With bike-rental stations scattered around Hangzhou city, pedaling is one of the easiest ways to tour Hangzhou. Cycling around West Lake is the best way to do sightseeing easily and casually, also, it can easily avoid the hellishness of increasing car traffic and get a taste of local life at ease. Most of the scenic spots in Hangzhou is not far around West Lake. There are some useful tips for you to cycle around the West Lake.
Recommended Biking Routes around West Lake
It is about 16 kilometers around the lake and it takes about 4 hours traveling by bike. It may be a little be tired to cycle for a circle around the lake. Here, some top cycling routes are recommended for you to explore the classic scenic spots and local life around West Lake.
•Cycling Route around Lake
Distance: about 12.4 kilometers
Duration: about 4 hours (including tour to the scenic spots along the way)
Long Xiang Bridge - Xue Shi Road - Children's Palace - Yue Temple – Hangzhou Garden – West end of Flower Port – South end of Su Causeway – Long Bridge - Liu Lang Wen Ying (Orioles Singing in the Willows) – Yanan Road – Long Xiang Bridge -
•North Route
Distance: 7.7 kilimeters
Duration: about only half an hour for only cycling, about 2 hours including tour to the scenic spots along the way
Long Xiang Bridge – Xue Shi Road - Children's Palace – Ping Hu Qiu Se (Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake) – Yue Temple – Linyin Temple
•South Route
Distance: 10.4 kilometers
Duration: about one hour for only cycling, about 2.5 hours including tour to the scenic spots along the way
Long Xiang Bridge – Yan’an Road – Yong Jin Gate – Qian Wang Temple - Liu Lang Wen Ying (Orioles Singing in the Willows) – Long Bridge – South End of Su Causeway – West End of Flower Port – Hangzhou Zoo –Six Harmonies Pagoda – Jiu Stream
Cycle around West Lake
Where to Rent a Bike?
First stop for would-be cyclists is the Longxiang Bus Terminal at Yan'an Lu and Xueshi Lu (龙翔汽车站, 延 安路学士路路口), where travelers can open a bike-rental account.
If you already get card, you can find many sites to rent the bikes around West Lake area, like Six Harmonies Pagoda bike station, Jiefang Dong Lu bike station, Qiutao Bei Lu bike station, Dengyun Lu bike station, Quyuan Fenghe bike station, Quyuan Fenghe bike station, etc.
How to Rent a Bicycle in Hangzhou
First stop for would-be cyclists is the Longxiang Bus Terminal at Yan'an Lu and Xueshi Lu (龙翔汽车站, 延 安路学士路路口), where visitors can open a bike-rental account.
From the front entrance, walk toward the rear of the terminal, passing the Everbright Bank to a series of service windows.
You need RMB 200 as a deposit to open an account for bike rental. The RMB 200 is refundable after the account is closed.
After you get the account and card, head back to the bike-rental station at the bus terminal entrance. Ask the attendant to help you choose a bike and off you go.
What is the Cost for Renting a Bike?
To rent a bike in Hangzhou, you are required to rent a transportation smart card for T or Z first. The Z card is designed for travelers. You'll need an RMB 200 deposit to open a bike rental account, all of which is refundable after the account is closed. And another 100 yuan is to be stored in your account. That means, you are required to store at least 300 yuan at you card as a guarantee deposit, then it will refund the rest of the money after deducting the rent rate. You can get the card and ask for refund in the same day. The place to get a card is at Longxiang Road.
For the first hour of bike rental is free; from 1 to 2 hrs, it costs CNY 1for the hour; from 2 to 3 hrs for the hour, CNY 2; if the rental time is over 3 hrs it charges CNY3/hr.