Xi’an – Baoji

After this rather sobering start to my touring adventure, I was glad that it finally goes out of this metropolitan region with more than 8 million inhabitants and always in the direction of WEST / NORTHWEST. According to the motto the way is the goal. I even have some tailwind and get so far pleasantly ahead. Only that I must wait naturally everywhere at the crossings with red light.

After a good hour, I am already on a very quiet road and to my surprise even with a bike lane! Super developed! I am surprised that there is so little traffic. A few more kilometres later, I know why. The street stops all of a sudden simply. Well, obviously, I have lost my way somewhere. The signs are all in Chinese writing. I take my cell phone out of my pocket and activate the navigation system. Bad luck, this navigation system is probably not suitable… Google would be better but that does not work in China! Unless you apply certain tricks with VPN, etc., which I do not, however, because I want, whenever possible, NO trouble with authorities. But now drive back and turn around I also did not want. As a cyclist, you do not like to go back, but rather the nose after … I then drove on a small gravel road preferably in the same direction and oriented me after the sun as I knew the general direction WEST/NORTHWEST. At some point, I luckily ended up on the national road again and could continue my route as planned.

After a good 90 km, I now have my first small hotel in the village of ZHOUZHI in my sights. The address I set myself the day before in the navigation app. Arrived at the alleged destination, however, no hotel was findable. I then asked various people for directions. But no one understood me. Hello! „Does nobody speaks English here“?

What to do? I finally had the redeeming idea to try my luck with another app. The Apple APP „maps“ recognized the address and navigated me to the place I was looking for right away. It couldn’t have been easier! So today I learned that if I want to stay somewhere in a hotel, it should be easy to find with the Apple APP „maps“. With this search, the first day of the tour has then also promptly lasted a lot longer than hoped. As a reward, there was a warm shower and a delicious dinner. However, the next morning I was woken up early.

Apparently, the students are extremely trimmed here (see video).

After a fruit breakfast, I am riding at full speed towards BAOJI where I could find the accommodation without any problems. Ordering dinner was a challenge.  The menus are only available in Chinese script…But even here there is usually a solution. Just look at the guests, what they have in the plate and if you want the same food point to it. With hands and with feet it works!