Touring Taiwan (formerly KS to Taipei via Provin. 1)

[csisfun]

Hi,

Just wondering what you guys think of cycle touring Taiwan this way? I was looking for a route from KS to Taipei, but couldn't find one, so I decided to follow the most obvious way, the Taiwan Provincial Highway 1. However, I don't know if this road is very packed and unsuitable for riding, so I would need advice from people who know better...

The reason why I am cycling so specifically from South to North is that I want to do something special for my 21st next month... and I discovered I like solitude of nature and aloneness. I have around 10 days of which I suppose I can spend 7 days cycling the 440km of Provincial 1, or the 360km for the most direct way from KS to TP as Google Maps suggests.

What do you guys think?

[Mucha Man]

Provincial 1 is almost always the worst, most blighted, dirty, unscenic route you can take.

[Nuit]

so I decided to follow the most obvious way, the Taiwan Provincial Highway 1.... I like solitude of nature and aloneness....

You're winding us up, right?

Get some decent maps, the pocket sized Guides for each County are pretty good, and meander through the back roads. Might take you a day longer, but it'll be more memorable.

[Vorkosigan]

Hwy 1 is a blight on humanity. It should be destroyed and the earth salted beneath it as a lesson to the next ten thousand generations that some things come at too high a price.

Instead, take 3 along the mountains in the south. When you get into the Jhushan area, switch to 21 and go over to Dongshih, then resume 3 through Miaoli.

[baberenglish]

every 500 meters there is a traffic light, even out in the country side....

[navillus]

I want to do something special for my 21st next month

If you want to do something special, catch a train to Taipei and cycle down the east coast to Taidong. Depending on your time constraints, you can either take a train back to KH or keep on riding.

The west coast offers one grimy town after the other, and not a lot more. You'd have to go inland a little to get any enjoyment out of it.

[ludahai]

Hwy 1 is a blight on humanity. It should be destroyed and the earth salted beneath it as a lesson to the next ten thousand generations that some things come at too high a price.

Instead, take 3 along the mountains in the south. When you get into the Jhushan area, switch to 21 and go over to Dongshih, then resume 3 through Miaoli.

I like this option as well... note two things... you have to get on 8 after 21 to get to Dongshi District... if you are going to overnight in that area, take 8 to Guguan in Heping District and enjoy a hot spring for the evening before setting off on 8 back to Dongshi and up to Zhuolan in Miaoli County...

Also, that is a very hilly ride, so be prepared... it will take you to Sun Moon Lake before you get to Taichung City, which is really nice too... go around the lake if you have time... and eat in downtown Yuchi... some good things to eat there...

[ludahai]

Provincial 1 is almost always the worst, most blighted, dirty, unscenic route you can take.

Agreed... I only ride it when it is more practical than other routes when I have to go through Zhanghua County... I prefer routes 19 and 14 when I have time to spare...

[csisfun]

Excellent responses, I guess no Provincial 1 then... based on your responses, I plotted this map on Google Maps to get a feel of the distance. Any comments?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... 83026&z=10

[ludahai]

Excellent responses, I guess no Provincial 1 then... based on your responses, I plotted this map on Google Maps to get a feel of the distance. Any comments?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... 83026&z=10

I can really only comment on central Taiwan...

Depending on how much time you have, I would head up to Sun Moon Lake from Route 14 to 21 and go around the lake. And again, if you are going to overnight in Taichung, take the short ride east on Route 8 to Guguan and enjoy a hot spring...

Enjoy your ride and give us a report...