Taiwan’s 10 best-rated cycling routes were revealed June 3 by the Sports Administration under the Ministry of Education in recognition of World Bicycle Day.
Among the winning bikeways is a path connecting Yilan Sports Park and Luodong Sports Park in the northeastern county. Along the route, riders pass popular tourist attractions such as Yilan Distillery and Jimmy Square, which features whimsical art installations inspired by the work of renowned Taiwan illustrator Jimmy Liao.
Equally impressive are the Keelung Riverside Bikeway and Sandiaoling Cycling Path in New Taipei City. The former features historical sites like the abandoned Wudu railway tunnel, established during the Japanese colonial era (1895-1945), while the latter incorporates breathtaking natural scenery such as the famous moulin potholes.
Other routes in the top 10 include Tanya Shen Green Bikeway and Qingshui Bikeway in the central city of Taichung; Liuying Bikeway in the southern city of Tainan; and Kinmen Jincheng Township Bikeway in the outlying archipelago. Paths at Nanfang’ao Fishing Port in Yilan and Changbin and Luye townships in Taitung County, eastern Taiwan, also made the grade.
According to the SA, the list offers recommendations for cycling enthusiasts from home and abroad. Identifying Taiwan’s highlights will ensure tourists do not miss out on any of the country’s spectacular sights, the administration added.
To further promote the winning routes, a total of 15 activities will be held from September to May next year with famous cyclists, internet celebrities and bike bloggers leading the excursions, the SA said.
The routes were selected from among Taiwan’s more than 7,000 kilometers of bikeway, with results based on an online poll that attracted more than 2 million votes from April 22 to May 21 and the opinions of a professional selection team. (YCH-E)
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