Recommended Cycling Routes in Beijing

The weather in Beijing is currently quite comfortable, and parks have reopened, making it ideal for cycling and enjoying the spring atmosphere. Below are a few recommended cycling routes. If you’re interested, you can choose a route that is relatively close to home.

1. City Cycling Routes

Beijing Hutong Line

Recommended Cycling Route: Drum Tower – Shichahai Line

Western Jiao Minxiang – Liulichang Line

Cycling Intensity: ★

The best way to explore the Hutongs is by bicycle, weaving through the winding alleys and searching for the most beautiful and authentic scenery in Beijing.

① Drum Tower – Yan Dai Xie Jie – Shichahai

Cycling to Shichahai, the various small shops along the road are already eye-catching. Eating and sightseeing is the right way to explore the Hutongs. You can choose to start from the Drum Tower, and after cycling for a while, you’ll reach Yan Dai Xie Jie. Yan Dai Xie Jie is one of the oldest sloping streets in Beijing. Although it’s only 200 meters long, it hides various unique shops, restaurants, and bars.

Coming out of Yan Dai Xie Jie, you’ll see the famous Yin Ding Bridge. If the weather is good, you can see the Western Hills in the distance from the Yin Ding Bridge, which is also known as “Silver Ingot Viewing the Mountain,” one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Yanjing. Here, there are not only beautiful scenery but also delicious food, including Jiu Men Hutong, Dou Zhi Jiao Quan, and Kǎoròu Jì.

② Western Jiao Minxiang – Dashilan – Zhushikou – Liulichang

Western Jiao Minxiang, spanning 6.5 kilometers, is the longest Hutong in Beijing. As early as a century ago, it was also a financial street. Even today, there are many former sites of old banks on this street, and it’s also known as Bank Street.

Following Western Jiao Minxiang all the way west, you’ll reach Qianmen. Going south is Qianmen Street, also known as Dashilan. Dashilan, in Beijing dialect, is pronounced “dàshila’r.” It was once a bustling commercial area, with a history of over 500 years. The many small Hutongs on the west side of the street still retain a lot of the original Dashilan charm.

Following Qianmen Street all the way south, you’ll reach Zhushikou West Street. Zhushikou was the busiest and most prosperous place in the outer city in the past. Finally, you can also visit Liulichang, where you can find rare ancient books and traditional Chinese writing materials.

Flower Appreciation and Garden Tour Line

Cycling Route: Sanshan Wu Yuan Greenway

Cycling Intensity: ★★

In the spring in Beijing, all the parks are stunningly beautiful. This route covers various parks, so please refer to it carefully before choosing a route.

The Sanshan Wu Yuan Greenway in the city is arguably the greenway that connects the most historical gardens and attractions. The term “Sanshan Wu Yuan” refers to “Three Mountains and Five Gardens.” The “Three Mountains” are Fragrant Hills, Jade Spring Mountain, and Longevity Mountain, while the “Five Gardens” refer to Jingming Garden, Jingyi Garden, Qingyi Garden (Summer Palace), and the nearby Changchun Garden and Yuanmingyuan Garden, all built on the three mountains.

Starting from the north of Beihankou, going south along the Kunyu River, east to Tsinghua West Gate, and west to Fragrant Hills Park. On good weather days, you can walk, cycle, and visit the beautiful scenery that emperors once admired.

Waterfront & Oxygen Line

Recommended Cycling Route: Yingchengjiandu Waterfront Greenway

Cycling Intensity: ★☆

The Yingchengjiandu Waterfront Greenway, which was completed in 2014, starts from Deshengmen in the north and ends at Yongdingmen in the south, spanning 12.6 kilometers. Along the Greenway, you can reach various attractions, including the Grand View Garden, Taoranting Park, Tianning Temple, and Deshengmen.

Not only can you cycle along the riverbank under the lush greenery, but the Greenway also has separate bike paths and pedestrian paths, making cycling safer and more enjoyable.

Olympic Games & Cycling Line

Recommended Cycling Route: Olympic Forest Park – Summer Palace – Fragrant Hills Park

Cycling Intensity: ★

This Olympic cycling line is suitable for amateur cycling enthusiasts. The entire route is only 20 kilometers long, mostly flat, with only a section near the Fragrant Hills, around the Xiangquan roundabout, turning into a mountain road, but the slope is not steep. The route mainly passes through parks, so you can stop frequently to admire the scenery.

2. Non-Urban Cycling Routes

Great Wall Trip

Recommended Cycling Route: Jianxiang Bridge – Changping – Juyongguan – Badaling – NanKou – Yangfang – Summer Palace

Cycling Intensity: ★★★

If you find the scenery in the city not expansive enough, and your cycling skills are good, you can consider venturing to other districts of Beijing.

This cycling route mostly involves flat roads, with mountain roads mainly concentrated in the section from NanKou to Badaling Great Wall. The mountain roads near Juyongguan are relatively steep. If you are not experienced in cycling, be sure to exercise caution.

Moreover, this section will pass through tourist areas, and there will be many tourists and passing vehicles, so pay attention to safety when passing through.

Ancient Temple Trip

Recommended Cycling Route: Hangtian Bridge – Moshikou – Dayu – Shuangyu – Jietai Temple – Tanzhe Temple – Songshuling Tunnel – Jiayukou

Cycling Intensity: ★★

This route mainly involves mountain roads in the Mentougou District, with many bends and steep slopes, suitable for professional cycling enthusiasts. Traveling along National Highway 108, you can experience mountain green tourism and the atmosphere of ancient temple culture. Both Jietai Temple and Tanzhe Temple are places where many tourists stop. If you are a Buddhist believer or are interested in Buddhist culture, this cycling route is recommended.

Jietai Temple is located on Ma’anshan Mountain in Mentougou District, Beijing. It was built in the fifth year of Tang Wude (622 AD), originally named Huijü Temple. During the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Yingzong bestowed upon it the name Wanshou Chan Temple. Because the temple has the largest Buddhist ordination platform in the country, it is commonly known as Jietai Temple, also called the Jietai Temple.

“First, there was Tanzhe Temple, then there was Youzhou City.” Tanzhe Temple was built in the Western Jin Dynasty, earlier than the founding of Youzhou (Beijing). It is the earliest built temple when Buddhism was introduced to Beijing. Indeed, Tanzhe Temple, located in Mentougou in western Beijing, is the largest royal Buddhist temple in the capital.

Thirteen Tombs Reservoir Trip

Recommended Cycling Route: Jianxiang Bridge – Yangfang – NanKou – Changping – Thirteen Tombs Reservoir – Mangshan

Cycling Intensity: ★★☆

The Thirteen Tombs Scenic Area is located in Changping District, north of Beijing, about 40 kilometers from the city center. The area not only includes the famous Ming Dynasty Thirteen Tombs, but also natural landscapes along the way, such as the “Iron Arm Silver Mountain.” Along the way, you’ll pass by the Thirteen Tombs Reservoir, Jiulong Amusement Park, Mangshan National Forest Park, and Beijing International Golf Course. The north bank of the reservoir is the Mangshan National Forest Park, with dense forests on the mountain, one of the largest national forest parks in Beijing.

This cycling route is close to the city center, with mountains, water, and scenery, and good road conditions. Therefore, it is a golden route for cycling enthusiasts, especially those new to cycling.