Road Cycling's
Final Frontier

Discovery

Most cyclists have never heard of Taiwan, and that's exactly what makes it special. While Europe's famous cols are packed bumper to bumper, Taiwan's mountain roads are virtually empty. You'll ride through marble gorges, past high-altitude tea plantations, and along a coastline where the mountains drop straight into the Pacific. There's no cycling destination quite like it.

Start in the tropical south and ride north with the ocean breeze at your back. Along the way you'll pass ancient temples tucked into mountainsides, hot springs hidden in remote valleys, and Sun Moon Lake sitting silent at 800 metres. This is an island that rewards curiosity, and the best way to see it is from the saddle.

Culture

Taiwan surely has some of the most unique and delicious food in all of Asia. With a fusion of Chinese, Japanese, and Indigenous cuisines, Taiwan attracts travellers from all across the world with the sole purpose of feasting. Enjoy a steaming hot bowl of home-made Niu Rou Mien or dare to try one of the many local delicacies, you'll never be left hungry after a long day of riding.

That fusion didn't appear by accident. Read our brief history of Taiwan for the four-hundred-year backstory behind the food, the temples, and the roads you'll ride through.

Challenge

Often referred to as the cycling capital of Asia, Taiwan offers cycling routes like no other place on Earth. From the world's longest climb, the terrific KOM challenge, to serene coastal routes, Taiwan offers a challenge to satisfy your desire for victory. Although Taiwan does offer tranquil routes for the casual rider, with a greater challenge comes a greater reward. Would you be able to conquer Taiwan's KOM challenge, the world's longest climb?

Hospitality

Taiwan is consistently ranked as one of the friendliest countries in Asia, and you'll feel it from the moment you arrive. Convenience stores on every corner stocked with electrolytes and rice balls. Locals who'll wave you down to offer fruit from their garden. Hot spring towns where you can soak tired legs after a long day of climbing.

This country is built for cyclists. Giant and Merida, two of the biggest bike manufacturers on the planet, are both headquartered here, and it shows. You get riverside bike paths out of every city, mountain roads kept in proper condition, and drivers who are used to sharing the road. Locals call it the Bicycle Kingdom for a reason.