Bike ride routes

When in Beijing, do as Beijingers do and pedal to the metal. Time Out suggests where you can hire a bike and enjoy the city's most picturesque and cycle-friendly routes

If you're one of the few people in Beijing who don't own a set of wheels, fear not. Finding somewhere to rent a bike is becoming easier thanks to new companies like the Beijing Bike Rental Co (BJBR) who rent by the hour, day, week or year depending on what you're after. They even offer a VIP service where you can pick up your bike from one stand and at the end of the day deposit it back at another. With plans to expand their 20 stands dotted around the city to 200 in the next two years, they're a good place to start.

Route One

If you fancy a ride but don't want to share the roads with all those cars, escape the traffic by cycling along the Royal Canal. You can start this journey behind the Beijing Exhibition Hall which is located just north of Xizhimenwai Dajie. Cycle past the Zoo and the Purple Bamboo Park (Zhizhuyuan) and continue along the canal. A bike ride all the way to the Summer Palace can take a few hours, so make sure you leave a whole day for the ride.

Route Two

Those who want scenery but don't have time to go out to the hills to enjoy it can spend an afternoon cycling around Houhai and its surrounding hutongs. Stay away from Qianhai in the summer (especially on sunny weekends) unless you enjoy negotiating your bike through herds of people. The north end of the lake is less densely populated with pedestrians and therefore more navigable and enjoyable.

If you head up Gulou Xi Dajie, you can access the lake via Ganlu and Ya'er Hutong. Hang a right when you get to the lake and cycle along its east side, where you will find plenty of interesting places to stop off, such as Song Qingling's former residence and the Dazang Donghua Temple.

Cycle around the top of the lake, taking a right turning off on its west bank. Explore the hutongs here, continuing to head in a general southerly direction, where you will eventually find yourself at Dianmen Xi Dajie.

Head west until you reach a right turning into Xinjiekou Nan Dajie, an interesting street full of shops selling musical instruments, jewellery and clothes. This road will lead you straight up to Deshengmen and the Second Ring Road, from which you can make your onward journey.

Route Three

Tour operator Cycle China offers a bike rental service and their office opposite the east gate of Jingshan Park provides a wonderfully central location from which to explore the inner areas of the city.

Cycle China's Jeff Gao suggests a route that begins heading south out of their office towards the Forbidden City. Follow the moat around the exterior of the City until you find yourself with Tiananmen Square stretched out before you.

Cross Nanchizi Dajie and head east a little down Chang'an Dajie, turning right onto Zhengyi Lu, where a left turn a few hundred metres down will take you onto Dongjiaomin Xiang, Beijing's former legation area. Here you can see the site of the former British barracks and American embassy.

Further west you'll find yourself in the Qianmen area. Follow the winding hutongs here back up to Chang'an Jie where you can cycle past the impenetrable Zhongnanhai.

Further west take a right turn onto Xidan Bei Dajie and up to Xisi Nan Dajie. Turn right into Xianmen Dajie, which leads onto Wenjin Jie a beautiful street that runs in between the north and south areas of Beihai Park. This road will take you back to Jingshan Park, which you can cycle round until you get back to the Cycle China office.

For more information

BJBR Bike Rentals has rental stands all around the city. To locate the most convenient one visit their website, or call 139 0117 8800 to speak to Mr Wang. Rental costs are 10/20RMB per half/full day, with a deposit of 500RMB.

Cycle China 12 Jingshan Dongjie (opposite the East Gate of Jingshan Park), Dongcheng district (tel 6402 5653 or 139 1188 6524). Bike rental costs 40/60RMB per half/full day, with a deposit of 400RMB per bike. Cycle China also offers guided city bike tours. See the website for more details.

Poppy Toland