After 15 Years! Tour de Taiwan Returns to the Scenic Roads of Hualien and Taitung

We’re Back in Hualien-Taitung!

On March 19, 2026, Stage 5 of the Tour de Taiwan, the “Highway of Happiness,” covers 153.71 kilometers from Luye, Taitung to Liyu Lake, Hualien.

This isn’t just the final stage of the Tour de Taiwan—it’s a historic return. After 15 long years, the Tour de Taiwan finally makes its way back to the Hualien-Taitung region.

Why the 15-Year Absence?

Eastern routes had been absent from the Tour de Taiwan’s map for a variety of reasons (traffic control difficulties, logistical challenges, typhoon risks, etc.). But the breathtaking scenery of Hualien-Taitung has always been one of the most important elements of Taiwan’s cycling culture, and fans yearned for its return year after year.

In 2026, that wish finally came true.

Provincial Highway 9: One of Taiwan’s Most Beautiful Roads

Provincial Highway 9 is known as the “Highway of Happiness,” and the name is well deserved. Starting from Luye Township Office in Taitung and heading north along the East Rift Valley to the Liyu Lake Visitor Center in Hualien, the 153.71-kilometer route strings together:

• Luye Highlands: The hometown of hot air balloons
• Chishang: The golden waves of rice on Brown Boulevard
• Fuli: The daylily sea of Liushishan
• Yuli: The healing hot springs of Antong
• Ruisui: The sweet aroma of fresh dairy from local farms
• Guangfu: The ecology of Matai’an Wetlands
• Shoufeng: The emerald waters of Liyu Lake

Of course, the riders probably only saw the road surface and the backs of their teammates ahead. But for viewers in front of their TVs and spectators along the roadside, these 153 kilometers were a nature documentary of eastern Taiwan.

Race Recap

• Weather: 20°C, perfect riding temperature
• Average speed: 48.74 km/h
• Route features: 2 sprint points, 2 Category 4 climbs
• Total elevation gain: 895 meters

Midway through the race, a six-rider breakaway formed at the 50-kilometer mark, with members from Team Ukyo, Terengganu, St George, Utsunomiya, Victoria Sports, and KINAN. They built a maximum advantage of 1 minute 20 seconds, but were reeled in by the watchful peloton at the 106-kilometer mark.

In the end, 103 riders finished (94 of them arriving with the same time), with Paul Hennequin taking the win in the bunch sprint.

The Significance of Hualien-Taitung

The return of the Hualien-Taitung route isn’t just a geographical expansion—it represents the Tour de Taiwan’s re-embrace of the “island-rounding spirit.” A race called the “Tour de Taiwan” always felt like something was missing without the majestic mountain-and-sea scenery of the east.

Advice for Everyday Riders

If this stage has planted a seed of inspiration and you want to ride Provincial Highway 9 yourself, here are a few suggestions:

1. Best season: March-May or October-November (avoid the summer heat and typhoons)
2. Recommended duration: 2-3 days (not everyone can finish it in 2.5 hours like the pros)
3. Must-stop spots: Chishang Brown Boulevard, Fuli Liushishan, Liyu Lake
4. Accommodation tips: Ruisui or Yuli make ideal stopover points
5. Things to watch out for: Some sections of Provincial Highway 9 have heavy gravel-truck traffic—ride safely

The Tour de Taiwan riders conquered this route in 2 hours 33 minutes. You can take 2-3 days to savor it slowly. After all, happiness doesn’t need a sprint.

Related Reading

• Tour de Taiwan Returns to Eastern Taiwan After 15 Years: The Significance of the “Highway of Happiness” Stage on Provincial Highway 9
• Provincial Highway 9 Through the East Rift Valley: Finding the Purest Meaning of Cycling Between Serenity and Speed
• East Rift Valley Cycling Tour: Taiwan’s Most Magnificent Long-Distance Riding Route
• East Rift Valley: The Most Beautiful Cycling Stretch from Hualien to Taitung