Taking a nighttime ride around the lake is absolutely exhilarating. Nowadays, more and more young people are joining the ranks of nighttime cycling enthusiasts.
However, as the "night cycling crowd" grows, the once tranquil Longjing Mountain has become "lively." The mountain roads in this area, with their steep slopes and sharp turns, rival the "Akina Speedway" from *Initial D*, becoming a popular route for cyclists seeking speed and thrills.
Residents along the route, who have long suffered from speeding cyclists, report that there are simply too many riders at night. Injuries from falls among cyclists happen frequently, and there is also a certain level of disturbance to local residents.
One netizen posted on 19lou: "On sections where only pushing is allowed, people still ride downhill. I’ve personally seen cyclists scrape pedestrians, endangering walkers, passing vehicles, and themselves."
These past two days, our reporters visited this so-called golden mountain trail in the eyes of cycling enthusiasts and got up close with the night cyclists of Longjing Mountain.
On-site investigation
Six 180-degree sharp turns, dubbed Hangzhou’s "Akina Speedway"
In the eyes of many cycling enthusiasts, Longjing Mountain Road is the most classic uphill route in Hangzhou, known for its numerous turns and steep slopes.
"At the intersection of the Wulao Peak Tunnel connection, there’s a stone tablet inscribed with 'Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.' We usually start from here," several cyclists told reporters. They have two routes, north and south, but slightly more choose to go north then south. That means starting from the "Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter" stone tablet, heading southwest to Longjing Road, then to Manjuelong Road, and finally arriving at the intersection of Manjuelong Road and Hupao Road— the entire route is mountainous.
At 7 p.m. on August 27, reporters also rode the full length of this mountain road and couldn’t help but exclaim that it truly lives up to the name "nine twists and eighteen turns." This mountain road stretches approximately 5.6 kilometers, featuring six 180-degree sharp turns, eight 90-degree bends, five smaller turns, and includes a stretch of "dark road" near the Longjing Temple bus stop with no streetlights.
Along the way, reporters encountered fifty to sixty cyclists, both men and women, riding alone or in groups.
At the highest point — Wengjiashan Village — they happened to run into three or four cyclists who were parking their bikes by the roadside to rest.
"Today we didn’t meet many people, and it was a bit early. At peak times, you can see two to three hundred people along the way. Once, there were even fifty to sixty people just resting here," said cyclist Xiao Yan. Generally, starting from around 5 or 6 p.m., cyclists begin to arrive, with the peak period being between 8 and 9 p.m. After 10 p.m., the number of riders drops significantly.
"We call this place Hangzhou’s 'Akina.' It’s a great spot for practicing uphill climbs, which demands a lot of stamina and often leaves you panting," Xiao Yan said. Except during heavy rain, he almost rides here with a few friends every day to "cruise" Longjing Mountain. "The air in the mountains is fresh, everyone encourages each other, and we exercise together."
"Beginners" are common, and dangerous moves abound
Xiao Yan is a professional cyclist. Whenever he rides, he always wears a helmet and gloves, cycling clothes, and turns on his headlight and taillight at night.
Three years ago, he started challenging himself by cycling Longjing Mountain Road. "On weekends, we’ll go farther for rides, but within the city, Longjing Mountain is the most appealing, so quite a few come here to test their skills."
Commenting on Longjing Mountain Road, Xiao Yan said that both beginner and advanced cyclists can enjoy it, but in recent years, the mix of riders has become quite varied. "Some riders are really too 'amateur'—they don’t even wear helmets. They think cycling is too simple."
Heading down Manjuelong Road, reporters passed three traffic signs. One is located at No. 17 Wengjiashan, marked with a bicycle push sign, marking the start of the Yanxia Cave sharp turn. The other two are placed at the corner and end of the Yanxia Cave sharp turn (at the intersection of Manjuelong Road and Yangmeiling Road), reading "Non-motorized vehicles allowed to be pushed."
Near No. 3 Yanxia Cave, there is an 180-degree sharp turn with an extremely steep slope and significant elevation change. Coming down from above, you can’t see the oncoming road conditions at all—even the mirrors at the corner only reflect oncoming headlights at night.
Reporters stood at this corner for over 10 minutes and saw about 15 bicycles pass by, none of which were being pushed down. Only four or five riders wore helmets, cycling clothes, and had complete gear.
"Didn’t think much about it, should be fine," said Xiao Guo, a college student who was riding downhill with his helmet still in his hand. He said he never exceeds 30 km/h. "Some people go really fast, even over 40 or 50 km/h. I’m still a 'rookie,' my speed is slow, and it’s too hot, so I took off the helmet."
Riders like Xiao Guo are relatively well-protected. Along the way, reporters saw many cyclists speeding by with no protective gear at all, wearing shorts, T-shirts, or tank tops. Some even wore "crocs," rode public rental bikes, and sped downhill, narrowly avoiding oncoming cars—a terrifying sight.
Various perspectives
Nearby hospital: Frequently treats injured cyclists, advises proper protection
On such steep mountain roads, it’s not uncommon for cyclists to slip and get injured.
Zhou Haiping, an emergency doctor at nearby 117 Hospital, told reporters that roughly every two or three days, an injured cyclist is brought to the hospital: "I work 10 emergency shifts a month, and each month I treat four or five cyclists injured on Longjing Mountain, with even more on weekends."
Dr. Zhou said these cyclists mostly fall while going downhill, and their injuries are fairly consistent: "Knee injuries are the most common, followed by joint bruises on limbs—for example, when falling, they use their hands to brace and end up with scraped hands or twisted wrists."
Zhou Haiping has also encountered cycling enthusiasts who were seriously injured. "The worst case was someone who was probably thrown off their bike entirely, landing on their upper body with great force. They suffered a dislocated shoulder joint, a broken collarbone, and head trauma."
He summarized that among those injured while cycling in Longjing, most are men under 30, often due to inadequate safety measures. "Actually, wearing a helmet is very important. Even if you fall, you generally won’t get head injuries. With some of the injured, just by looking at the wounds on their heads, you can tell they definitely weren’t wearing a helmet when riding."
Local residents: "Stay safe" and "don’t disturb the peace" are the main requests
In Wengjiashan Village, the road runs through the village, only about six or seven meters wide. The sides are lined with parked private cars, while vehicles come and go constantly. Add to that groups of cyclists, and it’s impossible for residents’ lives not to be affected.
"Never mind the traffic jams—the biggest issue is safety," said Yang Yongqiang, deputy secretary of Wengjiashan Village. "Cars are always passing by, and some cyclists go down slopes at such high speeds—how dangerous is that? Plus, they sometimes collide with pedestrians."
Just last month, a woman in her 60s was hit by a bicycle, though fortunately she only suffered minor abrasions.
Some residents living along the road complained about the noise at night, describing the chaos as going on until as late as 2 a.m., with people still cycling. "Some bikes don’t have kickstands and are just leaned against cars—any slight bump leaves a scratch."
"Cycling for exercise is a good thing, but safety really must be a priority," a reporter randomly interviewed several residents, who generally held a fairly tolerant attitude toward cyclists. "Just don’t disturb the peace, and don’t ride too late at night."
Lu Xinfu, secretary of Longjing Village, said that the mountain roads in Longjing mostly consist of two-way single lanes, with no designated cycling paths. Some downhill sections have signs advising against cycling, but many still speed down regardless. "It’s really easy for accidents to happen. We’ve reported it to the traffic police several times, and they’ve come to manage it, but the effect isn’t significant."
The reporter also inquired with staff from the West Lake District Traffic Police Brigade, who stated that while the phenomenon of nighttime cycling in Longjing does exist, there are no strict regulations prohibiting bicycle riding, making it difficult to regulate.
Professional cyclists: Helmets are a must, beginners shouldn’t race
Yesterday, the reporter consulted several experienced professional cyclists.
"Bike gear is essential—helmets absolutely must be worn," said Xiang Wenjie, owner of Hangzhou Holiday Biking Club. "Your hands are the most vulnerable, so gloves are also a must. Additionally, wearing specialized cycling clothes provides comprehensive protection."
Beyond that, choosing the right bicycle is also crucial. "There are road bikes and mountain bikes—you should pick one with good performance. The bike needs regular inspection, maintenance, and care—it can’t be just any old thing. Especially check if the brakes work properly. Front and rear lights are essential for nighttime riding, and all these details matter," Xiang Wenjie explained.
A lack of safety awareness and treating cycling as too simple are common mistakes made by many novices. Xiang Wenjie especially reminded beginners: never race during a ride. "Before going downhill or taking a turn, slow down. Keep your speed between 20 to 25 km/h, and no faster than 30 km/h. Lower your seat slightly to bring your center of gravity down. Don’t brake too hard, especially the front brake—generally, you won’t run into major problems this way."
Self-discipline among cyclists is crucial, and standards should be established
"There are often hundreds of people cycling on Longjing Mountain, which has a considerable impact on local residents. Safety and disturbance issues really do need attention," said veteran cyclist Chu Yurun. "This requires everyone to be more self-disciplined, minimizing the level of disturbance as much as possible. Perhaps rides could be concentrated during specific time periods, avoiding disrupting nearby residents’ rest. I also suggest cyclists spread out a bit more—nearby areas like Meiling North Road or Jiuxi can also be good spots for riding."
Chu Yurun said that when he was still a beginner, he often cycled in Maojiabu, and he also recommends new riders start there to "get some practice." "Some of the provincial roads around Hangzhou are also suitable for beginners. After gaining some experience, you can then try more challenging mountain routes."
Xiang Wenjie mentioned that if you don’t mind going a bit farther, Binjiang’s Wentao Road and Xiasha’s Riverside Avenue are also good options.
Additionally, some cyclists are keen on riding in scenic but more remote and technically challenging spots like Baoshi Mountain and Qiandao Lake. Experts strongly advise against newcomers attempting these areas. "Those places not only have complex terrain, but many roads are also quite narrow and rugged. Riders with insufficient experience are likely to get into trouble. If you lack strong control skills, it’s better to avoid steep slopes, sharp turns, and technically demanding routes."