Source: Shanghai Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau
Shanghai’s pleasant weather is a limited-time gift. Why not hop on a bicycle and capture those quiet streetscapes in the city center? Take a ride and bottle up this fleeting tenderness. Turns out downtown Shanghai hides some beautifully uncrowded cycling routes. Let’s take a look.
01. Suzhou Creek North Bank Cycling Route
The Suzhou Creek slow-traffic cycling route is one of Shanghai’s most charming urban rides, with the section east of Changshou Road Bridge along the north bank being particularly outstanding.
In recent years, many cultural and art spaces along the north bank have been renovated, and nearly the entire route features excellent landscaping and waterside footpaths, making for a delightful cycling experience.
If you want an immersive, all-in-one experience of Suzhou Creek and Shanghai’s central city scenery, this route blending history, culture, and views is the one to pick.
Starting from Changshou Road Bridge, passing JIC Jing’an International Center, you’ll then encounter a series of landmarks representing Shanghai’s industrial heritage renewal — the former Fuxin Flour Mill No.1 site, Baikongjian Guang’er Warehouse, as well as Fotografiska Shanghai and SUHE HAUS art space.
Fotografiska Shanghai, originating from Stockholm, Sweden, is its first venue in Asia — an international landmark for photography, art, and culture. The second and third floors house exhibitions, while the first and fourth floors offer café dining and creative merchandise. No need to rush — it’s a great place to pause, recharge, and soak in the atmosphere.
Notably, Fotografiska Shanghai has just announced discounted tickets for all visitors under 25 — one ticket grants access to 4–5 exhibitions.
As you ride, don’t miss the distinctively styled bridges crossing Suzhou Creek. Changping Road Bridge, Hengfeng Road Bridge, Xizang Road Bridge… and in the latter half, Sichuan Road Bridge, the photographer-favorite Zhapu Road Bridge (nicknamed “Photographer’s Bridge”), and the iconic Waibaidu Bridge — there’s plenty to see along the way.
The route spans Jing’an and Huangpu districts, with smooth road surfaces. Since it’s an open road, you can ride your own bike or grab a shared bike. There are also quite a few runners along the way — remember to give them space.
Rest stops like the Suhewan Green Space Service Station are available along the route, plus numerous waterfront platforms and public spaces for taking in the views and catching your breath.
In the latter half, you’ll pass the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce Building at 470 North Suzhou Road — impressive even at a glance. The main entrance gate, modeled after the Roman Arch of Titus, features an arched doorway flanked by two granite Corinthian columns with intricately carved floral scroll capitals. Once a landmark of Shanghai’s business world, it gave birth to many of the city’s commercial “firsts.”
The Sihang Warehouse, at 1–21 Guangfu Road in Jing’an District, is another powerful stop. During the Battle of Shanghai, the “Eight Hundred Heroes” held their ground here for four days and nights, inflicting heavy losses on the invading Japanese forces. Today it’s a nationally protected cultural heritage site.
One of the route’s most charming details: a section of the cycling path has key landmarks printed right on the surface — a visually pleasing and delightfully practical sightseeing guide.
The endpoint, and the climax of the journey: Century Frame Square. Located between Zhapu Road Bridge and Waibaidu Bridge, this spot offers a sweeping panorama of the Bund, Lujiazui, and the North Bund — the best single vantage point along Shanghai’s “One River, One Creek” corridor.
⚠️ A few sections have cobblestone surfaces — outside Sihang Warehouse, near Fotografiska, and around the former Fuxin Flour Mill site. Slow down on these stretches.
Route: Changshou Road Bridge → Former Fuxin Flour Mill No.1 → Fotografiska Shanghai → SUHE HAUS → Zhejiang Road Bridge → Former Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce → Embankment Building → Shanghai Postal Museum → Zhapu Road Bridge → Century Frame Square
🚴 Distance: ~6 km
02. Miaojiang Road Cycling Route
The Miaojiang Road cycling route totals about 4–5 km. The inner loop starts and ends at the intersection of Miaojiang Road and Bansongyuan Road, forming a circle. The outer loop runs along the riverside across the road, tracing a semicircle.
The cycling path is paved with a self-developed nano eco-friendly colored material with low heat absorption and water retention — three layers with excellent slip resistance. The surface is marked with cycling symbols, fitness icons, and distance markers (“Start,” “500 m,” “1 km”) to guide riders smoothly along.
Supplies and repair services around Miaojiang Road are convenient. A nearby supermarket stocks water and snacks, and local bike shops offer repair and maintenance services to keep your ride running smoothly.
Miaojiang Road runs alongside the Huangpu River, close to Nanpu Bridge, with pleasant scenery throughout. You’ll take in the majestic views of the river — ships crossing the water, the forest of skyscrapers on the opposite bank forming a stunning urban skyline. The roadside is lined with trees; in autumn, goldenrain trees turn yellow, ginkgo leaves glow gold, and maple leaves blaze red — golden leaves drifting down against the red cycling path, a scene straight out of a painting.
Route: Miaojiang Rd / Bansongyuan Rd → Miaojiang Rd / Wangda Rd → Miaojiang Rd / Huayuangang Rd → Bansongyuan Rd / Miaojiang Rd
🚴 Distance: ~4–5 km
03. Xuhui Riverside Cycling Route
The Xuhui Riverside cycling route stretches approximately 8.4 km, matching the length of the Xuhui Riverside public open space. The surface is smooth and level, with separate lanes for cycling, running, and walking. Service areas are spaced at 800–1,000 m intervals, with rest stops every 400–500 m.
Supplies are readily available along the route. Convenience stores and coffee shops dot the path — for example, there’s a coffee cart near the Long Museum offering drinks and light snacks. The West Bund Dream Center, a mixed-use complex combining retail, art theaters, and outdoor spaces, gives cyclists access to restaurants and supermarkets for all their needs.
The scenery along this route is remarkable, representing the pinnacle of Shanghai’s waterfront landscape. The cultural atmosphere is equally rich — featuring the West Bund Museum, Long Museum, Tank Shanghai, West Bund Dome Art Center, and Xuhui Runway Park, which won the World Architecture Festival (WAF) award in the Urban Landscape category.
Route: Long Museum → West Bund Art Center → West Bund Museum → Longhua Riverside Leisure Square → West Bund New Ferry → Xupu Bridge
🚴 Distance: ~8.3 km
04. Changning Outer Ring Ecological Greenway
The Changning Outer Ring Ecological Greenway is located near the Outer Ring Road — not part of the traditional downtown core, but conveniently accessible from the city center.
The greenway stretches 6.25 km in total. Designed around the existing forest belt’s abundant greenery and river hydrological resources, the path is wide and flat, shaded by trees on both sides.
Along the way, you’ll find Lotus Pond Rest Stop, Dreamy Green Corridor, Rain Garden, Sky Greenway, and other scenic spots. You’ll also pass through two tunnels formed by greenery — like a “Wizard of Oz” tucked within the city, or a “Castle in the Sky” beside the airport.
⚠️ Shared bikes are not permitted on the Changning Outer Ring Ecological Greenway. If you haven’t brought your own bicycle, rentals are available at 2 RMB per 30 minutes, with a deposit required. Note: bikes rented within the greenway cannot be ridden outside of it.
Rest stops along the way offer changing rooms, lounges, restrooms, and even shower facilities — all well-maintained, giving cyclists ample space to rest and freshen up.
Route: North Guangshun Road Entrance → Lotus Pond Rest Stop → Dreamy Green Corridor → Rain Garden → Sky Greenway → Dynamic Tunnel → Dawn Redwood Mirror Forest → Art Tunnel → Kele Bridge → Youniantang Rest Stop
🚴 Distance: ~6.25 km
This article is a full English translation of content originally published by the Shanghai Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau on WeChat Official Account.
Original article: 最佳季节，美好户外时光！上海市中心也有人少景美骑行线→
Editor: Wu Weijia