landscape completely change morning’s exercise on the Wall, you will be cycling for over these first 50km from crop-filled fields and villages approximately 35km along the national road until the along the flat country road, until you come out the other entrance of the reservoir area, which is another beautiful side of the ‘corridor’ and wind up to Yunmeng Mountain. mountain water basin. The Miyun Reservoir is the This second half of the day will be on the National Road, biggest in Beijing province, and once you descend into which climbs up the mountain through certain tunnels on the basin you will be following the water most of the the way. Your overnight accommodation is by the afternoon, passing by family run fish restaurants and spectacular visa of China’s ‘Grand Canyon’ of Yunmeng. fruit picking patches along the way! The final run is a Overnight lodge. fast-paced section on a wider, new road, before arriving at your lodge for dinner and a well-deserved sleep. Day 6: Miyun to Huanghuacheng Great Wall through Mutianyu Great Wall – 80km cycle. (6-7 hours of cycling) The first part of our ride today passes through some small villages for another look at rural life in Northern China. You will join the National Road around 2 hours into the cycle, before cycling into the lush area around the Yanqi lake for an hour, before turning west towards ancient Hongluo Temple and the World Heritage Site at Mutianyu Great Wall. This is another incredibly well maintained area of the wall, which attracts many day trippers from Beijing. You will not be stopping for long here, as you will be heading straight off to your overnight accommodation in the village at the foot of the Great Wall in Huanghuacheng. This is a section rarely touched by tourists, and you will have the chance this Day 4: Yunmeng Mountain to Jinshanling Great afternoon to climb up to a watchtower and absorb the Wall – approx 80km cycle. (7-8 hours of cycling) stunning views. Overnight lodge. You will begin the day by cycling along the ‘Grand Canyon’, for approximately 15km, in the hope that the spectacular views of the mountains and the river valley will take your mind off your flagging legs! After this section on the main road, you will turn onto a quiet country road, where the typical life of rural northern China will become very apparent. The route to the hotel is a long, slightly uphill, national (main) road, but you will be rewarded by a prime location next to the Great Wall of China, ready for your first steps tomorrow! Overnight lodge. Day 7: Huanghuacheng Great Wall to Ming Tombs - 20kms. (2-3 hours of cycling) The last 20kms of your cycle challenge are on an undulating path flanked by countryside houses. You will actually end the ride as you began, by the beautiful Ming Tombs. After a few celebratory hugs and photos with the team, you will pack up your bikes and head for lunch in a family-run restaurant around the Ming Tombs area. From here, you will be transferred back into the city, with a (time-dependant) visit to a jade factory en route. Back in Beijing you will be able to enjoy a few drinks to Day 5: Jinshanling Great Wall – approx cement your achievement, as well as dinner with your 75km cycle. (6-7 hours of cycling) team! This morning you will have time to actually set foot onto Overnight in a hotel in central Beijing. the Wall itself – your first time of the week! It’s an exciting and sometimes emotional feeling, and will give you the chance to tick that off your bucket list! After the Optional extensions: Xian Extension: Take an overnight train from Beijing to Xian Visit the Terracotta Museum and view the 1974 discovery of 6,000 life-size terracotta soldiers, warriors and horses. Visit the Grand Mosque in Xian Spend an evening watching a Tang Dynasty cultural show. Visit the Yangling Tomb of Han Dynasty dating back 2,000 years which is still an ongoing archaeological project Warriors and Pandas Extension: See Terracotta Warriors as above Day 8: Full Day City Tour of Beijing Fly to Chengdu Today you have a full day to explore Beijing, with a fully Visit the Giant Panda Research Base guided tour of the many attractions of China’s capital Fly back to Beijing city, including the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, as well as (time-dependant) visits to a silk museum and tea house to see some of To find out more information, visit the Great Wall the local crafts and culture of the city. The sheer scale Discovery challenge page on our website or click on and scope of Beijing will blow your mind, so be prepared “extensions” in your member’s area. to be overwhelmed by the sights, people, traffic and buzz of this amazing capital city. The order of the day can change but generally you will take lunch before the Forbidden City, and after visiting this famous attraction you will be dropped off at the market to shop for souvenirs. Overnight at your hotel in Beijing. Day 9: Depart Beijing After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel by midday for your return home. N.B. The itinerary is there as a guide and may change due to unusual weather patterns, the strength of the group and so on. We will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary however we cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that might occur. In all such circumstances, your challenge leader will have the final say. .