Walking and jogging routes for local fitness enthusiasts

With summer almost here, more and more people are going out to exercise, especially walking or jogging along tree-lined boulevards or waterside paths. Here are a few routes that are popular for fitness enthusiasts in Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

A 15.5-kilometer fitness path around Suzhou Old Town has just been built and is considered the most beautiful in the city. But it is too long for many people. We recommend three shorter routes, each taking about two hours to finish.

1. Shilu – Children's Palace – Xumen Gate – Panmen Gate – Panlong Bridge

2. Railway Station – Pingmen Gate – Tangfang Bay – Xiangmen Wall

3. Xiangmen Wall – Loumen Gate – Soochow University – Zhuhui Bridge

The city's Suzhou Industrial Park and Wuzhong district also boast many scenic routes for fitness walkers. The routes circle Jinji Lake, Yangcheng Lake and Dushu Lake. Starting from Hubin Avenue, a jogger will pass eight attractions around Jinji Lake in the park. As the road around Yangcheng Lake is too long, people can also ride a bike instead of walking.

People are also encouraged to ride a bike around Taihu Lake and stop at tourist attractions along the way. If you prefer walking, try Shihu Lake. It takes about 90 minutes round trip.

For a more challenging workout, head for the mountains, such as the Baima Valley Scenic Area.