Cycling in Taiwan is an amazing experience. Many people only know Taiwan for its manufacturing and geography (a hilly island nation). What they don’t know is that Taiwan is a land of Temples, hot springs, night markets and amazing food. And more than that it is one of Asia’s most spectacular cycling destinations. What makes Taiwan an ideal bike tour destination? All of the above, stunning scenery, well-developed paved roads and warm friendly atmosphere that respects both cyclists and foreign visitors.

To avid cyclists, Taiwan has long been renowned as ‘The Bicycle Kingdom’, thanks to billions of dollars worth of bikes being exported from world's largest bike manufacturer, Giant. Today dozens of companies manufacture bikes on the island. However, it was less than 20 years ago that the government started promoting efforts from homegrown manufacturers and providing significant investment, giving birth to a bike culture and “cycling fever" that soon spread all over the country. The hit local movie in 2006, “Island Etude”, chronicling a boy's voyage of self-discovery during a solo cycle around Taiwan’s coastline, also contributed to the rapid rise of interest in cycling among local Taiwanese.

Find out firsthand why Taiwan is attracting more and more cyclists from all over the world on the Taiwan E-bike Tour.

Taiwan offers unlimited natural beauty and a large variety of landscapes, ranging from lush forests to rice paddies and steep mountains to rugged coastlines. With changing views and topography at every turn cycling trips never get boring here, and the two-wheeled adventurer is well rewarded with views of the seacoast, mountains and interior valleys that rival anything you’d experience from the seat of a bus or train.

Hugging the east coast from Hualien to Taitung is Taiwan's most scenic roadway, Highway 11, with the Pacific Ocean to one side, mountains to the other and dozens of interesting highlights dotted along its path. The road itself is in good condition and relatively flat, with enough ups and downs to wake up the legs, but not enough to distract from the views.

If you want something more challenging, the East Rift Valley is the place to go. Running from the same start and finish points as Highway 11 (Hualien to Taitung), the East Rift Valley is another option for exploring Taiwan's east coast. The valley lies between central mountains on one side and Coastal range on the other, with stunning views in every direction. The climbs offer more of a challenge, but the wind-in-your-hair descents and panoramic views are ample reward for your effort.

Everyone in Taiwan loves cycling, you can easily find local riders from die-hard enthusiasts to casual cruisers everywhere you visit, as cycling has become a fast-growing part of Taiwan’s culture. This strong connection is backed by the government, with a plan to triple the bike lane network in the next decade. In big cities like Taipei, the bike-share program YouBike is popular and supports this new cycling culture. Visitors can easily rent a Youbike to get around the city in a fun, healthy and environmentally friendly way.