Yesterday, citizens were seen cycling in the East Suburb Forest Park.
Located in the East Suburb Forest Park, the 7.7-kilometer-long greenway will be extended to the Wenyu River and Tongzhou to form a greenway network
The city’s longest cycling greenway—the East Suburb Forest Park Cycling Greenway—has officially been completed and opened to the public. The 7.7-kilometer greenway will only allow cycling or walking, while motor vehicles are prohibited. Citizens can enjoy fresh air while cycling along the flat forest paths in the shaded park.
According to reports, a greenway is a type of linear green open space, usually established along natural or man-made corridors such as riverbanks, valleys, ridges, and scenic roads, featuring landscape recreational routes accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. The newly completed 7.7-kilometer cycling greenway is located within the East Suburb Forest Park, starting from Jinyu Road in the west, heading north through the 2013 plain afforestation area of Chaoyang District, and extending southeast along the outer forest of the Wenyu River embankment to end at Yingezhuang Bridge. It includes 2.2 kilometers of asphalt greenway, 4.2 kilometers of red permeable concrete greenway, and 1.3 kilometers of existing roadways painted for use.
The author observed yesterday that more than ten visitors were leisurely cycling along the newly built greenway. The afternoon sunlight filtered through golden ginkgo trees, casting light on the ground covered with fallen leaves, while vast stretches of colorful forests—such as smoke trees, Chinese sweetgum, and torch trees—lined the greenway as far as the eye could see. “You can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery in the park but also relax and get some exercise,” said the head of the Chaoyang District Greening Guidance Office. Early in the construction of the East Suburb Forest Park, designers conducted on-site surveys and selected routes with wider tree spacing and fewer obstacles as potential cycling greenway paths. They also ensured smooth connectivity by using detours through the woods and borrowing parts of the embankment top roads.
The entire cycling greenway has 10 intersections. To prevent motor vehicles from entering, each intersection is equipped with naturally styled stone barriers, where artificially placed rocks blend seamlessly with the surroundings. This setup prevents cars from entering the greenway while allowing pedestrians and cyclists to pass easily.
Although the greenway is located within the expansive East Suburb Forest Park, visitors don’t need to worry about getting lost. Signage systems along the paths—including informational signs, directional signs, information blocks, and regional guide maps—help tourists quickly identify their location and the direction of exits. If tired, signposts can also guide visitors to the nearest rest areas.
The official stated that as the East Suburb Forest Park continues to develop, the cycling greenway is expected to extend further east and north, connecting with the planned Wenyu River Greenway and the Tongzhou East Suburb Park greenway system to form an extensive greenway network, providing residents with even more green recreational spaces.