Guandu Golden Shore Biking Trail Introduction
Before the Keelung River flows into the Tamsui River, it creates a beautiful curve around Shiji Island. On the northern bank and west of the Huagang Creek, precious rice paddies have been preserved in the metropolitan Taipei area, connecting to the estuarine mangrove nature reserve. This allows visitors to escape the hustle and bustle in a short distance. Riding a bike along this route, one can particularly appreciate the simple and down-to-earth atmosphere of the early rural life. Strolling along the embankment at sunset, with a gentle river breeze and chirping birds, one can fully enjoy the romantic and leisurely wildness in the vibrant Guandu Nature Reserve. The bike path traversing the Guandu Plain is an open route, with the western endpoint at Guandu Temple, heading east along the Guandu Flood Control Embankment to the Eight Immortals and the Fude Temple. Then it turns 90 degrees north, crossing the Guandu Plain until reaching the south side of the MRT tracks on Central North Road in Beitou, where it leads directly to the fragrant rice road west of the Military History School. Visitors who cannot bring their own bikes may find it convenient to start at Guandu Temple, as it is near the MRT station and bikes or tandem bicycles can be rented there. The stalls that used to line the riverside path at Guandu Temple have been completely removed, replaced by an easy-to-walk pedestrian walkway. The fishing boats that used to dock at the small bridge over the Zhonggang River have also moved to the Tamsui River. Although the nostalgic charm of traditional fishing ports has diminished, the waters present a refreshing new landscape.
