The Complete Beiyi Highway Guide: A Classic Climb from Xindian to Toucheng

Introduction

Beiyi Highway (the Xindian-to-Toucheng section of Provincial Highway 9) runs about 58 km, with its highest point at 547 meters above sea level. It’s a legendary training ground for cyclists in the Taipei metro area. This guide breaks down the route into segments, lists key rest stops, and covers road condition risks to help you plan the perfect Beiyi challenge.

Route Basics

Segment-by-Segment Guide

Segment 1: Xindian → Pinglin (24 km, 500m elevation gain)

Head south from Xindian MRT Station along Provincial Highway 9, passing through Ankeng and Shuangxikou before entering Beiyi Highway proper. This is your warm-up stretch — the first 5 km are flat, then it transitions into a sustained 3–4% gentle grade. After Shiding, the road narrows, so watch out for minibuses and tour buses.

Segment 2: Pinglin → Shipai Summit (10 km, 380m elevation gain)

Pinglin is the halfway point of Beiyi Highway — a mandatory stop for water and food. Leaving Pinglin, you’ll hit the toughest stretch of the whole route, with an average gradient of 4.5% and some switchbacks reaching 7%. The Shipai marker sits at Beiyi’s highest point, 547 meters above sea level, and most riders stop here for a photo.

Segment 3: Shipai → Toucheng (24 km, descent)

The descent covers 24 km with a total drop of 542 meters. The “9 turns, 18 bends” (九拐十八彎) stretch is the most dangerous part of Beiyi Highway, packed with tight, consecutive curves and poor sightlines. Keep your speed under 50 km/h, and be especially careful around gravel trucks.

Key Rest Stops

• Xindian 7-Eleven: Warm up and hydrate at the starting point.
• Shiding Old Street: Famous for tofu dishes — a good brunch option.
• Pinglin Old Street: Try the Baozhong tea ice cream and Pinglin lunch boxes.
• Shipai Checkpoint: Vending machines for water (limited stock).
• Toucheng Train Station: The finish line, with local trains back to Taipei.

Road Conditions and Timing

Traffic volume on Beiyi Highway varies dramatically by time of day:

Weekends bring a flood of motorcyclists to Beiyi Highway, especially on the Shiding-to-Pinglin stretch. Riders are advised to head out at dawn and descend before 10 a.m. to avoid the motorcycle rush.

Practical Tips

• Training value: Beiyi is an excellent venue for FTP testing and long interval training.
• Warm clothing: The area near Shipai gets cold, windy weather in autumn and winter — bring a windbreaker for the descent.
• Emergency contact: Cell signal is spotty between Pinglin and Shipai, so bring a GPS tracker.
• Return trip: Take the local train from Toucheng back to Taipei (bicycle car included) — about 1.5 hours.
• Route extension: Link up Pinglin → Shuangxi → Fulong → Waiao to extend this into a 120 km challenge.

Conclusion

Beiyi Highway isn’t just a road — it’s a testament to the growth of cyclists across the Taipei metro area. From your first full completion, to summiting in under two hours, to weaving it into your training plan, every ride up Beiyi is different. Next time you ride it, try setting out at 5 a.m. — you’ll see a different mountain and different clouds.

Related Reading

• Beiyi Highway’s Nine Turns Eighteen Bends: A Cyclist’s Counter-Challenge on Motorcycle Sacred Ground
• Yilan Beiyi Highway Riding Guide: Crossing the Xueshan Range from Taipei to Yilan
• Beiyi Highway Pinglin Section 4km Analysis: A Climbing Trial for Taipei Riders
• Beiyi Highway (Provincial Highway 9) Riding Guide: Gradient Analysis of the 9 Turns 18 Bends