Nine million cyclists can't be wrong - the best way to see Beijing is on two wheels. The most scenic pedaling routes around the capital skirt main thoroughfares before veering away to explore the labyrinth of lively hutong, taking in historical temples and beautiful parks along the way.
Aside from being a fun and convenient way to get about town, cycling is also an easy means to cardiovascular fitness. By hopping on a bike, you avoid the traffic gridlock, do your bit for the environment, and at the same time tap into a transport culture that is truly China.
Several companies run daily cycling tours around Beijing, or there are longer trips to the Great Wall and beyond for the more adventurous. Bicycles can also be hired for those who prefer to set their own pace.
Most of Beijing's main roads are beside wide bike lanes, including Wangfujing Street, where cyclists can watch the glamorous shops whiz past as they pick up speed. Tian'anmen Square is the next landmark enroute to sprawling Beihai Park. Riders can continue on to follow the moat around the Forbidden City.
Temple of the Earth Park is another bike-friendly spot to explore, before rolling on to Lama Temple, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Beijing.
From here, there are bike paths to the Temple of Confucius and the Imperial Academy, then onwards towards the Drum and Bell Towers, located in a charming part of town dotted with market squares and hutong hideaways.
Pedal-power is the only way to really do justice to these twisting alleyways. Follow your nose (or your guide!) to appreciate some amazing courtyard homes dating from the Qing and Ming dynasties (1368-1911). From here, it is not far to Houhai Lake, with its beautiful landscape and myriad of spots to stop by the west bank for a quick pick-me-up.
Bicycle Kingdom (www.bicyclekingdom.com) offers a range of tours daily, including the full-day outing, "old Beijing", taking in all these sites, and ending in a thriving restaurant precinct where the group enjoys a well-deserved meal. The tour is led by a bilingual guide, and lasts seven hours.
"Our hutong tour is very popular. This is along the old lanes, and they are very narrow and quiet, so by bicycle is the ideal choice for exploring the hutong," Bicycle Kingdom's George Wang told BJW.
This company also has a large selection of bikes for hire for one day or longer, from 100 yuan including free delivery to your hotel, or a subway station.
Cycle China (www.cyclechina.com) also has a good range of tours, including a three-hour route taking in the main sights of Beijing's heart. Founded by Jeff Gao, Cycle China's emphasis is on taking customers, "off the tourist trail". Bike riders will pass an "old brothel, teahouse, market, and opium house", as well as glimpsing kids at play and old folk going about their daily lives.
Avid American cyclist Peter Snow Cao launched Bike China Adventures (www.bikechina.com) in 1998, catering to foreigners seeking longer expeditions all over China and in Tibet.
"There is no better way to see China than from the seat of your bicycle," said Snow Cao, now a resident of Chengdu, Sichuan Province.
"Cycling through cities and towns you are able to view first-hand how people live and work. Unlike Westerners, the Chinese tend to work out-of-doors, including open-air markets, furniture makers, and dentists. Much of Chinese life is visible as you cycle by."
Trips include a 17-day journey, from Beijing to Xi'an and Sichuan before ending in Shanghai. Alternatively, the nine-day tour from Beijing to Chengde Great Wall takes in the capital's most famous landmarks as well as natural gems on its outskirts. Riders have two days to explore Beijing's heart, before cycling out of town to the Ming Tombs and to several sites of the Great Wall.
(China Daily 07/19/2007 page14)
