Once a busy road linking Shanghai and Hangzhou, the Wengjin Line on the famous Qiantang River in Haining City of east China's Zhejiang Province -- home to the world's largest tidal bore -- is now transforming from a transport artery into a greenway for leisure and fitness. Running parallel to the Qiantang River, it has become a popular route for locals to cycle, run and watch the spectacular tides.
When the famous Qiantang tidal bore rolls in, riders will race to chase the waves, earning themselves a local nickname -- tide chasers.
Local cycling enthusiast Zhu Huahua said the tide's roar feels like it was beckoning.
"Many people call us tide chasers. Chasing and riding the tide have become a part of our life and have shaped the character of us Haining people," he said.
As the Wengjin Line continues its shift from concrete road to riverside playground, the cyclists who chase the tides are giving this once-ordinary highway a new pulse and purpose -- one that moves with the waves.
Also known as the "Silver Dragon," the Qiantang River Tide occurs at the Qiantang River mouth, where 10-meter tides are compressed and waves of up to some seven meters wash up the river at speeds exceeding 40 kilometers per hour, creating spectacular views.
Every year, there are about 120 days to watch or chase Qiantang River tidal waves, with the largest occurring on the 18th day of the eighth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.
Cyclists chase world's largest tidal bore on Qiantang River
