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Let’s bike Taiwan!
BY JIMMY CALAPATI
FILIPINOS who are visiting Taiwan for the first time would probably think first of shopping for the most up-to-date electronic gadgets, enriching cultural knowledge by visiting the country’s numerous museums or trying the ultra-fast elevator at the world’s tallest building, the Taipei 101.
But think of doing all these while riding a bike.
In Taiwan, that is the way to go.
LET’S BIKE TAIWAN
Bicycling has become an extremely popular activity in Taiwan in recent years.
The Taiwan Tourism Bureau is promoting this year traveling "green", in line with the trend toward energy conservation and carbon reduction.
Part of this effort is to encourage the riding of bicycles to slow down the pace of the travel experience, allowing tourists to get close to the land and enjoy the beauties of Taiwan up close.
The Taiwan Tourism Bureau said that around the island, local governments have established many dedicated bicycle networks, which are frequently used by Taiwan’s cycling enthusiasts and offer foreign visitors an alternative way to see the country, at a slower pace.
This program has also taken into the concept the seamless transportation services, which involves the upgrading of transportation links between major tourist sites and the convenience of obtaining travel information.
Used in combination with railway and highway transport, bicycles allow travelers to penetrate deeply into Taiwan’s countryside and experience local cultures.
The Tourism Bureau hopes that by enhancing the quality and friendliness of the transportation system, it can heighten the ratio of international visitors to local areas.
This is precisely the reason they launched last week the "Let’s Bike Taiwan" program.
This "Let’s Bike Taiwan" program is being carried out in cooperation with Taiwan’s No. 1 bicycle manufacturer, Giant, and tourism marketing partner China Airlines.
Five hundred travelers from all over the world--three from the Philippines--have been invited to experience this exciting, super-value bicycle tour of Taiwan.
FIRST STOP: HUALIEN
The Philippine contingent was tasked to take two of the five routes that were arranged for the participants—the Qixingtan tour in Hualien and the Dapo Pond ride in Taitung.
From Taiwan, we took a train to Hualien City, the capital of Hualien county.
Located at the east coast of Taiwan, Hualien county is the largest county in Taiwan. It contains the island’s largest port and the starting point of the Hualien-Taitung Line.
Hualien county, facing the immense Pacific Ocean in the east and leaning against the grand Central Mountain Range in the west, is famous for its beautiful scenery.
The natural resources from the various tourist destinations in the county like the Taroko National Park, East Coast National Scenic Area, East Rift Valley Scenic Area and Yushan National Park make Hualien the most beautiful county in Taiwan.
After the two-hour train ride, our guide Andrew, brought us to Sakokuighi Leisure Tea House for a seafood lunch. From there, we proceeded to the De Yan Seaside Botanical Garden in Qixingtan.
The Qixingtan Scenic Area is the only county-level scenic spot in Hualien County. The Hualien government has turned Qixingtan its best recreational spot.
At the Botanical Garden, there is a great abundance of plants and trees that will make tourists feel like they are deep in the woods.
Each participant was issued with the latest mountain bikes from Giant, complete with the necessary safety equipment.
A professional bike team from Giant also accompanied the participants for the whole trip, providing us with professional guidance and service.
After a brief warm-up exercise, off we went to traverse the almost 20-kilometer route that stretches from De Yan Garden, to the Siba Plateau, to Hualien Port then finally at the Stone Sculpture Park.
BIKING ALONG THE SANDY BEACH
One good thing about Taiwan is that they have built designated bike lanes all-over the country. In Qixingtan, the bike lanes were built right along the sandy beach, facing the Pacific Ocean.
One could just enjoy the sceneries and enjoy the sound of the splashing water.
After around 20 minutes, we stopped at the Siba Plateau which is a water station that supplies the water in the city.
Siba Plateau was previously an air traffic, missile and gun control area.
At present, there are still many military training facilities left behind on site. In fact, can still see wooden barriers, entrances to buried barracks and barbed fences.
What started as leisurely and effortless biking became strenuous as the trail went uphill.
After going up the hill, the trail continues to the main streets of Qixingtan, then to Hualien Port, Taiwan’s biggest port.
It was hard crossing the busy streets of Qixingtan, luckily marshals and traffic aides, provided by Giant, were on hand to stop cars and trucks whenever bikers were near.
The trail was also replete with mini gardens that come complete with water stations and benches to provide temporary relief to bikers.
In this trail, the Hualien government has also built a stone sculpture park, star-watch square, children’s recreational facilities and other recreational facilities.
The Hualien Stone Sculpturing Museum, the pit stop for this leg, is the first Stone Museum in Taiwan. The sculptures are collected through years of international stone sculpturing festivities in Hualien.
Hualien is the distributing center of minerals in Taiwan, owning 90 percent of mineral resource on the island.
The total amount of minerals raw materials and value-added stone import/export ranks second in world, next only to Italy, therefore, earning the name of "Hometown of Rocks," and "City of Marbles." Hualien is also the base for domestic stone sculpturing artists.
The creation of stone sculpturing arts ties closely with its natural environment. Hualien is located at the earth plates interlocking zone, owning rich mineral resources that attracted many stone sculpturing artists to settle.
After refreshments at the Stone Sculpture Park, participants then went to the Parkview Hotel, Hualien’s finest, for a sumptuous dinner with cultural show.
Next week, we visit Chihshang in Taitung county. On bike, of course!
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