Bikepacking From China to Belgium, Fulfilling a 10 Year Dream

2026-02-14

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Ever thought about bikepacking across multiple countries?In this episode, I chat with Belgian bikepacker Xiao, known online as @Ciao_Xiao, who set off on a long journey from China back to Belgium.Xiao first got into bike travel as a teenager, riding with his mum and later heading off with friends when time was plentiful and money was not. That curiosity eventually grew into a much bigger ride, beginning in eastern China and unfolding west through Central Asia.In this conversation, we talk about:How early bike trips shaped the way Xiao travelsWhat it is really...

Ever thought about bikepacking across multiple countries?

In this episode, I chat with Belgian bikepacker Xiao, known online as @Ciao_Xiao, who set off on a long journey from China back to Belgium.

Xiao first got into bike travel as a teenager, riding with his mum and later heading off with friends when time was plentiful and money was not. That curiosity eventually grew into a much bigger ride, beginning in eastern China and unfolding west through Central Asia.

In this conversation, we talk about:

How early bike trips shaped the way Xiao travels
What it is really like to cross China by bike, region by region
Riding through Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and camping high in the mountains
Cold nights, mechanical problems, and figuring things out as you go
His time riding through Afghanistan and how that experience shifted his perspective
Why bikepacking often works best without a rigid plan

This episode is a grounded look at long-distance bikepacking, curiosity-led travel, and what you notice when you move slowly through the world on two wheels.

Be sure to give Xiao a follow on YouTube and also via his instagram - @Ciao__Xiao

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