Northern Cross-Island Highway Bicycle Route Introduction
Do you feel like your life is monotonous? How about planning an epic journey to inject some excitement into your uninspiring life! The journey goal is "Conquer the North Cross-Island Highway: I'm not afraid of heights." This time, we're not taking a car or a bus; we're challenging ourselves with a high-difficulty cycling adventure. The 80-kilometer uphill route doesn't scare us at all. Starting from Daxi, we will ride through Jiao Ban Mountain, Dongyan Mountain, and Balin, and head straight to Zhuangwei in Yilan. Along the way, you'll be surrounded by beautiful mountains, waters, and scenery, allowing you to roam through vast landscapes and rediscover your passion and original intentions! Beginning at the northern starting point of the North Cross-Island Highway on Cikang Road in Daxi District, we will cruise past Daxi Mausoleum, Cihu Mausoleum, and enjoy the tranquility of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Park early in the morning before the crowds arrive. Continuing uphill through the Xinbaiji Tunnel, the leisurely scenes of tourists at the scenic restaurant and farm create an interesting contrast to someone speeding along on two wheels. Before entering Sanmin Village in the Fuxing District, the route mainly consists of straight stretches, providing a perfect opportunity to maximize time and sprint. As we meander through magnificent mountains and distinctive tribal art installations, we will pass by Yuanshan Foot and XinVillage until we reach the Jiao Ban Mountain commercial district, where it's possible to dine and stock up on water. This spot is the only resupply station before Balin. After passing Jiao Ban Mountain, we enter Luofu Village and arrive at one of the three famous bridges along the North Cross-Island Highway—Luofu Bridge! The breathtaking view of the Dahan River's vast valley fills you with vitality. Continuing to climb through the Ronghua Tunnel and Xuemou Tunnel, after passing the Ronghua Dam, once providing irrigation water for agriculture, we arrive at Biya Village, known for preserving the Formosan cockatoo and the blue-throated pheasant. The Atayal people, living in harmony with nature, have carefully created spaces that provide a sense of belonging for visitors. We will take a short break at Sule to recharge our strength for the ride to Balin. Starting from Balin Bridge, we face a series of steep climbs—a test of endurance and willpower. By this point, we've already accumulated 50 kilometers; don't give up so easily! After passing through Guanghua and conquering a series of hairpin turns, we’ll reach the highest point of the North Cross-Island Highway—Silin, where the exhilaration of seeing the altitude marker at 1,170 meters is truly unforgettable! We will then descend towards Xicun, at the border of Taoyuan and Yilan, bringing this cross-border journey to its conclusion. The cycling route in Yilan mostly involves downhill stretches, and after passing through Mingchi National Forest Recreation Area and overcoming the last significant challenge—the Qilan hairpin turns—we can then comfortably conquer Yuan Shan, Yilan City, and finally arrive at the easternmost point of the North Cross-Island Highway, Zhuangwei Pavilion, perfectly marking the end of our journey.
