Best Bike Tours in Beijing

A bicycle tour of Beijing will allow you to experience the life and culture of the locals. Here are some of the best tours to do on your visit to Beijing.

Andressa García

Andressa García

10 min read

Best Bike Tours in Beijing

Cycling in Beijing | ©Matthew Huntbach

You'll love the exciting way to experience local life and culture, which the bike tour allows you to experience. During the tour, you will have the opportunity to see attractions such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven, as well as explore traditional hutongs, sample local food at street markets and enjoy the city's beautiful parks.

Thanks to the versatility of this type of tour, bike tours are among the best things to see and do in Beijing, and this is because this mode of transport is a fun and easy way to get around the city, to reach places that would otherwise be difficult to reach. In addition, during the bike tour you will be able to immerse yourself in the city and appreciate its fascinating culture and history.

1. Electric bike ride through Beijing's ancient hutongs

Beijing Hutongs| ©JapanVisitor
Beijing Hutongs| ©JapanVisitor

In the middle of this ride you will have the chance to discover the true beauty of Beijing' s ancient cities and learn about its culture and history as your tour guide will tell you everything you want to know about Chinese and Beijing culture.

During the ride you can also take thousands of photos of each place you visit to remember your adventures, while having fun exploring the local alleys, visiting Beijing's epic sites and experiencing the best of Old Beijing.

Interesting details

  • Price: You will have to pay around 125 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
  • Duration: It will take you about 3 hours to complete the trip.
  • Means of transport: The whole trip is completed by private car.
  • Advantages of this option: Helmet and bike hire is included. This is a private tour, meaning that only you and your group will take part. You will be accompanied by a tour guide. You will be offered bottled water throughout the trip. Transport to and from the designated meeting points is included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Alcoholic beverages, food and drinks are not included. Entrance fees to any of the temples and sites of interest to be visited are not included.

2. Half day private cycling tour of the Forbidden City and Houhai Lake

Forbidden City| ©cattan2011
Forbidden City| ©cattan2011

During the city tour you will see Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, and also enjoy a delicious local lunch overlooking Shichahai Lake, which is why this is one of the best tours in Beijing.

In addition to an extensive tour of all these places, you will also take an interesting bike ride along Hao Hai Lake to appreciate the scenery. Once at Tiananmen Square, you'll hop on your bike and start exploring the square and learning about its impressive monuments.

Details of interest

  • Price: You will have to pay around 235 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
  • Duration: It will take you around 3 hours to complete the activity.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is completed by electric bicycle and metro.
  • Advantages of this option: Lunch or dinner is included. You will also be accompanied by a professional guide. Transport from your hotel or accommodation is included. This is a private tour, meaning that only you and your group will participate in the experience. Metro, bus and bike tickets are included. Entrance to all sites specified on the tour is included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Gratuities are not included. Transport back to the hotel is not included.

3. Electric bike tour to see modern Beijing

Beijing Bicycles| ©Enrique RG
Beijing Bicycles| ©Enrique RG

While a great way to tour Beijing is to hop on a sightseeing bus that will take you around the city, you should add to that the opportunity to take an electric bike tour that will take you to explore the wonders of modern Beijing for half a day.

Your guide will take you to see the different sights of the city, taking in the ancient wonders of the hutongs in the Dongcheng district, with a special emphasis on modern buildings such as the CCTV building.

Details of interest

  • Price: You'll have to pay around €123 per person to enjoy this experience.
  • Duration: The tour lasts approximately 3 hours.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is done by bicycle.
  • Advantages of this option: Helmet included. This is a private tour, which means that only you and your group will participate. The use of the bicycle is included. You will be accompanied at all times by a tour guide.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Drinks and food are not included. Personal expenses are not included.

4. 4-hour private Hutongs tour with dumpling lunch

Yinding Bridge| ©sftrajan
Yinding Bridge| ©sftrajan

You will stroll through authentic Beijing hutongs, while experiencing local life in this historic area of the city. Some of the sights to see in this area of the city include several ancient hutong areas and the three lakes Xihai, Huhai and Qianhai.

Visit the Yinding Bridge and enjoy the atmosphere on this famous bridge over the lake. You will also have the opportunity to climb the steps up to the Drum Tower to enjoy a drum performance and views of Beijing.

In addition, you will get to know the lively Nanluoguxiang Street, taste some local flavours and visit the Wuyutai Tea Shop. You will visit other interesting places in the city, before heading back to your hotel or accommodation.

Details of interest

  • Price: You will have to pay around 256 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
  • Duration: It will take you about 4 hours to complete the whole tour.
  • Means of transport: The whole trip is done by bicycle.
  • Advantages of this option: The company of a tour guide is included. Taxi and metro fares are also included. Bicycle and helmet hire is included. Entrance fees to the Drum Tower are included as well as lunch. Entrance fees to the other attractions to be visited during the tour are also included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Alcoholic drinks are not included. Street food tasting is not included. Tipping is at your own expense. Personal expenses are not included.

5. Houhai Lake bike tour and private Tai Chi class

Houhai Lake| ©sftrajan
Houhai Lake| ©sftrajan

On this tour you will have the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable experience on the shores of Xisha Hai Lake, where you can participate in Tai Chi classes as well as take a bike ride around the lake.

The Tai Chi class lasts about an hour and during that time, you will be learning some basic Tai Chi moves, which will leave you wanting to go and enjoy some of the best Kung Fu shows in Beijing. Once the Tai Chi class is over, you'll hop on a bike and go for a ride around the Shichahai Lake area, enjoying the scenery and taking hundreds of pictures of everything you see along the way.

Interesting details

  • Price: The price of this experience is about 150 euros per person.
  • Duration: It will take you about 4 hours to complete the tour.
  • Means of transport: The whole experience is completed by bicycle.
  • Advantages of this option: This is a private tour, meaning that only you and your group will be able to participate in this tour. Transport to and from the hotel or accommodation is included. Bottled water is included. You will be accompanied by a professional guide. One hour Tai Chi class is included. Transport from your hotel or accommodation to the Tai Chi class is included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Tips are not included. Transportation to your hotel or accommodation is not included.

6. Ride through Imperial Beijing on electric bike

Beijing by night| ©Eneko Bidegain
Beijing by night| ©Eneko Bidegain

Experience the spookier side of Beijing on this ride through the city's street slums at night. You'll see how the locals come out to play, sing and dance the night away, so you can leave your bike behind and join them too.

You will also have the opportunity to cycle through the Forbidden City and enjoy the splendour of the Forbidden City in the dim light at night.

Details of interest

  • Price: You will have to pay around 65 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
  • Duration: It will take you about two and a half hours to complete the tour.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is done by bike.
  • Advantages of this option: Electric bike hire is included, as well as helmet hire.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Food, drinks and personal expenses are not included.

7. Huanghuacheng Private Bicycle Tour and Hiking in Huanghuacheng

View of the Chinese Wall| ©Dennis Jarvis
View of the Chinese Wall| ©Dennis Jarvis

During this eight-hour tour from Beijing, you will explore the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall of China, partly by bike and partly on foot. The beauty of the ride is that your guide will take you to different towns and villages, while telling you all about the Great Wall of China.

If there's one thing you'll love about this tour of the Great Wall in the Huanghuacheng section, it's that this is the only part of this wonder of the world that is lakeside, so you'll get to experience this mountainous terrain in all its splendour. Later on you'll be able to cycle into the countryside, and at the end of the experience you'll sample a traditional lunch.

Details of interest

  • Price: You will have to pay around 298 euros per person.
  • Duration: It will take you around 9 hours to complete the tour.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is done by bicycle.
  • Advantages of this option: You will be accompanied by a tour guide. Lunch will be provided. Bike and helmet hire is included. Transport in a private vehicle is included when necessary. Transport to and from your hotel or accommodation is included. Bottled water is provided throughout the tour. Entrance to the Great Wall of China in the Huanghuacheng section is included in the price.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Gratuities are not included in the price. Personal expenses, drinks and meals are not included in the price.

8. Beijing Brewery Bicycle Tour

Beijing Beer| ©Mr Thinktank
Beijing Beer| ©Mr Thinktank

On this tour, you will meet your private guide in the afternoon to go and enjoy some good drinks at the Slow Boat Brewery, which is quite famous in the city. Popular beers to try during your visit include Monkey's Fist Imperial, Moon Jelly Clear Ne IPA, Helmsman's Honey Ale and Las Musas Horchata Cream Ale.

Right after visiting the brewery, you'll stroll through the winding streets of the Hutongs and make a second stop at Jing A Taproom, Beijing's most famous pub. Finally, you'll continue cycling through some of Beijing' s oldest and most authentic hutong neighbourhoods, such as Nanluoguxiang.

Interesting details

  • Price: You'll pay around 100 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
  • Duration: It will take about 4 hours before the tour ends.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is done by bicycle.
  • Advantages of this option: You will be accompanied by a tour guide throughout the tour. You will be offered four IPA beers. The bike tour through the Hutongs is included and helmet rental is also included.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Additional beers are not included. Dinner and snacks are also not included in the price. Taxi and metro fares are not included. Tips are not included.

9. Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour with Biking and Hiking

Mutianyu Great Wall| ©Fabio Achilli
Mutianyu Great Wall| ©Fabio Achilli

On this tour you will travel to the Mutianyu Great Wall to see the architecture of Mutianyu. You will go to Mutianyu by private car and as soon as you arrive, you will swap the vehicle for a bicycle to ride along the Huairou Reservoir and enjoy the natural beauty around.

After about an hour, you will enjoy a delicious traditional Chinese lunch at a local restaurant. At the end of the tour you will be able to go sledging and then head back to your hotel or accommodation.

Details of interest

  • Price: You will have to pay from 308 euros per person to participate in this tour.
  • Duration: It will take you around 8 hours to complete the whole activity.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is completed by bicycle and private car.
  • Advantages of this option: Bike hire is included. You will be accompanied by a tour guide. Helmet hire is included. Transport to and from your hotel or accommodation is included. You will be offered bottled water and lunch.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Tips are not included.

10. Bicycle tour in Beijing with a visit to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen and Temple of Heaven

Through the Tiananmen Gate| ©Shande Villa
Through the Tiananmen Gate| ©Shande Villa

This cultural bike tour of Beijing's sites gives you a truly fascinating look at parts of the city you may not have known existed. During the tour, your guide will help you ride your bike and then take you to visit ancient huts and side streets of old Beijing.

After visiting Tiananmen Square, you will continue your bike tour to the Temple of Heaven. At some point you will enjoy a home-cooked lunch with a local family where you will learn about life in the city from a local's point of view. In addition, in the afternoon, you will take a bike ride to the Forbidden City.

Details of interest

  • Price: You will have to pay around 170 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
  • Duration: It will take you about 10 hours to complete the tour.
  • Means of transport: The whole tour is completed by private car and bicycle.
  • Advantages of this option: You will be accompanied by a tour guide. Bike and helmet hire is included. You will be offered lunch with a local family. Drinking water is provided throughout the trip.
  • Disadvantages of this option: You will not be offered tips to guide you during your visit to Beijing. Personal expenses are not included.

Why is it advisable to take a bicycle tour of Beijing?

Cycling in Beijing| ©YOMELAN
Cycling in Beijing| ©YOMELAN

I recommend a bicycle tour of Beijing to see parts of the city that you would not have discovered otherwise, and also because cycling allows you to discover the city at a more pleasant pace than in a taxi or on the underground. In addition, cycling allows you to cover more area than walking and is more manoeuvrable on city streets.

It's an experience you should include among your things to do in the city because, besides being fun and exciting, it allows you to get to know the history and culture of the city in a more authentic way and see places that don't appear in the guidebooks.