Quote Originally Posted by soberpete View Post
Dear Fred and co,
I see the road (G205/ expressway) on Google maps and it looks pretty smooth; well spotted!
I plan on getting to Rizhao via Yiyuan and then through Yishui. I'll stay in Rizhao one night then make my way south to Shanghai.
How was Suqian? Is it laowai friendly? Still have the number of a hotel there? I don't think I'll stop in Suqian unless you think the roads along the way were really nice.
If and when you have the time, I'd love to know the black-top farm-road route that you guys took after Rizhao.
Was the construction on the G204 north or south of Rizhao? Or both?

Safe riding. Sounds like you're in Nanjing already. Enjoy it!
Hey Pete, yes we're in Nanjing right now, and celebrating the near-accomplishment of the 12,000km trip by offering ourselves some "luxury time" with nice hotel, nice drinks and nice food !

Suqian is a typical normal Chinese city, we went to the Hanting Express hotel (always a good choice in China). It's either this or the Jinjiang Inn (also always a good choice).

The construction on the G204 was before and also a bit after Rizhao, but with a bike you can get through quite easily.

About the small farm roads we took, it'll be impossible to pinpoint exactly the ones we took. All we know is that it was West of Jiaonan city, we left the G204 towards the West on some small roads, found ourselves on the S329 too, but sorry, I will not able to help more than that...