Love chasing balls? Nine foreign bikers make a special trip to Taiwan to cycle and stay at a “temple”

▲ Team members from around the world came to Taiwan together to experience the island’s mountain roads and stay at Lishan Hotel. (Photo provided by Lishan Hotel)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong, Taipei

Whether it's leisurely cycling along the riverside or challenging mountain trails, Taiwan’s cycling environment holds immense appeal for riders. This “kingdom of cycling” is not only beloved by local cyclists but also attracts many adventurous international “cyclists” who want to experience the joy of biking here.

Recently, Lishan Hotel, located on the Central Cross-Island Highway, hosted a group of cyclists from Ireland, Germany, and the UK, turning their visit into an extraordinary cultural exchange journey.

Deputy Marketing Director of Lishan HotelLin Minzhengrevealed that several months ago, a foreign netizen contacted Lishan Hotel via Facebook, expressing interest in choosing the hotel as the accommodation for their cycling team.

The scenic Central Cross-Island Highway is a popular route that many cyclists love to challenge, but“foreign cyclists would actually come all the way to Taiwan to ride bikes and specifically request to stay at Lishan Hotel”—this idea still excited the entire staff of Lishan Hotel.

On April 21, a nine-member cycling team led by Irishman Mark arrived at Lishan Hotel after a long ride from Taroko. Except for Robbie, who had done online research while booking the room, some members were not familiar with Lishan Hotel’s history or architectural features, and they even had doubts upon arrival:“How did we end up staying in a temple?”

▲ The unique traditional Chinese exterior of Lishan Hotel made unfamiliar team members think they were staying in a temple. (Photo from Lishan Hotel’s Facebook)

Lishan Hotel was once the primary residence of former President Chiang Kai-shek for hosting guests and conducting official events. Its iconic bright red architecture, designed by the same architect behind Taipei’s Grand Hotel and Kaohsiung’s Grand Hotel, also makes it the highest palace-style hotel in Taiwan.

To help the cyclists better understand the hotel’s history, Lishan Hotel arranged for a guide to provide explanations and treated them to authentic Lishan black tea, Lishan oolong tea, and alpine-style meals. Among these,Lishan black teawith its taste similar to British black tea yet possessing a distinctive flavor, left the nine foreign cyclists amazed.

▲ Through the guide’s introduction, the team members gained a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese architecture. (Photo provided by Lishan Hotel)

After communicating with the team members, Lishan Hotel staff learned that this mixed-gender group of nine cyclists came from countries including the UK and Germany. Sharing a passion for cycling, they choose a different country each year to explore by bike, experiencing the local culture and natural scenery firsthand. Drawn by Taiwan’s mountain landscapes and the unique charm of Lishan Hotel, they selected Taiwan’s most renowned high-altitude cycling route this year—riding from Hualien to Lishan Hotel, then continuing through Yilan back to Taipei.

The period between July and August is the peak season in Lishan due to the fruit harvest, but considering weather conditions and alpine scenery,April to May is the best time for cycling.

▲ Team members unanimously praised Taiwan’s stunning mountain landscapes. (Photo from Lishan Hotel’s Facebook)

Lin Minzheng said that after admiring the beautiful sights of Hualien, Tarako, and Lishan, the team agreed that Taiwan’s mountain roads were incredibly scenic, and Lishan Hotel offered a uniquely novel experience. They even called cycling in Taiwan “great value.” Robbie, who handled the booking, also left glowing feedback on a review website after returning home:“Incredibly friendly staff, breathtaking location, iconic building!”This praise further highlights Taiwan’s outstanding cycling environment.

%ji panbi? huai de robbie sangliao dian ping wang zhan shang zan song tai wan de fu wu, zhu su yu mei jing. (Photo from TripAdvisor website)