Sun Moon Lake tops Taiwan bikeway poll
2015/11/02
The cycle path around central Taiwan’s Sun Moon Lake was crowned the nation’s top bike route in an online poll, the Sports Administration under the Ministry of Education said Oct. 29.
Hailed for its breathtaking views and seamless integration with the natural surroundings, the bikeway garnered the most votes in the Internet-based campaign launched in August. The signature route is also regularly touted abroad, and was recently chosen as one of the world’s 10 best bike routes by travel website CNNGo.
Combining poll results and expert opinions, the campaign named 10 outstanding paths from Taiwan’s 4,486-kilometer bikeway network. They were selected based on the criteria of accessibility, happiness, health, participation, popularity and youthfulness, according to SA Director-General Ho Jow-fei.
“Taiwan is a globally renowned manufacturer of high-end bikes and boasts one of the finest cycling networks in the world,” he said. “By identifying our signature routes, we aim to further cement Taiwan’s status as a biking haven for enthusiasts from home and abroad.”
Other routes in the top 10 include those at Dapeng Bay in Pingtung County, Dapo Pond in Taitung County, Dongshan River in Yilan County, Houfeng-Dongfeng in Taichung City, Jiji in Nantou County and the riverside trail in Taipei City.
New Taipei City, meanwhile, boasts three spots on the list, namely the bike paths along the Old Caoling Tunnel, as well as the Tamsui and Dahan-Xindian Rivers.
A joint awards ceremony for the poll and Taiwan King of the Mountain Challenge is set for Oct. 31 in New Taipei City, according to the SA. The KOM is a hill-climbing race with a NT$2.41 million (US$74,113) purse, spanning a total distance of 105 kilometers from the edge of the Pacific Ocean on the east coast to the peak of Hehuanshan in central Taiwan.
The KOM race and awards ceremony will be the major highlights of the Taiwan Cycling Festival, which has rapidly developed into one of the largest domestic events alongside Lunar New Year’s Taiwan Lantern Festival. Ho said he expects the annual celebration to further strengthen Taiwan’s world-class reputation for cycle tourism.
“By taking our top 10 bike routes, cyclists can experience the spectacular sights and sounds of the country,” he said. “With the government’s dedication to upgrading the nation’s bike-friendly infrastructure, we have every reason to believe the appeal of cycling will hit new heights going forward.”
Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=238378&ctNode=2194&mp=9)
