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The Daming Classic is a local challenge starting at around 200 m, breaking through the clouds and finishing around 1,450 m at a radar / weather station at the top. A good long climb for beginners, nothing too steep – with a 5% grade, makes for an hour to two uphill and a half to one hour downhill. Great views over to Qiandao Lake to the south, Daming and Qingliangfeng (with cool peaks to the north).

Basic Stats: 5 %, 1,250 m elevation gain over the main segment; 25 km up and 25 km down.

Interest: An hour FTP, a father son (or daughter) challenge, an Everest or two, a first proper climb, kudos seriously earned and one hill too many at the end of a very long day.

Surface: Generally ok to good but there can be landslides. Walk over if safe or walk around it.
Technical: Nothing too hard but be careful on the downhill. There have been a few minor crashes with people being too quick on the turns and / or over zealous on their front brakes.
Traffic: Very minimal, careful on the downhill corners. The odd cow and hiker.
Drink stops: At start / end only. A place to buy drinks and what is described by Sam McMorran as the best noodles in Anhui, even if you’re in Zhejiang.
KOM: Normal suspects.

Sir David’s Ascent – Daming South Route
Same mid point at the top of Daming but doing a loop to its east and going up the south side. Taking in hotspring villages, lunch stops, meandering up a river through wild flower meadows followed by bamboo forests to the steep section. Very nice and a personal favourite.