Hualien-Taitung Rift Valley Route: The Classic Yuli-to-Chishang Valley Plain Ride

Introduction

The Hualien-Taitung Rift Valley, sandwiched between the Central Mountain Range and the Coastal Mountain Range, is the broadest plain in eastern Taiwan. This valley boasts the cleanest air, the most fertile rice paddies, and the purest rural scenery in Taiwan. Among its many stretches, the road from Yuli Township in Hualien County to Chishang Township in Taitung County is widely regarded by cyclists as one of Taiwan’s most beautiful cycling routes — rice paddies stretching in both directions, the snow-capped Central Mountain Range as a backdrop, and the green ridgeline of the Coastal Mountain Range in the distance. The scenery needs almost no embellishment.

Route Basics

Route Options: Two Main Choices

Option One: Provincial Highway 9 Main Road (Efficient Route)

Provincial Highway 9 is the main north-south artery of the Hualien-Taitung Rift Valley, entirely paved and in good condition, with dedicated bike lanes on some sections — ideal for riders who want to complete the route quickly. Traffic can be heavier on weekends, so caution is advised.

Option Two: Valley Back Lanes (Recommended Route)

From Yuli, ride through the farmland of Fuli Township, connect to the farm roads outside Guanshan Township in Taitung County, and finally arrive in Chishang Township. This route runs mostly along agricultural roads with very little traffic and completely open views, letting you ride directly through the rice paddies. This route is highly recommended.

Highlights Along the Way

Fuli Township: Liushidan Mountain Daylily Fields

Every August and September, the daylilies on Liushidan Mountain in Fuli Township bloom in full, covering the entire hillside in a sea of golden-orange blossoms — one of Taiwan’s most spectacular flower displays. A short detour from the main route with about 5 km of climbing gets you there.

Guanshan Township: Guanshan Ring Bikeway

Guanshan has a 12-km bikeway that loops around the town, passing through farmland, a waterfront park, and rural villages. The surface is smooth and completely free of car traffic, making it the perfect rest stop along the valley route. Try a rice ball or rice cake made from local Guanshan rice for an authentic local treat.

Chishang: Paradise Road Rice Paddy Boulevard

Chishang’s “Paradise Road” (Tiantang Lu) has become one of the valley’s most photographed spots in recent years — a perfectly straight farm road lined with tall trees on both sides, with rolling mountains in the distance. Japanese media once called it “Taiwan’s most beautiful road.” The rice paddies around Chishang’s Dapo Pond also make for an excellent riding environment, with a well-maintained bikeway circling the lake.

Seasonal Changes in the Rice Paddy Scenery

The rice paddies of the Hualien-Taitung Rift Valley are harvested twice a year, and the scenery changes with the seasons:

• March–May (Spring Planting): Fresh green seedlings fill the fields, crisp and vivid
• July–August (Before Summer Harvest): Golden waves of rice ripple in the wind — the best time for photography
• September–November (Autumn Harvest): Brown fields after the harvest, with a quiet, expansive beauty
• December–February (Fallow Season): Some fields lie fallow and are planted with cosmos flowers, adding a touch of pink and red

Practical Tips

1. The Yuli-to-Chishang section is about 40 km one way. You can take the Taiwan Railway to Yuli, ride to Chishang, and take the train back — bicycles can be loaded directly onto Tze-Chiang Limited Express trains (a bicycle ticket is required).
2. The valley’s farm roads can sometimes be slippery due to irrigation water, so brake carefully.
3. Summer afternoons in the valley often bring afternoon thunderstorms, so it’s best to complete the main section before noon.
4. Bike rental services around Chishang’s Dapo Pond are well established, so you don’t need to bring your own bicycle the whole way if you’d rather rent locally.
5. Mobile signal occasionally drops between Fuli and Guanshan, so download offline maps in advance.

Suggested Rest Stops

Conclusion

Riding from Yuli to Chishang through the Rift Valley is a deeply affectionate gaze upon Taiwan’s land. Every inch of flat farm road, every row of swaying rice stalks, every mountain silhouette that greets you when you look up — all of it gives the rider a quiet sense of abundance. Taiwan’s most beautiful scenery is sometimes not found atop a high mountain, but within the fragrance of rice in this valley plain.

Related Reading

• Hualien-Taitung Rift Valley Cycling Route: A Journey Along Provincial Highway 9 Between Rice Waves and Mountains
• Hualien-Taitung Rift Valley: Taiwan’s Most Beautiful Cycling Stretch from Hualien to Taitung
• Hualien-Taitung Rift Valley Route: An In-Depth Cycling Journey Through the Valley Scenery from Hualien to Taitung
• Hualien-Taitung Rift Valley Cycling Tour: Taiwan’s Most Magnificent Long-Distance Riding Route