Challenging 01Taipei to Tamsui
About 1.5-2.5 hours
Start from Taipei, follow the Keelung River, join the Tamsui River, and ride all the way to Tamsui Old Street.
RouteStart from Taipei Expo Park and follow the left bank of the Keelung River to Bailing Riverside Park. Cross Zhoumei Bridge to the right bank of the Keelung River and ride all the way to the Guandu waterfront, where you can visit Guandu Temple and rest. Continue along the Golden Riverside Bikeway; heading north you reach the Mangrove Nature Reserve, then Tamsui Old Street.
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Rest stops and sights (6)
- Bailing Left Bank Riverside ParkAbout 46.3 hectares, with continuous views of water and mountains, wide open vistas and long grass along the riverbank.
- Guandu Waterfront Bike PathA bikeway crossing the Guandu Plain. The entire route is an open, non-enclosed path, and its western end is Guandu Temple.
- Guandu TempleThe name 'Guandu' comes from the Ketagalan word 'Kantou'. Guandu Temple was founded in the 51st year of the Kangxi reign, and its main deity is Mazu, the Holy Mother of Heaven.
- Golden Riverside BikewayA bikeway starting from Guanshan Park and extending all the way to Danhai New Town.
- Tamsui Old StreetTurn right on leaving Tamsui MRT Station. The area around Zhongzheng Rd. and the adjoining Chongjian St. and Qingshui St.
- Fulai Seafood RestaurantA long-established Chinese restaurant in Tamsui, with generous portions and well-cooked food. Suited to families and dining with older relatives.
Nangang–Liuzhangli
About 1.5-2.5 hours
Nangang–Liuzhangli in Taipei is a quiet mountain route. The road is hilly and riding comfort is average. Because the slopes are fairly steep, it is better suited to fit riders familiar with mountain riding and gear-shifting technique.
RouteStart from Yanjiuyuan Rd. Sec. 1 and go first to Hu Shih Park. Pass Fude Temple, Lishan Farmers' Square and the Tudigongling Historic Trail, follow Yanjiuyuan Rd. toward Fude Public Cemetery, and finish at Liuzhangli MRT Station.
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Rest stops and sights (5)
- Hu Shih ParkSite of the grave, bronze statue and epitaph of Hu Shih, the noted modern Chinese scholar.
- Fude TempleIts main deity is the Earth God, with three incense burners. It can serve as a temporary rest stop.
- Lishan Farmers' SquareA little secret spot for Nangang locals, a square where nearby residents exercise.
- Tudigongling Historic TrailAlso called the 'Lingtou Historic Trail', on the boundary between Taipei's Xinyi and Wenshan districts.
- Fude Public CemeteryAn important public cemetery in Taipei, with a peaceful setting that is very well kept.
Beitou Hot Springs
About 2.5-3.5 hours
In Beitou District, Taipei City, Taiwan, broadly covering the Shamao Mountain, Datun volcanic group, Qixing Mountain volcanic strata and Jinshan Fault areas of northern Taiwan. The road is hilly and riding comfort is average. Along the way you can see cherry blossoms in full bloom and enjoy hot springs. Because the slopes are fairly steep, it is better suited to riders familiar with mountain riding and gear-shifting technique.
RouteStart from Linong Park on Chengde Rd. Sec. 7 and head up into the Beitou hills. Pass Zhonghe Chan Temple and continue to Beitou Thermal Valley and the Beitou Museum, then descend via Beitou Park.
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Rest stops and sights (6)
- Zhonghe Chan TempleHalfway up the hillside on Qiyan Rd. Huge boulders in front of the temple form a plaza, and steps between the rocks lead to the 'mountain gate'.
- Beitou Thermal ValleyIn a Yangmingshan valley hollow on Zhongshan Rd. in Beitou, Taiwan, full of hot steam all year round.
- Beitou MuseumThis elegant wooden building dates from 1921, when it was Kazan Ryokan, the finest hot spring inn in the Beitou area. It is now the largest remaining two-story, all-wood Japanese-style building in Taiwan.
- Beitou ParkRight at the entrance is a jumping fountain. At set times each day, lights and water dance to music. Children love playing here.
- Chunnaijia Yoshoku RestaurantTasty Japanese-Western fusion food. A highly recommended place to eat in Beitou.
- Villa 32Since opening in 2004, its motto has been 'only the best, no second best', aiming to offer guests a more premium, more prestigious experience.
Waishuangxi–Jiannan Road
19 km round trip, about 2-3 hours
Located at the National Palace Museum in Taipei, with Waishuangxi as the main route. The road is hilly and demands a fair level of fitness. A challenging route in northern Taipei.
RouteStart from the FamilyMart Miramar store and ride to the Jiannan Rd. trailhead, then follow Jiannan Rd. uphill. Along the way you can rest at the Tongxin Mifen Liao Rest Stop, the 7-ELEVEN Zhishan Tianxia store, Chuncheng Shrimp Fishing & Food Plaza and Tahiti Garden Restaurant. The route ends at Cuishan Shuangfu Temple.
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Rest stops and sights (5)
- Miramar Department StoreMiramar Entertainment Park in Taipei combines well-known design and planning from Taiwan and abroad, with two buildings: the Miramar main building and the Entertainment Park Yang building. It has Taiwan's first 100-meter Ferris wheel, and brings together entertainment, technology and art.
- Tongxin Mifen Liao Rest Stop'Tongxin' is Mr. Huang Tong-xin, former borough chief of Dajia, and 'Mifen' is the wife of Mr. Wu (her name is Mifen). The idea was to build a place where passers-by and hikers could rest and shelter from the rain.
- Chuncheng Shrimp Fishing & Food PlazaThis place is a little removed from the city and the food is good. A nice spot to share with friends.
- Tahiti Garden RestaurantBeside the Waishuangxi stream with beautiful mountain views, the 'Tahiti Wedding Banquet Hall' covers 1,200 ping and serves refined Taiwanese dishes, seafood and Western meals.
- Cuishan Shuangfu TempleOriginally a nameless Earth God shrine. A local resident later expanded it and reinforced the foundation, contributing money and labor to create today's Shuangfu Temple.
Sandiaoling Waterfalls
About 1-1.5 hours, 9.3 km one way
In the hills of Ruifang District, New Taipei City. A mountain haven well suited to cycling and hiking.
RouteStart from Ruifang Station and pass Houtong Station, then turn right and head uphill to reach the viewing platform for the Sandiaoling Waterfalls.
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Rest stops and sights (5)
- Ruifang StationRuifang Station is in Ruifang District, New Taipei City, on the Taiwan Railways Administration's Yilan and Shen'ao lines. With many tourist attractions nearby, it is also the gateway to Jiufen, Jinguashi, Pingxi, Shen'ao and other places.
- Houtong Old TunnelsLocally called 'San Ye Bang Kong', Taiwanese for 'three tunnels', after the 3 connected railway tunnels (Yuanshan Tunnels No. 1, 2 and 3). Over time, these old tunnels from the Japanese colonial period fell out of use. They have now been converted into bicycle-only tunnels.
- Houtong Cat VillageKnown locally as Chetouding, and selected by CNN in the US as one of the 'world's six best cat-spotting places'. After long close contact with tourists, most of the village's cats are not shy of people, and some will come up for affection on their own.
- Houtong Cu Mao CaféIt has cats, a friendly owner and tasty snacks. A good place for a mid-ride rest.
- 68 EateryAn affordable eatery. The lard rice has an old-time flavor, and the shop cat is as friendly as the owner.
Taipei Loop
About 112 km, 3-4 hours
A full loop around urban Taipei, and a very challenging route.
RouteStart from Taipei Expo Park and pass Dajia Riverside Park, Rainbow Bridge, Nangang Exhibition Center, Fude Public Cemetery, Taipei Zoo, the Jingmei River Trail, Muzha Riverside Park and Dadaocheng Wharf, then return to Taipei Expo Park.
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Rest stops and sights (3)
- Rainbow BridgeClose to Raohe Street Night Market, with a wide choice of snacks.
- Taipei ZooTaipei's best-known family outing spot.
- Dadaocheng WharfThere are often markets on holidays, and you can also rest with a coffee by the river.
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