Bicycling offers leisurely way to see the sights

Spring is a great time to bicycle around Hangzhou's green hills as flowers bloom along roads and the tea harvest approaches. Such low-carbon sightseeing is increasingly popular as the government encourages citizens to ride more in order to ease traffic congestion in downtown areas. Shanghai Daily recommends a few routes for a spring outing.

Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard — Lingyin Temple

Distance: 9.7 kilometers

Route: Beishan Road—Yuquan Road—Yugu Road—Lingyin Road

This route connects Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard in the northeast and Lingyin Temple in the city's southwest. Lush vegetation along the route gives riders a chance to inhale some fresher air.

Lotus in the Breeze at Crooked Courtyard is considered the city's prime lotus viewing place during the summer. This classical garden with pavilion, wooden bridges and winding elevated planks is colorful in the spring with plum and magnolia blossoms now in season.

Lingyin temple features a large number of grottoes and religious rock carvings. As one of the country's most noted temples, it is often crowded with worshippers year around.

On the way to Lingyin Temple, cyclists pass Jiu Li Yun Song, one of the 18 sights of ancient Hangzhou. According to historical documents it was the earliest wooded area created by people. Planting trees and other plants date back to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). Pine trees line the bicycle path here.

Broken Bridge — Su Causeway

Distance: 5.4 kilometers

Route: Broken Bridge—Bai Causeway—Solitary Hill-—Su Causeway

This route is considered the best bicycle path in Hangzhou and is popular among tourists since it includes two famous causeways on West Lake.

This 5.4-kilometer trip crosses Bai Causeway, then passes Solitary Hill and Louwailou Restaurant before reaching the southern end of Su causeway.

The route starts from Broken Bridge, where Madam White Snake (a snake sorceress who appears as a woman) meets Xu Xian, a mortal who she falls in love with) and borrows an umbrella from him according to the legend of "Madame White Snake."

Bai Causeway was piled by the sediment dredged from West Lake during the Tang Dynasty under the direction of Hangzhou mayor Bai Juyi, also a renowned poet. Su Causeway was built by Su Shi, who was also a great poet, calligrapher, statesman and mayor of Hangzhou during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Today, the two causeways are covered with pavilions, bonsais, flowers and vegetation. Lakeside views make for a nice leisurely ride.

Solitary Hill, also called Gushan, is a natural islet on West Lake featuring picturesque views and abundant historical relics. It connects Bai Causeway and Xiling Bridge.

Many famous people have lived on Solitude Hill and some are also buried there. Qiu Jin, Su Manshu and Chen Qimei, three revolutionary activists in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), were interred there. Locals erected statues to commemorate the martyrs.