Situated 45 minutes from Lijiang, the 23km trek starts near Qiaotou and climbs steeply through the “28 Bends” (500 metres of altitude gain) before levelling out for most of the way then descending to finish at Walnut Garden.

You will need a couple of days locally to acclimatise to the altitude, but the trek itself is well marked and easy to follow without the need for a guide. Entry tickets to the valley are obtained at the entrance, and there are several guest houses and restaurants along the trail.

Halfway House and others situated around it are ideal for the overnight stop, and the views over the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain are jaw-dropping.

April to June and September to October are the best times to tackle this trail.

Cycle touring around Qinghai Lake

Located high on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in the west of China is the huge Qinghai Lake, an open and wild place that is perfect for a two-wheeled adventure.

It is about 360km around the lake, although many touring cyclists also ride from Xining up to the lake (100km each way) after a few days of acclimatisation, which is essential given that the lake is at 3,200m.

This is a sparse environment where you will see horsemen and women, Buddhist monasteries and amazing birdlife, and experience windswept serenity and Tibetan culture.

There are several small towns en route, although it’s a good idea to book accommodation in advance because beds are often in demand – or even carry your own camping gear.

The best time to cycle here is between May and October, but do be prepared for cold weather.

Bike-packing the Tea Horse routes in Yunnan

Yunnan is home to some of the finest independent bike travelling options in Asia, yet one that often gets overlooked is taking the back roads between Dali and Lijiang, and loosely following the ancient Tea Horse trading routes.

This is the rural China of old, and it makes for a true offbeat biking adventure. Route-finding is not always easy, but that is all part of the adventure. There are villages and towns with guest houses dotted along the way as you head westwards through the Shaxi Valley, which is a fascinating place that makes for an ideal base for a couple of days of trail exploration.

Five of the best mountain biking routes in Asia

Various route options can be found on Google Maps (most loosely following the S233), with the distance being about 300km plus diversions. That amounts to four to five tough riding days for most people. Again, allow time to acclimatise to the altitude.

Spring and autumn are the best times to tackle this route.

Mount Huashan and braving the ‘plank walk’

Constructed 700 years ago by a Taoist priest on Mount Huashan, the infamous “plank walk” attracts thrill-seekers from all over the globe to brave what some have termed the world’s most dangerous trail.

The five peaks of Huashan top 2,000m and are found 130km from Xian, famed for its terracotta warriors. Ageing and narrow wooden planks and iron pegs are loosely pinned to the vertical cliffside for 130m near to the peaks.

To reach this stretch of the trail, some choose to hike six to nine hours up the mountain then camp near to the summits, although there are also hotel options nearby. Others take one of the two cable cars part of the way and hike the last 1.5 to 2 hours to the scary bit.

For that, you rent a climbing harness and carabiners and traverse the walkway while clipped to the support wire. It is a two-way hike, so you have to contend with unclipping and passing people.

The best time to go is April to May and September to October. There is an age limit of 55 for the plank section.

Hiking the Wild Great Wall sectors

Hiking the entire Great Wall of China is a lifelong ambition for many people, although given that it is 21,000km long (including 8,500km for the main Ming dynasty section), that could be a lifelong quest to complete.

Visitors often get to hike only the most popular and developed sections, such as that at Badaling. But there are several “wild” sections that are far less restored and visited, and offer a more adventurous option for hikers.

Among the best wild sectors are those from Ox Horn or Jiankou to Mutianyu (half a day or 10+ hours), Zhuangdaokou to Waterside Great Wall (half a day), Shuiquangou to Huanghuacheng (four to five hours) and Gubeikou to Jinshanling (six hours), all of which can be linked with restored sections to make multi-day hikes.

The best times for hiking here are March to May and September to November.