Bike Tour

This bicycle route is along the north-south axis of Beijing, starting from the Arrow Tower (JianLou) at Desheng Gate (Deshengmen), passing by the Olympic Park, leading to the Olympic Forest Park and then back to Desheng Gate. The whole tour takes about 4-5 hours and we suggest you start the tour after 9:00am to avoid the rush hours.

Directly south of the Arrow Tower at Desheng Gate, there is a bicycle renting spot.  The rental charge is RMB 5.00 per hour, RMB 10.00 Yuan per 4 hours, RMB 20.00 Yuan per day. A refundable deposit of RMB 400.00 Yuan is required.

After you get your bicycle, start to cycle from Desheng Gate. Ride east wards along the Deshengmen East Avenue for about 10 minutes, passing by the Drum Tower Bridge, then you will find Desheng Park on the south side of the avenue. Right opposite the Park is the Drum Tower Station of Subway Line 2. Here you will find a crosswalk and  turn left to ride northwards along Gulouwai Avenue. After 10-15 minutes, you will pass across the Anhua Bridge and ride onto Beichen Road.

Desheng Gate was one of the Nine Gates of Beijing Inner City in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was composted of the City Tower, Earthen Tower, Brake Tower and Arrow Tower. It played a crucial role past military affairs. Now only the Arrow Tower is preserved and  it is one of only three preserved Arrow Towers of Beijing Inner City from  the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was a most important gate to Northern China and was named Army Gate.

Bird Nest

After passing the Anhua Bridge, you will find the China Science and Technology Museum on the left side (west side) of Beichen Road, which is a spherical building standing with another majestic building. The Museum is divided into 3 houses, House A (the main exhibition and popular science report hall), House B (Film Hall) and House C (Science Garden for Children). If you are interested, you can stop by for a visit. The ticket is CNY30.00 Yuan per adult for Houses A and B respectively and CNY20.00 Yuan per child, CNY10.00 Yuan per accompanied adult. It's free for disabled people.  If you are not interested, ride on along  Beichen Road. In about 10 minutes, you will pass the Beijing Yuan Dynasty Capital City Wall Relics Park.

Beijing Yuan Dynasty City Wall Relics Park, 4.8 kilometers long and 130-160 meters wide, is the largest linear park in Beijing. The park was built on the city wall relics of the Yuan Dynasty. A moat dug in the Yuan Dynasty flows through the park and divides it into two parts connected by six bridges. The north section is the city wall relics protected area and the south section is planted with trees, flowers and grass dotted with sculptures, pavilions and murals. It is a modern city relics park with rich cultural and historical connotation, integrating heritage protection, citizen amusement, ecological environment improvement and provision against disaster as a whole. The park is free to entry and you are recommended to ride through the park for a visit.

Water Cube

After visiting the Yuan Dynasty City Relics Park, go on riding north-ward and cross Beitucheng Donglu Road. Continue riding along the north section of Beichen Road. Remember to ride along the road on the right side. After passing one cross road, you will arrive at the Beijing National Olympic Centre which is on your right hand, where you can see the large Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium as well as the National Olympic Badminton Club, Beijing Olympic Golf Playing Course, Taekwondo Stadium, Yingdong Swimming Gymnasium and some other stadiums. Standing here and looking to the northwest, you could find a high building looking like a torch. That is Pangu Building and its position is where the Olympic Park is situated.

Continue riding northward and pass the Beichen Bridge, then you will arrive at the Olympic Park, where the well known Bird Nest (National Stadium) and Water Cube (Beijing Aquarium) sit. Bicycles are not allowed into the park, so you have to find a parking lot to store your bike first. The two buildings stand opposite to each other, with the Bird Nest on the east side, the Water Cube on the west side. The entrance fee of Bird Nest is CNY50.00 per person, CNY30.00 per person for the Water Cube.

After your visit retrieve your bicycle and go on riding along Beichen Dong Road. Remember to ride along the right side. At the second intersection, turn left and ride along  Kehui Road westwards for hundreds of meters, you will find the South Gate of the Olympic Forest Park. Here you also need to store your bicycle at the parking lot and walk.. The park is free to enter.

Beijing China Nationalities Museum

After visiting the park and getting your bike back, ride westwards along Kehui Road and turn left at the first intersection to Beichen West Road. Ride along Beichen West Road and you will pass the Olympic Village, Olympic Park Center and Pangu Building. After 20-30 minutes and passing two crossing roads, you will get to Beichen West Bridge. Then turn left to ride along Beichen Bridge and turn left at the first crossing to Beichen Road. About 3-5 minutes  later, you will find Beijing China Nationalities Museum on your right hand. The museum is also called Beijing China Folk Park. The park is divided into South and North Parts by Minsuyuan Road. The park displays characteristic gardens of different ethnic minorities. It is like an epitome of China. If you are interested, you can stop by for a visit. The entrance fee is about CNY90.00 Yuan per person for a through ticket, CNY60.00 Yuan for each garden separately.

Ride across Beitucheng Road onto the south section of Beichen Road. From here, you take the original way back to Desheng Gate. Return your bicycle to the rental company and your Olympic Park bike tour ends here.