After 16 days of cycling around the island, 24 silver-haired seniors from Nanjing concluded their journey in Taiwan, with most members having returned to Nanjing by November 3. One member said they visited nearly all of Taiwan’s famous attractions during the 16-day trip, and although the journey was tough, the memories would last forever.
These 24 seniors from Nanjing are all over 60 years old, with an average age exceeding 65. They set off from Nanjing on October 11 and took the high-speed passenger ferry “Sea Star” from Pingtan, Fujian to Taiwan on October 14. Over the course of 16 days cycling around Taiwan, they covered a total of 730 kilometers. As of November 3, most members had returned to Nanjing, while nine others were already on their way back.
Team leader She Jianzhong said that in their youth, Taiwan felt so distant yet so captivating. Even after decades had passed, the faint dreams in their hearts remained. When the ship he was on docked at Taichung Port, “I felt as if I had just woken from a dream. Looking around, I realized my dream had finally come true.”
She Jianzhong said this 16-day cycling tour around Taiwan was organized after thorough preparation and drawing on the experiences of other cyclists who had visited Taiwan. During the 16-day ride, they adopted a strategy of starting intense and easing up later, focusing mainly on cycling while combining rides with breaks. “This approach suits our characteristics as seniors and also gives us ample time to visit Taiwan’s scenic spots and historical sites.”
The beautiful ancient town of Lukang, the colorful Sun Moon Lake, the coastal forest belt of Kenting National Park, Taroko Gorge in Hualien City… The stunning scenery of the island filled the seniors with joy as they cycled. Rows of betel nut trees, banana plantations, mango groves, and fields of red sugarcane covered the hillsides and fields, creating lush, vibrant landscapes everywhere. The seniors couldn’t help but exclaim—Taiwan is truly a beautiful and bountiful treasure island.
During the 16-day journey, these 24 seniors visited nearly all of Taiwan’s famous attractions, though they still had one small regret: “Of Taiwan’s top ten must-visit places, we saw nine, missing only the Penghu Islands; of Taiwan’s eight great scenic spots, we visited seven, only missing Yushan.”
She Jianzhong said that when their cycling team appeared on the streets of Taipei, it caught the attention of local residents. Two locals even took photos of them and mentioned plans to submit the images to a TV station for broadcast.
During this unforgettable cycling tour around Taiwan, the seniors cared for and helped one another like family. To reduce costs, they shared beds within the group, with two people sharing a single bed being common. Team member Wang Yaozong went out of his way to find accommodations, arrange meals, and purchase tickets for everyone. Wu Qianhua was busy taking photos for everyone at every attraction, while Liu Zhengtang stayed at the back of the group throughout, enthusiastically repairing bikes and inflating tires. Liu Jifang, a cyclist with a disability, didn’t shy away from fatigue, helping everyone buy tickets and playing a big role in reducing costs.
At 5 p.m. on October 29, the high-speed ferry “Sea Star” let out a whistle as it docked at Pingtan Port in Fujian, marking the end of the 24 seniors’ island-cycling journey. “We’ve achieved our dream of cycling around Taiwan. During our 16 days in Taiwan and in our interactions with the local people, there was a strong sense of closeness, with no barriers at all. Everyone we met were friends,” said She Jianzhong. He added that the Taiwanese people greatly appreciated their low-carbon form of travel by bicycle.