On the Dragon´s Backbone – South China Motorbike Tour2024-01-06T10:52:47+01:00

On the Dragon’s Backbone

With the motorcycle we visited old villages in China, high mountains and saw diverse landscapes. A really nice tour.

Gustav W.

On the Dragon´s Backbone

„The mountains and River of Guilin are the most beautiful under the heavens“

States an ancient Chinese poem. We put the poem to the acid test and the outcome is our brand new On the Dragon´s Backbone South China Motorbike Tour. This China motorbike tour deep into the Karst mountains and river landscapes in the very south of the Middle Kingdom is a curvy roller coaster ride you will remember for a long time. Our countryside roads lead us through the largest rice terraces on earth, along vast tea plantations, almost forgotten villages and to the bamboo boats of the Li river at Yangshuo – the landmark of South China and unforgettable endpoint of a fantastic journey. In between you will discover the mega metropolis Hong Kong, ancient minorities and their way of life, deep gorges and cliffs and -of course- the Dragon´s Back Bone Rice Terraces.

The organization …

… of the tour went well. Hendrik provided a dropbox so that we could upload our documents without any problems. The guides were great and were able to answer every question.

Felix T.

I had a breakdown …

… with my motorcycle. I paid more attention to the surroundings than the trail. So the accident was my fault. Hendrik stayed calm and I was able to continue on the spare bike. THANK YOU!

Simon C.

Nature, temples & tradition

Beautiful sights everywhere! Most of all I was fascinated by the “back of the dragon”. A very nice tour with a lot of fun and a great group!

Leon R.

On Request

Shineray X5: 3.390€
BMW F 800 GS: 4.190€
BMW G 310 GS: 3.765€
Pillion: 2.580€
Single Room: 530€

16 days / 15 nights / 10 riding days

South China (Yunnan and Guanxi) Motorbike tour with accommodation in hotels and guesthouses.

Contact us

On the Dragon’s Backbone Motorcycle Tour – Itinerary

Day 1: Hong Kong

Arrival in Hing Kong. Individual transfer to the hotel.

Day 2: Hong Kong Visiting Day

Early morning departure to Lanau. Lantau is Hong Kong´s largest island. Upon arrival we take the cable car to 34 meter high Tian Tan Buddha which majestically overlooks the island. We take the ferry back to Hong Kong where we take a walk to the city´s landmarks such as Victoria Peak, Man Mo temple and Tsim Sha Tsai East Promenade. The day ends with a visit to the harbour lightshow and the temple street night market.

Day 3: Hong Kong – Kunming

Flight to Kunming. Transfer to the hotel. We get to know the city in the afternoon and visit the greenlake and other sights.

Day 4: Kunming

The day is reserved for the application of the temporary Chinese driver´s license.

Day 5: Kunming – Jianshui

We pick up our licenses in the morning. From Kunming we ride along the lakes Dianche and Fuxien to Jianshui. Jianshui hosts the second largest Confucius temple of China and has a beautiful old town.

Distance: approx. 190 km

Day 6: Jianshui – Yuanyang

Ride to the worl famous Yuanyang rice terraces early in the morning. We will stop at some of the best viewing places and discover untouristy villages of the Hani people. The Hani built the rice terraces for more than 500 years. Overnight stay in a guesthouse near the rice fields where you can experience the life style of the rice farmers.

Distance: approx. 120 km

Day 7: Yuanyang – Wenshan

This first long riding day will lead us deeper into the rice terraces of Yuanyang and on to Wenshan. But before we hit the road we can see sunrise at the terraces. The sunlight will break at the water surface of the terraces and let them shine in numerous colors.

Distance: approx. 270 km

Day 8: Wenshan – Luoping

Small mountain roads lead us to the Karst landscapes of the province of Guangxi. On the way to Luoping we pass by the moon cave – a gigantic Karst cave.

From February to March the rapeseed is blooming and turns the landscape into a yellow ocean – a top spot for landscape photographers who recommend this place as one of the best ones in all of South China. The best landscape photo of Luoping is of course one with a motorbike in the foreground.

Distance: approx. 270 km

Day 9: Luoping – Wanfeng-Lake – Anlong

Today we ride through the Manling gorge, a deep and narrow canyon. Hanging slate rocks and waterfalls lead the way to Wangfeng reservoir lake with its many little islands.

Anlong was an important trade stop in the Ming andQing dynasty and many of the old buildings are in good condition. With a little imagination you can bring the old empire to life.

Distance: approx. 270 km

Day 10: Anlong – Leye

Today´s highlight is the UNESCO geo-park of Leye where extremly curvy mountain roads through Krst landscapes lead us. The abysses here are up to 600 meters deep and the surrounding virgin forests give the area a mystic feeling. We would not be surpirce if a silver haired Kung Fu master suddenly appears from his retreat.

Distance: approx. 320 km

Day 11: Leye – Nandan

Before we start our riding day we visit the Lotus cave which is alomost one kilometer long. Today´s roads lead through low population areas with very little traffic and -once again-beautiful landscapes.

Distance: approx. 230 km

Day 12: Nandan – Rongshui

Rongshui is one of the oldest towns of China and lays on the shores of the Liu river.

Distance: approx. 290 km

Day 13: Rogshui – Sanjiang – Longji rice terraces– Pingan

Today is packed with highlights. Sanjiang is home to the Dong minority. In the remote village of Chengyang the wind and rainbridge was built by the Dong – a wooden construction without nails. In the afternoon we reach the Dragon´s Back Bone rice terraces where the Yao minority is living. The landscape is so rugged and the only possible explaination must be that in ancient time a Dragon has crashed here – on which backbone the local farmers started their rice field enterprise.

Overnight stay in the picturesque village of Pingan.

Distance: approx. 260 km

Day 14: Pingan – Xingping – Yangshuo

In Xinping we reach the Li river which we follow all the way to Yangshuo – our destination. Yangshuo is a pearl in China´s Karst landscape and a landmark of this vast country. For sunset we take a small boar onto the river and our captain will navigate us deep into the river landscape.

Distance: approx. 180 km

Day 15: Yangshuo – Guilin – Hong Kong

Transfer to Guilin and flight to Hong Kong.

Day 16: Hong Kong

Transfer the airport. End of the tour.

Included Services

  • All overnight stays in hotels and guesthouse
  • Motorbike of choice
  • English speaking motorbike guide on own motorbike
  • English speaking local guide in supply vehicle
  • Mechanic service, engine oil, spare parts, comprehensive insurance with self contribution
  • Breakfast, Dinner, mineral water
  • Entrance fees
  • Supply vehicle with substitute motorbike
  • Temporary Chinese driving license
  • All transfers from and to airport

Excluded Services

  • International flights
  • Lunch
  • Beverages
  • Travel cancellation expenses insurance
  • Gas for Motorbikes
  •  

Questions & Answers

Will every tour take place exactly as described in the tour itinerary?2021-01-08T23:13:47+01:00

All our itineraries give you a good overview what you will experience and discover when booking with tibetmoto. The itineraries are nevertheless best understood if they are seen as a suggestion rather than as a 100% planned and a thousand times done way of traveling. We like to keep every tour, every adventure, every trip unique and special. We are proud to say that we have never done a trip two times exactly the same way. Our team does not like to offer mainstream tourism tours, and we believe that people enjoy their time best when they have freedom and possibilities to choose from. Freedom and flexibility are very good ingredients to cook an exceptional discovery or adventure, to meet unusual people and visit off-the-beaten-track places.

How does camp life look like on expeditions?2020-11-12T18:02:03+01:00

After arriving at the camp ground we pitch up the tents, our team will set up the mobile kitchen, the electricity generator is being started and we can think of having a cold beer. All supplies and the luggage is carried by our supply truck. We do not have always pre-chosen camp grounds which are always frequented by us, since every expedition is different. Depending on the time in the afternoon we start looking for “the perfect spot”. Perfect spots have a water source such as a river or a lake and a flat piece of land for the tents. Some spots we use more frequently since they are so perfect that the location is hard to beat. Camping together with nomads offers an opportunity to experience their way of live, culture and habits. Sitting in the evening together in a nomad tent somewhere on the Tibetan grassland and listening to Tibetan nomads` songs is a truly genuine experience.

Dinner is being served in a large dining tent where we have tables and chairs to comfortably sit together, eat and drink. The separate, smaller, sleeping tents are designed to accommodate each two people, but if you choose the “single room” option (you will find that option below each expedition itinerary) you will have your own tent. Our tents are army tents where you can almost stand upright. The sleeping “hard wear” is a foldable army field bed, which puts your body about knee height away from the ground. We provide you with the entire hard wear, plus blankets and insulation mats. The only item you should bring along is your personal sleeping bag. If you don´t want to bring your sleeping bag all the way to China we can provide you with a new sleeping bag for a reasonable price.

Which documents do I need?2020-11-11T22:35:03+01:00

You will need your passport, a pass picture, national driving license, international driving license and flight ticket. Please be sure to make photocopies of all of your important travel documents and carry them separately. They can be invaluable in an emergency.

We also need a scan of the Chinese visa six weeks before the tour starts.

All scanned documents should be sent to us on an A4 sheet of original size

What can I expect from an overnight stay with a tibetan host family?2020-11-12T18:01:15+01:00

A home stay is an opportunity to get access into another culture by joining the host family for dinner and breakfast and sleep under their roof, as their guest. Most families live together in a several generation house, from children to old grandparents. A lot of home stays are semi-farms with at least a few cattle such as chicken and cows around the house. Often are fields attached where family member go to work after breakfast. Here, local family and work life can be experienced as it is instead of “only” observing it from the outside.
We believe that joining a home stay is on of the best ways to get in touch which what surrounds you in a foreign country.

How well do I have to be able to ride a motorcycle?2020-11-11T21:59:51+01:00

You should be able to ride a motorcycle safely, especially on winding mountain roads. An uncertainty is common, but you quickly get used to the local traffic. Our tour guide will give the group useful and good tips on riding in China. Before the start of the Tibet and China Motorcycle Tour, there will be an introduction to road traffic behavior.


Do I need a driving license?2020-11-11T21:57:31+01:00

For the Tibet and China motorcycle tour you need a valid national and international driver’s license.

What is the currency in China?2020-11-11T21:56:01+01:00

In China, the currency is the CNY (Chinese Renminbi). The exchange rate is around 1€ to 7.56 CNY (as of 05/2020). The CNY is not a freely convertible currency, so you cannot get it at every bank in Europe. The exchange rate, which is determined by the Bank of China, can be observed under the following link: http://www.boc.cn/sourcedb/whpj/enindex.html

However, we recommend withdrawing a larger amount of CNY from an ATM with all major credit cards or debit cards after arriving in China. Our on-site tour guide is happy to help. Due to the often very poor exchange rate for the CNY in Europe, it is not worthwhile to exchange significant amounts of CNY in Europe. There are also many ATMs in Lhasa where you can withdraw money. Our experience shows that the majority of our participants spend around 20€ a day.

What about my luggage? Where can I transport it?2020-11-11T21:51:45+01:00

The luggage will be transported in the support vehicle. Don’t forget that on domestic flights, the pastries usually cannot exceed 20 kg!

What clothes should I pack?2020-11-11T22:26:29+01:00

For a motorcycle tour you should bring motorcycle clothing including a helmet. Of course you also should pack warm clothing (as layers or as undersuit). It can get cold! You should also bring gloves and a rain suit.

How is the Road Condition?2020-11-11T21:45:13+01:00

The roads on the motorcycle tour are mostly paved (with a few exceptions). Due to the new asphalting of road sections, it can temporarily lead to a poor condition of the road. The paved roads are mostly in good condition. However, there may be isolated potholes or gravel lying on the ground. The route on the motorcycle tour also includes sections with new asphalt, on which you can enjoy European standards or even better. These routes are wonderful to ride! Due to moisture and the difficult to see oil or diesel traces, however, extreme caution is always required!

What is the deposit for renting a motorcycle?2020-11-11T21:42:45+01:00

Deposit for a rental motorcycle (partial cover):

The following cash deposits are required:

Shineray X5 400: EUR 500
BMW G 310 GS: EUR 1,000
BMW F 800 GS: EUR 1,500

If the participant/motorcyclist causes damage during the Tibet motorcycle tour, the deposit is the maximum amount.

Do I need a chinese visa?2020-11-11T21:39:18+01:00

Entry/Visa:

All participants in the Tibet and China motorcycle tours require a visa to enter China. The passport must be valid for another six months. You have to apply for the visa yourself at a service center, the Chinese embassy or on behalf of an agency. Due to frequent changes in the application procedure, we recommend that you use an agency. This is slightly more expensive than filing your own application, but it saves you a lot of work and time.

We will apply for all of the necessary Tibet permits for the motorcycle tour.

Included Services2020-10-30T12:34:56+01:00

Included Services:

  • All overnight stays in hotels and guesthouse
  • Motorbike of choice
  • English speaking motorbike guide on own motorbike
  • English speaking local guide in supply vehicle
  • Mechanic service, engine oil, spare parts, comprehensive insurance with self contribution
  • Breakfast, Dinner, mineral water
  • Entrance fees
  • Supply vehicle with substitute motorbike
  • Temporary Chinese driving license
  • All transfers from and to airport

 

Not included:

  • International flights
  • Lunch
  • Beverages
  • Travel cancellation expenses insurance
  • Gas for Motorbikes

Tour Concept by RC Hendrik

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