Cycling 5,000km Across China's Xinjiang - The Truth They Don't Tell You | with Jerry

What's it really like to cycle across Xinjiang, China's vast and often misunderstood western region? In this episode, we sit down with Jerry Grey, a 67-year-old long-term China resident and avid cyclist, who has biked thousands of kilometers across the country.He shares incredible stories from his epic 5,000km journey from Macau to the Kazakhstan border, detailing the harsh deserts, majestic mountains, and incredible hospitality he encountered. We debunk common Western media myths, discuss the real situation on the ground regarding security and daily life, and get a firsthand account of Xinjiang's breathtaking diversity and development.If you've ever been curious about real travel in China beyond the headlines, this is a must-watch.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Jerry & His 20+ Years in China01:50 - How a 50-Year-Old Started Epic Cycling Trips03:15 - The First Massive Ride: Macau to Kazakhstan Border05:45 - The Real Reason He Couldn't Bike to Tibet07:30 - First Impressions of Xinjiang: Debunking the "No-Go Zone" Myth09:45 - Surviving the Taklamakan Desert: 45°C Heat & Camping Under Bridges13:10 - Interactions with Police & Security: A Former Cop's Perspective17:40 - The Story of Camping Next to a "Prison Camp"19:20 - The Hospitality of the Local People21:30 - Xinjiang's Mind-Blowing Geographic & Cultural Diversity25:00 - The Food: A Meat Lover's Paradise (But Bring Your Own Veggies!)28:45 - Development & Tourism: New Hotels, Airports, and 300 Million Visitors32:10 - The BBC Narrative vs. On-The-Ground Reality35:50 - The Bilingual Generation: Noticing the Language Shift39:30 - Practical Travel Tips for Xinjiang41:20 - Jerry's Next Big Cycling Adventure: Conquering Qinghai43:50 - Bizarre Story: Being the Only Foreigner on a Tibetan Influencer Trip47:30 - How to Get Around China Easily (App Recommendations)49:00 - How to Follow Jerry's Adventures50:30 - Wrap-Upinks & Where to Find Jerry:YouTube: Jerry's Take on ChinaTwitter/X: @JerrysTakeonChinaEmail: Available in the bio of his social media channels.Hashtags:#Xinjiang #ChinaTravel #CyclingChina #SilkRoad #TravelVlog #Uyghur #DebunkingMyths #AdventureTravel #China #XinjiangFactsThe UK Column is an independent media organisation and receives no corporate or foundation funding. We rely on the generosity of individual readers, viewers and listeners, so if you enjoy our quality reporting, please consider supporting us. 🌐 Explore all our written and video content on the UK Column website https://www.ukcolumn.org/ 💪 Support our independent journalism here https://support.ukcolumn.org/ 🛍️ Check out our shop here https://shop.ukcolumn.org/