Bishkek to Beijing & the Great Wall

Eastern Silk Road July 27, 2025

Introduction
Itinerary
Date & Pricing
Reviews
Map
Photo Blog

You will enter China and ride to Kashgar city. Visiting this far-flung part of China is a chance to seamlessly mix modern-paced adventure with ancient culture. The arts and crafts of the region, strong since the Silk Road era, are still thriving. In the next two weeks you will travel along the southern silk road of China to Labrang Monastery and visit the Tibetan region of Amdo. You then travel to Xi'an, the hub of the anient silk road. We will stay two days in Xi’an to visit many historical sites including the Terra Cotta Army, Goose Pagoda etc.., what a great feeling to actually stand on the city wall of Xi'an, the very beginning of the Silk Road.

Our great journey will end in Beijing with a visit to the Great Wall !

Ride China can arrange the logistics shipping your motorcycles worldwide.

A film made by our Italian customers who rode from Rome to Beijing.

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1. TORUGART PASS Km 360

Ride to TORUGART PASS, border with CHINA, which is 190 km away. The Torugart Pass is a mountain pass in the Tien Shan range, located at a height of 3,752 meters above sea level; in its vicinity is the lake Catyr-Kol. Entry formalities assisted by local correspondents. Descend for 170km to Kasghar.

Day 2. KASHGAR (formalities).

A full day required for the Chinese bureaucratic formalities for the temporary importation of vehicles and the issue of a Chinese driving license. If time remains, visit the old city, one of the most fascinating places in XINJIANG, ID KAH mosque, ABA KHOJA mausoleum, market.

Day 3. KASHGAR – TASHKURGAN km 300

We leave in the morning for a detour to the south that cannot be missed: on the road to Pakistan we reach Lake Karakul and Tashkurgan, where nomads live in yurts. Incredible mountain landscapes.

Day 4. TASHKURGAN – KASHGAR Km 300

From Tashkurgan we return north to Kasghar. Relaxing afternoon.

Day 5. KASHGAR – HOTAN Km 510

Let's finally take the SOUTHERN SILK ROAD, the ancient oasis cities. In YENGISAR the knife factory and the silk factory. Arrive at HOTAN.

Day 6. HOTAN - MINFENG Km 290

We move to Minfeng. Overnight in 3-star hotel. Dinner NOT included in the fee.

Day 7. MINFENG - LUNTAI Km 580

We take the CROSS-DESERT HIGHWAY the road that crosses the entire DESERT DEL

TAKLAMAKAN. Beautiful landscapes of high sand dunes.

Day 8. LUNTAI - KORLA - TURPAN Km 600

We pass Tianshan Mountain and then enter the Turpan Depression, located 154m below sea level, the hottest area in all of China.

Day 9. TURPAN

Visit of the city: the BAZAR, MINARET OF EMIN. In the surroundings of the city we will see the famous vineyards of the area, the FLAMING MOUNTAINS, the KAREZ (system of wells for irrigation).

Day 10. TURPAN-HAMI Km 410.

Exotic landscapes true Hami. The Royal Tomb.

Day 11. HAMI-DUNHUANG Km 415.

Transfer to Dunhuang. At sunset, visit MINGOSHAN high sand dunes 600m.

Day 12. DUNHUANG-JIAYUHANG-JIUQUAN Km 400

In the morning visit the MOGAO CAVES. Towards evening we see the beginning of the GREAT WALL OF CHINA. Overnight in 5-star hotel. Dinner NOT included in the fee.

Day 13. JIUQUANG - HUANGZONG Km 570.

On the road to ZHANGYE the giant Buddha. Beautiful scenery on the way past Qilianshan Mountain.

Day 14. HUANGZONG - XIAHE Km 300

In the morning visit Ta'r monastery in the morning. Arrive in Xiahe.

Day 15. XIAHE – RUO’ERGAI - CHUANZHUSI Km 410

In the morning visit the LABULENG monastery. In the surrounding area magnificent "Tibetan" panoramas. We continue south to Chuanzhusi.

Day 16. CHUANZHUSI - HUANGLONG –JIANGYOU Km 390

We cross the Huanglong National Park on mountain roads and arrive in Juzhaigou.

Then transfer to Jiangyou.

Day 17. JIANGYOU – QIQUSHAN – HANZHONG km 410

We pass Qinling Mountain. We then visit the Taoist temple of Qiqushan.

Day 18. HANZHONG - YANGXIAN - LINTONG (XI'AN) Km 285

We arrive at one of those moments that alone are worth the trip, the visit of the TERRACOTTA ARMY near XI'AN, the ancient Chinese capital.

Day 19. LINTONG – HUKOU Km 340

We leave the ancient Chinese capital and on secondary roads (the highway is not allowed to our vehicles in the most urbanized regions of China) we reach the waterfalls on the YELLOW RIVER in Hukou.

Day 20. HUKOU-PINGYAO KM 290

We leave the falls and drive to Pingyao, which is considered to be the best preserved Ming period city in China.

Day 21. PINGYAO – YANGQUAN - FUPING – LAYOUAN Km 450.

Stage of approach to the final destination. We pass Mount Taihangshan.

Day 22. LAYOUAN – BEIJING Km 360.

A first stretch of mountain road, then we reach the capital of China.

Day 23. BEIJING .

Visit of the capital. In relation to the time available: TIAN'ANMEN SQUARE, TEMPLE OF HEAVEN, FORBIDDEN CITY, SUMMER PALACE. Overnight in 4-star hotel. Dinner NOT included in the fee.

Day 24. We take the means to the port of TIANJIN for their loading into the containers. We return to Beijing by bus.

Day 25 . Continue the city tour of Beijing. Overnight in 4-star hotel. Dinner NOT included in the price.

Day 26. More time available for visiting the city. During the night the return flight to Italy begins.

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Shipping motorcycles worldwide from Beijing/Tianjin Port can be arranged by Ride China.

Shipping cost starts from USD800/bike to Europe (Hamburg, Rotterdam), UK(FELIXSTOWE，SOUTHAMPTON). Italy ( Genova, Milan)

2025 Dates:

Start: July. 27, Torugart Pass

Finish: August. 23, Beijing/China

Prices: USD 4990/rider

Single room: USD 1390/person

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INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE:

--Chinese driving licenses
--Temporary number plates

--Customs clearances (in and out)

--Custom Deposit

--Third party liability insurance for motorcycles

--Pre departure PDF fact sheet

--Detailed printable PDF road book

--Electronic road book daily

--English Speaking guides

--Support van for luggage and passenger seats

--Bike tools and air pump

--Trailer for emergency breakdowns

--Hand picked high quality hotels

--Chinese and Western Breakfasts

--Reliable bike garages and parts purchase

--China stickers

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDED:

--Lunches and dinners

--All entry fees to parks and monasteries, etc...

--Fuel and toll fee if any

--All services not mentioned

--Tipping or gratuities to guides and drivers

--Mandatory international travel insurance

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Support van and trailer for emergencies

What is the proper motorcycle for this big journey?

Any mid sized or larger adventure motorcycles will do well. From Honda CB500X, Kawasaki Versys650, Yamaha T700, Aprilia Touareg 660, BMW F850, Tiger 900 ralley to Honda African Twin 1100, BMW 1250GS and Tiger 1200 ralley pro. Take any one of them as you like, these bikes all have good reputation being reliable and robust. This is not an easy trip for novice riders, you need to have at least 5000 kilometers ridden on varied road surfaces in the past and keep riding recently. It is highly recommended that you take a riding course if you are new to big bikes. Once you are confident riding big bikes then you need to do some regular exercises like running or cycling to maintain a certain level of endurance. On some days we need to ride a whole long day in extremely hot or cold weather. This then can be done and enjoyed if you also bring a little bit of spirit of adventure and a sense of haha.

Having returned from China I wanted to express my thanks to you for the splendid opportunity of this wonderful, long, tiring but certainly unique and unforgettable journey. Everything went very well, the organization was impeccable and therefore congratulations. Above all for the choice of the Chinese agency and the guide who accompanied us (Tony, but also Ulan in Kyrgyzstan). Perfect and impeccable, He did not only act as a guide but much more, as a peacemaker, as a banker, as a facilitator and much more. Certainly a 10++ for him, as well as for the driver who accompanied us, joyful, friendly and smiling. We had the opportunity to visit more. However, for me it remains a great experience that I will always carry in my heart. A great life lesson, a source of a thousand ideas for reflection and knowledge.

Thank you very much and I hope to meet you in person one day.

Kind regards

Marilena - Italy

GROUP SIZE

Minimum 8 bikes to guarantee the expedition

START/FINISH

Bishkek/Beijing

DURATION

29 days

TRIP GRADE

Intermediate Level, some long riding days in hot weather.

ROUTE

5 -8 hours riding per day. Total distance 6000 km. Daily rides 240 - 560 Km. Mostly on asphalt roads

LODGING

Hand picked high quality hotels

HIGHLIGHTS

✥ Rest days in Kashgar, the great oasis that links China and the west
✥ Ride next to Taklimankan Desert
✥ Traverse the Taklamagan Desert
✥ Oasis on the silk road
✥ Worl Heritage Mogao Grottoes
✥ Most westward great wall 
✥ Eastern tibet 
✥ Chance to see the Giant Pandas
✥ Set you feet on the city wall of Xi'an
✥ Visit Terra Cotta Armies 
✥ Hike on the Great Wall of China

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