Pedal to the mettle

Cyclists from home and abroad participate in this year's Beijing International Cycle Expo in Yanqing county this month. [Photo by Jia Deyong/For China Daily]

Forget four wheels. Tourists are switching gears to explore Beijing's scenic Yanqing county on two tires as authorities seize the handlebars to steer tourism toward cycling.

Roughly 80,000 cyclists have pedaled through Yanqing annually over the past three years. The peak season for cycling is from April to mid-October.

Part of the area's appeal is that it's nearly 75 percent afforested, making it the perfect spot for residents of Beijing's concrete jungle to escape to.

"Yanqing's routes run the gamut of cycling experiences," deputy head of the county's publicity department, Wang Lei, says.

The county has bike lanes in its urban parks, more challenging routes in the mountainous countryside and a cross-country lane certified by the Switzerland-based Union Cycliste Internationale, he adds.

The county has developed eight cycling zones and 11 routes since 2010 in its quest to become a national cycling hot spot. Yanqing hosts more than 300 kilometers of lanes and 35 bike-service stations, according to the county government.

Over 20 rental locations offer 2,000 bike models.

Resident Gu Jianfeng, who works in bike rental, says the Beijing Northwest Travel Agency, the company he started with four years ago and recently left, only had 30 bikes and 500 customers in 2011.

The number of customers nearly doubled in 2012 and soared to 15,000 by 2014. It currently rents out 500 bicycles, including professional mountain bikes, available for 50 yuan ($8.10) an hour or 120 yuan a day.

Sales have also soared. Over 8,000 bicycles were sold in the seven months of the year for a total sales value of 20 million yuan, the county government says.

Gu attributes cycling's growth to tourism authorities' concerted efforts.

The Beijing International Cycle Expo and the Tour of Beijing race have drawn many tourists to Yanqing, he adds.