Beiheng Highway Bicycle Route Introduction
Do you feel like life is monotonous? Why not plan an epic journey to inject new challenges into your uninspired life! Journey goal - "Conquer the Northern Cross-Island Highway: I’m not afraid of heights!" This time, we won't take a car; we're challenging ourselves with a high-difficulty cycling adventure. The total length of the uphill route is 80 kilometers, and we fear no challenge. Starting from Daxi, we’ll cruise through Jiao Ban Mountain, Dongyan Mountain, and Baling, heading straight to Zhuangwei in Yilan, surrounded by beautiful mountains, waters, and scenery. Let’s explore the vastness of nature and rediscover your passion and purpose! Starting at the beginning of the Northern Cross-Island Highway - Cikang Road in Daxi District, we’ll ride past Daxi Mausoleum and Cihu Mausoleum, with the usually crowded Chiang Kai-shek and Chiang Ching-kuo Memorial Park appearing particularly serene in the early morning. Continuing uphill through the Xinbaiji Tunnel, we’ll see leisure travelers in scenic restaurants and farms, contrasting with our own speedy pedaling. Before entering Sanmin Village in the Fuxing District, most of the route is straight, a great opportunity to gain time and sprint forward. We’ll wander through magnificent mountains and unique tribal-themed installations, passing through Yuanshan Foot, and reach the Jiao Ban Mountain business district, where we can dine and replenish our energy. Before reaching Baling, this is the only pit stop for supplies. After Jiao Ban Mountain, we enter Luofu Village, and approach one of the three famous bridges of the Northern Cross-Island Highway - Luofu Bridge! Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Dahan River valley, leaving you feeling invigorated. Continuing uphill through the Ronghua Tunnel and Xuewu Tunnel, after crossing the former Ronghua Dam, known for irrigating agricultural lands, we arrive at the Biawa tribe, famous for preserving the Mikado pheasant and the blue-banded kingfisher. Their harmonious coexistence with nature creates a sense of belonging for travelers. We’ll take a short break in SuLe to recharge for the ride to Baling; starting from Baling Bridge, we face a series of steep ascents, testing our endurance and willpower. By this point, we will have already cycled 50 kilometers, so don’t give up easily! After passing Guanghua, conquering a series of hairpin turns, we’ll reach the highest point of the Northern Cross-Island Highway - Siling, where the excitement of seeing the elevation sign at 1,170 meters is truly unforgettable! We’ll then descend towards Xicun at the border of Taoyuan and Yilan, marking the end of this cross-border journey. The cycling route within Yilan mainly consists of downhill sections; after passing through Mingchi National Forest Recreation Area, we’ll face the final major challenge - the Qilan hairpin turns, and then smoothly conquer Yuanshan and Yilan City, reaching the eastern end of the Northern Cross-Island Highway at Zhuangwei Pavilion, perfectly concluding our journey.
