UCI Gran Fondo Hangzhou Qiandao Lake
Date
Saturday 23.05.2026 - 24.05.2026Distances
21 - 107 kmCity
Hangzhou
Country
ChinaUCI Gran Fondo Hangzhou Qiandao Lake and Xiang Lake was the first ever UCI Gran Fondo in China in 2025 and organized by the Chinese team delivering logistics for the Spinneys Dubai 92 Cycle Challenge.
TIME TRIAL
The time trial takes place on a 21km course in Liangzhou city with a back and forth loop to a turning point halfway the 21km course. Liangzhou is located 30 minutes northwest of the city center of Hangzhou
With only 11m of elevation, it’s a flat and fast time trial course.
GRAN FONDO
The 107km granfondo on Sunday has its start on the north side of the Qiandao Lake and will make a big loop north of the lake before finishing back where the start had been given.
Two climbs gets the label of a category 4 climb, a 2,59km climb (3.7% average) coming after 11km and another 1,73km climb (6% average) after 48km in the race.. the hardest climb is a cat 3 climb after 30km with a 3km mountain (5.2% average). The rest of the course is rather flat with an elevation varying from 100m to 326m 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 a feed zone scheduled after 60km where riders can refuel halfway the race!
The 107km route was the course as used during the 2022 Asia Games.
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.
ARCHEOLOGICAL RUINS OF LIANGZHU
The archaeological ruins of Liangzhu City, or simply the Liangzhu site, are a cluster of Neolithic sites located in the Liangzhu Subdistrict and Pingyao Town of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Initially excavated by Shi Xingeng in 1936, the ruins were recognised to belong to a previously unknown civilisation, termed Liangzhu culture, in 1959. The site was confirmed as an ancient city after the discovery of its city walls in 2006.
