Ride Call: Tao Hua Dao (TaoHua Island) Zhejiang province

[bikerdoc]

Calling any and all riding adventurers,

Ride: Island rides off the coast of Ningbo Zhejiang province most weekends in the summer months
Depart: Ferry terminal near Chunxiao new development area of Beilun district (Ningbo's economic trade and development zone)
Destination: Tao Hua Dao
When: 31 August or 1 September - 2 September
(if you cannot make it this time, or the weather turns to custard then some of us travel there often, so just drop a message here and we can sort something out).

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Fishing just off pebble beach

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Pebble beach Inn

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Pebble beach looking toward the fishing boat dry dock

Ride to Tao Hua Dao (Island) planned for this coming weekend. Likely some of us (2-3) will depart the Beilun peninsular port on Friday 31 August and return Sunday 2 September. Several other riders will likely depart for the island on the Saturday instead, due to their work commitments and what not. Naturally weather permitting and all that.

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Tao Hua Dao mountain top temple

Tao Hua Dao, has mountain ranges and there sits an old temple at the top of one. The road up to the temple is a great ride full of switchbacks with an incredible outlook with vistas over the sea and shipping lanes, and while the temple is the destination on said road, the road continues winding up past the temple up to a military installation. The said installation is active, so no going in there! The island has two beaches on either side. One is a big expanse of sand and is quite the commercial beach with jet-ski, speed boat and other associated beach toy hire. There is a designated swimming area complete with a netted zone patrolled by "lifeguards" while the beach on the other side of the island is a step pebble beach with nothing commercial aside from a old fishing village and converted home/motel/restaurant. This is the side we mainly stay on. There is also a township where all the commercial stuff happens plus lots of hotels, wet market, restaurants and bigger hotels and motels/inns are located. I have some photos from past trips a few of which I've posted here. Some riding buddies and I often take a ferry from near Beilun which is the development zone and port district of Ningbo city in Zhejiang province.

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Sandy beach

I was out at the island 2 weeks ago with a couple of friends having ridden our bikes to the ferry terminal, then riding on the island once there. We do this trip in the summer multiple times, as it is an easy trip with some nice riding and allows for a quick refreshing excursion away from the mainland. TaoHua Island also hasn't suffered the same development fate as other nearby islands like Zhou Shan Island has. It won't be long though. I realise that many of you reading this may feel the destination might seem far away indeed, but for those in Jiangsu or Shanghai it is a days riding from most of the locations thereabouts to Beilun, Ningbo. I know as I have ridden a good dozen or more rides between Ningbo - Shanghai - Ningbo (that's right often doing the return trip in the same day). So it is doable.

Some of us have a lot of glide time, so for any riders contemplating joining us on this or other trips to Tao Hua Dao then some of us can take a few extra days off to stay at the island to make your trip worth the effort. Happy to meet mid way for any out of town riders. Can also arrange to assist where or if needed. If you can't make this trip, keep in mind that we often do this trip twice to several times each month during the summer and a little less during the winter. So drop me a PM any time you might be interested -it will give me and some friends to go too.

For anyone contemplating heading down from up North, there is a newish bridge that spans the inner aspects of Hangzhou Bay so one doesn't need to ride all the way round the coat hanger of Hangzhou (like I used to have to do) and find ones way through Hangzhou city which is not motorcycle friendly in the slightest.

Hangzhou city motorcycle bans were always fun, as I'd often get lost if I made a wrong turn while trying to navigate my way "round" Hangzhou in the days before maps and GPS here. The bridge I refer to is West of the longer cable stay bridge and is part of the Expressway that is not for motorcycles. The alternative bridge can be found on "Google Maps" and is some distance from the long cable stay bridge I refer to. Follow either bank of the Hangzhou Bay inlet on "Google Maps" and you should locate the alternative bridge.

Keep in mind that there are some tolls on the Hangzhou side of this bridge, and it seemed as though motorcycles were/are banned from using it. Don't despair as there is a way to use the bridge. On either side of the Hanghzou Bay simply locate the main bridge columns (on either side of the bridge) use the ones to the East and one will find a wide set of stairs winding up the bridge column as well as a big wide elevator. Use the elevator, and then ride the bike lane of the bridge. I've done it several times. It's an experience and a half. Not sure if I have photos but I will dig them out if I have and post them here.