Itineraries · 4 days
Cycling the East Rift Valley: Hualien to Taitung
The island's quietest long ride.
Cycling
4 days · Hualien
Numbers follow the order of the trip. Open a destination for the full guide.
Day by day
The plan
Four days on quiet country roads through rice paddies, hot-spring villages and the mountains of Taiwan’s east.
The island’s quietest long ride. This route is designed as a flexible sketch: keep the fixed transport, move the rest around the weather and your energy.
Day 1
Hualien to Ruisui
Leave the coast behind and follow the valley south on quiet Routes 193 and 9.
Pick up the bike
Rent a touring bike and check the gears and brakes.
Hualien
Liuchuan Riverside
A short warm-up on the riverside path.
Hualien
Lunch in Guangfu
A simple noodle shop in the valley.
Guangfu
Ruisui hot spring
Soak tired legs and stay overnight in the village.
Ruisui
Day 2
Ruisui to Chishang
The most beautiful stretch: rice fields, small stations and mountain views.
Ride south
Follow the valley roads through Fuli and Dongli.
Ruisui
Lunch in Fuli
A quick stop for noodles and fruit.
Fuli
Brown Boulevard
The famous tree-lined lane through the rice paddies.
Chishang
Dinner in Chishang
Local rice, tofu and vegetables.
Chishang
Day 3
Chishang to Taitung
A longer day with a climb and a long descent towards the city.
Early start
Beat the heat and the tour buses.
Chishang
Luye plateau
A short climb for tea fields and valley views.
Luye
Lunch in Luye
A simple meal before the descent.
Luye
Taitung
Return the bike or keep it for the next day.
Taitung
Day 4
Coast and train back
A short coastal ride before the train north.
Taitung forest park
A flat ride by the sea.
Taitung
Coffee by the coast
A last stop before the station.
Taitung
Train to Hualien
About two hours back up the coast.
Taitung
More itineraries
More itineraries
1 day
Classic
Taipei
Taipei in one day
Temples, dumplings, a skyline hike and the city after dark.
2 days
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Two days: Taipei & Jiufen
A city day, then lanterns in the mountains.
3 days
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Taipei & Taichung
Three days: Taipei, Taichung & Sun Moon Lake
From the capital to the lake, by high-speed rail.