Taiwan Round-Island Cycling Challenge: The 9-Day Rules and Historical Records

Cycling around Taiwan is the ultimate expression of the island’s cycling culture — a loop of roughly 1,000 to 1,200 kilometers that lets you experience the island’s beauty and diversity at the closest possible range. The 9-day challenge is the most popular format, and this article lays out the complete rules, routes, and historical records you need to know.

Understanding the Round-Island Challenge Rules

What Does “9-Day Round Island” Mean?

Taiwan has no single official “round-island challenge,” but the cycling community has settled on a widely accepted set of conventions:

The Standard 9-Day Loop:

• Total distance: 1,000–1,200 km (depending on the route chosen)
• Duration: completed within 9 days
• Daily distance: an average of 110–130 km per day
• Start/finish: typically departs from Taipei and returns to Taipei after a full loop

Community-Recognized Completion Criteria:

• Must complete a full circuit of the island
• The Suhua Highway section (Hualien to Su’ao) is considered the toughest “checkpoint”
• The entire route must be ridden under your own power — no motorized transport
• A support vehicle is welcome but not mandatory

Common Route Choices

Clockwise Route (most common):
Taipei → Northern Taiwan → Northeast Coast → Hualien → Taitung → Kaohsiung → Tainan → Taichung → Taipei

Counterclockwise Route:
Taipei → Taichung → Kaohsiung → Tainan → Taitung → Hualien → Northeast Coast → Taipei

Key Differences Along Critical Sections:

• Clockwise: The southbound Suhua Highway offers spectacular scenery with more downhill stretches (riding from Hualien toward Su’ao is largely an uphill climb)
• Counterclockwise: The northbound Suhua Highway enters Hualien from Su’ao, with a different downhill profile that some riders prefer

Sample 9-Day Itinerary

Daily Breakdown for the Clockwise Route

Day	Start	Finish	Distance	Difficulty
Day 1	Taipei	Yilan	~100 km	★★★☆☆
Day 2	Yilan	Hualien	~95 km	★★★★★
Day 3	Hualien	Chenggong (Northern Taitung)	~110 km	★★★☆☆
Day 4	Chenggong	Taitung City	~80 km	★★☆☆☆
Day 5	Taitung	Fengkang	~120 km	★★★★☆
Day 6	Fengkang	Kaohsiung	~100 km	★★☆☆☆
Day 7	Kaohsiung	Tainan/Chiayi	~110 km	★★☆☆☆
Day 8	Chiayi	Taichung	~130 km	★★★☆☆
Day 9	Taichung	Taipei	~170 km	★★★☆☆

Hardest Day: Day 2 (Yilan → Hualien), the Suhua Highway section

The Suhua Highway — The Round Island’s Biggest Test

Section Highlights

• Distance: roughly 120 km from Su’ao, Yilan to Hualien
• Terrain: sheer cliffs where sky meets sea, interspersed with numerous tunnels and climbs
• Elevation gain: approximately 2,000 meters of cumulative climbing
• Road conditions: two-way, two-lane traffic shared with heavy trucks and tour buses — demands intense concentration
• Weather: can be closed during typhoon season, so always check conditions before riding

Riding the Suhua Highway Safely

1. Check the weather first: the Suhua Highway faces the windward side of the island, has a high chance of rain, and closes during typhoons
2. The Qingshui Cliffs section: located near Heping, this is the most visually stunning stretch of the entire route, with cliffs reaching 800 meters high
3. Sparse supply points: only scattered shops in places like Heping and Chongde — carry enough supplies with you
4. Control your speed: ride cautiously and keep speeds low on narrow sections and inside tunnels
5. Always use lights in tunnels: strongly recommended without exception

Preparing for the Round Island

Fitness Requirements

Riding 100–130 km a day for nine consecutive days requires:

• The ability to comfortably complete a single day’s ride of over 100 km
• Recovery capacity across multiple consecutive riding days
• Climbing strength (both the Suhua Highway and the Southern Cross-Island section involve substantial elevation gain)

Recommended training base: ride more than 250 km per week for at least three months beforehand

Equipment Checklist

Bike:

• Road bike or touring bike (touring bikes are better suited for carrying luggage)
• 4–6 spare inner tubes
• A repair tool kit
• A spare chain
• A pump

Luggage (you can bring more if you have a support vehicle):

• 3–4 quick-dry, sweat-wicking jerseys
• 3 pairs of cycling shorts
• A lightweight waterproof jacket
• Personal toiletries
• First-aid supplies (medicated balm, bandages, pain relievers)

Electronics:

• A GPS watch or Garmin cycling computer
• A phone (for backup maps and emergency contact)
• A power bank (at least 10,000mAh)

Accommodation Planning

• The Hualien-Taitung region gets busy during the summer tourist season — book accommodation 2–3 months in advance
• Choose lodging that can safely store your bike (bike-friendly hotels)
• Taitung and Hualien both have guesthouses geared specifically toward round-island riders

Historical Round-Island Records

Fastest Completion Times (Endurance Records)

Category	Record	Year	Notes
Fastest completion (men)	~38–40 hours	Recent years	Ultra-endurance, non-stop challenge
Fastest completion (women)	~50–55 hours	Recent years	Ultra-endurance challenge
Standard 9-day completion	Average of 25 km/h per day	Regular	The most common completion pattern

Participation Numbers

An estimated over 10,000 people complete a round-island cycling trip in Taiwan each year, broken down as:

• 9-day round island: the most popular format
• 14-day leisurely tour: suited for those wanting to enjoy the scenery and culture
• Challenge groups (3–5 days): a small number of ultra-endurance enthusiasts

The Meaning Behind the Round Island

For many riders, cycling around Taiwan is more than a physical challenge — it’s:

• Personal growth: facing fatigue and adversity every day builds resilience
• Cultural discovery: passing through 23 counties and cities, experiencing the character of each region
• Human connection: meeting fellow round-island riders along the way often forges lasting friendships
• Knowing the island: every kilometer pedaled by your own two legs deepens your understanding of Taiwan’s beauty

There’s a saying that circulates among Taiwan’s round-island riders: “Finish the loop, and you’ll fall even more in love with Taiwan.” That’s not an exaggeration — it’s the genuine feeling of countless riders who have done it.

Are you ready? Taiwan is waiting for you to ride the full circle!

Related Reading

• Around Taiwan by Bike: A Daily Log of Completing the Island Loop in 9 Days
• The 9-Day Round-Island Plan: A Complete Guide to Taiwan’s 900 km Cycling Loop
• Cycling Around Taiwan: Itinerary Planning and Supply Stops for a 9-Day Loop
• The Classic 9-Day Round-Island Itinerary: Daily Distance Planning and Lodging Strategy