21/08/14 – 04/09/14: Baoji, Shaanxi, China to Qingdao, Shandong, China

A typical evening meal surrounded by inquisitive people taking photos of us. We turned the camera back on these kids and they just started pulling funny poses and couldn’t stop laughing. Baoji, Shaanxi, China.
The dent from Wills crash in Kyrgyzstan had after about 4000km undergone enough fatigue to form a small fracture, which then within 50km propagated through half the circumference of the down-tube. We found a guy nearby who looked like he could weld it up and held our breath as he went to work. Outside Baoji, Shaanxi, China.
Procedure: 1. Ground down the edges to remove paint and clean the surfaces. 2. A couple of weld runs. 3. Cleaned off the carbon and finished off with some silver spray-paint. Job well done.
A torrid day with the punctures. My supposedly “bomb-proof” tyre had a mystery puncture devil stuck in it. Heading for Xian, China.
The incredible detail of a few of the thousands of Terracotta Warriors. One of the most incredible windows into the ancient world. Xian, China.
A typical guesthouse we’ve taken to staying in in Eastern China. At £2.5 each per night, it’s difficult to justify trying to camp somewhere instead. Near Weinan, Shaanxi, China
A lot can change in 4 months
We’ve met plenty of Chinese cycle tourers while in China (only 2 Westerners). They couldn’t understand how we weren’t cycling fulling covered… meanwhile there are waterfalls coming off our foreheads. Near Sanmexia, Henan Province, China.
We are in the hilly industrial part of Henan Province. The coal dust and other pollutants make it extremely unpleasant. East of Sanmexia near the Yellow River, China.
Sun setting as we climbed out of the most horrendous coal dust filled valley. Breathing through the nose and wiping coal out of the eyes. Not a pleasant experience. Heading for Luoyang, Henan, China.
Crack! The rigidity of my shoe all but gone. Not a nice feeling. On to the du Plessis supply chain to try and get some replacements out pronto. Near Luoyang, China.
Will vs Robocop. Rush-hour in Luoyang, China.
Eastern China feels like city after city almost strung together. There are people everywhere. The junctions are madness. Luoyang, Henan, China.
2 Wheelers rule the roads here so we feel definitely feel like we have safety in numbers. Rush-hour in Luoyang, Henan, China.
Typical of every city we’ve been to. As night falls the public spaces get filled with people doing ballroom or synchronised dancing or martial arts and stretching. It’s quite bizarre, but very good to see. Luoyang, Henan, China.
Heavy smog hanging over the Yellow River. Heading for Wushi, Henan, China.
Breakfast of fried dough sticks in the market. This guy just sat down and started talking in Chinese. No idea what was being said. Changyuan, China.
We found some stunning countryside for a change. Could be somewhere back in the UK. Along the Yellow River heading for Heze, Shandong, China.
A typical scene every time we stop for sustenance. People appear from everywhere and gather around us to stare and take photos. We have felt like celebrities everywhere we’ve gone in this country. We’re stopped several times a day by people wanting to take photos and stare… Heze, Shandong, China.
One of the stunning old wooden Temples of Confucius in his hometown, Qufu. Shandong, China.
The writing on the wall. Mesmerising script engraved in the library walls of Confucius’ Temple complex. Qufu, Shandong, China.
The rollout of Smartphones in China is something of a marvel in itself. I had to take this – it’s sad to see almost all the Chinese who are visiting these amazing places not actually look through their own eyes but only through the LCD of their phones.
Literally every town or city we’ve been through in Eastern China has had scatterings of high-rises going up. There seem to be more empty towers than occupied ones. I wouldn’t be surprised if this turns out to be the biggest housing bubbles the world has ever seen. This whole mass of finished buildings is completely deserted. Zhucheng, Shandong, China.
Breakfast of fried dough sticks on the street. What a great way to start your birthday, Will. Zhucheng, Shandong, China.
The last stretch into Qingdao on a wet and windy September morning. Nearing the Yellow Sea, Qingdao, China.
Our first glimpse of the Yellow Sea and this, the longest sea bridge in the world. At over 40km it is a stunning piece of engineering. Qindao Bay, Shandong, China.
Happy Birthday Will! Definitely looking wiser than yesterday. We have cycled almost 15,000km from London to the east coast of China. Enjoying beers on Beer Street outside the Tsingtao Brewery, Qingdao, China.
Just had to get a photo of one of the “facekinis” since here on this beach in Qingdao is where the fashion started. Ridiculous.
A stunning atmosphere on the beach for our last night in China. What a journey. Can’t stop grinning. The feeling is just simply beyond words.