The most interesting roads to cycle in Taiwan. Not into cycling? The same goes up for driving a car, motorbike or hitch hiking.
Highway No. 11
Highway No. 11 is a provincial highway along Taiwan’s East coast. The highway is 178 km, starts in Hualien City and ends in Taitung City. Next to exquisite coastal views, you cycle along sunflower fields and the palm trees are waving above your head. Climbing up the steep cliffs is sometimes heavy but ultimate views and sweet rides down are an equal reward.
Interesting stops: rural surf towns Donghe & Dulan, cycle up country to visit 60 Stone Mountain (the lilies only blossom in August) and cross the Dragon Bridge to the Island of the Three Immortals.
Accommodation: along the road you find a lot of homestays, hotels, hostels and guesthouses as well as great local eateries in the small towns.
Highway No. 9
Highway No. 9 is the longest provincial highway in Taiwan at 476.1 km. The highway starts in Taipei City and goes to Fangshan, Pingtung. The part of the highway that is parallel to highway 11 is in the countryside instead of along the coast. The road is less challenging then highway 11. You pass flowerfields (60 Stone Mountain!), monkeys shriek in the rainforest next to the road, hot springs and small aboriginal villages.
Interesting stops: 60 Stone Mountain, Fuli, the Li Song hot spring, though they are a little bit more up country.
Accommodation: along the road you find a lot of homestays, hotels, hostels and guesthouses as well as great local eateries in the small towns. Most of them have a hotspring to relax after your work-out.
Tip: start or stop cycling this road in Hualien. The last part to Taipei is very challenging and almost one connecting tunnel, a hell to cycle.
Highway 14
From Sun Moon Lake we hitchhiked to Hualien, which was the absolute most beautiful mountain road ever, ending in Taroko National Park. If you visit Sun Moon, go by this road. The road is from Puli to Hualien and goes through Wuling “武嶺”.
Bring a charged camera because at every corner it gets better and better :).
Wow thank you so much! I m going to Taiwan by myself for two weeks and there s so much to do and so little time! It s hard to figure out where to go and what to do, especially since I ll be traveling by myself so camping and long-distance scooter hides down Highway 11 are probably not the best idea for me.
Taiwan is one of the safest countries in the world, I think it’s no problem. You can camp for free near police stations! Enjoy your travels its a gorgeous country!