#1: [02-Sep-05]

09-Jul-2010 -- General information about the tour

This is the first out of 6 confluences that I reached on my 3-weeks bicycle trip in China’s south-western province of Yúnnán. This region is extremely mountainous and the river valleys of the Yangtze, Mekong and Salween River have cut 1000 m – 2000 m deep canyons through the high Yúnnán plateau. This is the main reason why I “only” reached six confluence points compared to my tour to the Northeast (东北) two years earlier when I managed to visit 24 points in a similar amount of time. In addition, the road network in the countryside is not yet very well developed, long deviations over winding roads have to be followed in order to reach places in the rugged mountain terrain of Yunnan’s outback. Oftentimes I followed footpaths that locals had suggested and ended up carrying my bike up and down the mountains.

I set off in Kūnmíng and cycled 2050 km during 21 days. Two confluences that I reached had been visited already; the others had not yet been visited due to their remoteness. In addition, I attempted some confluences located on high mountains near the Salween River valley (怒江), but extreme rainfall prohibited successful visits.

Information about this confluence

On the second day of the tour I started in the town Lùfēng (禄丰县) about 20 km north-east of the confluence. From there, I took small mountain road towards Gànhǎizī (干海资). At a remaining distance of 10 km, I turned into a mud-road towards Yángliáo Village (杨辽聊村). The road followed down along a little river valley, thereby passing a chain of villages. This approach is from the north, in contrast to the first visitor, who approached the confluence directly from the motorway in the south.

I abandoned my bicycle at a beeline distance of 470 m and started a 30-minute hike. The rugged terrain and the dense valley prohibited a quick approach, but finally I found a relatively easy way by following a dry riverbed and then climbing the last 100 m up on red and brown sand.

The confluence is on a steeply inclined valley flank and on land with intense soil erosion. Due to the erosion and the sand cover there is little vegetation besides some scattered bushes and grass. Standing on the confluence, there is actually a good view into the valley to the West and South. It is one of those rarely-to-find confluence species where you can sit down and enjoy for a while.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to an asphalt road: 10 km
• Distance to a road: 700 m
• Distance to a track: 320 m
• Distance of parking the bike: 470 m
• Distance to houses: 630 m
• Time starting the hike: 10:30 a.m.
• Time at the CP: 10:55 a.m.
• Riding time (distance) from Lùfēng: 2:55 hours (35 km)
• Measured height: 1501 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 1 m
• Position accuracy at the CP: 6 m
• Topography: half way up a steep valley.
• Vegetation: scattered grass, bushes
• Weather: fine, 30° C (felt temperature)
• Description of the CP: 80 km straight west of Kūnmíng in the township of Lùfēng.
• Given Name: The Sand Erosion Confluence

Here is an overview of the confluences of this trip in table form:

DCP	Success	Minimal Dist. [m]	Visit No.	Day No. on Tour	Date	Night Place	Bike KM	Riding Hours	Hotel [¥]
25°N 102°E	yes	6	2	2	09.7.2010	楚雄市	152	8:45	138
25°N 101°E	yes	11	1	4	11.7.2010	八角镇	44	5:24	40
25°N 100°E	yes	5	1	10	16.7.2010	凤庆县	98	6:00	40
25°N 99°E	yes	4	2	12	18.7.2010	潞江镇	91	5:43	80
27°N 99°E	no	12000	1	15	21.7.2010	石月亮乡	124	7:45	40
27°N 100°E	yes	7	1	19	25.7.2010	丽江	93	6:05	50
27°N 101°E	yes	9	1	21	27.7.2010	永胜县	80	6:16	60
31°N 103°E	no	1260	5	25	31.7.2010	卧龙	0	0	0

Story continues at 25°N 101°E.