Napoleon Bonaparte once said,
“China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world.”
Photo Credit @ Nicole
In the last 6 months China has changed the world as Napoleon Bonaparte said many years ago.
Our entire planet from the South Pole to the North Pole, around the Equator’s diameter , each single human living on Earth have altered their life path.
Our grand children, great grand children will study this event at school and they will know the cause of this.Hopefully it will prepare them for maybe another Pandemic to come.
Photo Credit @ Nicole
I have been fortunate enough to travel to China since 2010 constantly at least 3 or 4 times a year in taking part at cycling events or cycling around to discover the unknown of this immense country.
Certainly during the years I have noticed amazing changes with people, nature, way of living and certainly a fast developing country that attract me more to discover more of their traditions.
Photo Credit @ Nicole
During my trips I have slept in many different kind of accommodations, alone or shared , with electricity or without , with or without windows, freezing cold or really hot but still amazing experiences.
If you are not shy, timid, speaking & meeting people is a must when you travel the world, especially when you share your passion of cycling. The feeling of crossing another cyclist in the empty roads is astonishing, the silhouette of a cyclist far away in front of you is like a mirage that turns real. Indescribable joy, you can only try to experience it.I was lucky to meet amazing people that some of them will describe their experience of living and cycling in China.
Photo Credit @ Nicole
Being Italian, by default I am a food lover, passionate about my palate with the will to experience more.I think when I eat, I encounter an extreme pleasure. Cycling in China every time you need to adapt to the local cuisines, hygiene and locations of your meals where in most occasions are well out of the Western Countries standards.
Photo Credit @ Nicole
I have asked a fellow cyclist about her thought of China and its beauties. She has been living over in China for a long time and has a good presence,experience within the Chinese Cycling Community.Lets hear from her below.
Photo Credit @ Nicole
Outside the big cities, China is an amazing place for road cycling/touring, which I don´t want to miss. I started road cycling before I moved to China, but in fact started longer distance riding and bike touring there and since then have been on many, mostly self-organized cycling trips in- and outside of China.
The country is very diverse in landscape, culture & food, and it´s perfect for little or bigger adventures. I somehow got addicted to these, they are definitely one of the reasons, beside my work, why I still live in China after more than 10 years. For me, there is nothing more refuelling than to cycle through remote landscapes, feeling in touch with the surroundings, getting big smiles (or laughs because ppl think you are completely nuts, to cycle for leisure) and thumbs up from friendly locals.
Photo Credit @ Nicole
If you speak a bit Chinese it is very easy to get in touch, as people are very curious and want to know everything, from where you come from, to if you are married and how many kids you have (the last two are very common and important questions in China 😉).
Said that, if you don´t speak Chinese at all, you need to be either very adventurous, stress resistant or better organize someone who speaks a bit of Chinese to come along with you, or go on an organized trip. If you like to taste new dishes and don´t bother to always know what you are eating (it´s the taste that counts, right?), food is also amazing. Of course, you might get the runs once in a while (better be prepared for that!), especially if you are not used to oily and spicy food. In all those years though, this happened only a few times to me.
Photo Credit @ Nicole
Thank you Nicole for sharing your experience and thoughts about China.
When the travel begins & reopen again you must visit China to experience the unknown beauty. Feel free to get in touch with us for more infos.
Stay safe & well in thus times.
Ciao from the SaddleDrunk Family.
Photo Credit @ Nicole
