It has been a month since schools let out for the summer holiday and amidst all the fun and play, I’ve realised something – summer is expensive! Even without traveling out of Beijing this season, having to keep kids and yourself occupied, fed and watered all day can really burn through your WeChat wallet fast. So when I stumbled upon the Chaoyang Greenway bicycle route, I knew I had to make a day of it with my kid and his friends, since it’s a free and fun outdoor activity!
The Chaoyang Greenway bicycle path starts from the intersection of Yaojiayuan road and the 4th ring road, running parallel to the latter all the way up to Taiyanggong park. We didn’t make it all the way there this time, choosing to stop in the Lidu neighbourhood for lunch at Park Side Restaurant (our review on Dianping here) but you could certainly try to finish the entire 10km+ ride yourself!
Zoom in to see more details on the map
While we adults opted to use share bikes from Alipay and Meituan, which are ubiquitously available at every turn, we chose to transport the kids’ bicycles via Didis to the starting point. Do note that bicycles below 20” are easiest to transport in the trunk of most Didis, and bigger bicycles might have difficulty fitting in. For this, I recommend investing in a bicycle like the one we bought from Giant where the front wheel is easily detachable and re-attachable.
The Chaoyang Greenway is mostly shaded by tall leafy trees, and the path is smoothly paved and without incline all the way. The only (literal) bumps in the road were the road crossings, where you can opt to dismount and push your bike slowly across with littler kids, or have bigger kids ride across safely using yourself as a shield to guard against the traffic. The cars always stop when seeing my bold outstretched hand.
There are a number of rest stops, art installations and playgrounds along the way, some of them tucked behind the greenery and shrubs, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for them! Sadly there are no vending machines or stalls so be sure to pack PLENTY of water – we’re talking 2 liters per person on a typical summer day. Light snacks and sweets may also help to keep kids energised for the 2 – 4 hour long journey, depending on how often and for how long you stop. Following the kids’ pace that day, we took just under 3 hours to cycle 8km to Side Park.
PRO TIP: If you get too tired, you can always turn into any road off the 4th ring road and hail a Didi!
Cycling the Chaoyang Greenway is definitely a recommended FREE summer (even autumn and spring) activity for the kids! Oh and don’t forget sunscreen and mosquito repellent! Enjoy!
Images: Vivienne Tseng-Rush
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