How to Cycle Around Taiwan? Travel Books and Apps Help Make Your Dream Come True

▲The bicycle round-the-island travel book launched by the MOTC’s Institute of Transportation. (Photo / Reporter Lin Rui-kang)

By Reporter Lin Rui-kang / Taipei

The annual “Taiwan Cycling Festival” series of events will run from October 8 through November 13. In addition to ongoing events such as the “King of the Mountains Challenge,” “Round-the-Island,” and “Carnival,” the most attention-grabbing this year isthe “Bicycle Round-the-Island Travel Book” and “Round-the-Island Cycling Dream App,” which were created by the MOTC’s Institute of Transportation over two years by collecting data on the Route 1 Island-Circling Network and an 11-day cycling itinerary, enabling the public to fulfill their dream of cycling around Taiwan with just a book or app..

The “Bicycle Round-the-Island Travel Book” launched by the MOTC’s Institute of Transportation is titled 《At This Pace, Round-the-Island Is Just Right》. Based on the number of cycling days, it helps plan a “9+2” day island-circling route, includinginformation on cycling routes, altitude, local culture, cuisine, specialties, scenic spots, accommodations, supply stations, and transfer hubs.Get all the information in one go.

According to the book’s plan, Day 1 covers Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, and Hsinchu County; Day 2 includes Hsinchu City, Miaoli, and Taichung; Day 3 features Changhua, Yunlin, and Chiayi County. For a more in-depth experience, you can add two extra days to visit Nantou and ride the Sun Moon Lake Cycling Trail. If Nantou isn’t on your agenda, Day 4 takes you to Tainan and Kaohsiung; Day 5 heads to Pingtung to enjoy the beauty of Taiwan’s southernmost point; Day 6 goes to Taitung to start experiencing the beauty of Eastern Taiwan; Day 7 reaches Hualien; Day 8 arrives in Yilan; and Day 9 returns to Taipei via Keelung.

The Institute of Transportation noted that the book took two years to compile and is available for purchase at National Taiwan Bookstore, Wu-Nan Book Inc., and the Institute itself.

▲The “Round-the-Island Cycling Dream” app is expected to be available for download in mid-October. (Photo / Reporter Lin Rui-kang)

Additionally, the “Round-the-Island Cycling Dream App” is essentially the digital version of the travel book. By downloading the app, users can also view the “9+2” day cycling itinerary, and the app can record personal riding tracks, alerting users if their route deviates. The Institute of Transportation stated that the “Round-the-Island Cycling Dream App” is currently in testing andis expected to be launched for public download in mid-October..