Taiwan Coastal Cycling Map: A Complete Route Guide from the North Coast to Hengchun

Taiwan is an island, and its coastline is the island’s most unique boundary. From the rocky shores of Taipei’s North Coast, to the Pacific coastline of Taitung, to the coral reef waters of the Hengchun Peninsula, Taiwan’s coastline offers an astonishingly diverse cycling landscape.

Taiwan Coastal Cycling Overview

Taiwan’s round-island coastline totals approximately 1,139 km and can be divided into the following main sections:

Section	Highway	Featured Scenery	Difficulty
North Coast	Provincial Highway 2	Rocky shores, Laomei Green Reef	Low
West Coast North	Provincial Highway 61	Industrial landscape, wetlands	Low
West Coast South	Provincial Highway 17	Salt flats, fishing harbors	Low
Hengchun Peninsula	Provincial Highway 26	Coral reefs, Kenting	Low-Medium
East Coast	Provincial Highway 11	Pacific Ocean, indigenous tribes	Low-Medium
Suhua Highway	Provincial Highway 9 (Suhua section)	Cliffs, coastline	Medium-High

North Coast: The Rocky World from Laomei to Yehliu

Route Overview

Start: Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf
End: Keelung Waimushan
Distance: Approximately 65 km
Difficulty: Low (mostly flat roads and gentle slopes)

Highlight Sections

Laomei Green Reef (Spring feature):
Every March-April, the reefs along the Laomei coast are covered in lush green sea lettuce, creating the most unique ecological landscape along Taiwan’s coastline. As you ride through this section, the air carries the salty fragrance of seaweed.

Near Yehliu Geopark:
Although the geopark itself requires an entrance fee, you can see those peculiar rock formations from the road. The wave-cut terrain gives the North Coast a completely different appearance from the eastern coastline.

Jinshan Mysterious Coast:
Near Jinshan, there are several stretches of natural rocky coastline not listed on tourist maps. During low tide, you can walk out onto the rocks and experience the raw beauty of the North Coast up close.

Resupply Recommendations

Provincial Highway 2 along the North Coast has excellent resupply options:

• Shimen: Seafood restaurant clusters
• Jinshan: Hot springs (soak your feet after riding to relax)
• Wanli: Crab meat buns (local specialty)

East Coast: The Vastness of the Pacific

Provincial Highway 11: East Coast Highway

The East Coast is the highlight of Taiwan’s coastal cycling—the highway hugs the Pacific Ocean, with mountains on the left and the sea on the right. This cycling landscape is unique in all of Taiwan.

Route Overview:

• Start: Hualien City
• End: Taitung City
• Distance: Approximately 175 km
• Difficulty: Low-Medium (gentle terrain but long distance)

Section-by-Section Details

Hualien → Jici (approximately 50 km):
This is one of the most scenic sections of the East Coast. Niushan Beach, Shitiping, and Jici Bathing Beach—behind each place name lies a stretch of coastline with a different texture.

Jici → Chenggong (approximately 60 km):
Entering Taitung County, the Amis tribal culture begins to appear along the way. Sanxiantai is the most famous attraction, with its eight-arch bridge connecting the mainland to the islet, making it one of Taitung’s landmarks.

Chenggong → Taitung (approximately 65 km):
The route draws closer to the Pacific Ocean, and the branch of the Shuishan Highway (County Route 193) offers views of Taitung’s most beautiful rice paddy landscapes.

Special Section: Duli to Taiyuan Valley

After passing Duli on Provincial Highway 11, you have a choice: continue on Highway 11 along the coast, or turn onto County Route 197 to take the mountain route.

County Route 197 (Taitung’s “Back Mountain”):
This road is rarely traveled, cutting through Taitung County’s mountainous areas and passing through several indigenous tribal villages that see almost no tourists. The road surface is somewhat worn, but the scenery and cultural experience far surpass Highway 11.

Hengchun Peninsula: Taiwan’s Tropical Tip

Provincial Highway 26: The Loop Around Taiwan’s Southernmost Point

The Hengchun Peninsula is Taiwan’s southernmost geographic unit. Provincial Highway 26 loops around the peninsula’s coastline, offering a unique short circular route.

Route Overview:

• Start: Hengchun urban area
• Route: Hengchun → Kenting → Eluanbi → Jialeshui → Xuhai → (return to Hengchun)
• Distance: Approximately 80-100 km (depending on route choice)
• Difficulty: Low (mostly flat roads)

Most Scenic Sections

Kenting Main Street (at night):
Kenting Main Street may be crowded during the day, but at 5-6 AM it is a different world—no tourists, only fresh sea breezes and the distinctive vegetation scents of southern Taiwan.

Longpan Park:
Located on the Hengchun East Terrace, Longpan Park is one of the most spectacular spots for viewing the Pacific Ocean. The winds on the plateau are strong (Hengchun’s fall-season downslope winds are famous), but the views are boundless.

Xuhai → Mudan Reservoir Section:
This route rarely appears in standard cycling guides, but the route along Gangzai Creek into Mudan Township offers the most pristine cycling experience on the Hengchun Peninsula.

Hengchun’s Special Climate—The Fall Winds

From September to March each year, Hengchun experiences strong northeast monsoons (commonly known as “fall winds”), with wind speeds sometimes reaching Force 9-11.

Cycling Impact:

• With a tailwind: Feels easy, speeds can be 30% faster than usual
• Against a headwind: Even flat roads require more effort than climbing

Coping Strategies:
Make good use of the directional nature of the fall winds. Relax and enjoy the speed on tailwind sections, lower your expected pace on headwind sections, and don’t fight the wind head-on.

Best Months for Cycling Each Coastal Section

Section	Best Months	Months to Avoid	Reason
North Coast	Mar-May, Oct-Nov	Jul-Aug (hot), Jan-Feb (northeast monsoon)	Comfortable weather
East Coast	Mar-Jun, Sep-Nov	Jul-Aug (typhoons)	Favorable winds, no typhoons
Hengchun Peninsula	Apr-Jun, Oct-Nov	Sep-Mar (fall winds)	Avoid strong winds

Safety Reminders for Coastal Cycling

Crosswind Awareness:
On coastal routes, crosswinds are the biggest safety challenge. Especially when large vehicles pass, the airflow from the vehicle combined with natural crosswinds can cause a bicycle to lose control.

Response: Reduce speed and grip the handlebars firmly; slow down and pull to the shoulder before large vehicles pass.

Weather Monitoring:
Taiwan’s coastal weather changes quickly, especially during typhoon season (Jul-Oct). Check the weather forecast every day before departing, and do not ride along the coast before or after typhoons.

Resupply Planning:
Particularly on certain sections of the East Coast, the distance between two resupply points can exceed 30 km. Plan your resupply in advance and don’t rely on the assumption that “there’s bound to be a convenience store nearby.”

Conclusion

Taiwan’s coastline is a dialogue between the island and the sea.

Every time you ride along a coastal highway, that geographic experience of “mountains on the left, sea on the right” or “waves on one side, cliffs on the other” is a sensory impact you won’t soon forget.

Add coastal cycling to your Taiwan riding checklist—don’t just look at the mountains, look at the sea too.

Related Reading

• Taiwan’s Most Beautiful Coastal Cycling Routes: The North Coast Ride from Keelung to Yilan
• North Coast Cycling Routes: The Coastal Ride from Tamsui to Keelung
• The Complete Guide to Cycling Tourism in Taiwan: East Coast Line and Sun Moon Lake Loop
• Taiwan Round-Island Cycling Northern Section: Scenery and Challenges from the North Coast to Yilan