Maoxian – Songpan – Zhangzha

24th May 2014     11-24’C       243km
Maoxian – Songpan – Zhangzha (Jiuzhaigou)

Today the ride from Maoxian to Zhangzha took me back up onto the Tibetan plateau and fabulous mountain scenery.  We stopped in Songpan for lunch, and a short visit to the ancient town, where large amounts of herbal cordyceps were being cleaned and sold on the footpaths.

Leaving Songpan the road climbed rapidly up into the mountains, reaching 3700M where the temperature dropped to 11’C, but the sun still poked through the clouds most of the time, making it a very pleasant ride.

Tibetan villages dotted the landscape and yaks grazed on grass by the side of the road.  I stopped for a few photos by a lake, where a small group of locals were selling nic-naks and showing off their lamb & horse.  I showed off my iron horse and they were also suitably impressed, they especially were impressed with the heated grips (as was I in the cool temps)

Later I rode past a group of 6 women, rugged up, but dancing in a circle by the side of the road.  I guessed that they were waiting for their transport, and were dancing silently to stay warm.  They were seriously into it, and enjoying having a boogie by the roadside.  They said hello and gave me a wave, but didn’t interrupt the rhythm at all.

I arrived in town early, at around 2pm, and after a walk around town, headed back to the hostel for an early night.  On the way, spotting a laneway butcher, burning the hair of pigs trotters with a huge blowtorch.