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the Degree Confluence Project
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China : Nèi Měnggǔ Zìzhìqū (Inner Mongolia)

3.3 km (2.0 miles) NW of Gurban Hua, Nèi Měnggǔ, China
Approx. altitude: 320 m (1049 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 43°S 59°W

Accuracy: 4 m (13 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: GPS Reading #3: Ground Zero #4: The Confluence Biker #5: Gùrìbānhuā Town #6: Bicycle Handlebars at the Confluence #7: View to the South #8: View to the West #9: View to the North #10: View to the East

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  43°N 121°E  

#1: The Confluence from 30 m

(visited by Rainer Mautz)

15-Jul-2008 -- This is the sixth out of 23 confluences that I visited on my bicycle trip to the North-East of China. The story starts from 40°N 117°E.

The previous day, I had visited 42°N 120°E and spent a short night in Nàimànqí (奈曼旗). Nàimànqí is a small town surrounded by huge areas of sand and is located 40 km north-west of this confluence point. I got up at 3:50 am and started cycling at 4:30 am.

Due to my intention to visit this confluence, I had to take some minor roads to a place called Gùrìbānhuā (固日班花). This – to my mind – bleak town is located 3 km beeline distance to the confluence point. Such a distance doesn’t sound a lot, but the tracks I took turned out to be extremely sandy. Some light rain helped to make the sand sticky. As a result, my bicycle-chain and the gears got bad harm. However, I rode/pushed the bike in the right direction and approached this way the confluence. At a distance of 800 m I underbridged the motorway Chifeng – Tōngliáo. If you visit the confluence by car, you might consider to simply stop directly at the highway. I think the shortest distance will be less than 400 m.

A sandy track directly lead to the confluence point. According to my measurements, the point was 2 m into a corn field. With 4 m accuracy, it could be located directly at the path.

I took the same route back to Gùrìbānhuā and continued my tour towards Tōngliáo (通辽). For quite a while, the road was in an extremely bad condition, comparable to the sandy tracks that I took before. The light rain gradually turned into pouring rain. I let you imagine in which state me and the bike had gotten.

Finally, I reached the main road. From there, it was another 125 km to the next place with a hotel: the city of Tōngliáo. Imagine that the pouring rain stopped exactly at this moment when I entered the city.

CP Visit Details:

  • Distance to an asphalt road: 15 km
  • Distance to a road: 2.4 km
  • Distance to a track: 0 m
  • Distance of parking the bike: 2 m
  • Distance to houses: 2.5 km
  • Time starting the deviation: 5:00 a.m.
  • Time at the CP: 7:05 a.m.
  • Riding time (distance) from Nàimànqí: 2:06 hours (42.3 km)
  • Measured height: 323 m
  • Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
  • Position accuracy at the CP: 4 m
  • Topography: totally flat
  • Vegetation: corn field, poplar trees nearby
  • Weather: light rain, 20° C (felt temperature)
  • Description of the CP: In the south-eastern part of Inner Mongolia in a sandy, sparsely populated area. Close to the motorway between Tōngliáo and Chifeng.
  • Given Name: The Sandy Bike Confluence

Story continues at 44°N 122°E.


 All pictures
#1: The Confluence from 30 m
#2: GPS Reading
#3: Ground Zero
#4: The Confluence Biker
#5: Gùrìbānhuā Town
#6: Bicycle Handlebars at the Confluence
#7: View to the South
#8: View to the West
#9: View to the North
#10: View to the East
ALL: All pictures on one page