By MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network Editorial Department
 

Taiwan’s cycling tourism scene is booming. Not only loved by locals, many foreign travelers also enjoy exploring the island by bike. To further enhance the island-circling cycling experience, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Institute of Transportation recently announced that Taiwan’s first dedicated cycling route around the entire island — “Route 1 of the Island-Circling Cycling Highway” — will be fully connected by the end of the year. Centered mainly along Provincial Highway 1 and Provincial Highway 9, the total length is 936.5 kilometers. With just a bicycle, riders can complete the loop in just nine days!

Route 1 of the Island-Circling Cycling Highway connects various bicycle paths across Taiwan, with Provincial Highways 1 and 9 in the west serving as the main routes. Starting from Taipei’s Songshan Railway Station, cyclists follow Civic Boulevard to Nanjing East Road, then turn onto the riverside bike path. Riding counterclockwise, the route passes through western cities and counties such as Taoyuan and Hsinchu, then heads east near Fangliao in Pingtung to connect with Provincial Highway 9. This section offers beautiful mountain scenery in Taitung and Hualien. Finally, cyclists take Provincial Highway 2 to Yilan before reaching the endpoint in Keelung, completing the island loop. In addition, from next year through 2018, Route 1 will feature up to 13 branch cycling routes connecting famous attractions across Taiwan, including Sun Moon Lake in Nantou and the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum, making the cycling journey even more diverse and flexible.

Riding a bicycle lets you enjoy your own sense of freedom. (Image source / Water Resources Agency)
 

Along the route, rest stations are set up every 20 kilometers, offering services such as bike tire inflation, first aid kits, and drinking water. The path also features clear signage directing cyclists to bike stations, scenic spots, and convenience stores. Currently, signage along the eastern section of Route 1 has been completed, while the western section will be finished in October. It is expected that cyclists will be able to officially hit the road in November, experiencing Taiwan’s first dedicated island-circling cycling highway!
 

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