Taiwan Road Cycling Climb Training Map: The Best Training Climbs from North to South

Taiwan’s terrain makes climb training available almost everywhere. Less than 20 minutes from downtown Taipei, you can already find climbing sections of every difficulty.

This Taiwan climb training map organizes the best climbs by region for different training purposes.

Greater Taipei Area

Yangmingshan Observatory Route

Route: Yangmingshan Park Management Office → Observatory
Distance: About 4 km
Elevation gain: About 350 m
Average gradient: 8-9%
Training use: VO2max intervals, FTP testing

This is the most commonly used timed climb among riders in northern Taiwan; its steady gradient makes power output easy to control. Many riders use this segment as their standard test for monthly FTP evaluation.

Beitou to Anbu

Route: Beitou starting point → Anbu (Erziping junction)
Distance: About 11 km
Elevation gain: About 750 m
Difficulty: Medium-high

Suitable for: long, steady-pace climbing (Zone 2-3), tempo riding training

Pinglin Section Above the Beiyi Highway

Route: Pinglin Old Street → Shiding mountain roads
Features: Relatively little heavy vehicle traffic, quiet mountain environment

Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli Area

Northern Cross-Island Highway (Bailing Section)

Route: Daxi → Jiaobanshan → Bailing
Distance: About 35 km
Elevation gain: About 900 m

Suitable for: endurance climbing training (long-duration Zone 2-3)
Features: Rich scenery along the way, can serve as an “enjoyable long-climb training” ride

Dabajianshan Highway (Zhudong toward Hsinchu)

Features: Continuous climbing through the Miaoli mountains, suitable for accumulating long-distance elevation gain

Central Taiwan Area

Hehuanshan (Provincial Highway 14A)

Route: Wushe → Hehuanshan → Wuling
Distance: About 55 km (from Wushe)
Elevation gain: About 2,100 m

Taiwan’s most famous long-climb training route, and the course of the Wuling Challenge race.

Suggested training segments:

Segment	Distance	Training focus
Wushe → Qingjing	15km	Medium-intensity tempo segment
Qingjing → Cuifeng	20km	Sustained FTP zone
Cuifeng → Wuling	20km	Lactate tolerance and high intensity

Taipingshan Lower Section (Yilan)

Route: Yilan → Renze Hot Spring → Taipingshan Lodge
Features: Multiple connected segments of varying gradients, suitable for designing interval training

Southern Taiwan Area

Alishan Highway (Provincial Highway 18)

Route: Chiayi → Alishan
Distance: About 70 km
Elevation gain: About 2,000 m

The most famous long-climb training route in southern Taiwan, suitable for riders preparing for Wuling to use as simulation training.

Liugui to Tengzhi (Kaohsiung)

Features: The entrance to the Southern Cross-Island Highway system, high-quality climbing with less traffic

Eastern Taiwan Area

Hualien Xiulin (After Qingshui Cliff)

Route: Hualien Chongde → Provincial Highway 8 (entrance to the Central Cross-Island Highway)
Features: Continuous climbing at the Taroko entrance of the Central Cross-Island Highway, high difficulty

Taitung Chishang to Haiduan

Features: The climbing starting point of the eastern section of the Southern Cross-Island Highway, with gradually increasing elevation

Scientific Design of Climb Training

Once you have training climbs, it’s even more important to know how to use them scientifically.

Zone 2 Climb Training

Purpose: Build aerobic base, improve fat-burning efficiency
Heart rate target: 65-75% of max heart rate
Power target: 55-75% of FTP
How to execute: Choose a moderate gradient (5-8%) and climb at an intensity where you can still speak comfortably

FTP Climb Training

Purpose: Raise threshold power
Heart rate target: 83-90% of max heart rate
Power target: 95-105% of FTP
How to execute: Choose a steady gradient and sustain threshold intensity for 20-40 minutes

VO2max Climb Intervals

Purpose: Raise maximum oxygen uptake
Intensity: 106-120% of FTP
Interval design: 3-8 minutes of high intensity + an equal recovery period, repeated 4-6 times
Recommended segment: Yangmingshan Observatory (4 km) or other short climbs

Building Your Personal Climb Training Map

Step 1: Find climbing segments reachable within 30 minutes of your home
Step 2: Test your baseline time for each segment (your personal “KOM” baseline)
Step 3: Choose segments of appropriate intensity based on your training purpose
Step 4: Track your time improvement on each segment every month

Taiwan’s terrain is a rare cycling training paradise by global standards. Make good use of these resources, and your climbing ability is sure to improve quickly.

Related Reading

• Recommended Trail Running Training Spots in Taiwan: Suitable Routes Across the North, Central, and South
• Mountain Training Methods for Cycling: Breaking Through Your Power Ceiling with Repeated Climbs
• Long-Climb Training for Road Cycling: Segmented Intensity Design for Taiwan’s Mountain Climbs
• Best Scenic Routes in Northern Taiwan: A Road Cycling Guide to Yangmingshan, the North Coast, and Jiufen