Summer Western Tour: Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang

[euphonius]

Hey, Naiadhunter, great series of images; some are really beautiful. Your final caption said it was the last stop for that motorbike, and, now that I think of it, your route seemed to be just one way. Did you sell your bike there in Xinjiang? Or trade for something else?

Really admire your solo adventure through a spectacular part of the world.

cheers

[bigdamo]

Great photos.One of my favorite parts of the World haven't been to Qinghai yet.

[Naiadhunter]

Yeah, the plan was always to do it one-way. I had planned to ride back to Urumqi and try to sell it there, but the owner of that white tent in Kanas wanted to buy it, so that's where the bike and I parted. I caught a ride back to Urumqi with 4 Guangzhou tourists. It couldn't have worked out any better.

[euphonius]

Very cool story!

So are you still in Gansu? And what are you riding now??

[CrazyCarl]

Whoa! Double sorry I missed this one!

You chose a fantastic route and, even more, took on the ol' 315 into Xinjiang. When I went through that area (and didn't make it) the road was complete ass and quite dangerous. Can you confirm the entire 315 route is now paved from Dunhuang (215/S305) to 218?

I may need to get things in order for another trip.

CC

[Naiadhunter]

Well, there's good news and bad news about that route from Dunhuang. The good news is that the section located in Qinghai is very nicely paved and was smooth sailing. However, I encountered a lot of construction going on just south of Dunhuang on 215. Equally as challenging was 315 at the Xinjiang border. Very nice roads are being constructed, and in many areas it looks like they are very near completion, but at the time of my ride, traffic was being diverted around and along side these roads. These side gravel roads were often in horrible shape, beat to hell from truck traffic and when exposed to rain, would turn into a complete mess.
I hope this helps.

To answer Euphonius' question, this ride marked the end of my time in China (for now). I'm now bikeless in Tokyo doing research for my Masters.

[CrazyCarl]

Cheers to one helluva a grand finale! I'm sure it put everything is a whole new perspective.

What you studying in Toe-kee-yo?

CC

[euphonius]

Totally agree with CrazyCarl -- what a great way to close the books on your time in China. Yeah, and what were you doing out in Gansu, anyway?

Apart from not having wheels now, and despite it being one of the world's great cities, I can't imagine that Tokyo will sustain you the way a bracing ride through rural China can. I can't imagine any Chinese bikes are making a dent in the very saturated Japanese market. I have heard you can rent GS's and other big bikes in Japan with little hassle, and there is some great riding if you can get used to their all being on the wrong side of the road, and super polite. Now there's a contrast with China....

Hope you'll stay on the forum and drop us a note from time to time.

cheers!

[Naiadhunter]

Indeed, indeed. I lived in Japan once before and did a lot of riding. It's hard to avoid urban riding here, but yes, you can find some nice twisties up in the mountains. The bike culture is closer to that of western countries, so you have a lot of recreational riders/tourers. Aside from studying Japanese and Chinese here at university, I'm also studying anthropology and doing field work in the Japanese countryside looking at the growth and impact of foreigners in these smaller communities.

Comfort and convenience will be nice for a couple of years, but yes, the call for greater adventure I'm sure will return. I'd love to go back and ride again in China, so, keep me in mind! Hehe.