2010: Chengdu - Xi'an
When I see a sign on the outskirts of Chengdu with the number of the road G108, I know that I am cycling in the right direction.There are not really famous places on my way to Xi'an, but there are certainly some worth seeing.After having cycled through the area for a few days that had been struck by a major earthquake 2 years earlier, I arrived in Guangyuan. Here is a temple dedicated to Wu Zetian, the only woman in Chinese history who has been the ruling empress.Hanzhong is a good place to visit the Ancient Plank Road. The route belonged to a network that was to connect Xi'an with Chengdu.A few dozen kilometers to the east of Hanzhong is the tomb of Cai Lun, the inventor of modern paper. A small temple has been erected around his tomb where you can admire the traditional method of making paper.For two days I cycle over the Qinling mountains to arrive in Xi'an via a spectacular descent and a long flat road.The old capital has a lot to offer, but especially the imposing defensive wall, the Wild Goose Pagoda and surroundings, and of course the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum with its terracotta army are unforgettable memories.