Beijing to Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) by Bike Route

Hi there, we’ve been traveling by bike for a year now on the beautiful roads of our amazing planet. We’re currently in Vietnam. After a little 4-month loop through Southeast Asia, we’ll head to Japan and then on to China (which we already crossed in October and November).

Here’s our question: have any of you, or do you know if it’s possible to bike the few thousand kilometers between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar? Is the route allowed by Chinese authorities, who are so welcoming?!

Thanks for your replies! Elise and Brice Our site: http://petitshommesdumonde.free.fr

Hey fellow bike globetrotters, you're lucky to have been on your trusty steeds for a year now. Well, I hope that's true! Beijing to Ulaanbaatar—you’ve really given me a tough one. The visa takes ages to get. Did you manage it? Are there good maps for the China-Mongolia stretch (yes, I’m guessing there are?), and are the roads decent? Aren’t you worried about freezing your butts off? Anyway, good luck to you both. Personally, I’m leaving France for China in March, and the return trip is still up in the air—especially since I’m traveling on a shoestring budget, which means living on about 12 € a day. Safe travels!

hi, I did it the other way around 4 or 5 years ago: train from Ulaanbaatar to the Chinese border, then bus to Jining; after that, bike to Beijing.

At the time, it wasn't possible to cross the border by bike. It also wasn't recommended to travel through the Chinese province bordering Mongolia: risks of imprisonment and heavy fines. That area is highly militarized with nuclear test sites. Maybe things have changed since, with the Olympics. Check in Beijing..... Otherwise, take the route to Jining, following the Great Wall and avoiding the main road—it's amazing... Then take the train to the first Mongolian city, and continue by bike... Keep in mind that the Gobi is quite arid and monotonous... wait until late spring, as you won't be able to cross in winter. bernard

Hi, check out the website www.europeversasie.com—our buddy did this route in July, so it should help a bit!

Once you're in UB, if you want, you can also use our contacts who helped Laurent—it’s up to you. Everything’s on his site in the pages about Mongolia and China.

Have a great trip!

My practical pages on Mongolia: http://site.voila.fr/gengiskhan, and feel free to contact me for more.

A huge thank you for your precious help—we’re off to check the site right now. We couldn’t reply earlier since we were on the roads of Vietnam (which are absolutely gorgeous, by the way) 😎. See you soon.

Thanks to you too, chauminette! Walking along the Great Wall of China sounds pretty cool—we’ll be poring over our maps! Bigsacoch, good luck with your trip kicking off toward Asia. It’s true that for the return trip, you’ll have plenty of time to figure things out. But (if we may say so) recalculate your budget—12 € a day in Europe is fine, but for one person in Asia, that’s not a small budget for someone traveling by bike—it’s actually a generous one, meaning hotels every night and good food. By camping and eating at little street stalls (hearty and delicious), we spend between 8 € and 13 € for two, and we’re not even holding back!! Alright, take care and safe travels!

Hi Elisebrice,

If by some miracle you're still connected and see this message, could you please tell me if you've done the route between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar and share some of the major difficulties you encountered along the way? I'm thinking of doing this route soon, in the spring if I can find enough info. Currently in Southeast Asia where everything seems relatively easy, the Gobi Desert seems quite hostile, and having started my trip in China, I know it's not straightforward being a tourist there... though the people have always been extremely kind and warm with me!!

Best regards, Elodie.