Fifteen hundred cyclists race Hengshui Lake's wetland shores in Hebei

Sunny skies and favorable winds created ideal conditions during the day. "You are racing hard, but at the same time you get to enjoy the lake scenery," said Qin Dingzhuo, a rider from Zhangjiakou. "It really maximizes the riding experience."

Qin added that the route transcended competition to become an immersive tour of the city.

Hengshui Lake, often described as one of the most beautiful wetlands in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, is a national nature reserve, a 5A-rated tourist attraction, and a crucial ecological wetland.