by sportswriter He Leijing
NANJING, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- While China's National Day holiday sent throngs of travelers streaming toward the country's best-known scenic spots, Wang Xingyu and his family chose a different way to see the sights - on two wheels.
Rather than sitting in traffic, Wang, his wife and their 12-year-old son pedaled out from Suzhou in east China's Jiangsu Province, trading busy roads and packed tourist attractions for the freedom of cycling through the countryside.
"Riding alongside lakes and hills, stopping whenever we're tired - it's a wonderful way to spend a holiday," Wang explained, noting that they are outdoor sports enthusiasts, and this seven-day holiday marks their first family cycling trip.
"We're not chasing distance or speed. Riding together brings us closer. We can see more of the scenery, get some exercise and enjoy the family time," added Wang, a member of an amateur cycling club in Suzhou, who mapped out the family's route in advance.
On the third day of their journey, they arrived in Mashan, a national resort zone in Wuxi's Binhu District, where the shoreline of Taihu Lake stretches beneath the autumn sky. They spent the day cycling along a lakeside route of more than 40 km.
The purpose-built trail, which serves as part of the course for the Tour of Taihu Lake, has become a magnet for cycling enthusiasts. In November, Mashan is scheduled to host the China Road Cycling Open, bringing another burst of competitive energy to the lakeside.
China is the world's largest bicycle manufacturing country. Yet as high-speed railways, expressways and urban metro networks have made travel faster and more convenient, a growing number of people are rediscovering the pleasures of two wheels, embracing cycling as a green, healthy and fashionable form of exercise.
"Our club was founded only six months ago, but we already have more than 200 members," Wang said. "We organize regular rides, and members share tips on equipment and riding techniques. Many of us, myself included, have seen improvements in health since taking up cycling."
More than 80,000 such amateur cycling clubs were operating in China last year, according to industry data. Around the bicycle itself, a broader ecosystem that spans equipment, communities, events and services, is gathering pace and powering a new consumption wave.
As riders become more experienced, many begin upgrading their equipment. "My first bicycle cost 2,500 yuan (370 U.S. dollars). I recently replaced it, and with all the accessories, the total cost has topped 10,000 yuan," said cyclist Li Bin.
Li said that high-end custom-built bicycles can cost more than 100,000 yuan, while helmets, lights, cycling apparel, sports glasses and action cameras have become popular additions to riders' gear.
At a bicycle shop in Nanjing, rows of road and mountain bikes fill the showroom. "Customers are looking beyond appearance. They also care about the materials used in the frame, the design and, increasingly, performance," said Zhang Lan, the store manager.
Bicycles priced between 2,000 yuan and 5,000 yuan are currently among the store's bestsellers. The shop has been open for less than six months but has already recorded more than 600,000 yuan in sales, Zhang said.
China had more than 130 million cyclists as of August last year, while the bicycle industry's output value reached 300 billion yuan, said an industry report. On Xiaohongshu, a Chinese lifestyle-sharing platform, cycling-related topics have racked up billions of views.
"I have great confidence in the cycling business," Zhang said. "Cycling events are booming, and more Chinese people are placing greater value on health and leisure while embracing cycling culture."
"New occupations are also emerging around the sport, including bicycle fitting specialists and cycling maintenance technicians, as the industry becomes increasingly specialized," he added.
Giant, a renowned bicycle maker, has more than 3,000 stores across China. It has also launched a bicycle brand designed specifically for women, tailoring its products to women's body shapes and aesthetic preferences as female cycling consumption continues to gain momentum.
Cycling events are adding another gear to the consumption boom. A road cycling open event held this year alongside Qiandao Lake in Zhejiang Province brought together more than 70 bicycle and equipment exhibitors and generated more than 15 million yuan in consumer spending. Hubei Province hosts more than 1,200 cycling races and related activities each year, drawing more than 1.5 million participants.
China has recently issued a national guideline calling for the development of professional sporting events such as cycling and for deeper integration between sports, culture and tourism, as part of efforts to use sporting events to stimulate consumption.
"The pursuit of low-carbon and healthy lifestyles is the internal driving force behind the cycling boom, while improved urban infrastructure provides the necessary physical foundation," said Wang Zongping, a professor at Nanjing University of Science and Technology.
In 2024, China issued a guideline to build urban slow-traffic systems, including dedicated bicycle lanes. The country's urban renewal plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, released in May 2026, also called for the construction and renovation of sidewalks and non-motorized vehicle lanes to create greener urban transport networks.
Cities across the country are responding with cycling-friendly environments. In Shanghai, a 45-km cycling route along the Huangpu River has been fully connected, providing a continuous ride from the Bund to the Xuhui waterfront and becoming a popular urban cycling route.
In Beijing's Tongzhou District, cycling paths along the Grand Canal feature smart lighting systems. Its nighttime lighting is twice as bright as that of ordinary street lamps, while rest stations along the route offer first-aid kits and children's bicycle-seat rentals.
In May, several subway lines in Beijing even began pilot programs allowing passengers to bring bicycles aboard. Riders can take the subway for part of their journey, retrieve their bicycles at the station and pedal the final stretch to work.
Along Mashan's lakeside cycling route, a series of cycling stations offer bicycle rentals and repairs, including assistance with flat tires. Riders can also pick up sunscreen and rain gear, or stop for a simple meal and a cup of coffee.
The growing network of amenities is helping transform cycling from a form of exercise into a broader lifestyle and tourism experience.
"Many cities are drawing on their natural and rural resources to develop cycling routes and organize events, directly boosting nearby homestays, restaurants and rural tourism," Wang said. "Cycling is becoming a new lever for expanding cultural and tourism consumption."
In Xingtai, north China's Hebei Province, authorities have developed 50 signature cycling routes spanning about 900 km and linking ancient towns, springs, historic villages and mountain landscapes.
In Jiangsu's Kunshan, cycling routes have been designed around the city's famed hairy crab industry. Riders can stop at crab markets along the way to purchase live crabs and have them delivered home, or simply pull over at a rural restaurant for a meal of fresh crabs and tea.
Sensing the business opportunities, bicycle manufacturers such as Giant have even set up cycling travel agencies dedicated to developing cycling-tourism routes and offering one-stop services ranging from itinerary planning and accommodation to logistical support.
"Many cycling enthusiasts today aren't racing. They're riding to take in the scenery," Wang said. "The boundaries of the bicycle industry are expanding, and the potential for sports-related consumption is enormous."
"As cities become more livable and residents place greater value on quality of life, cycling culture will continue to evolve," he said. "It will become an increasingly vibrant part of urban life in China." ■
