”I have always wanted to cycle in rural China” “Let’s do it then”. This conversation with Graham was in January, 2005. After some research, I found a company in Chengdu called BikeChina. We opted for a ‘challenging’ ride around Yunan province in south-west China for two weeks in October.
Yunnan province
Yunnan is home to 35 of China’s 56 ethnic minorities. The older women still wear their traditional dress. The area we explored is alpine - hence the description of the ride as ‘challenging’. We frequently were climbing for anything up to 12 miles to cross over a pass into the next valley.
Woman in traditional Yi dress
As we passed through the countryside, the poverty was in striking contrast to the prosperity evident in the cities (such as Chengdu in neighbouring Sichuan). There was little machinery; nearly everything was done by hand.
At the tourist sites, most of the sightseeers are Chinese - the new
middle class, created by the move to a market economy.
Another striking feature is the widespread ownership of mobile telephones. The cover is excellent. In the most isolated areas, I could always pick up a signal - due to the large mobile phone masts on the tops of many of the hills. The state companies presumably do not have to apply for planning permission!
With the market economy so evident, it was a surprise to see Chairman Mao’s picture on the wall in small restaurants. I tended to forget that I was in a Communist country.
For more information on Yunan, click here.
More photographs of women in ethnic dress, click here
