Originally Posted by Chris L

I have done Lishan to Yilan in the opposite direction to you. I did it in one day as for me it was mostly downhill (Lishan is around 2,000 metres above sea level). From what I recall, your biggest challenge might be food rather than accommodation. Lishan has restaurants and plenty of hotels, but no supermarkets or convenience stores. Google maps suggests there's a 7-11 store at Heping along the way, but I don't recall seeing it when I went past (it was back in 2014, so it may have changed a bit since then). Heping might actually be a good place to break the journey if your legs are tiring on the climb.


From Lishan to Taroko, you'll have the 30km stretch on "Highway" 8, which will be a long, gradual climb gaining 600 metes up to Tayuling. I don't recall there being much of anything at Tayuling, but the road to get there is spectacular and highly recommended. Just be aware that the tunnel you'll pass through just before Tayuling is unlit, so it's worth ensuring you have good lights on your bike. There isn't really much else along that road apart from spectacular scenery... this area is about as remote as it gets in Taiwan. If you wanted to continue climbing after Tayuling, you could continue up the hill toward Wuling, which is the highest pass you can do by road in Taiwan (3,275 metres). It's definitely worth the effort for a few extra kilometers (from memory, Wuling is only about 9-10km beyond Tayuling, although the road does steepen a bit).


I don't know much about the road from Tayuling to Taroko as I've only ridden that particular road as far as the end of Taroko Gorge. It remains on my list of "unfinished business" in Taiwan, along with Mugua Gorge. Ido know that Taroko Gorge is spectacular, and you'll find justification for taking a LOT of pictures there.