If You Want to Tackle the Tour de Taiwan Route Yourself: A Five-Day Cycling Travel Planning Guide

Ride Their Route at Your Own Pace

The 2026 Tour de Taiwan route runs from Taipei to Hualien, covering 635 kilometers in total. Professional riders complete it in five days, but you can take longer, ride slower, and gain a far richer experience.

Suggested Itinerary

Stage-by-Stage Highlights

Day 1: Taipei City

• Route: Start from 228 Peace Memorial Park, ride along Ren’ai Road to Ren’ai Circle, and loop around the city
• Sights: Presidential Office Building, the tree-lined boulevard of Ren’ai Road, Ketagalan Boulevard
• Where to eat: Yongkang Street, Jinfeng Braised Pork Rice, Din Tai Fung
• Where to stay: Taipei City (depart early the next morning for Taoyuan)

Day 2: Jiaobanshan Challenge

• Route: Take Provincial Highway 7 toward Daxi, Shihmen Reservoir, and Jiaobanshan
• Climb prep: The final 10 km up Jiaobanshan averages a 4-5% gradient, a moderate challenge for most riders
• Sights: Daxi Old Street, Shihmen Reservoir, Jiaobanshan Temporary Residence
• Where to eat: Daxi dried tofu, Shihmen Reservoir three-way live fish feast
• Where to stay: Daxi town or a Jiaobanshan homestay

Day 4: Kaohsiung Fo Guang Shan to Meinong

• Route: Fo Guang Shan → Qishan → Meinong → Liugui (optional) → return to Kaohsiung
• Sights: Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center, Qishan Old Street, Meinong Hakka Cultural Village
• Where to eat: Meinong ban-tiao (rice noodles) (a must-try!), Qishan bananas
• Where to stay: Kaohsiung City

Day 5: Pingtung Liudui

• Route: Zhutian → Chaozhou → Wanluan → Neipu → Liudui Hakka Cultural Park
• Sights: Zhutian Station, Liudui Cultural Park
• Where to eat: Wanluan pork knuckle (the culinary highlight of this trip)
• Where to stay: Pingtung City

Day 7-8: Hualien-Taitung Provincial Highway 9

• Route: Follow Provincial Highway 9 from Luye to Liyu Lake
• Sights: Luye Gaotai, Chishang Brown Boulevard, Ruisui Ranch, Liyu Lake
• Where to eat: Chishang bento box, Yuli noodles, Ruisui fresh milk
• Where to stay: Yuli or Ruisui

Gear Recommendations

The Difference Between You and the Pros

Final Reminders

1. Some sections of Highway 9 have heavy truck traffic, so ride with caution
2. March weather is unpredictable, bring rain gear and warm clothing
3. Book accommodation in advance, especially popular hotels in Hualien and Taitung
4. Don’t rush, the Tour de Taiwan riders have already done the hurrying for you
5. Bring a camera, the scenery along these routes is worth capturing

The 635 km route was completed by professional riders in 13 hours and 44 minutes. You might need 8 days.

But who says 8 days can’t beat 13 hours? The time you slow down is happiness you gain along the way.

Related Reading

• The Art of Tour de Taiwan Route Design: How to Plan a 635 km Race?
• Nine-Day Island Tour Plan: The Complete 900 km Taiwan Cycling Guide
• Taiwan Cycling Challenge: A Daily Record of Riding Around Taiwan in 9 Days
• Classic 9-Day Taiwan Cycling Itinerary: Daily Mileage Planning and Accommodation Strategies