Route 108 which I would ride for two days in a row was a beautiful road through the mountains and valleys twisting an unimaginable number of turns until I felt a little dizzy myself even as a rider. The temptation to stop every five minutes to take a picture and just enjoy the sights was always dangerous.
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| Route 108 from Xian to Hanzhong |
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| Route 108 from Xian to Hanzhong |
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| Route 108 from Xian to Hanzhong |
It was a six hour journey today without breaks and every break would eat into daylight and eventually I would have to pay the price later. I am now a season traveler in China I think but even knowing the outcome and punishment that would come later, I took way too much scenic breaks in the beginning.
At midpoint, was a mini detour to see Panda at Foping Forest Reserve Panda Valley. The ticket cost us RMB 50 with another RMB 10 for the shuttle bus and viola we managed to see two Panda. Still a Panda is a Panda.
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| Foping Forest Reserve Panda Valley |
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| One Panda |
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| Two Panda |
Paying the price of a relaxing early start, I had to really go for the distance the second half of the day. The roads were punishing at this stage going more twisty but less scenic. It was a enjoyable ride but not one that was possible to be captured in photos. It was either dangerous to stop, or just too large an image to capture even if managed to stop.
Rock cliff overhanging the roads with deep ravine river flowing on the other side made me loose concentration a few times from the twisty road. It was hypnotic in a way but just as the sun was coming down, I was now out of the Valleys and had to ride through small towns all the way to Hanzhong in the night.
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| Hanzhong City |
As usual case with many cites now in China, I reached Hanzhong and can say that I have been to Hanzhong but barely understand nor visited the city. Checked into the hotel and out to the nearest restaurant before heading back to crash into the bed setting the alarm for the next day’s ride.
Travelled on: Oct 2024
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