23-Jul-2015 -- This is the 12^th out of 17 reports of confluence visits while cycling from Kashgar (喀什) to Xī'ān (西安). I cycled through the Chinese provinces of Xīnjiāng, Qīnghǎi, Gānsù, and Shǎnxī, 3600 km in 25 days. The story starts from 39°N 76°E. The previous report is 35°N 101°E.

In the morning, I started cycling from Kēshēng (柯生乡), which is located 40 km from the confluence point. As soon as I entered the limits of Gānsù Province, the road-surface wasn’t sealed anymore.

The confluence is located 5 km from the town Mǎqū (瑪曲县). There are two tracks leading to Mǎqū when coming from the west. In order to come close to the confluence, I had to take the lower and less frequently used route. As everywhere, yaks and shepherds are omnipresent in the area. I was happy, when I noticed that the confluence area was an exception: around the confluence no one was present. I parked my bicycle at the track in 580 m distance and ran across the flat meadow to the confluence as the crows fly. As could be expected I located the confluence on grassland. Edelweiss and other to me unknown flowers were growing around the point. The Yellow River can be seen directly from the confluence (from 700 m distance). There are two very poor villages within 1 km to the confluence point.

After the visit, I walked back to my bike and continued riding towards Mǎqū. I was chased by Tibetan dogs! Several times I had to throw stones towards them in order to defend myself. One time, a dog bit in my paniers! Nevertheless, I reached Mǎqū with two healthy legs and had my second breakfast there.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance to the road: 2 km
• Distance to a track: 580 m
• Walking distance: 580 m
• Distance of bicycle parking: 580 m
• Time to reach the CP from the track: 3 min
• Time at the CP: 9:21 AM
• Measured height: 3341 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
• Position accuracy: 3 m
• Topography: flat, mountains in some distance
• Vegetation: grass, edelweiss, various flowers
• Weather: cloudy, 8° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Panier Biting Dog Confluence

The story continues at 34°N 103°E.