Touring - Ride Around Taiwan

In the next year I'd like to ride around Taiwan. Does anyone have a route in mind? In a few areas I know there to be a lot of traffic, and was wondering if anyone has found an enjoyable way around some of them.

This was a response I got to a similar question over the the Road forum:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=6362285&postcount=17

(The thread is talking about a bicycle show in Taiwan.)

Hi,

I was in Taiwan 2002. Normally I don't rate my trips. But this one is under the Top 3.

My route (I'm in office) was roughly like this:

Airport - Taipeh - North Shore - Follow the Coast until entrance of the Taroko Canyon - Climb up to the highest road in Taiwan (3300m) - down to Sun-Moon-Lake - Ali shan - Kenting NP (southern point of Taiwan) - then back to Airport via Khaosung and Tainan.

It was a 3 weeks trip with about 1750 km. In the mountains you can choose some other highways if you have more time.

Regarding traffic: There is a lot, but not agressive. In the big cities (Taipeh and Khaosung) exists an own line for scooters. This is better than every cycle path regarding signs and surface. In general all roads are paved.

English isn't spoken at all...

So if you have any questions just ask. I'm during the Easter Weekend on a tour through Luxembourg so I can answer your question next week.

Thomas

I lived in Taiwan (Kaohsiung) for two years. I would say focus on the east coast and skip the west coast entirely. The entire western side of the island is completely developed and it won't be nice riding. The eastern side, however, is gorgeous! If there is no "reason" for wanting to go all the way around, I wouldn't bother.

The entire western side of the island is completely developed and it won't be nice riding

But all the cultural interesting sights (mainly temples) are on the west coast. I liked specially the temples in Tainan. The cities are separated by a small rice fields and that's from the nature and there are some beaches (not so beautiful ones). If someone wants to visit Kenting NP and flys back from Taipeh international airport has two options:
Cycle through the megacity "Khaosiung/Taipeh" or go back over mountains. From the traffic point of view you can decide in the country. It's the same like going from Taipeh international airport to Taipeh downtown.

For me it was a question of time: In the mountains I couldn't go 110 km/day and visit something (like on the westcoast)

Thomas

I am planning a ride this year, the route is very similar to #3 reply
except I start by going over Yangmingshan rather than head south directly
from Taipei

http://www.pbase.com/dlghg/image/93223347

some routes here
http://www.formosanfattire.com/trails/
check out Team Tai-Rooga (Taroko) and East Coast Trippin'

I was in Taiwan 2002. Normally I don't rate my trips. But this one is under the Top 3.

I'm very curious where the other 2 trips were that make your top 3

Hi

okay quick a more detailed description of my tour:

Airport - Coast - Taipeh (don't forget to pick the free bilingual map from the tourist office at the airport. You'll need it)
Taipeh - Yangmingshan -Chinshan - Keelung - along the coast to Suao
Suao - Taroko
Taroko - Puli - Sun Moon Lake - Ali Shan
Ali Shan - Chungpun - Tsengwen Reservoir - Yuching -Chisan - Puntung -Kengting
Kengting - Kaohsiung - Tainan
Tainan - Coral Lake - Chiay
Chiay - Taichung - Chunan - Shimen Reservoir - Airport Taipeh

On the last part of the tour I need to look into my documents more detailed, because the spring with the open flame I do not find in the map it's some in the westside of the mountains. If someone interested I will have a deeper look.

And if anyone has questions don't hesitate to ask. The leg: Taipeh - Ali Shan is fantastic one of most beautiful roads I ever cycled.

Thomas