To really enjoy the great outdoors in China, consider hiring a bike; you’ll be in good company, as around 500 million Chinese still get around by bicycle. You’ll have no trouble at all finding one to hire – with a range from a rusty old one-speed to a sophisticated multi-speed mountain bike. Even in small towns in the more remote areas that don’t often see foreign tourists, there will be shops hiring out bikes to Chinese tourists. Some hostels and hotels also rent bikes. It’s popular to join cycling tours, which can be arranged by travel operators in most areas.
If you want to bring your own bike, most airlines allow you take your bike for free on international flights if it is one of your two check-in items. If you bring a bike with you on a plane you have to take off the wheels, pedals, and handlebars and place the bike in a box. In some countries you can carry them for free on domestic flights but sometimes there is a fee.
Usually it is possible to take your bicycle on buses in China. Trains are sometimes a problem. In some cases either they don't take bicycles or your bicycles will arrive several a few days after you.
China has roads that are reserved for bicycles. Before you set out make sure the tires have enough air and the brakes work. Get a lock and make sure you know how to use it. If you need assistance with repairs, roadside bicycle repairmen are common sights. As a rule stick to the bike lanes and blend in with the crowd and go with the flow. Most Chinese ride at a pretty slow pace. Avoid busy side roads that have a lot of bus and taxi traffic. Don’t try to take shortcuts. You can end up getting hopelessly lost.
