The Qiantangjiang Greenway in Hangzhou is a hub for fitness enthusiasts. [Photo by Wei Xiaohao/China Daily]

During the Asian Games, I rarely found the time, nor did the idea ever cross my mind, to venture outside of this immersive bubble and explore Hangzhou, the host city.

However, as the ongoing Hangzhou Asian Para Games progress, perhaps due to the relatively fewer events, which allows for a less hectic schedule, or due to the alluring combination of the gentle breeze, the delightful scent of osmanthus flowers and the warm autumn sunlight beckoning from outside, I felt a strong urge to truly explore this city.

What could be more enjoyable, then, than a leisurely, safe, and energy-efficient bike ride around West Lake? So, a colleague and I decided to rent two road bicycles and set off at around 5 pm from the vicinity of Leifeng Pagoda, embarking on a clockwise journey around West Lake. As we pedaled swiftly through the lush shadows of the tall sycamore trees lining the road, I noticed that the tree leaves, under the soft afternoon sun, had different shades of green as they swayed gracefully in the light autumn breeze.

My favorite stretch of the West Lake ride was the 3.4-kilometer causeway at Yanggongdi, a scenic spot nestled to the west of the main lake.

There, we ventured across undulating bridges and paths. Going uphill, of course, demanded a fair amount of effort, but when descending, my adrenaline soared abruptly.

The refreshing breeze lightly grazed my skin, while the invigorating scent of osmanthus and grass permeated my senses. A mere turn of the head revealed extensive groves of water fir trees.