8 Days East China Cycling Tour from Hangzhou to Huangshan Via Qiandaohu Lake

Cycling Content: Officially start the cycling journey from Hangzhou Urban Area (杭州市区). First, ride leisurely along the banks of the Fuchong River (富冲河) to feel the river breeze and pastoral scenery, then pass through the Longjing Terraced Tea Gardens (龙井梯田茶园) to admire the layers of tea garden scenery and taste the rich tea fragrance. After that, ride all the way to Tonglu County (桐庐县). Along the way, you can enjoy the gradual transition from urban style to rural pastoral scenery and feel the integration of nature and humanity in eastern Zhejiang (浙东).
Cycling Distance: 80 KM
Destinations Passed: Hangzhou Urban Area (杭州市区) (starting point), Longjing Tea Garden (龙井茶园), Fuchong River (富冲河) (a tributary of the Fuchun River (富春江)), Fuyang District (富阳区) of Hangzhou (杭州市) (passed along the way), Tonglu County (桐庐县) (end point).
Road Conditions, Slope & Elevation: The whole journey is mainly flat asphalt roads with good road conditions and few vehicles, providing a high riding comfort. The first 20 kilometers are urban and suburban flat roads with no obvious slope; the middle 40 kilometers pass through rolling hills and tea garden areas, mainly gentle to moderate slopes with a slope gradient of about 5%-8%, requiring moderate effort; the last 20 kilometers are gentle downhill and flat roads along the river, which can be ridden easily. The average elevation of the whole journey is 30-80 meters, the maximum elevation is about 120 meters, and the total elevation gain is about 200 meters. The overall difficulty is moderate, suitable for cycling beginners to adapt to the rhythm.

Cycling Content: Continue riding along the banks of the Fuchun River (富春江). Along the way, you can admire the clear water of the Fuchun River (富春江) and the green mountains on both banks, pass through many ancient villages and large bamboo forests, and immerse yourself in the tranquility and simplicity of rural eastern Zhejiang (浙东). Ride all the way to Jiande City (建德市), a city built along the river with both river scenery beauty and cultural heritage, drawing a perfect end to the day's ride.
Cycling Distance: 60 KM
Destinations Passed: Tonglu County (桐庐县) (starting point), banks of the Fuchun River (富春江) (riding along the greenway throughout), Qiantan Town (乾潭镇), Meicheng Town (梅城镇) (ancient town under Jiande City (建德市), passed along the way), Jiande City (建德市) (end point).
Road Conditions, Slope & Elevation: The whole journey is ridden along the Fuchun River Greenway (富春江绿道), with flat asphalt roads. The dedicated cycling greenway is separated from motor vehicle lanes, safe and comfortable, with very few vehicles. The route is mainly flat roads, occasionally with gentle rolling slopes with a slope gradient of about 3%-6%, no steep climbs, and low riding difficulty. The average elevation of the whole journey is 40-70 meters, the maximum elevation is about 100 meters, and the total elevation gain is about 150 meters, suitable for relaxed riding and enjoying the river scenery to the fullest.

Cycling Content: Ride all the way along the Xin'an River (新安江). The Xin'an River (新安江) has clear and emerald green water, with rolling mountains on both banks. Along the way, you can admire the magnificent scenery of the Xin'an River Reservoir (新安江水库) and feel the unique charm of the "Landscape Gallery". During the ride, you will pass through many small towns and large farmlands, and you can get close to the life of local villagers. Finally, you will reach Xiajiang Village (下姜村) — a beautiful ancient village surrounded by green mountains and green waters, with a simple village style and superior ecological environment, which is an excellent place for leisure and rest.
Cycling Distance: 80 KM
Destinations Passed: Jiande City (建德市) (starting point), Xin'an River (新安江), Xin'an River Reservoir (新安江水库), Fengshuling Town (枫树岭镇) (passed along the way), Xiajiang Village (下姜村) (end point).
Road Conditions, Slope & Elevation: The route runs along the Xin'an River (新安江) throughout, with flat asphalt roads. Some sections pass through mountainous areas, but the slopes are gentle and there are no steep slopes. The whole route is mainly flat roads, with gentle slopes in the middle section, with a slope gradient of about 4%-7%, and moderate riding difficulty. The average elevation of the whole journey is 50-90 meters, the maximum elevation is about 150 meters, and the total elevation gain is about 250 meters. Supplies are convenient along the way, and you can stop to rest and enjoy the scenery at any time.

Cycling Content: Start from Xiajiang Village (下姜村) and ride through mountainous and forested sections all the way. Along the way, the trees are lush and the air is fresh, allowing you to feel the tranquility and vitality of the primeval forest. As you ride forward, you will gradually approach Qiandaohu Lake (千岛湖), and the scenery will gradually transition from rural villages to lakeside scenery, with a wider vision. Finally, arrive at the entrance of Qiandaohu Scenic Area (千岛湖景区), end the day's ride, and feel the lake and mountain scenery of Qiandaohu Lake (千岛湖) in advance.
Cycling Distance: 85 KM
Destinations Passed: Xiajiang Village (下姜村) (starting point), Fengshuling Town (枫树岭镇) (passed along the way), Qiandaohu Town (千岛湖镇), entrance of Qiandaohu Scenic Area (千岛湖景区入口) (end point).
Road Conditions, Slope & Elevation: The first 40 kilometers are mainly through mountainous areas, with flat asphalt roads, mostly gentle to moderate slopes with a slope gradient of about 6%-9%, requiring a certain amount of physical support; the middle 25 kilometers are flat forest roads with good road conditions, which can be ridden easily to relieve fatigue; the last 20 kilometers are gentle downhill sections towards the lakeside, which are easy to ride, allowing you to enjoy the gradually unfolding scenery of Qiandaohu Lake (千岛湖) to the fullest. The average elevation of the whole journey is 80-130 meters, the maximum elevation is about 220 meters, and the total elevation gain is about 320 meters. It is a day with relatively high physical consumption in the whole journey. Some sections of the mountainous roads have many bends, so you need to pay attention to riding safety.

Cycling Content: The focus of today is cycling around Qiandaohu Lake (千岛湖). Ride along the dedicated cycling greenway by Qiandaohu Lake (千岛湖). Along the way, you can fully enjoy the beautiful scenery of Qiandaohu Lake (千岛湖) — blue lake water, scattered forested islands, scattered observation decks and bridges, as well as quiet lakeside towns along the way, each of which is highly ornamental. The riding rhythm is slow, and you can stop to view the scenery and take photos at any time. After lunch, end the whole cycling task and take a bus to Huangshan Mountain (黄山) to prepare for the next day's tour of Huangshan Mountain (黄山).
Cycling Distance: 65 KM
Destinations Passed: Qiandaohu Lake Circular Greenway (千岛湖环湖绿道) (throughout the whole journey), Qiandaohu Lake Island Observation Decks (千岛湖岛屿观景台) (multiple, can stop along the way), lakeside towns (passed along the way), Qiandaohu Square (千岛湖广场) (cycling end point).
Road Conditions, Slope & Elevation: The whole journey is ridden along the professional lakeside cycling greenway of Qiandaohu Lake (千岛湖), with flat and wide asphalt roads. The greenway is completely separated from motor vehicle lanes, safe, comfortable, and has an excellent riding experience. The route is mainly flat roads, occasionally with gentle slopes with a slope gradient of about 2%-5%, no steep climbs or sharp descents, and low riding difficulty. The average elevation of the whole journey is 70-100 meters, the maximum elevation is about 140 meters, and the total elevation gain is about 120 meters. There are multiple supply points along the way, where you can supplement water, food and physical strength at any time.

Cycling Content: No cycling arrangements today, focusing on visiting Huangshan Scenic Area (黄山风景区). Take the cable car up the mountain to avoid high-intensity climbing and save physical strength. After going up the mountain, hike among the granite peaks and thousand-year-old ancient pines of Huangshan Mountain (黄山), admire the iconic sea of clouds, strange rocks and hot spring landscapes of Huangshan Mountain (黄山), feel the grandeur of the "most wonderful mountain in the world", and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Huangshan Mountain (黄山).
Cycling Distance: 0 KM
Destinations Passed: Huangshan Scenic Area (黄山风景区), Huangshan Cable Car Station (黄山索道站) (up and down), main peaks of Huangshan Mountain (黄山主要山峰) (such as Lianhua Peak (莲花峰), Tiandu Peak (天都峰), etc., selected according to the daily tour route), Hot Spring Area (温泉区) (can be experienced according to time arrangement).
Road Conditions, Slope & Elevation: No cycling tasks; Huangshan Scenic Area (黄山风景区) has a high terrain and complex landform. The main peaks are between 1500-1864 meters above sea level, among which Lianhua Peak (莲花峰) is the highest peak of Huangshan Mountain (黄山), with an elevation of 1864 meters. The tour in the scenic area is mainly on foot, and the trails are mostly stone steps. Some sections have steep slopes. Taking the cable car can greatly reduce the intensity of hiking and easily reach the core viewing area.

Cycling Content: No cycling arrangements today. You can enjoy free activities in the morning and visit Huangshan Urban Area (黄山市城区) according to your own needs to feel the local cultural customs. Gather for lunch at noon, take a bus back to Hangzhou (杭州) after lunch, with a driving distance of about 280 kilometers. After arriving in Hangzhou (杭州), have dinner. After dinner, a special car will take you to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (杭州萧山国际机场), marking the successful end of this cycling tour.
Cycling Distance: 0 KM
Destinations Passed: Huangshan Urban Area (黄山市城区) (free activity area), Hangzhou Urban Area (杭州市区) (dinner and transfer area), Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (杭州萧山国际机场) (airport drop-off end point).
Road Conditions, Slope & Elevation: No cycling tasks; the return journey is by bus all the way, driving on the highway with flat and smooth road conditions and no obvious slope changes. The elevation gradually drops from about 120 meters in Huangshan Urban Area (黄山市城区) to about 10 meters in Hangzhou Urban Area (杭州市区), and the whole journey is flat, providing a comfortable riding experience.