Taiwan: Hidden Asian beauty

Destinations in Asia are less often on a list for a next cycling adventure. Too far away, infrastructure not in order, or sometimes just unfamiliarity. In the case of Taiwan It is partly ignorance. After all, the KOM challenge gives the country a clear positioning. Yet there are still no complete pelotons heading to Taiwan for a cycling vacation. We think that’s a shame. Because Taiwan is the perfect cycling paradise for race cyclists in Asia. At least, if we were allowed to choose. Join us and enjoy it with us.

Are we dreaming?

Whoever ultimately made Taiwan seems to be a race cyclist at heart. It’s as if the bike gods designed it specifically for the two-wheeler. The infrastructure is of a fantastic level, the landscape is insanely beautiful, and the challenges are of a different level than a round of Limburg hills. To top it all off, there’s the climb of Wu Ling Mountain, The 105-kilometer climb from Hualien. In our search for beautiful routes, we quickly came across Cycle Route 1. Not Only in the USA Bike route 1 is one to get you in the mood to ride. Also Eurovelo 1 By the way, it’s worth licking your fingers.

Cycling Route 1

This total route is truly ‘quintessential Taiwan’. You can literally do a tour of the island and drive all the way along the coast in about 1100 to 1200 kilometers. In total, you will cover 8,000 meters of elevation gain and you will see the most beautiful beaches, you will pass by beautiful temples and you can truly discover Taiwan. Besides the sea, you will also find beautiful lakes and beautiful Asian gardens where you can stop and simply enjoy the moment. The routes in Taiwan change from extremely rough to more friendly. The advantage of the routes in Taiwan is that they are mainly made up of good cycling paths, which are separated from the rest of the traffic lanes.

More Lakes

Now that we’re on the topic of lakes: Sun Moon Lake and the bike path that runs through it (a total of about 16 kilometers) are well worth a visit. It’s the largest natural lake in Taiwan, and the surroundings are absolutely stunning. You’ll find this lake south of Nantou and southwest of Taichung.

More rounds? Go for a ride on a bike more often in 2024

North side

In the north of Taiwan, east of the capital Taipei, you can really get your adrenaline pumping when it comes to altitude. From Keelung you can dive straight into the mountains. In about 7 kilometers you will reach 400 meters above sea level. There you can tackle many climbs. This section is spectacular and offers good climbing difficulty.

East Coast

Further south, on the eastern side of the island, between Keelung and Hualien, the climbs are much steeper. It is also much rougher here. The percentages go well above 10% here. But you can create stunning circuits here. Check out our comoot page for more inspiration

Around the island

This is a road bike route in Taiwan along the edge of the island.

Around Keelung