Topic: Pedal to the Metal

[PandaCollector]

China’s oldest and best-known bicycling race, has its own coin.

"The Tour of Qinghai Lake is China’s oldest and best-known bicycling race. Competitors gasp across the finish line of the sixth stage at 4,120 meters (13,517 feet) above sea level. It has been called "the highest-altitude bike race in the world," and it reaches higher elevations than any professional bike race in Europe. That is not the only challenge; there is a 124-kilometer (77-mile) stretch of desert to pedal across in the tenth stage. Riders from past races say that the high-altitude heat is like nothing they had ever experienced before."

Read the whole story at: https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/7413/



Best wishes,
Peter Anthony
NGC Consultant
China Pricepedia — Chinese Coin Prices and More
The Gold & Silver Panda Coin Buyer’s Guide 3
www.pandacollector.com

[bonke]

 Peter

If I remember correctly, Qinghai Lake is used by the birds migrating between Europe and Asia.  Many years ago, when Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome ("SARS") was a serious health problem in the People's Republic, scientists were worried that the birds migrating from Asia to Europe would bring SARS to Europe.  Scientists wanted to capture some of these migratory birds on the shores of Qinghai Lake to test them for the virus.  Pictures in the media showed a local man trying to capture these birds with nets.  Other pictures showed widespread death in this migratory bird population.

During this SARS epidemic, I spent two weeks in Xining.  A beautiful city with a very dry climate and a large muslim population.

Mark Bonke