The 2025 Hangzhou Spring Cycling Route Is Here—Free and Fun!

How long has it been since you've enjoyed a bike ride? Cycling is a healthy and eco-friendly way to explore. All you need is a bike and a backpack—simple and green. Experience the challenge of overcoming obstacles and the triumph of reaching your destination! Cycling also improves memory, alleviates Parkinson's symptoms, strengthens cardiovascular function, and offers many other benefits! So, how should you plan your 2025 Hangzhou spring cycling route? Don't worry! Here's a free, fun itinerary that lets you roam freely amidst beautiful blossoms. Feel free to save it! The route: Beishan Street — Yanggong Causeway — Yun Song Bookshop — Hangzhou Botanical Garden — Nanshan Road — Liulang Wenying Park Beishan Street, officially known as the "Beishan Street Historical and Cultural Protection Zone," exudes a rich Republican-era charm in every plant, building, brick, and tile. Even more stunning is its location right by West Lake, offering breathtaking views. Yanggong Causeway, as famous as Baidi and Sudi Causeways, was excavated under the supervision of Yang Mengying, hence its name. The causeway features six bridges from north to south: Huanbi, Liujin, Wolong, Yinxiu, Jingxing, and Junyuan. It's a "rollercoaster road" where you can cycle amidst vibrant spring scenery and delightful flowers, enjoying the unexpected thrill of a "rollercoaster" ride. Yun Song Bookshop: When you're tired of cycling, take a break at the Yun Song Bookshop. This "martial arts manor," built by Cha Liangyong (Jin Yong) at a cost of tens of millions, boasts highlights like the "Gengyun Xuan," "Yulan Pavilion," "Songfeng Mingyue Tower," "Shangxin Zhai," and "Tingsong Pavilion." The couplet at the entrance, "Flying snow fills the sky, shooting the white deer; smiling, I write of divine heroes, leaning on the green mandarin duck," is a playful combination of the first characters of his works. Hangzhou Botanical Garden: After resting, a 5-minute ride brings you to the Hangzhou Botanical Garden, a testament to Hangzhou's love for flowers. It's divided into nine sections: Penjing, Roses, Orchids, Chrysanthemums, Fragrant Flowers, Open-Ground Flowers, Aquatic Flowers, Greenhouse Flowers, Peonies, and Tree Peonies. In spring, roses and climbing roses bloom brilliantly, wisteria flowers form a sea of purple, and the Penjing and Orchid sections offer continuous delights, allowing you to immerse yourself in the world of flowers. Nanshan Road: Next, enjoy a ride along Nanshan Road. Unlike Beishan Street, Nanshan Road has a stronger artistic atmosphere. You can pass by Taiziwan Park, Zhejiang Art Museum, China Academy of Art (Nanshan Campus), and Changqiao Park, all highlights under the gentle spring breeze. Liulang Wenying Park: When you're tired, stop at Liulang Wenying Park. In the Southern Song Dynasty, it was the capital's largest imperial garden, known as Jujing Garden. Today, it's known as Liu Zhou (Willow Island), where orioles fly and sing, giving it the name "Liulang Wenying" (Orioles Singing in the Willows). It's the most relaxing and pleasant spot in West Lake. The park's layout is open, fresh, elegant, and simple, with willow groves complementing exotic trees and flowers like purple nanmu and cedar, making it a perfect place to admire West Lake's beauty. As you may have noticed, the 2025 Hangzhou Spring Cycling Route is entirely free and a classic West Lake cycling route. It takes about 4 hours, with plenty of stops and fun along the way, allowing you to roam freely amidst beautiful blossoms. If you have more time, visit Wushan Square and Hefang Street. The former has museums and event spaces, while the latter is an antique commercial street with numerous traditional Chinese medicine clinics, time-honored brands, crafts, trendy shops, and food streets, popular among visitors. Bike Rental Information: There are many bike rental brands around West Lake, such as Little Red Bike, Little Blue Bike, and Little Yellow Bike. We recommend Hangzhou Public Bicycle (Little Red Bike). It's free for the first hour, CNY 1 for two hours, CNY 2 for three hours, and so on. To rent, present your ID card and deposit CNY 300 (CNY 200 as a credit deposit and CNY 100 for usage fees). You can get a refund with your ID card when you're done. You can also scan the QR code to rent Little Blue Bike and Little Yellow Bike, which require real-name authentication. 2025 Hangzhou Spring Cycling Route Practical Information: Free of charge. Take Metro Line 1/2 to Fengqi Road, Exit B. Walk 15 minutes to West Lake and rent a bike. You can also bring your own bike. Interested in the 2025 Hangzhou Spring Cycling Route? Share your thoughts in the comments!