Qingjing Farm Road Cycling Guide: The Magnificent High-Mountain Scenery of Highway 14A

Qingjing Farm, sitting at an elevation of about 1,748 meters in Ren’ai Township, Nantou County, is one of Taiwan’s most famous high-mountain tourist farms. On holidays, its European-style buildings, green slopes, and cloud-sea views draw huge crowds, but for road cyclists, the real appeal of Qingjing lies in the climb along Highway 14A — from Puli, riders ascend this famous mountain road all the way to Qingjing, covering roughly 38 km with about 1,300 m of cumulative elevation gain.

Basic Route Information

Segment-by-Segment Breakdown

Puli to Wushe (0–22 km)

This is the relatively gentle opening section, following Highway 14 into Ren’ai Township. After passing the junction toward Sun Moon Lake and Wushe, the road gradually enters the mountains.

The historical background of the Wushe Incident:
Wushe is where the 1930 “Wushe Incident” took place — an uprising led by Mona Rudao, chief of the Mehebu group of the Seediq indigenous people, against Japanese colonial rule. It stands as the largest armed indigenous resistance in modern Taiwanese history. The Mona Rudao Memorial is located in downtown Wushe, and the film “Seediq Bale” is based on this event.

Wushe to Qingjing (22–38 km)

Past Wushe begins the true climbing section. The gradient rises steadily from about 4% to 7–8%, and this is the stretch most riders will feel the most.

Main sights along the way:

Cuifeng (approx. 27 km):
The gateway to Qingjing, home to several restaurants and guesthouses known for cloud-sea views. On clear days, riders can take in sweeping mountain views over what was once traditional Bunun hunting grounds.

Qingjing Farm (38 km):
The finish line. The farm features the “Little Swiss Garden” (a European-style landscaped garden), the Green Green Grassland (a sheep pasture), and numerous restaurants and guesthouses. A stay of about 2–3 hours is enough to see the main attractions.

What Makes Highway 14A Special: The Gateway to the Hehuanshan Range

Qingjing is not the end of Highway 14A — beyond Qingjing, another 14 km of climbing leads to Hehuanshan Lodge (approx. 3,000 m), and further still to Wuling (3,275 m). In other words, the Puli-to-Qingjing segment is really just the lower half of the full westward climb to Wuling.

If you’re planning to eventually ride Wuling, it’s a good idea to use Qingjing as an initial training target before tackling the full Wuling challenge.

Holiday Traffic Conditions

Qingjing is one of Taiwan’s most popular high-mountain tourist destinations, and holiday traffic is extremely congested, especially on Highway 14A, with large numbers of tour buses and private cars. Here are some tips for coping:

• Ride on weekdays: Traffic volume is only 20–30% of holiday levels, making for a much better riding experience
• Start early on holidays: Departing around 6–7 a.m. lets you clear the steepest sections before tour buses start heading up around 9–10 a.m.
• Stay to the right: Large vehicles are wide, so always keep well to the right when passing oncoming traffic

Fuel and Supply Plan

Estimated Time for the Descent Back to Puli

The descent from Qingjing to Puli generally takes 45 minutes to 1 hour at a conservative pace. Over the full 38 km, riders should pay special attention to:

• Several hairpin turns between Qingjing and Wushe (steep gradients, sharp bends)
• Increasing traffic volume on the section below Wushe
• Thickening mist in the late afternoon, which reduces visibility

It’s recommended to start the descent before 3 p.m. to avoid riding after dark or in fog.

Qingjing’s Seasonal Character

Conclusion

The climb to Qingjing is one of the most accessible “high-mountain farm rides” in central Taiwan. Its gradient isn’t extreme for riders with some training base, but the scenery upon arrival is a hugely rewarding payoff. Green pastures under blue skies, grazing sheep on the slopes, and the distant ridgeline of the Hehuanshan range make every tired pedal stroke worth it.

If you don’t yet have the fitness to tackle Wuling, Qingjing is the perfect starting point. And if you’ve already ridden Wuling, Qingjing remains a beautiful waypoint well worth visiting again.

Related Reading

• Qingjing Farm Cycling Route: A High-Mountain Road Journey from Puli to Qingjing
• Roads Around Taiwan’s Hundred Peaks: The High-Mountain Scenic Route from Wushe to Qingjing Farm
• Qingjing Farm Route in Nantou: A Paradise for Climbing Training
• Qingjing Farm Challenge: Overcoming the Mid-Climb Wall on Highway 14A