During the Great Golden Lake cycling tour, the cycling team passes by the Jiangjialing Suspension Bridge, with stunning lake and mountain scenery along the way.
As a world natural heritage site, world geopark, and national 5A-level scenic area, Taining County in Fujian Province boasts abundant mountain outdoor resources and has been rated by the General Administration of Sport of China as one of the “Top Ten National Outdoor Sports Premium Routes.”
“This year, Taining has launched the classic ‘Great Golden Lake Cycling’ route, aiming to establish itself as the best destination for ‘slow cycling tourism,’” Ye Desong, director of the Taining Tourism Bureau Management Committee Office, said on the 7th. He added that efforts are being made to develop the Great Golden Lake cycling route into a renowned cycling tourism destination, similar to the “Around Qinghai Lake” and “Around Xiamen Island” routes.
Having hosted four consecutive editions of the China Mountain Outdoor Sports Championship and International Challenge, Taining is working to build its mountain outdoor sports events into national and international brand competitions. On the 6th, the first “Taining Great Golden Lake Leisure Cycling Tour” was launched, attracting nearly 300 cycling enthusiasts from over 20 clubs across the country, once again igniting a wave of enthusiasm for outdoor sports in Taining.
It is understood that the Taining Great Golden Lake leisure cycling route spans approximately 130 kilometers. The journey takes cyclists through Taining County’s Zhuangyuan Culture Square, Xiaqu Township, Kaishan Township, Chitan Hydropower Station, then by boat from Guanjiang Ferry to Laohuji Ferry, followed by the Jinhu Suspension Bridge, Meikou Township, and the Jinhu Xiapu Wharf, before returning to Taining County. Along the way, cyclists can see attractions not accessible via regular scenic routes, such as the Chitan Dam, Laohuji Village, and the lower reaches of Jinhu, and even take ferries across the Great Golden Lake with their bicycles. The route offers a journey through fields, villages, the Golden Lake, Danxia landscapes, and sunset skies. Especially notable are the lake and mountain views, water-based Danxia formations, dreamlike sunsets, and rural folk culture, making it an ideal route for outdoor cycling.
“The Great Golden Lake cycling route is incredibly scenic. Along the lakeside road, you can enjoy beautiful lake and mountain views, witness the most enchanting water-based Danxia, and especially at dusk, encounter dreamlike sunset skies. The feeling of cycling here is absolutely wonderful. I rode here once last autumn, and this is my second time—I’ve even organized many cycling friends to join me,” said Liu Xianguang, a cyclist from Fuzhou.
“I’ve cycled in Tibet five times, ridden around Qinghai Lake outside the province, and done the Xiamen ‘Island Loop’ within the province. Today, I completed the Great Golden Lake loop, and I think it’s a fantastic mountain cycling route. I believe it will definitely become a premium cycling route in Fujian, and I hope such events can be held regularly,” said Feng Xukai, a cyclist from Nanping Yanping Bicycle Club.
According to Ye Desong, the classic “Great Golden Lake Cycling” route introduced by Taining this time aims to provide a platform for cyclists nationwide to connect. Riders are not required to race at full speed for rankings; instead, they can slow down to appreciate the beautiful scenery along the Great Golden Lake, or even pause their ride to immerse themselves in the landscape, take photos, and enjoy a journey where the soul blends with the scenery.
To develop this cycling route and attract more domestic and international outdoor sports enthusiasts to Taining, the Taining County Tourism Bureau and the Culture and Broadcasting Bureau have specially launched the “Taining Cycling Passport.” Every outdoor enthusiast who participates in the Great Golden Lake cycling event will receive a “Taining Cycling Passport.” With this passport, visitors can enjoy ticket discounts of 50% to 80% at all Taining scenic spots, and the passport is valid for reuse over two years.