Taiwan is the home of Giant and Merida, two of the world’s largest bicycle makers, and it treats cycling as a national pastime. Riding round the whole island, known as “huandao”, is a rite of passage for Taiwanese students and office workers, and since 2015 a signposted route has made it easy: Taiwan Cycling Route No.1, about 960 km from Songshan station in Taipei, round the coast and back.
The island packs a lot into a small space. You can ride flat riverside paths through Taipei in the morning, and the same week climb from sea level to Wuling pass at 3,275 m, one of the hardest paved climbs in Asia. In between are the lakeshore loop at Sun Moon Lake, the rice fields of the East Rift Valley near Taitung, and old railway lines turned into bike paths around Taichung.
Convenience stores every few kilometres, frequent trains and cheap guesthouses keep logistics simple. Ride from October to April and avoid typhoon season.
At a Glance#
- The big tour: Taiwan Cycling Route No.1, about 960 km round the island from Taipei, usually ridden in nine to twelve days.
- The big climb: from the coast near Hualien through Taroko to Wuling pass at 3,275 m, the course of the Taiwan KOM Challenge.
- Easy scenic loop: the roughly 30 km lakeshore ride around Sun Moon Lake.
- Countryside: the East Rift Valley between Hualien and Taitung, with flat loops through rice fields at Guanshan and Chishang.
- Rail trails: the Dongfeng and Houfeng bikeways near Taichung and the Old Caoling Tunnel on the northeast coast.
- City riding: riverside paths and YouBike shared bikes in Taipei, Kaohsiung and other cities.
- Season: October to April; summer is hot and typhoons hit from July to October.
Route No.1 round the island#
Route No.1 runs anticlockwise by convention, down the west coast, round the southern tip near Kenting, up the east coast and back over the northeast to Taipei. The official length is about 960 km, signed with blue and white markers and painted road symbols, and police stations and many convenience stores along the way offer water, pumps and toilets. Most riders allow nine days; twelve is more relaxed.
The sections differ a lot. The west coast is flat, busy and industrial in places, so many tourers take the train through parts of it. The south has the steep crossing of the Southern Link Highway from Fangshan to Taitung. The east is the highlight: the Pacific coast road, the East Rift Valley, and the Suhua Highway’s cliffs north of Hualien, which are narrow and heavy with trucks. Branch routes signed 1-1, 1-2 and so on take quieter alternatives.
Guided huandao tours with a support van and hotels are sold by Giant and other operators, and are popular with Taiwanese riders as well as visitors.
Taroko and Wuling#
The Taiwan KOM Challenge, held each autumn, climbs 105 km from Qixingtan beach near Hualien through Taroko Gorge to Wuling pass at 3,275 m, the highest point of Taiwan’s road network. The road above the gorge, past Tianxiang and Dayuling, is steep, cold near the top and often in cloud. You can also climb Wuling from the west via Puli and Cingjing, the more common route for amateurs.
Since the April 2024 earthquake, the gorge road through Taroko has had closures and timed openings, and in 2025 the KOM used a new, longer course. Check the road status before planning a ride through the gorge.
Sun Moon Lake and central Taiwan#
Sun Moon Lake in Nantou has a lakeshore loop of about 30 km, mixing dedicated bike paths, boardwalks over the water and some short hills on the road. Rental shops near Shuishe pier hire bikes and e-bikes by the hour, and the lake boat can carry you across if you tire. Look out for Lalu Island, sacred to the Thao people, in the middle of the lake.
Around Taichung, the Houfeng Bikeway follows an old railway line through a tunnel and over a bridge across the Dajia River, and joins the Dongfeng Bikeway along another former line. Both are flat, car-free and easy to reach from the city.
The east coast and Rift Valley#
The East Rift Valley runs between the Central and Coastal mountain ranges from Hualien south to Taitung. Highway 9 carries the traffic; the quieter Highway 193 and the bike loops at Guanshan and Chishang wander through rice paddies, with Mr Brown Avenue at Chishang the famous photo stop. The Pacific coast road, Highway 11, runs parallel on the other side of the coastal range with cliffs and surf beaches. Trains on the line between Hualien and Taitung make it easy to ride one way and return by rail.
Northern Taiwan#
Taipei has well over 100 km of riverside paths along the Tamsui, Keelung and Xindian rivers, flat and car-free, with the ride out to Tamsui at sunset the favourite. Climbers head for the roads up Yangmingshan, short but steep. On the northeast coast near Fulong, the Old Caoling Tunnel bikeway runs through a former railway tunnel of about 2 km and back along the sea.
Penghu and Kinmen have quiet, flat island roads, though Penghu is very windy in winter.
Bike hire and getting bikes around#
- YouBike: shared city bikes in Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other cities. In Taipei the first 30 minutes are free for registered members, then NT$10 (about 0.30 USD) per 30 minutes for the first four hours. Electric YouBikes cost more.
- Touring and road bikes: Giant stores rent bikes in major cities, including one-way rentals for the round-island route. Book ahead in peak months.
- Trains: Taiwan Railway carries bikes on some trains with a bike ticket, and folding bikes in a bag go on most trains, including the high-speed rail. Rules vary by train, so check before you travel.
- Mountain biking: a small scene with few marked trail centres. Most visitors come for road riding and touring.
When to go and rules of the road#
October to December is the best season: dry, cool and with the northeast monsoon wind often at your back down the west coast. January to April is also good, though the north and east coasts can be wet and cold. May and June bring the plum rains, July to September is very hot, and typhoons from July to October close mountain roads. See our best time to visit Taiwan guide.
Ride on the right, and expect heavy scooter traffic in towns. Bicycles are banned from freeways and expressways, so follow Route No.1 signs or provincial roads. Wear a helmet, use lights in the many road tunnels, and treat mountain roads with care after rain, when rockfall is common.
Mountain roads and typhoons
Mountain highways such as 8, 14A and the Southern Link close during typhoons and after landslides, sometimes for days. Check road status the day before a big climb, carry warm clothes for descents from 3,000 m, and start early before afternoon storms.
Our getting around guide covers trains and buses, and for rides in the wider region see Cycling in East Asia and Cycling around the world.
Best places to cycle in Taiwan#
More Things to Do#
Cycling in Taiwan FAQs#
How long does it take to cycle around Taiwan?
Most riders take nine to twelve days for the roughly 960 km Route No.1. Fit riders do it in a week, while slower tours with rest days take two weeks or more. Using trains for the busy west coast saves several days.
Can you rent a bike to cycle round Taiwan?
Yes. Giant stores rent touring and road bikes, including one-way rentals, and run guided round-island tours with a support van. Book ahead in October to December, the busiest season.
Is cycling in Taiwan safe?
Generally yes. Drivers are used to cyclists, convenience stores are everywhere, and signed routes avoid the worst traffic. Take care with scooters in towns, trucks on the Suhua Highway and rockfall on mountain roads after rain.
Can you take a bike on the train in Taiwan?
Yes, on some Taiwan Railway trains with a bike ticket, and folding bikes packed in a bag are allowed on most trains, including the high-speed rail. Rules vary by train type, so check when you book.