Category: Uncategorized

  • DC Dirty 2021 #3: The Big Dirty Recap

    DC Dirty 2021 #3: The Big Dirty Recap

    A long day on a epic cycling challenge. The last dirty of the 2021 season had kind of everything. Think the photos do a better sum up than us writing it.

    Well done to everyone who started and who enjoyed the day! Well done to those that nearly finished, just finished and easily (impossible) finished to get top points!

    Many thanks to our partners for providing them great prizes Specialized | Chemical Guys | the clinic | Namedsport | Suunto | Therabody | Restrap | Castelli

    A big gallery from participants, a local photographer and us. Many many thanks to everyone for all the photos. Download

    Bit of a wet start
    First big climb
    People warmed up
    People setting out from the first drink stand
    A relaxed downhill followed by a river segment
    The new segment 4 with the hill top pagoda finish.
    A very smooth and groomed flagstone cobble section along the river.
    A not so flat forbidden by the coach!
    A visit to the pigs!
    A relaxed last segment 8 for some!
    Dinner
    & Awards – then bed!

    Another gallery from YilanRyan 黄一澜. Many thanks for that. No so easy taking pictures while slipping down a hill!

    And a few quotes from the day:

    “Don’t stand up or the back wheel will spin”

    “Sh@t that was steep”

    “We love getting dirty”

    ‘Is this the end of the segment?!’

    “So, that was the slippery road you were talking about…”

    “do you have lights”

    in my professional opinion its fu****

    not another fu***** hill

    not another fu***** cramp

    this walk is wonderful

    Doctor Justin!! /:,@P/:,@P

    “is there another hill? Are you kidding me..?” hahahaa…how often have we heard this sentence [Facepalm]

    the last part was worthy to call it real dirty gravel ride! 

  • Tanqi Weekend Packages

    Tanqi Weekend Packages

    Our Tanqi weekends are set on the third weekend of every month. From Friday night to Sunday afternoon. See our detailed Tanqi Weekend Itinerary page. Package price includes the bike, food & Tanqi activities and starts from 980 RMB. Select your correct bike size from the below and add that to your cart. Then select which home or room you would like and add that to your cart and check out. We will then contact you and get everything setup for you.

    Current Dates are:

    • March 27th – 28th
    • April 17th – 18th
    • May 15th-16th
    • June 19th-20th

    See our Tanqi Introduction & if you only want to rent a adventure bike see our Tanqi Bike Rental page. 

    Packages with Fat bikes. They have very large tires suitable for off road, beginners (lots of traction), and light on-road usage. 

    Packages using MTB. They are flat bar mountain bikes with gravel tires which are suitable for road and off road use.

    Packages using Diverges. They are drop bar adventure gravel bikes with gravel tires suitable for road and off road use.

    Bikes by Size

    Package with Small Bikes

    Package with Medium Bikes

    Package with Large Bikes

    Diverge Size Chart

    Tanqi is supported by Specalized & Wildhomestay with the goal of promoting adventure cycling and getting people out on their bikes, in nature, exploring China. We run it at or below cost and 10% of generated income goes to local clean up and conservation projects. We hope the work we do for Tanqi is a win win for the local community, environment, gets more people cycling in diverse places, while helping to promote Specalized great bikes and Wildhomestays experiences. 

  • Tanqi Weekend Itinerary

    We run our Tanqi Weekends every month during the cycling season. We also run them at any time when there are groups of more than 10 people.

    Guests arrive Friday night. They are checked in, shown around and fitted to their bike at the bike shed.

    A simple dinner is had and time permitting we watch a video introducing the key techniques and routes.

    A early night is had in one of our simple homestays.

    Saturday we wake up to a big Chinese Western breakfast and hot coffee. We then get on our bikes and head to the gravel pump track.

    Here we practice basic skills so guests can easily get up hills and brake with confidence on the downs while handling different types of terrain.

    Our Agriculture Gravel Pump Track! Great place to learn the basics.
    We cycle up and around Santang gaining experience in the hills while staying close to the homestay.

    We then head back to the cafe for lunch a short rest.

    In the afternoon we head to some local hills for a introductory

    We stop at some great locations with views and vistas over the mountains.

    This is followed by a wash, stretch, and a relaxation in the recovery shed.

    We then sit around chatting over drinks

    And eat a huge fresh homes style BBQ

    We then sit around the fire and chat

    And them head back to our rooms for a good night sleep.

    Sunday we wake early for breakfast and head out on the bikes to another slightly more challenging route.

    Van support, cold and hot drinks are provided along the routes.

    We cycle along small roads and through small villages with minimal traffic.

    We stop for pictures and discuss technic along the way.

    We always make sure there is a manageable challenge in the ride.

    We return for lunch and afternoon checkout. Return by train or a easy drive.

    Book your Tanqi Weekend Now

  • Bike Rental

    Bike Rental

    For our remote location, we have a great selection of quality and well loved bikes to rent from 80 to 300 RMB a day;

    Specialized Diverge Gravel Bikes

    Great for taking on everything the area has to offer combining road and offroad trails. Also great to learn how to ride a drop bar bike due to their easy gears and wide grippy tires.

    Specialized Mountain Bikes

    Perfect for the off-road stuff and shorter on-road local tours. Flat bars and the most gears! Also, the most suitable bike for beginners.

    Specialized eBikes

    Touring and MTB ebikes. These are high-quality pedal-assist bikes, not e-motorbikes. You still need to work, but they certainly help you have fun and deal with some of the hills you encounter in the area. Learn more about our ebikes and how to use them.

    We also have some peddles, helmets and shoes for you to borrow if needed. We suggest advanced riders bring their own shoes and helmets!

    Diverge Size Chart

    Rental Procedure.

    Prebook bikes online and follow the below process at the homestay.

    Bike rentals are managed at the cafe check-in and follow a clear procedure.

    Bikes are booked online. Please go to the cafe front desk. Sign the waiver, give your ID and they will give you the key to your bike. You will be taken to the bike shed to collect and fit your bike.

    Like renting a car, we ask all guests to pay for the damage they cause to the bike so please check the bike with our staff before you take it.

    Please return your bike before 6pm to check in the bike with our staff, to get for any issues and get your ID back.

    Detailed Bike Rental Procedure

  • Tanqi Adventures

    Tanqi Adventures

    Tanqi is a partnership between Specialized China and Wildhomestay to support and empower adventure cycling in China. 

    Rent a Specialized Diverge Bike
    A video introduction to adventure biking in the area!.     Also see on youtube (VPN)

    What is Tanqi

    Simply put Adventure or Exploration Cycling. Get a bike, explore your backyard, China and the World. Tanqi means “Scout Riders” “Path Finders” . We want cyclists and non cyclists to explore on bike, build the necessary skills, experience adventure with the right equipment and have great fun doing it.

    Why Tanqi

    • Reach amazing places
    • Touch and interact with nature
    • Overcome challenges
    • Experience local cultures
    • Build lasting friendships
    • Develop fitness and strength
    • Understand traditions
    • Have fun and adventure!
    • Live and Explore!

    We feel its the best way to adventure travel. You will get to places otherwise you would not get to. People will be more hospitable and nicer to you than you can imagine. You will meet goals and overcome challenges on a daily basis. You will meander through nature on your own steam exploring things at your own speed.

    Tanqi Bikes

    We don’t want the experience to be unnecessary intimidating or uncomfortable. We want it to be controllable, fun, challenging and enjoyable. 

    We have chosen the Specialized Diverge as we believe it best fits this criteria. The bike has a geometry which is a balanced between a mountain and road bike and feels very reassuring on the up and down hills. Its fast on the road and faster off! It has a front shock which means you have more control and your hands and arms don’t go numb, your neck does not get strained and your palms bruised on the bumpy downhills. It takes really big supple tires which help you float over most rough terrain and its got the gears to help you spin up steep accents. All in all it makes for a much more pleasant adventure experience than other “gravel” bikes we have tested.

    Who is behind Tanqi

    Tanqi is supported by Specialized & Wildhomestay with the goal of promoting adventure cycling and getting people out on their bikes, in nature, exploring China. We run it at or below cost and 10% of generated income goes to local projects. We hope the work we do for Tanqi is a win win for the local community, environment, gets more people cycling in diverse places, while helping to promote Specialized great bikes and Wildhomestays experiences.