The urban cycle

Upon reaching the pinnacle of an arched bridge, I noticed many people pausing to take in the view. Their gaze led me to such a sight: in the distance, the contours of mountains are cloaked in a rosy-orange hue from the setting sun, a spectacle mirrored upon the lake's tranquil, glistening surface. Two boats serenely glided by in tandem on the lake, making their way through the bridge's arched passage where I was standing.

It is a moment that has left me grasping at the shortage of vocabulary to truly convey my feelings.

The cycling tour around West Lake covered approximately 13 kilometers, but we were both reluctant to draw our day's ride to a close. Consequently, we decided to explore the greenway along the banks of the Qiantangjiang River. In November 2022, the Qiantangjiang Greenway, spanning over 1,000 kilometers, opened, swiftly establishing itself as a must-visit for local cyclists.

Unlike the bustling crowds of tourists around West Lake, it was here along the river that I truly felt the city's fervor for sports.

On, and near, the greenway, we encountered groups of cyclists chiming their bells, individuals clad in T-shirts jogging, youngsters skateboarding and surfskating with finesse, and elderly couples gracefully partaking in ballroom dancing. Even children reveled in play, digging and scrabbling in the sandpits. Against the backdrop of the city's neon lights, these scenes came to life in an exceptionally vivid manner.

Our cycling odyssey ultimately concluded in the vicinity of Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, and the total distance covered was nearly 50 kilometers.

It was then I realized that the stadium where I had watched several Asian Games and Asian Para Games events was separated from the Qiantangjiang Greenway by only a single road. The diverse scenes of local residents participating in various sports activities along the greenway authentically echoed the spirit of both grand sporting galas, clearly embodying the legacy of the Games in Hangzhou.