Taiwan offers an excellent cycling environment, as seen in this scenic Sun Moon Lake bike path.
According to Taiwan's China Times, mainland tourists visiting Taiwan are not only exploring freely but also going crazy for cycling tours. Whether renting or bringing their own bikes, they pedal through mountains and seas, fully embracing Taiwan. From the North Coast to Kenting in the south. The feeling after finishing is “I rode in the wind of the Pacific, and I love the people of the Pacific.” Some also say, “This is the place I’ve been looking for all along.”
When leaving Taiwan, if you ask most people what their favorite place is, the answer is almost always “Hualien and Taitung.” As for the overall impression of Taiwan, it might be just as described by the Sina blog “Sailor on the Road”: At this moment, these words keep surfacing in my heart: Yes, this is it. It’s as if this is the place I’ve been searching for all along—this is my home.
After completing the island loop, most mainland tourists give a big thumbs up. Zhang Nuo from Guangzhou even described cycling in Taiwan as “like being in heaven.” This charm continues to spread online, attracting more people to come to Taiwan to fulfill their cycling dreams.
A few months ago, several students were scouring the internet in Shanghai when they found “Rent a Bike Crazy.” After comparing prices, bike models, and services, they flew to Taiwan and walked into the completely unfamiliar Guandu Bike Shop. The young boss, in his early 30s, Li Zong [surname redacted], taught them how to use the bikes. They set off immediately and in no time were pedaling past shimmering coastlines and verdant mountains.
Although the group had done their homework on where to eat during the island loop, they hadn’t been to Taiwan before and still couldn’t understand a lot of things, so they called the boss. The boss once again reminded them, “If you buy something and it’s too heavy or too much to bring back, just send it all back.” So, Li Zong’s shop soon received packages labeled “parcels from Taiwan,” full of strange items, and the online forum posts were filled with anecdotes.
“They came to Taiwan not just to cycle around the island, but also to make friends.” Li Zong said, pointing to the photos on the shop wall. “These are them. They had such a great time cycling in Taiwan. The transportation was convenient, and they felt at ease here.” The mainland tourists who returned to the shop often treated it as another home in Taiwan. Saying goodbye to everyone felt like parting with another family member in Taiwan.
At the Giant Taoyuan Store No. 2, staff were busy helping mainland tourists who had completed the island loop pack their bikes, calling taxis to take them to the airport. Everyone took photos at the store entrance, sun-tanned and smiling like the warm sun of southern Taiwan.
Another group took a different route. Some brought their own bikes to Taiwan, and after completing the loop, either took them back, sold them to the bike shop, or even gave them away. Others arrived empty-handed, bought new bikes in Taiwan, and after the loop asked the shop staff to pack their bikes—bicycles that carried back 100% of their memories.