UCI Gran Fondo Hangzhou Qiandao Lake

Date
Saturday 06.09.2025 - 07.09.2025
Distances
16 - 136 km
City
Hangzhou
Country
China
Website Contact

UCI Gran Fondo Hangzhou Qiandao Lake and Xiang Lake is a first ever UCI Gran Fondo in China and organized by the Chinese team delivering logistics for the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge.

TIME TRIAL

The time trial takes place on a 16km course on the borders of the Xiang Lake in one big loop with the start and finish located on the south side of the lake.  The course has beautiful vistas on the lake and is organized in a stunning landscape with a flat and fast course.

GRAN FONDO

The 136km granfondo on Sunday has its start on the east side of the Qiandao Lake and will make a big loop around the lake before finishing back where the start had been given. 

One climb gets the label of a category 4 climb, a 1,5km climb coming after 90km.  The rest of the course is rather flat with an elevation varying from 100m to 289m above the sea.

The landscape around the lake is a mix of lakeside roads, quiet villages and lush countryside with a well paved road and feed zones scheduled after 35, 70 and 105km to have a good split of options to refuel.

HANGZHOU

Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, is one of China’s most historically and culturally significant cities.  It is famous for the West Lake, a Unesco World Heritage site.  Marco Polo once described the city as “heaven on earth”

Key Tourist Attractions:

  • West Lake: A beautiful lake surrounded by hills, temples, and gardens, offering scenic boat rides and walking paths.
  • The Grand Canal: A historic waterway, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, that highlights China’s ancient engineering.
  • Lingyin Temple: A significant Buddhist temple with impressive carvings and historical significance.
  • Leifeng Pagoda: A pagoda overlooking West Lake, associated with the famous “Legend of the White Snake.”
  • Xixi National Wetland Park: A scenic wetland area offering tranquil natural landscapes.

 

QIANDAO LAKE

Qiandao Lake, also known as Thousand Island Lake, is a man-made freshwater lake located in Chun’an County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. It was formed in 1959 after the completion of the Xin’an River hydroelectric station.   The lake is known for its picturesque mountains and numerous islands (1,078 large islands and a few thousand smaller ones). Over 90% of the land area is forested.  

Beneath the lake lies the ancient city of Shicheng (Lion City), which was submerged during the creation of the lake. It’s a well-preserved city dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty.   Qiandao Lake is a popular tourist destination with resorts and attractions like Bird Island, Snake Island, Monkey Island, and Lock Island.  

XIANG LAKE

Xiang Lake, is considered as the “sister lake” of the famous West Lake and has a rich history with the Kuahuqiao historical site which reveals evidence of early Zhejiang civilization, including very old canoes.

The site offers beautiful lake views, bridges and surrounding natural landscapes with a more quiet atmosphere compared to the very popular west lake.

Cultural attractions are the Kuahuqiao Museum, Hangzhou Polar Ocean World and cultural villages.