Cycling through the multi-ethnic Yunnan Province in southern China. The“China -by- Bike" - tour, which I did in 2010 for the first time, has captured my heart immediately, because on this tour are not the big spectacular sights on the plan, but we dive deep into the province and the life of a minority. Over it goes to endless tea plantations, which run in the low mountain ranges of the mountains. We overcome a climate divide and then dive into the subtropics, in Jinhong we encounter colorful minority life and tropical plant diversity and Ferry Newcastle Amsterdam.
In Kunming we experience the vibrant life of a Chinese metropolis, see the monastery lived Yuantong Chinese Buddhism and the promenade Cui Hu lake with Chinese and Chinese women who enjoy the first warm days of the year. Music is played, and danced driven sport.
The next day we start early in the Stone Forest. The UNESCO protected bnaturwunder is one of the main attractions in the province, even for Chinese tourists. The flood with noisy merriment the front part of the park. Together we emerge little ways in ravines between the stone pillars in an enchanted land and expect hibnter each bend the appearance of mythical creatures and fast Ferry Dover Calais.
In the evening we board the overnight train to Dali, the ancient royal city on Ohrensee. Here we also make our wheels star clear and explore the city and its surroundings. On narrow roads, it goes through rice fields from village to village until a small market town. Spectacular is the view from the temple to the three pagodas, which are reflected in the lake and form a magnificent backdrop to the mountain trains which are many months in the year still covered with snow and fast Ferry Dover Dunkirk.
After we left Dali we reach the area of the Yi minority in Weishan we stay in the old town with wonderfully preserved wooden architecture and climb a holy Taoist mountain to its summit are 12 great small scattered monasteries. Especially the lack of tourists and the peace and serenity of the small Ensiedeleien, let the traveler feel the power of this natural religion associated.
Our route leads off the beaten path by small river valleys. Tropical Rainforest change with terraced landscapes where rice and vegetables are grown. Even before we reach the Pu'er tea town we cycle through endless tea plantations. Over the hills and mountains as far as the eye can see, nothing more to see than the rich green of the tea plants in the spring and there is so many opportunities to taste a cup of the infusion and us to the idiosyncrasies and peculiarities of the Pu ' he trusts to make teas.
On the way to Jinhong we stay in a great hotel on a misty mountain in the middle of a forest reserve and have a day later also domesticated the opportunity to see wild elephants with luck. The last days are spent in the minority of Dai and Aini, and can relax and enjoy a festival promenade on the banks of the Mekong River in Jinhong before we fly to the metropolis of Shanghai. Here we have left before we take the high-speed Maglev train with a top speed of over 400 km / h back to the airport a day for sights and shopping.
