The Pailing Peninsula Greenway ride below has been verified by our team and is highly recommended for international travelers.
Qiandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake) is a stunning artificial lake in Chun'an County, Zhejiang province, created by the Xin'an River Dam in 1959. The flooding of the valley created 1,078 islands of varying sizes amid emerald-green water — famously clean enough to be the source of Nongfu Spring, one of China's top bottled water brands.
The lake has an extensive cycling greenway system totaling over 650km, including 200km of lake-circling routes. Most importantly for visitors, many sections feature dedicated cycling paths physically separated from motor vehicle traffic, with smooth red-painted surfaces. The routes pass through tunnel sections (including three repurposed tunnel art galleries), lakeside villages, tea plantations, and scenic overlooks with island panoramas.
Below we recommend the most accessible and scenic ride for most visitors, followed by longer options for those wanting a bigger challenge.
The Pailing Peninsula Greenway (排岭半岛绿道) is the most popular and accessible cycling experience at Qiandao Lake. This 7.3km one-way greenway runs along the lakeside from the Slow Life Square (慢生活广场) near the town center to Shangjiangbu Bridge (上江埠大桥), with dedicated cycling lanes painted in four colors representing the four seasons — red, green, blue, and purple.
Ride out and return for a ~15km round trip, or extend to ~25km by continuing along the city landscape belt greenway toward Qiandao Lake Bridge. The route is flat, mostly traffic-free, and offers constant lake views with mountains and islands in the background. Highlights include the iconic cycling bridge (one of the most photogenic spots on the lake), the Shangjiangbu Bridge panorama (1,278m spanning the lake), and the tunnel art gallery — three repurposed road tunnels transformed into a cycling-and-walking art experience with murals and light installations.
Start point: Slow Life Square / Xiushui Square area in Chun'an town center, near the lakeside promenade.
Why we recommend it:
A lakeside loop around the central lake area of Chun'an town. Start at Xiushui Square, cycle along the city landscape belt greenway to Qiandao Lake Bridge, then return via the sun road (阳光路) lakeside path. Total distance is approximately 15–30km depending on how far you extend along the bridge approach. The route is flat with good surfaces and passes through lakeside parks, the tourism wharf area, and the Jiang滨公园 (Riverside Park). This is a good warm-up ride or an alternative if you've already done the Pailing Peninsula.
The newest section of greenway, looping around the northeast arm of the lake. Almost entirely on freshly-built dedicated cycling paths separated from vehicles. Passes through Jinxianwan Bridge (a popular sunset photography spot), the Tunnel Art Gallery complex, and several lakeside viewpoints. The route is described by local cyclists as having better views than the main lake circuit because it stays at waterside level throughout. A few gentle rollers but nothing strenuous. Good water and food stops along the way.
The southern shore route from Chun'an to Fenshui Town (汾口镇) along the Chunyang Line (淳杨线). Features a dedicated red cycling path running most of the way, with the best concentration of open lake views on the entire greenway network. Passes Shangjiangbu Bridge, the Grand Canyon section, and several traditional villages. This is considered the most beautiful single section of the lake's greenway system. Some gentle elevation changes but mostly flat. Can be shortened by turning back at any point.
The classic full loop combining the Chunyang Line and Qianfen Line (千汾线). Circles the entire lake through tunnels, over bridges, past villages, and alongside tea plantations. Clockwise is recommended — the Chunyang Line (southern shore) has gentler gradients and better cycling infrastructure, making it ideal for warming up. The Qianfen Line (western shore) has more climbs, tunnel sections, and a wilder atmosphere. The Qianfen Line was named one of Zhejiang province's "most beautiful roads" in 2014.
Two-day option: Day 1: Chun'an → Chunyang Line → Fenshui Town (~70km, overnight). Day 2: Fenshui → Qianfen Line → Chun'an (~70km).
This is a serious ride requiring good fitness, proper pacing, and sufficient water/food supplies — especially on the western shore where facilities are more spaced out. Total elevation gain is approximately 800m. Suitable for experienced cyclists only.
Recommended ride (Pailing Peninsula): Easy. The greenway is flat with minimal elevation change, on a smooth dedicated surface completely separated from motor vehicles. Suitable for all fitness levels including families with children. Any type of bike works — road bikes, hybrids, mountain bikes, or rented electric bikes.
Full lake circuit: Challenging. Rolling hills with sustained climbs, particularly on the western shore (Qianfen Line). Total elevation gain ~800m over 140km. Tunnel sections require lights and caution. Suitable for experienced cyclists with good endurance.
Everything you need to know as an international traveler planning to cycle at Qiandao Lake.
By high-speed rail (recommended): Qiandao Lake Station (千岛湖站) is on the Hangzhou–Huangshan high-speed railway. From Hangzhou East Station: ~1 hour, ¥55–88 second class. From Shanghai: ~2 hours, ¥136–219. From Huangshan North: ~35–47 minutes, ¥147. Over 40 trains daily serve this route. From Qiandao Lake Station to Chun'an town: take the blue shuttle bus (~1 hour, ¥15) or a taxi (~35 minutes, ~¥90). Tourism Bus No. 1 goes directly to the lakeside area.
By bus from Hangzhou: Buses depart from Hangzhou West Bus Station (杭州汽车西站) to Chun'an, taking 2–2.5 hours, ~¥65–80.
By car: ~2.5–3 hours drive from Hangzhou via the highway.
Multiple rental options in Chun'an town near the lakeside promenade and cycling驿站 (service stations). Road bikes: ~¥80–120/day. Mountain bikes: ~¥50–80/day. Electric bikes: ~¥60–80/day (very popular for casual riders wanting to cover more distance). Deposit typically ¥300–500, passport required. Quality varies between shops — check brakes and gears before accepting. Some hotels also rent bikes to guests. During peak season (April–May, October), booking in advance is recommended. The greenway network also has 9 staffed cycling service stations (驿站) along the routes offering basic repairs and supplies.
The greenway system is well-signed with kilometer markers and directional signs. The dedicated cycling paths are physically separated from roads and painted in distinctive colors (red on the Chunyang Line, multi-color on the Pailing Peninsula). Download offline maps before starting — Baidu Maps or Gaode Maps work well for cycling navigation. Google Maps shows the general area but may not have cycling-specific paths. The "骑遇千岛湖" (Ride Qiandao Lake) app provides curated routes, rest stop locations, and activity information.
Alipay and WeChat Pay accepted everywhere — Zhejiang is one of China's most digital provinces. International credit cards are not widely accepted. Greenway cycling is free (no tolls). Approximate costs: bike rental ¥50–120/day; meals ¥40–80/person; lakeside guesthouses ¥150–400/night. The Qiandao Lake scenic area (island boat tours) costs ~¥130 including boat transport, but the cycling greenways are all free to access.
Chun'an is a tourist town — some English is spoken at larger hotels and the scenic area. Bike rental shops may have limited English. Key phrases: 千岛湖 (qiān dǎo hú) = Qiandao Lake; 淳安 (chún ān) = Chun'an; 自行车 (zì xíng chē) = bicycle; 绿道 (lǜ dào) = greenway; 驿站 (yì zhàn) = service station. Signage along the greenway has some English at major scenic points. Download an offline translation app as backup.
Good 4G/5G signal throughout the town area and along most greenway sections. Signal may weaken in tunnel sections. WiFi is available at hotels and restaurants in Chun'an. Carry a power bank if using GPS navigation. The greenway has kilometer markers making navigation straightforward even without a phone.
Chun'an County First People's Hospital (淳安县第一人民医院): 0571-64812345. Ambulance: 120. The greenway has 9 staffed cycling service stations (驿站) and 6 tourist information points along the routes. Basic bike repair tools are available at the stations. If cycling the longer routes, carry a basic repair kit (spare tube, pump, tire levers) as repair shops become sparse on the western shore.
Last verified: August 1, 2026