Why this ride
From Songyang it runs 393 km to Songyang; allow about 4 h 52 of riding. It goes by way of Longmen Grottoes, Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient and back through Longmen Grottoes. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Shaoshi Que Gates and Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 393 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 4 h 52
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Shaoshi Que Gates
A que is a gate tower, and the Shaoshi Que is a pair of them, standing like two stone gateposts at the foot of Mount Shaoshi in Henan province, on the approach to the sacred mountain. They date from the Han dynasty, nearly two thousand years ago, and are among the oldest surviving examples of this type of monument in China. The tall stone shafts, with carved reliefs of hunting scenes, animals and chariots, stand on the slope with the mountain behind them. Together with the Taishi and Qimu que on neighbouring mountains, they belong to the group of monuments in Dengfeng that UNESCO recognised in 2010 as the Centre of Heaven and Earth.
Read the complete Shaoshi Que Gates write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Shaoshi Que Gates is where the day begins. Next is Longmen Grottoes.
2. Longmen Grottoes
South of Luoyang, the river Yi cuts through a narrow gap between two limestone hills, and for about a kilometre the cliffs on both sides are honeycombed with caves, niches and carvings. Over around four centuries, starting in the late fifth century under the Northern Wei dynasty and continuing through the Tang, Buddhist sculptors carved tens of thousands of statues into the rock, from tiny figures a few centimetres high to colossal Buddhas. The Longmen Grottoes were listed by UNESCO in 2000 and are among the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art.
Read the complete Longmen Grottoes write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Longmen Grottoes comes up about 65 km into the recorded legs. Next is Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient.
3. Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient
The Silk Road is often imagined as a line across a desert, but in places it was a road cut into rock. The Xiaohan ancient road runs through the mountains of Henan province, linking Luoyang, the Han and Tang capital, with the west through the narrow pass at Hangu. The Shihao section is a stretch of the road that survives in the loess hills, with ruts cut into the stone by wheels. UNESCO listed it as part of the Silk Roads network in 2014.
Read the complete Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 185 km into the recorded legs you reach Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient. Next is back through Longmen Grottoes.
4. back through Longmen Grottoes
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Longmen Grottoes write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Longmen Grottoes, late in the day. Next is Shaoshi Que Gates.
5. Shaoshi Que Gates
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Shaoshi Que Gates write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at Shaoshi Que Gates. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Shaoshi Que Gates to Longmen Grottoes
Shaoshi Que Gates → Longmen Grottoes is 65 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Longmen Grottoes to Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient
Longmen Grottoes → Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient is 120 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient to back through Longmen Grottoes
Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient → back through Longmen Grottoes is 137 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
back through Longmen Grottoes to Shaoshi Que Gates
back through Longmen Grottoes → Shaoshi Que Gates is 71 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.