Discover Taipei's Leisurely Charm by Bike
Whether you're a novice cyclist or an experienced rider, you must have heard of "Around Taipei"!
However, the "Around Taipei City" route we are introducing this time is different from the widely circulated "Around Greater Taipei" route among cyclists! The "Around Taipei City" route, also known as "Around Little Taipei," mainly follows the riverside, with only a small part of the route leading to mountainous and urban roads. The overall difficulty is considered easy and very suitable for beginners.
Rough route: Da Jia Riverside Park → Shezi Island → Dadaocheng Wharf → Machangting Memorial Park → Daonan Riverside Park → Shenkeng Old Street → Shen Nan & Nan Shen Road (109) → Academia Sinica → Chengmei Riverside Park (Left Bank) → Da Jia Riverside Park.
Route reference link：xplova
Let's cycle together around Taipei City following this route!
Starting point for cycling around Taipei City: Da Jia Riverside Park.
The route introduced is clockwise and starts from the Da-Jia Riverside Park.
Both clockwise and counterclockwise cycling routes are very easy and suitable for riders of all levels. You can choose the route based on the wind direction. First, we will head to Tamsui Riverbank Park and then to Tamsui River Bike Trail to reach the head of Shizi Island Park.
On the way, there are rest stops where you can observe wetland ecology, and the scenery is also very beautiful. You can see Guandu Palace and Guandu Bridge across the Tamsui River. If you want to go to Tamsui or Bali, you can cross the river from the Zoumei Bridge and ride in the direction of Tamsui.
The beautiful scenery in sight instantly puts one in a good mood, and you can even see the opposite side's Guandu Bridge and Guandu Temple!
Cycling around Taipei City: → Dadaocheng Wharf.
The second stop is Dadaocheng. When you arrive at a square, all you can see are people, and if you look up, you will see the words "Dadaocheng Wharf." That means you have arrived!
During the day, the area around the Dadaocheng Wharf is a lively square where you can enjoy the riverside scenery. However, you can also choose to leave the gate and explore Dihua Street, try some local delicacies, and experience the historical and old-fashioned charm of Dadaocheng.
During the daytime, the area around the Dadaocheng Wharf is bustling with many cyclists taking a break.
At night, you'll notice that Dadaocheng transforms from a nostalgic style to a modern and trendy atmosphere, with light installations and bars that make it a highly recommended spot for a night ride!
Compared to the antique atmosphere of daytime Dadaocheng, there is a touch of modernity in the nighttime.
Biking around Taipei: Ma Banchang Memorial Park → Daonan Riverside Park → Shenkeng Old Street.
Setting off from Dadaocheng, ride towards the MaBanchang Memorial Park, then head to the Daonan Riverside Park near National Chengchi University, and you will arrive at the third stop, Shenkeng Old Street.
This is the outpost before entering the city area, and also the only mountainous terrain in this cycling route around Taipei City. But before that, let's slow down and take a break at Shenkeng Old Street.
Apart from the must-try stinky tofu, I also highly recommend the tofu ice cream in Shenkeng Old Street (I remember they even sell "stinky tofu ice cream" in the shop).
In addition to stinky tofu, tofu pudding ice cream is also worth a try at Shenkeng Old Street!
There are many delicious foods in Shenkeng Old Street, but be careful not to eat too much!
Because we are about to enter a climbing section.
Cycling around Taipei City: → Shennan Road & Nanshen Road（109）
The uphill section mainly focuses on the County Road 109. The advantage of this route is that the slope of the terrain is gentle and average, and the road is wide and safe to ride on.
In addition, the views and scenery along the way are also very charming. After reaching the top, you will see the border sign between Taipei and New Taipei, and many people will take photos here or even carve their personalized signature on the nearby stone wall!
Here you are at the top! Take a moment to capture the memory and then get ready to carefully descend the mountain.
After taking a photo with the boundary marker between Taipei and New Taipei, it's time to start the descent!
Here's a reminder for everyone:
Although going downhill is easy and enjoyable, make sure to hold the brakes beforehand and be careful not to go too fast.
You should maintain a speed that you can handle and keep the inner foot up when turning to avoid hitting the ground with the pedal and causing instability.
Additionally, it is recommended to sit towards the back of the saddle while going downhill, as it shifts your body weight towards the rear and stabilizes the bike for a safer descent.
Cycling Tour of Taipei: → Academia Sinica → Chengmei Riverside Park
As you slide downhill, you'll unconsciously find yourself at the heart of academic research - Academia Sinica. Although you may not have the chance to step inside this sanctuary, you can still take a picture at the entrance.
Next, we'll return to the riverside park via the Nanhu Bridge. Along the way, we'll pass by the Rainbow Bridge, a popular dating spot that many of you may already know. If you're cycling with your significant other, you can bring a small lock with you, and as for what to do with it, I'm sure you'll figure it out once you get there~
跟You can leave a special memory for you two here while cycling with your partner!
Bike Tour around Taipei City: → Da Jia Riverside Park
After about half an hour of cycling, you will return to the Da Jia Riverside Park and complete the epic journey of circumnavigating the Tianlong area. Oh, by the way, if you are interested in airplanes, you can go to the nearby "Airplane Lane" and bet on the exciting moments of takeoff and landing.
If you are an aviation enthusiast, be sure to check out the nearby airplane lane and catch a glimpse of the spectacular moment when the planes take off and land. You can check the flight schedule to keep track of the timing.
Here are some recommended cycling accessories for cycling around Taipei: Bike Tie Connect 2
Want to capture the beautiful scenery while cycling but find it inconvenient to hold your phone, or need navigation on the road?
Here, I'd like to recommend a bike phone holder that I've been using a lot recently when cycling — Bike Tie Connect 2 - It is compatible with Garmin.。
This bike mount system is much more convenient in terms of disassembly and installation design compared to other bike phone holders on the market.
Mounted on the bike, it is very stable, and can be easily removed with just a twist.
It also doesn't block the camera lens, which is a bonus for recording the scenery while cycling.
Although all the above-mentioned features are great, the deciding factor for me to purchase this product was that it can be mounted vertically or horizontally on the handlebar stem, which is a great feature for cyclists who want to install a speedometer or an electronic gear shifter controller. After using this product, I really feel that it adds to the pleasure of cycling. If you are looking for a phone mount for your bike, you might want to consider this innovative product.
Attaching a phone mount to your bike when cycling allows you to avoid constantly searching through your pockets or bags.
While biking around Taipei City, most of the routes are along the riverside, but during holidays, it's important to be extra cautious of the large number of children, YouBikes, runners, and walkers that appear. Safety is the most important aspect of biking, so let's explore Taipei City's different sides together!