Exploring Taiwan by Bike: 36 Cycling Experiences Worth Trying

Taiwan is a cycling-friendly island—small enough to circle, yet vast enough to take a lifetime to explore. From mountain peaks to coastlines, from bustling cities to tranquil countryside, every road in Taiwan has its own story. Here are 36 cycling experiences worth trying for Taiwan’s riders, arranged from the easiest to the most challenging.

Beginner Experiences (Suitable for New Riders)

1. Taipei Riverside Park Loop
A flat bike path along the Xindian River and Tamsui River, spanning over 100 kilometers in total, with no climbing required and family-friendly.

2. Sun Moon Lake Loop
Approximately 33 kilometers in total, gently rolling and easy to ride, even easier with an e-bike. CNN once ranked it among the world’s most beautiful bike paths.

3. Yilan Dongshan River Water Park
A flat rural route connecting the Dongshan River and the Lanyang River mouth, with healing pastoral scenery.

4. Hualien County Road 193
A hidden gem in eastern Taiwan, with less tourist bustle than Provincial Highway 11 and more tranquil countryside.

5. Taitung Chishang Brown Boulevard
A straight road through rice paddies, with distinct scenery in every season, especially famous for its golden rice waves in autumn.

6. Taitung Luye Longtian Bike Path
The most beautiful valley farmland route in eastern Taiwan, with organic agriculture and a simple rural atmosphere.

7. Pingtung Dapeng Bay Loop
A loop around the largest lagoon in Southeast Asia, with sea breezes and a relaxed, easygoing feel.

8. Tainan Anping Canal Bike Path
A waterfront ride through Tainan’s old city, connecting historic sites such as Anping and Eternal Golden Castle.

9. Kaohsiung Fengshan Xincheng River Bike Path
A green corridor within the city, offering an easy urban cycling experience.

10. Changhua Bagua Mountain Bike Path
Overlooking the Changhua Plain, suitable for family rides or health-oriented cycling.

Intermediate Experiences (Requiring a Certain Level of Fitness)

11. Yangmingshan Loop (Zhuzihu–Qingshan)
The most beloved suburban climb for Taipei residents, with captivating seasonal flowers and mountain mists.

12. Miaoli Old Mountain Line Railway Ride
A route along a converted abandoned railway, passing through tunnels and iron bridges, rich in historical character.

13. Pingtung Hengchun Peninsula Loop
The southernmost tip of Taiwan, pleasantly warm even in winter, with a stunning coastline from Maobitou to Eluanbi.

14. Hualien Taroko to Xiulin Section
The road entering Taroko Gorge, which can only be ridden during specific time windows and under certain conditions—magnificent but requiring careful planning.

15. Taitung Dulan Mountain Foothills Loop
A hidden route in eastern Taiwan, passing through indigenous communities and Dulan Farm, steeped in Indigenous culture.

16. Nantou Zhushan to Lugu
A hilly route through Taiwan’s tea country, especially charming during spring tea season, with tea plantations stretching across the hillsides.

17. Taichung Dakeng Cross-Ridge Route
A climb on the outskirts of Taichung, connecting Dakeng and Xinshe, passing mushroom farms and flower farms.

18. Chiayi Meishan Taiping Mountain
A branch of the Alishan range, with a pink sea of plum blossoms in season—Taiwan’s version of “falling snow.”

19. Kaohsiung Qishan to Meinong Hakka Town
A transition from plains to foothills; Meinong’s paper umbrella culture and Hakka village charm represent Taiwan’s cultural cycling at its finest.

20. Hsinchu Emei Lake to Beipu
Hilly countryside in northern Taiwan, especially beautiful during tung blossom season (April–May).

Advanced Experiences (Requiring a Training Base)

21. Fengguizui Full Assault
The most classic climb in Yangmingshan, a required course for Taipei riders training on hills, with superb views from the top.

22. Cingjing Farm from Puli
A section of Provincial Highway 14A, climbing approximately 1,000 meters, ending with stunning high-mountain pasture scenery.

23. Provincial Highway 14 from Aowanda to Lushan
An intermediate climb in the Nantou mountains; maple season (November) makes it one of the year’s most beautiful rides.

24. Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area Access Road
A long climb from Yilan to Taipingshan, passing through primeval cypress forests.

25. Lala Mountain Taoyuan Valley Route
A climbing challenge from Taoyuan to Lala Mountain, approximately 50 kilometers with a 1,600-meter elevation gain.

26. Hehuan Mountain East Approach (from Jingsi to Kunyang)
The eastern entrance to Taiwan’s highest highway, with gentler gradients than the west side, suitable for advanced amateurs.

27. Northern Cross-Island Highway (Daxi to Yilan)
Approximately 100 kilometers in total, crossing the watershed between Taipei, Taoyuan, and Yilan, requiring 1–2 days of planning.

28. Southern Cross-Island Highway (Tianchi Section)
Taiwan’s most magnificent cross-island highway section (parts currently still under repair), offering the ultimate high-mountain wilderness scenery.

Ultimate Challenges (Expert Level)

29. West Approach to Wuling (from Puli)
Taiwan’s most famous climbing challenge; Wuling at 3,275 meters is the holy land of road cycling, approximately 100 kilometers in total with about 2,600 meters of climbing.

30. East Approach to Wuling (from Hualien)
More difficult than the west approach, with steeper gradients and a longer distance on the east side—a challenge for top-level amateurs.

31. Wuling Round Trip (Single Day)
Starting from Puli, climbing to Wuling, then descending back via the same route or the east side, completing both directions in a single day—a top-tier Taiwan challenge accomplished by only a few.

32. Taiwan Mountain Grand Slam
A series event completing multiple designated peaks including Wuling, Sheipa, Taipingshan, and Lala Mountain.

33. Round-the-Island Tour (9–13 Days)
Approximately 900–1,200 kilometers around Taiwan, the most iconic long-distance challenge in Taiwan’s cycling culture.

34. 100-Hour Round-the-Island
Completing the island loop within 100 hours, requiring consecutive days of high-mileage riding—a test of physical and mental limits.

35. Three Islands in Three Days (Main Island + Offshore Islands)
A combined ride across Taiwan’s main island plus Penghu and Kinmen or Matsu, connected by flights and ferries.

36. All Townships Stamp Challenge
Visiting all 319 townships, cities, and districts in Taiwan—the ultimate exploration of Taiwan’s cycling culture.

Conclusion

Taiwan’s cycling checklist can extend endlessly. Every road offers different scenery in a different season, and every rider’s experience is entirely unique. From Sun Moon Lake to Wuling, from Yangmingshan to the Taitung coast, Taiwan offers every cycling enthusiast endless possibilities for exploration. Start checking off your list—your own Taiwan cycling story is waiting to be written.

Related Reading

• The Complete Guide to Cycling Tourism in Taiwan: East Coast Route and Sun Moon Lake Loop
• Selected Family-Friendly Cycling Routes Across Taiwan: Introducing Kids to Taiwan’s Most Beautiful Bike Paths
• Top 10 Mountain Bike Route Recommendations in Taiwan: Off-Road Paradise from North to South
• Taiwan Cycling Tourism: Package Tours Combining Homestays, Food, and Attractions