Recommended Classic Cycling Routes in Suzhou

Riding a bicycle and slowly admiring the beautiful scenery of Suzhou is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? There are many good places for cycling in Suzhou, which are worth visiting by friends! Let’s take a look at some recommendations below!

1、Tiantai Tianbei Highway

Cycling in a wonderland of clouds and mist

◎Cycling route:

Chicheng Mountain – Guochong Highway – Guqing Scenic Area – Tianbei Highway – Tongbai Palace, the birthplace of Southern Taoism – Lion’s Mouth Campsite – Huading Peak

◎Highlights of the trip:

The Tianbei Highway in Tiantai Mountain is known as a cycling route in a “wonderland.” Here, Li Bai was once intoxicated, “Clouds hang down, a big peng [a mythological bird] turns over, waves rise and a flying ao [a mythological creature] sinks,” referring to the wonderland of clouds and mist in Tiantai Mountain. From the misty forest to the ever-changing sea of clouds and then to the sunlight piercing through the clouds, in just one hour, the ever-changing beauty is enough to take your breath away.

You can stay overnight at the Tiantai Huading Summer Resort, the altitude is 1000 meters, in the primitive forest with a high concentration of negative ions, on clear days you can see the stars all over the sky!

Tips:

The Tianbei Highway is a road suitable for all types of cyclists, from the county town to the 9 km to the scenic spot at the top of Tongbai Ridge, the altitude rises by more than 400 meters, the average riding time is about 1 hour, which is a scenic cycling route for exercise.

2、Huaihang Ancient Road

Off-road Golden Line

◎Cycling route

Hangzhou – Changhua Town – Longgang Town – Qingliangfeng Town – Shimenxia Scenic Area – Zhechuan Village – Yonglai Village – Lantian’ao – Xueshedang – Huangmaopu – Jiangnan’s First Pass – Fulong Town – Renli – Jixian

Bicycle off-road + sightseeing

◎Highlights of the trip:

For those who like long-distance off-roading, you can’t miss such a great off-road cycling route like the Huaihang Ancient Road!

The Huaihang Ancient Road, also known as the Xiaoyao Yan Plank Road, was a major route for ancient Huizhou merchants to transport salt, tea, and mountain goods to and from Hangzhou. It starts in Fulong Town, Jixian County, Anhui Province in the west and ends in Maxiao Township, Lin’an City, Zhejiang Province in the east, with a total length of more than 40 li.

You can take a good look at the scenery of the Western Zhejiang Grand Canyon.

ps. Pay attention to flat tires, thorns on the road, etc. are all tire killers.

3、Around Taihu Lake

◎Cycling route

Lihu Zhiguang – Fen Shui Road intersection

【Optional route】Lüjiangkou – Ten-Mile Pearl Dike – Meiliang Road – Xueyun Road – Zhushan Lake – Fen Shui

Fen Shui Road intersection – Dagang Xiaopoding

【Optional route】Fen Shui – Shatanggang Bridge – Chendonggang Bridge – Zhoutie Town Entrance – Yangxi Road intersection – Chendonggang Bridge – Tongshu Road intersection – Dagang Checkpoint

Dagang Xiaopoding – Taihu Amusement Park

【Optional route】Fuziling – Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province – Xiangshanling – Jiapu Town Area – Taihu Dike – Chendugang – Yangjiapu – Xiaochendugang – Taihu Amusement Park

Taihu Amusement Park – Qidu Town Town Sign

【Optional route】Xiao Mei Bridge – Changdougang Bridge – Taihu Town North Entrance – Nanxun Ancient Town – Qidu Town Town Sign

4、Nanxun Ancient Town

Qidu Town Sign – Dong Taihu Road intersection

【Optional route】Qidu – Xinqi Line (Guofu Avenue) – Miaogang Town Area – Miaogang Bridge – Taipu River Bridge – New 230 Provincial Road – Dapukou Bridge – Wujiang City – Dong Taihu Road

Dong Taihu Road intersection – Shadun Port

【Optional route】Dong Taihu Road intersection – Youxin Road – Tongjing South Road – Sanxiang Road – Shishan Road – Suzhou Amusement Park – Changjiang Road – Jinfeng Road North

Shadun Port – Lihu Zhiguang

【Optional route】Shadun Port – Juqu Road – Gonghu Avenue – Taihu Avenue – Lihu Zhiguang

◎Highlights of the trip:

Long-distance cycling, cycling distance 250～400Km. Taihu Lake is known as the “most beautiful lake under heaven,” cycling around Taihu Lake is the initial dream of cyclists around it, and one of the most recommended cycling routes for cyclists from all over the country.

5、Tianmu Lake

◎Cycling route

Changzhou Yanzheng West Road – 239 Provincial Road – Liyang – 241 Provincial Road – Tianmu Lake (about 181 kilometers)

◎Highlights of the trip

Tianmu Lake is located 8 kilometers south of Liyang City, Changzhou, and is named “Tianmu Lake” because it is located in the foothills of Tianmu Mountain.

Tianmu Lake is a deep-water lake (reservoir) that is narrow from east to west and long from north to south. The southern part is about 4～5m deep, and the northern part is about 10～14m deep.

Around Tianmu Lake, there are many historical and cultural relics: Wuyuan Mountain, named after Wu Zixu, a Chu man from the Spring and Autumn Period, Cai Yong’s Reading Platform, a great writer of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Taibai Tower, Baoyen Zen Temple, the former site of Longheng Temple, a famous Tang Dynasty Buddhist temple, and the “No. 1 Stone Arch Dam in the World,” etc.

6、West Lake

◎Cycling route:

●Along the West Lake shore, especially in the early morning, there are very few tourists, the scenery is picturesque. The whole journey is about 12 kilometers.

●Broken Bridge – Bai Causeway – Yuquan – Botanical Garden – Jiuli Song – Lingyin – Shangtian Zhu. Round trip is about 16 kilometers.

●Longjing – Wengjiashan – Manjue Long – Hupao Road – Nanshan Road. Slightly difficult, requires a geared bicycle with climbing ability.

ps. There are many rental points along the West Lake.

◎Highlights of the trip:

Hangzhou West Lake is undoubtedly the most relaxing and enjoyable route for cyclists, not only is the scenery beautiful, but also the whole route is free of charge, less than 20 kilometers in one lap, but every step is a beautiful scenery.

Imagine, the wind under your feet, constantly changing the angle of appreciation of West Lake,
along the way, you can also stop and taste the snacks of Hangzhou, have a bowl of Longjing tea brewed with Hupao spring water in Longjing Village, such a leisurely and enjoyable ride, probably really can’t be found again!

7、Xixi Wetland

◎Cycling route:

Tianmu Mountain Road – Zijin Port Road – Wen’er West Road – Wen’er West Road North Entrance – Xixi Wetland

◎Highlights of the trip:

“One curve of a stream, one curve of smoke.”

Xixi Wetland is located in the western part of Hangzhou, less than 5 kilometers from West Lake, and is a rare urban secondary wetland.

It was once known as “Three Xis” of Hangzhou along with West Lake and Xiling, and is currently the first and only national wetland park in China that integrates urban wetlands, farming wetlands, and cultural wetlands.

8、Tianmu Mountain

◎Cycling route:

Lin’an – Taihuyuan Town – West Tianmu Mountain – Taihuyuan Town – East Tianmu Mountain – Taihuyuan Town – Gaohong Town – Yu Hang Town – Hangzhou (190 kilometers)

◎Highlights of the trip:

Can be completed in two days, with beautiful scenery along the way.

Slope and length: From Taihuyuan Town to West Tianmu is a gentle uphill climb, all the way to the foot of West Tianmu Mountain, only 3km in the tourist area can be ridden, the rest are stairs.

From Taihuyuan Town to Hangzhou is basically flat.

9、China’s Largest Cycling Tea Plantation

◎Cycling route:

Songyang Traditional Ancient Village Group – Songyang Damushan Tea Plantation Cycling

Lishui · Songyang Damushan Cycling Tea Plantation (within Damushan Tea Plantation, Hengxi Village, Xinxing Town, Songyang County, Lishui City)

◎Highlights of the trip:

If you think that traditional villages in Jiangnan are all water towns, alleys, and large mansions, then you should come to Songyang.

Songyang still retains the largest and most complete traditional village group in East China. Songyang’s more than 100 traditional villages not only bring a stunning beauty of ancient villages, but also have cultural roots that make people linger.

The whole tea plantation’s leisure and fitness cycling loop is 8.3 kilometers long, with a professional cycling track of 7 kilometers. Songyang Damushan Cycling Tea Plantation is the largest cycling tea plantation in China.

The tea plantation is full of rolling hills, dotted with reservoirs, the air is filled with the fragrance of tea, the scenery is pleasant, and the cycling paths run through it. Up and down slopes, big turns, the road under the wheels is undulating. On the side of the road, you can often see painters who come to sketch, painting the tea plantation scenery that nestles against the mountains and the water on their canvases.

ps. The mountain bike rental fee is 30 yuan per two hours, which is enough for a leisurely ride around the entire tea plantation.