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Top Shanghai Cycling Routes

Written by Matteo Updated May. 22, 2025

It seems that people living in Shanghai are always very busy, no matter for work, meetings, or even on trips, you can see a hurried pace everywhere. The quick pace leaves most people in Shanghai impression of only top-end shops, numerous banks, and fancy places.

For symbolic sites or the tranquil beauty of corners in Shanghai, they may feel familiar with those places, but at the same time, it is hard to find a chance to get close to them. It’s time to stop your busy pace and hop on a bike to explore the charms of Shanghai on wheels in the open air!

This article is to help you look into the city by the top 5 cycling routes, ranging from the essence of Shanghai to some off-the-beaten parts. The cycling route of Suzhou, a well-known Shanghai neighbor, is also a plus here because of its popularity and beauty. You could take a complete cycling route or just try some sections of a route due to your time and energy.

Route 1: Former Shanghai French Concession Cycling

Start from Binjiang Avenue in Pudong District, the newest and most popular area for Shanghai people. It is 2,734 yards long with a big pond and a great music fountain which shows its best at night with colorful lights. There is also a special yacht dock which is rebuilt from an old dock. Stop at the top of the beautiful lawn, one can enjoy a lovely view of the Bund across the Huangpu River.

Then go across the river by ferry boat for CNY2/per person with your bike and reach the Bund near Nanjing Road. It is the busiest and most famous section in Shanghai and China, which offers good points to take photos representing Shanghai. Head over to the west along Nanjing Dong Lu for 1,640 yards straight to explore People’s Square, which is located near Shanghai Museum and Shanghai’s City Hall. It is the center of Shanghai,i which was also once an important horse racetrack before China’s liberation.

Hop back on your bike to cycle south on Xizang Nan Lu and turn left at the 4th block for Shanghai Old Street. The street reflects old Shanghai with traditional, even a bit broken-down, old houses, and now it is lined with many stalls selling souvenirs.

Continue your way to Xintiandi by going west along Fuxing Dong Lu and Fuxing Zhong Lu, which are connected by Xizang Nan Lu. Xintiandi combines old Shanghai’s beauty with new functions like entertainment, dining, and shopping. Shikumen buildings, the traditional architecture of Old Shanghai, are preserved well there.

The next stop is Tianzifang in Taikang Lu. Go south from Madang Lu and turn right on Jianguo Lu. Keep moving after going across Chongqing Nan Lu, and then turn left when seeing the sign for Taikang Lu. Tianzifang is located at 210 Long Road. It is an old alley with special stores, cafes, and interesting places. Some people still live there, adding vitality to the new creative street.

Very near Tianzifang is the last stop — the Old French Concession. Go along Taikang Lu to the north for 88 yards and then turn left. After covering about 77 yards, you will get to Jianguo Zhong Lu by turning right. Cycling on for several minutes, you will see the Old French Concession.

As one of the oldest 4 French concessions in China, the Shanghai French Concession was once for rich men and politicians. Now, many old buildings with different special designs are left, and it has become a street with cafes and interesting stores for leisure.

Route 2: Cycling Routes for Waterways around Pudong District

This route is easy but comfortable for an outing, especially for families to relax outside together over a short distance. Start from Century Park metro station and ride north on Haitong Lu leading to Century Park. Cycle leisurely around the park and turn left onto Fangdian Lu. Ride for about 1 km and then turn right without going across a bridge that offers a nice path leading to a beautiful canal.

With only a short distance, you need to turn left onto Laoshan Lu. Pedaling north, you will reach a set of traffic lights where you should turn right onto Jinxiu Lu. Cross the bridge and turn right onto Heisong Lu.

Then turn left to the following track near the Zhaojiabang Canal, which is a pretty waterway with willows and a nice path. It provides a space for spring outings or even fishing. The waterway goes for about 4 km until Jinqiao Lu. You could just cycle around for a whole morning or longer to let yourself get out of your busy life.

Route 3: Ecological Cycling in Baoshan District

A short time after starting from the Mudanjiang Road, you will see the Wusong Train Station Exhibition Hall. A locomotive produced in 1956 is exhibited in a glasshouse. The rusty railway track on the gravel reminds you of the old days of Shanghai.

The Wusong Paotaiwan Wetland is only three kilometers away from the train exhibition hall. The wetland, with a 1974-meter-long river bank, is beside the Yangtze River. A cannon emplacement was set up here around 300 years ago, but now the wetland, which covers an area of 110,000 square meters, is only used for tourism.

The Liberation Army was fighting to liberate Shanghai between the 12th and 25th, 1952. All events that took place during the 14 days are recorded in the Commemorative Hall of the Liberation of Shanghai.

You will finally reach the Peninsula 1919, which was a textile building opened in 1919. The whole mill has been converted into a tourist attraction nowadays. The well-preserved old buildings here provide you with lots of photo opportunities.

Route 4: Cycling Route for Gardens in Longhua

This route is easy due to simply straight along the road straight and stopping at several parks. So you could cycle leisurely to see what you may miss on busy days.

Start at Longhua Cemetery of Revolutionary Martyrs, which was once for imprison Chinese communists by Kuomintang (KMT) during 1928-1937. It is next to the famous Longhua Temple. The park inside has many big trees, especially different kinds of peach trees, with a large lawn. Stop for a while there under the sunshine with your bike.

Continue to pedal southwest and turn left to cross over the bridge. Stay on the road and then turn right onto TianshuiBei Lu. Along the street, turn left and then turn left again for Lucao Road. Follow the road until you get to Caobao Lu by turning right. Ride on the road for about 1.5 km and then take a left turn onto Guilin Road. There you get to Kanjianyuan Park. Buildings in the park are Japanese style, and plants are mainly lotus, peonies, osmanthus trees, and cherry blossoms. The big lawn offers a great area for a picnic.

Go back on the road to the west and reach Guilin Lu, where Guilin Park lies on the right. The park was once a private southern-style garden before China’s Liberation, and was open to the public after Liberation. Due to the many osmanthus trees in the park, the name. (Gui refers to osmanthus, and lin means many trees in Chinese.)

The last stop is the flower market on Tianlin Lu. Cycle northwards along Guilin Lu until you see the entrance of Tianlin Lu. Go east on the road, and the market is just on the left side. Return by the same route or take a taxi back home.

Route 5: Suzhou Highlights Cycling Tour

Start at Liuhe Lu, where the Antique Market on Dongtai Road is located. The market is considered to be one of the not-to-miss markets when shopping in Shanghai. Then cycle south to Shanghai Old Street for a close look at Shanghai's old buildings and numerous cheap souvenirs. First, go on from Xizang Zhong Lu and then turn left when you get to Yan’an Dong Lu and turn right upon reaching Henan Nan Road. Go across Ren’mian Lu and you will see the Temple of City God (Laochenghuang Miao). Shanghai Old Street is behind Laochenghuang Miao on Houjia Lu.

Then go back from Henan Lu to Renmin Lu for the next stop — Zhou Enlai’s Residence on Sinan Lu for a glimpse of the place where the most famous Chinese premier once lived. Continue to cycle on Renmin Lu and move straight to Huaihai Dong Lu. After covering 175 yards, turn left for Huaihai Zhong Lu, where you will get to Zhou Enlai’s Residence on Sinan Lu by going down directly.

Ride to visit Cité Bourgogne for a rare old Shanghai building group combined with French buildings. It was once a part of the French Concession. Ride from Sian Lu and go back to Huaihai Zhong Lu. With about 952 yards, you need to turn left onto Shaanxi Nan Lu. Go along Shaanxi Nan Lu for around 1200 yards, you will see Cité Bourgogne on the left.

Continue your visit to Tianzifang, which is a perfect mixture of Shanghai traditional buildings with new and interesting trends among young people and artists. Start at Shaanxi Nan Lu to the south and then turn left to Jianguo Xi Lu, which links Jianguo Zhong Lu. After cycling for 230 yards, you need to turn right onto Taikang Lu, where Tianzifang lies on the left.

Shanghai French Concession is the last stop. It is worthwhile to have a leisurely walk there to appreciate the special old buildings and come across some nice stores. Go north from Tianzifang for several minutes and turn left for about 77 yards. Turn right when seeing the sign of Jianguo Zhong Lu, and the Shanghai French Concession is just 60 yards away.

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