Editor's note: Cycling is a great way to explore China, and for many reasons. Once known as the "Bicycle Kingdom", cycling is once again back in vogue, partly inspired by environmental concerns. China's cities usually have bike lanes. In the countryside, meanwhile, traveling by bicycle is a great way to experience a slower pace of life. Here we pick out 10 destinations, with four of them outlined below, and the rest provided in our next two issues. 

Take a Bike: Dali 

Dali has many names. Among them are "Geneva of the East" and "City of Flowers", because of the city's colorful culture, breathtaking nature and gorgeous climate making it suitable for various species of flowers.

Shanghai:  the best way to see the city

Shanghai is famed for its boulevards and French phoenix trees, which offer shade and pleasant surroundings.

My favorite route begins on Xinhua Road in the west and ends on the Bund.

Hangzhou: It's heaven on wheels 

For the average cyclist, Hangzhou offers a pleasant, safe, not-so-energy-consuming excursion around West Lake.

Yanggongdi is parallel to the famous Sudi. Located to the west of the main lake, the 3.4 km causeway is a relatively peaceful spot among all the hot tourist spots in the area.

Xiamen:  Sun, sea, sand and cycle

Sharing the same latitude as Miami in the United States, Xiamen is known as one of the most beautiful seaside resort cities in China. With its clean environment and picturesque natural landscape, it is no wonder that this sub-tropical paradise is dubbed "the garden on the sea".

Xi'an:  A wall with a great view

The city walls have a total length of 13.74 km and were built during the early years of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), though there were earlier walls built during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

 Take a Bike: Harbin

Some tourists like historical sites, while others prefer metropolitan cities. For the best of both worlds, go to Harbin, which has a delightful mix of historical Chinese and modern foreign cultures - gaining it the title "Oriental Paris" or "Oriental Moscow".

Beijing: Wheels It 

Apart from cycling to tourist destinations such as the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square, also go on the unbeaten paths to explore the hutongs (old alleys).

Guangzhou: Cycling brings surprises

The best way to know Guangzhou is by cycling and one will be pleasantly surprised by the offerings of this metropolitan city.

Hongcun exudes ancient flavor 

For a taste of ancient China, go to Hongcun in Anhui province, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There, you will find a cluster of ancient villages with exceptionally well-preserved Anhui-style architectures, dating back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Country roads take me to Yangshuo

Once in a while, city dwellers long to escape from life’s hustle and bustle, traffic jams and pollution. If there is only one place where city folks have time for, visit Yangshuo, a small rustic city surrounded by scenic mountains, rivers and caves.