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Cycling has become increasingly popular over the past two years. For those who can't easily leave the city, cycling offers a strenuous yet relaxing workout, allowing for a relaxing stroll. For tourists and students, cycling offers a truly unique perspective on Beijing.
Beijing's central area boasts smooth, well-maintained roads, making it a great cycling destination. However, traffic is also heavy in Dongcheng and Xicheng districts. Consequently, a popular cycling route along the west extension of Chang'an Avenue in Shijingshan District has been developed by cyclists. With its excellent roads, numerous parks and other attractions, and the variety and ease of fatigue, it's become increasingly popular online. This is all thanks to people "voting with their feet."
The entire route, including cycling and strolling, is approximately 25 kilometers.
Starting from the Sculpture Park and ending at the New Shougang Bridge, you'll pass many parks and emerging cultural and artistic areas along the way, and finally check in at various attractions within the Shougang Institute.
1. Beijing International Sculpture Park
The Beijing International Sculpture Park is divided into East and West areas. Admission is 10 yuan, and bicycles are not allowed. I started at the north gate of the East area.
The park is lush with flowers and plants and features numerous sculptures. Many Beijingers enjoy leisurely shuttlecock kicking and ballroom dancing, while children practice roller skating, creating a lively atmosphere. 2. Langyuan Park: Head west along Shijingshan Road for about 1.5 kilometers to Langyuan Park. This park is definitely worth a visit: a tranquil retreat amidst the bustle, rich in artistic flair, akin to a miniature 798 Art Gallery. Bicycles are not allowed without a ticket. Enjoy a cup of coffee, read a book, or craft something—a place where time slows down.
3. → Shijingshan Amusement Park
Return to Shijingshan Road and continue west for about 3.5 kilometers to reach Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park, a long-established amusement park in Beijing.
Admission is 10 yuan, with additional fees for attractions. Packages are also available. Book online two hours in advance through the official mini-app. For 108 yuan, these include six attractions and a 20% discount coupon on dining. 4. Xin'an City Memory Park Return to Shijingshan Road and continue west for about 3.5 kilometers to Xin'an City Memory Park. There's no entrance fee; you can ride your bike right in. The park is shaded by trees and very pleasant. Within the park, five relocated Beixin'an Memory Buildings are located: the former Shijingshan District Government, the former Xinhua Bookstore, the former Zhongxin Pharmacy, the former Workers' Club, and the former Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Cycling amidst these authentic historic buildings feels like stepping back into the 1980s, a truly unique experience. 5. Shougang Park South Gate Return to Shijingshan Road and continue west for another 2 kilometers to reach the Shougang Park area. The second half of the ride is spent checking in at the park. It wasn't until I cycled through it that I realized how vast Shougang Park is and how many things there are to see. Near the entrance is the South (East) Gate, with its green tiles and red walls, bearing the inscriptions Shougang Corporation and Shougang Group.
6. → Qunminghu Street → 7. CIFTIS Exhibition Area → 8. Coking Plant West Street
Turn right from Shijingshan Road and you'll find yourself on Qunminghu Street.
Turn right again and you'll find the CIFTIS Exhibition Area and Coking Plant West Street.
This area will pass by many old pieces of equipment from the Shougang Park, all tall and mechanical, making them perfect for photo ops.
If you're tired of riding, there are plenty of green spaces and lawns near the CIFTIS exhibition area where you can sit and rest.
9. → Blast Furnace No. 1 - 10. Blast Furnace No. 3 (Quanmin Changshu Bookstore, Winter Olympics Licensed Store & Beijing Gift Shop)
Of course, when you come to Shougang, you have to see the steelmaking blast furnaces. The No. 3 blast furnace, in particular, is the star attraction of Shougang Park. Operation began in 1959, and with an exceptionally long production cycle, it's one of China's longest-lived blast furnaces. The blast furnace has also undergone a modern renovation, and visitors can see the National Bookstore, the Winter Olympics Licensed Store, and the Beijing Gift Shop as they cycle around the blast furnace. 11. → Liaocang Digital Art Museum Continuing down the road, you'll reach Liaocang, a prominent art museum in Shougang Park.
You can stroll around most of the first floor or read a book.
You need to pay to go upstairs, where some digital art is on display.
12. → Starbucks
Keep riding and you'll reach Starbucks, where you can sit down and have a cup of coffee.
The exterior and interior of the Shougang Park Starbucks are quite distinctive, fitting in perfectly with Shougang's industrial style.
13. → 2022 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee → 4. Xiang Beer House
Continue walking and you'll pass the gate of the 2022 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee.
Across the main entrance is the Xiang Beer House.
This is a great place to come at night, as it has the atmosphere of a European bar watching football.
The food and drinks on offer are similar to those in European bars.
The main dishes are two items, one is the beer tasting set 🍺, which offers four flavors: dark beer, fruit beer, white beer, and yellow beer. It's so refreshing.
Another dish is the crispy roasted pork knuckle, which is really generous in terms of meat quantity!!!
15. → Xiu Chi & Shijingshan
You can see Xiu Chi and Shijingshan from the terrace of Xiang Beer House.
After leaving Xiang Beer House, you can walk and cycle along the boardwalk beside the lake, which is also very pleasant.
16. → Cha Gang Er
Continue cycling around the lake. After about 600 meters, you will see a small house with the word "Cha Gang Er" written on it, indicating a tea and light snack shop.
During the industrial era, this building was used to calibrate liquid flow meters used in various production systems. Now, the renovated building is used to sell specialty beverages such as Shougang Soda.
17. → National Winter Sports Training Center ("Four Ices")
Continue cycling around the lake until you see the red building, which is the National Winter Sports Training Center. It houses a short track speed skating rink, a figure skating rink, an ice hockey rink, and a curling rink, commonly known as the "Four Ices." 18. →May 1st Theater & Monument Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Shougang's Founding Further down the road, you'll see a large square. This is the May 1st Theater. Opposite the May 1st Theater, you'll see the monument commemorating the 80th anniversary of Shougang's founding.
19. → Liugonghui Sedimentation Tank Square
Continue riding down and you will reach Liugonghui, the shopping mall in Shougang Park. Before I came here, I didn’t expect that Shougang Park has such a complete ecology. There is no shortage of food, drink, entertainment, and even shopping malls.
20. → Qunminghu Street – 21. High Line Park (Best photo spot north of the ski jump)
Returning to Qunminghu Street from Liugonghui, you'll see a row of pipe-shaped buildings in the sky – that's the High Line Park.
Walk up this skywalk and you'll have a great view of the ski jump. 22. → Beijing Shougang Park Shangri-La Hotel Continuing on, you'll see Shougang Park's finest hotel, the Shougang Park Shangri-La Hotel. Arguably the most popular Shangri-La hotel in China in the past two years, its lobby is unique, boasting an industrial wasteland feel, with grass taller than people. The rooms are also comfortable, elegant, and spacious. You can take a break here for a drink of water and afternoon tea.
The ski jump is served directly on the table.
You can even eat Shougang's signature wrench gear. Of course, the most important thing is to stay hydrated. 23. → Ski Jump: Visit the Ski Jump. Leaving Shangri-La, you'll find the Ski Jump, one of the core venues for the Beijing Winter Olympics. It's best to visit at night; it's stunning when lit up.
24. → Shougang Park South Gate—25. New Shougang Bridge
Finally, riding out from Shougang Park South Gate, we can head to our destination, the New Shougang Bridge, and our day's ride along Chang'an Avenue can be perfectly concluded.
Well, if you're interested in cycling and want to find a varied and artistic route in Beijing, then try this one.
Number of days: 1 day, Average cost: 240 yuan,
Number of days: 2 days, Average cost: 1,000 yuan,
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Number of days: 1 day, Average cost: 149 yuan,
Number of days: 2 days, Average cost: 3350 yuan,
Number of days：3 days, Average cost: 800 yuan,
