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Komoot's 18,500 m elevation is faulty.
North to South
From Taipei through Alishan and Meinong all the way down to Kenting
10 riding days +2 easier days · +3 rest days.
Summary
Your cycling journey through western and southern Taiwan begins beneath the towering Taipei 101, where you'll leave the bustle of the capital and dive straight into the mountains. A short first day takes you to Fuxing, followed by winding, remote roads past the tranquil Shimen Reservoir and Neiwan to Nanzhuang. For a softer start, you can roll down Provincial Highway 3 through heritage towns like Sanxia and Daxi; for the brave, the breathtaking Yulao Pass awaits with epic views.
Read the full summary
Your cycling journey through western and southern Taiwan begins beneath the towering Taipei 101, where you'll leave the bustle of the capital and dive straight into the mountains. A short first day takes you to Fuxing, followed by winding, remote roads past the tranquil Shimen Reservoir and Neiwan to Nanzhuang. For a softer start, you can roll down Provincial Highway 3 through heritage towns like Sanxia and Daxi; for the brave, the breathtaking Yulao Pass awaits with epic views.
From Nanzhuang the route heads south with a fast descent towards Taichung, where a well-earned rooftop beer at Taihu Brewing awaits. You'll climb out of the city via Chikan Peak and descend into Puli, gateway to the mountains and your home for the night. Continue through Ren'ai and optionally on to Wuling Peak at 3,275 m, after which the scenic Aowanda/Bukai valley reaches the serene Sun Moon Lake, perfect for a rest day of short rides, boardwalk strolls and temple visits.
Be well rested, as the real climbing begins now: the Yushan (Tataka) Pass, rising 2,000 m through misty switchbacks to 2,600 m before descending into the lush Alishan region. Stay in Shizhuo or Fenqihu, surrounded by tea fields and cool mountain air, and spend a few days hiking or riding loops through forests and cloud-covered ridges. From here, the descent through Zhangshuhu is one of Taiwan's most scenic, featuring the legendary 36 Hairpins of Meishan.
After exploring Chiayi (and maybe even taking an unforgettable trip on the Alishan Forest Railway from here), continue south via the Guanziling hot springs, the Dongshan Coffee Highway and the secluded backroads around the Zengwen Reservoir to Meinong, a cozy Hakka village. Prefer a night in Tainan, Taiwan's cultural heart? That's the alternative. The next stretch leads past the Tianliao badlands to Kaohsiung, where you can explore the Bo'er Art District and take the ferry to the Qijin peninsula.
Lastly, continue all the way down to Kenting, the island's southern tip, for a few days of well-earned beach rest. This route immerses you in Taiwan's full spectrum of landscapes (urban, alpine and oceanfront) and rewards every climb with unforgettable views and flavour.
Main stops: Taipei – Fuxing – Shimen Reservoir – Neiwan – Nanzhuang – Taichung – Chikan Peak – Ren'ai – (Wuling Peak) – Aowanda/Bukai – Sun Moon Lake – Yushan Pass – Alishan – Fenqihu – Zhangshuhu – Meishan 36 Hairpins – Chiayi – Dongshan Coffee Highway – Zengwen Reservoir – Meinong – Tianliao badlands – Foguangshan – Kaohsiung – Donggang – (Xiaoliuqiu) – Kenting
Day by day
- 1Taipei → Fuxing+ easier
into the hills south of Taipei53 km970 m up - 2Fuxing → Nanzhuang+ harder
via Shimen Reservoir 石門水庫 & Neiwan 內灣101 km1,970 m up - 3Nanzhuang → Taichung+ shortcut
via Tai'an 泰安 & Dongshi 東勢97 km1,510 m up - 4Taichung → Puli
via Chikan Peak 赤崁頂 & Guoxing 國姓67 km1,190 m up - 5aPuli → Sun Moon Lake+ addition / shortcut
via Ren'ai 仁愛 & the Aowanda/Bukai 奧萬大/武界 valley88 km1,950 m up - restRest day at Sun Moon Lake
See the Sun Moon Lake guide → - 6Sun Moon Lake → Alishan+ shortcut
over the Yushan (Tataka) Pass 玉山132 km3,080 m up - restStay a few days in Alishan
See the Alishan area guide → - 7Alishan → Chiayi+ addition
via Zhangshuhu 樟樹湖 & the 36 Hairpins of Meishan 梅山36彎77 km1,150 m up - 8Chiayi → Meinong+ alternative
via the Dongshan Coffee Highway 東山咖啡公路 & Zengwen Reservoir 曾文水庫136 km2,300 m up - 9Meinong → Kaohsiung
via the Tianliao badlands 田寮 & Foguangshan 佛光山68 km520 m up - 10Kaohsiung → Kenting+ alternative / addition
via Donggang 東港 & Hengchun 恆春124 km200 m up - restBeach days in Kenting, or Xiaoliuqiu
See the Kenting peninsula guide → - ✓Finish in Kenting
Back to Taipei by bus and train
Total of the stages above: 943 km · 14,840 m up. Options per stage are on each stage page.