Little Red Bike celebrated its 16th anniversary on September 22 with a lively citywide cycling tour with the theme “Blooming Youth 2024”. Over a hundred enthusiastic riders gathered at the Children’s Palace Square to embark on a journey through the city’s vibrant streets and picturesque landscapes.

For 16 years, Little Red Bike has led riders on countless cycling adventures, exploring iconic routes like the West Lake circuit, the Ten Ancient City Gates route, and the scenic Xin’an River-Fuchun River-Qiantang River route. This year’s anniversary tour featured two options: a challenging main route and a more relaxed family-friendly route.

The main route, called “Wings of the Little Red Bike,” was about 14 kilometers along. Ninety riders set off from the Children’s Palace Square and cycled through Baochu Road, Shuguang Road, Yanggong Dike, Longjing Road, Shuangfeng Road, Lingyin Road, Yugu Road, Yuquan Road, and Beishan Street, returning to the Children’s Palace Square. This route showcased the city’s vibrant urban landscape, serene mountains, and the iconic West Lake.

The family-friendly route was about 7 kilometers long, half the distance of the main route. Ten families started from the Children’s Palace Square, traversing through Baochu Road, Shuguang Road, and Beishan Street. They completed a loop around the Baoshishan Mountain before returning to their starting point.

This event offered more than just stunning views. Little Red Bike also created seven collectible badges representing iconic West Lake landmarks: Lingyin Temple, Autumn Moon on the Calm Lake, Beishan Street, Yongjin Gate, Qianwang Temple, Wansong Academy, and Su Causeway. Riders could collect these badges at specific tourist service centers and assemble them into a beautiful butterfly. This interactive element added an extra layer of excitement and engagement for participants. Even after the event, locals and visitors can still earn commemorative badges by cycling the designated routes.