Beihuang Highway Mingchi-Baling Section: A Misty Forest Ride Beneath Lala Mountain

The Green Corridor of Northern Taiwan

The Northern Cross-Island Highway (Provincial Highway 7) starts in Daxi, Taoyuan in the west, passes through Fuxing and Baling, and climbs toward Mingchi at the junction with the Northern Cross-Island Highway in Yilan. The core section is about 75 km, with the highest point at Mingchi at approximately 1,150 meters above sea level. It isn’t as towering as the Southern Cross-Island Highway, but the density of its cloud-forest is rarely seen across Taiwan—the entire route feels like riding through a green tunnel.

Section Breakdown

Baling Bridge and the Lala Mountain Turnoff

Baling is the midway hub of the entire route, and the red Baling Bridge is its landmark. From here, a side road branches off to the Lala Mountain sacred trees (an extra ~20 km with steep climbing); if time is limited, it’s recommended to continue directly on the main line to Mingchi.

Is the Lala Mountain Sacred Trees Detour Worth It

Many riders hesitate at Baling over whether to turn into Lala Mountain. Do the math before deciding: from Baling to the Lala Mountain recreation area is about 18 to 20 km with another ~700 meters of climbing, and you have to ride the same road back down to Baling—that adds roughly 40 km and double the climbing to the whole ride, pushing total elevation gain past 2,800 meters. The sacred tree grove has 22 giant red cypress trees, with the oldest estimated at around 2,800 years old—truly awe-inspiring—but you must enter the park on foot; you can’t ride in. Suggested trade-off: if you have the fitness, the time, and are planning a two-day trip, the most comfortable approach is to stay overnight in Baling on day one, then tackle Lala Mountain light the next morning before continuing to Mingchi; if it’s a single-day epic and you want to get down on schedule, honestly skipping the detour and saving your resources for the Mingchi main line is the smart move.

Seasonal Recommendations

From March to May, the mountain cherries and green foliage are at their finest; from October to December, the maple leaves turn red. In summer, afternoon thunderstorms are frequent and fog rolls in quickly over the mountains, so set out early and return early. In winter, temperatures around Mingchi can drop below 5°C—be sure to dress warmly.

Supplies and Accommodation

Fuxing and Baling are the two main resupply hubs. Mingchi has a mountain lodge, making it suitable for splitting the ride over two days. Shops are scarce after Baling, so it’s recommended to top up two full bottles of water and enough food.

Baling to Mingchi: The Underrated Final 25 km

Many riders treat Fuxing to Baling as the main course, only to blow up on the stretch after Baling. In fact, those 25 km from Baling to Mingchi, with ~850 meters of cumulative climbing, are the hardest section in terms of feel: the road narrows, the cloud-forest sends temperatures plummeting, and after crossing Xicun Bridge there’s virtually no resupply. It’s best to set your strategy at Baling:

• Gear ratio recommendation: 34T chainring paired with a 32T-or-larger cassette to keep your cadence range open
• Fill both bottles at Baling (about 2 hours to Mingchi with no reliable resupply)
• Turn on both front and rear lights when entering the cloud-forest section; visibility often drops below 30 meters
• Feels-like temperature drops another 4 to 6°C from Baling—be sure to carry a windproof layer

Road Condition Reminders

Some sections have had temporary roads built after typhoon landslides, so watch for uneven pavement and rockfall risk. Passing space is limited, so control your speed on descents. The geology along the Northern Cross-Island Highway is fragile; after earthquakes or heavy rain, always check real-time road conditions from the highway authority before setting out.

What the Northern Cross-Island Highway taught me is how to ride in fog. When you can’t see 20 meters ahead, the only thing you can do is trust your rhythm and trust that the next corner is still there—and that’s also the answer to life when it’s shrouded in mist.

Related Reading

• Riding Into the Mist at Mingchi: An 18.5 km Ride from Baling into the Depths of the Japanese Cedar Forest
• Northern Cross-Island Highway (Provincial Highway 7): The High-Mountain Road Riding Challenge from Taoyuan to Yilan
• Baling to Mingchi on the Northern Cross-Island Highway: A Practical Guide to an 18.5 km, 3.2% Average Grade, ~592 m Climbing Endurance Test
• Deep in the Clouds: Riding into Mingchi on the Northern Cross-Island Highway, a Century-Spanning Transversal Road