The Road Less Taken: Cycling Through Gansu’s Forgotten Towns

Imagine pedaling through vast stretches of sunbaked earth, where the wind carries whispers of ancient Silk Road traders and the horizon blurs into golden haze. Welcome to Gansu—a province often bypassed by tourists chasing Lhasa or Xi’an, but hiding some of China’s most soul-stirring landscapes and forgotten towns waiting to be rediscovered by bike.

Cycling Gansu isn’t just a trip—it’s a pilgrimage through time. Spanning over 1,600 kilometers along the Hexi Corridor, this route links historic oases once vital to Silk Road commerce. Today, cyclists brave gravel roads and desert winds to experience raw, unfiltered China.

Why cycle Gansu? For starters, it’s authentic. You won’t find crowds at the Maijishan Grottoes or scripted performances in Zhangye. Instead, you’ll sip barley tea with Uyghur elders in dusty courtyards and camp under stars so bright they feel close enough to touch.

Let’s talk numbers. The average cyclist covers 80–100 km per day, with elevations ranging from 1,200 meters in Wuwei to over 3,000 meters near Qilian Mountains. Weather? Prepare for extremes—summer highs hit 38°C, while nights can dip below 10°C even in July.

Top 4 Forgotten Towns Worth the Ride

Each town tells a story. In Shandan, you’ll ride past herds tended by Kazakh nomads—the same grasslands used by Han dynasty cavalry. Dunhuang’s Mogao Caves house 1,000-year-old Buddhist frescoes, painted when camel caravans still ruled the trade routes.

Pro tip: Visit between late August and early October. Rainfall is lowest, temperatures milder, and the autumn light paints the Danxia cliffs in fiery reds and purples—perfect for that Instagram shot (if you get signal).

Gear up wisely. While paved highways exist, detours to remote monasteries mean gravel and sand. A sturdy touring bike with 35mm+ tires is ideal. Pack dry, high-calorie snacks—convenience stores vanish for days.

And yes, language is a barrier. Few speak English, but a smile and “Nǐ hǎo” go far. Download offline maps and a translation app. Bonus: locals often invite cyclists into their homes after seeing your struggle up a mountain pass.

Cycling Gansu isn’t easy. But few things worth remembering ever are. This is the road less taken—where every pedal stroke echoes history, and silence speaks louder than cities.