Why this ride
It goes by way of Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’, Architectural Complex of Shaolin Temple and back through Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’. It suits an unhurried touring pace.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient and Architectural Complex of Shaolin Temple
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 340 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 4 h 22
- 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. 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
Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient is where the day begins. Next is Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’.
2. Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’
The Hangu Pass is one of the legendary places of Chinese history. According to tradition, it was at the old Hangu Pass, guarding the narrow road between the Central Plain and the Wei valley, that the philosopher Laozi, leaving China on the back of an ox, was asked by the gatekeeper to write down his wisdom before passing, and the result was the Tao Te Ching. That pass lies further west, near Lingbao. In 114 BC, under the Han dynasty, the pass was moved east to Xin'an county, near Luoyang, and it is the remains of this later Han pass, with its gate, walls and stretches of ancient road, that form part of the Silk Roads World Heritage site, on the route between the capitals of Chang'an and Luoyang and on towards Central Asia.
Read the complete Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’ write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’ comes up about 71 km into the recorded legs. Next is Architectural Complex of Shaolin Temple.
3. Architectural Complex of Shaolin Temple
Ask most people where kung fu comes from and they will name this temple, even if they have no idea where it is. The Shaolin Temple stands at the foot of Mount Song in Henan province, central China, near the city of Dengfeng. It was founded at the end of the fifth century for an Indian monk, and tradition says that Bodhidharma, the legendary founder of Chan, or Zen, Buddhism, meditated in a cave on the mountain above for nine years. The monks' martial arts became famous over the centuries, and today Shaolin is as much a brand as a monastery.
Read the complete Architectural Complex of Shaolin Temple write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 165 km into the recorded legs you reach Architectural Complex of Shaolin Temple. Next is back through Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’.
4. back through Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’ write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’, late in the day. Next is Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient.
5. Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient
Return visit. Read the place description above.
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
Back at Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient to Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’
Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient → Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’ is 71 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’ to Architectural Complex of Shaolin Temple
Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’ → Architectural Complex of Shaolin Temple is 94 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
Architectural Complex of Shaolin Temple to back through Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’
Architectural Complex of Shaolin Temple → back through Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’ is 104 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.
back through Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’ to Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient
back through Site of Han’gu Pass of Han Dynasty in Xin’ → Site of Shihao Section of Xiaohan Ancient is 70 km of getting across. Ride it tidily and keep the enthusiasm for what comes after.