When snow changes to dirt, the mountain bikers emerge

Sun Yan tightened her helmet and looked down the road as it curled toward the hills. Wind turbines stood above the green ridgelines, and the mountain air felt cool even after sunrise.

"Riding here, the views take your breath away," said the 27-year-old from Tianjin. "The open sky, the clean air — it feels like a completely different world from the city."

For many travelers, Chongli in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, is still defined by the 2022 Winter Olympics and its reputation as one of North China's best ski destinations. But as temperatures rise, the district takes on a different persona. The slopes quiet down, the roads open up, and cyclists begin arriving with road bikes, mountain bikes and a growing appetite for highland riding.

This summer, that shift is expected to accelerate. From May 19, passengers on the high-speed rail link between Beijing and Chongli will be allowed to bring bicycles on board, making the mountain district easier to reach for riders who once had little choice but to drive.

"I usually drive from Beijing or Tianjin to Chongli, which costs me more money and time," Sun said. "A train ticket will be much cheaper and more convenient."

For riders like Sun, Chongli's attraction lies in the balance it offers. Its altitude, roughly between 1,000 and 2,000 meters, is high enough to test the lungs without becoming punishing. The roads offer long climbs, open stretches and broad views that change with the terrain.

Sun, who has been road cycling for four years and has already gone through four bikes, said she first came to Chongli for winter sports and only later discovered its warm-weather appeal.

Now she returns for both.

One of her favorite routes is in Baiqi town, where an 86-kilometer ride combines flatter sections with steady climbing.

"It has everything — flat roads, altitude changes and great scenery," she said.

According to local tourism official Han Xiaoyu, Chongli now has more than 200 km of cycling routes, including road circuits, mountain trails and downhill tracks. More than 20 cycling events are planned for the summer, ranging from international races to family-oriented rides.

"Chongli's cool summer weather and mountain terrain make it a natural home for cycling," Han said.

That idea reflects a broader repositioning effort in Chongli after the Olympics.

Rather than letting its winter fame fade with the snow, the district has been trying to turn Olympic infrastructure and outdoor-sports awareness into a year-round life-style economy. In that vision, skiing is no longer the whole story. It is only one season of it.

Local bike shop owner Guo Ruifeng has watched that change take place up close. A Chongli native, the 39-year-old spent more than a decade working in Beijing before returning home after the Olympics. He saw an opening in the town's second season.

"Skiing is already big here. Why not focus on summer?" he said.

Guo opened a shop that rents and repairs bicycles, and he also started what he described as Hebei's first downhill racing team. Many of the team's members are ski instructors in winter and mountain bikers during the summer.

"The skills are transferable," he said. "In winter we teach skiing; in summer, it's mountain biking."

The overlap is more than practical. It hints at a new local rhythm, one built around outdoor movement rather than a single sport.

For Guo, and for many riders who now spend their summers in Chongli, bicycles are no longer seen simply as tools for transportation. "People ride for fitness," he said.

He has even mapped out a 100-km route linking Chongli with nearby Chicheng county, where riders can end the day with a hot spring bath.

As Chongli's profile has grown, he said the district has begun attracting cyclists not only from Beijing and Tianjin, but also from provinces such as Guangdong, Zhejiang and Yunnan, along with overseas visitors from countries including Malaysia, Canada and New Zealand.

What is taking shape in Chongli is not simply a new tourism product, but a new seasonal identity.

Li Wei contributed to this story.

Travel tips

How to book: From May 19, riders can reserve a spot on the train for their bikes via the 12306 app, with additional fees.

Pick your path: Cyclists can tackle the 86-kilometer Baiqi loop, which mixes flats and climbs with sweeping views. The bike-friendly Wutong avenue, with a length of 17.8 km, is great for beginners.