Cycling around Taiwan on Route No. 1

What Route No. 1 is

Cycling Route No. 1 (環島1號線, often shortened to 環1) is the government's signed round-island cycling route. The Tourism Administration and the national cycling portal both give the main loop as 960.8 km, conventionally ridden in about 9 days. It was built between 2015 and 2018 and now sits within a wider network: the main line, 25 branch routes (環1-1 and so on) to places such as Sun Moon Lake, and 14 connector routes.

• Direction: the portal says the route is planned and signed for anticlockwise riding. You can ride it clockwise, but the signs are set up the other way.
• Signs: look for the route number 環1 on dedicated bicycle signs and road markings.
• Rest and supply points: the Tourism Administration says rest stations are roughly every 20 km. The portal's map lists hundreds of certified supply points (認證補給站), water refill points (裝水點) and repair stands (維修樁): convenience stores, railway stations, temples, visitor centers and police stations. They are listings, not a promise that any one will be open on the day.

It is mostly a road ride

Not a bike pathThe Ministry of Transportation said in September 2026 that only 11.2% of Route 1 is off-road bike path, and 37.4% shares the outer traffic lane. The Institute of Transportation has noted safety concerns where the route uses the outer lane of provincial highways. Expect long stretches beside trucks, buses and scooters, and gravel and glass on the shoulder.

That is why the round-island ride is for confident road riders who are comfortable in traffic for hours at a time. A first long-distance ride is better done on a supported tour, or broken into sections with trains between them.

Two stretches you can't ride as drawn

Su'ao to Hualien: take the train

Bicycles are not allowed on the Suhua Highway Improvement (蘇花改), the new tunnels and viaducts of Provincial Highway 9. The old road, Provincial Highway 9D, is narrow, winding and busy with heavy vehicles, and does not form a continuous bike route to Hualien. The national cycling portal's advice is to take the train between Su'ao New (蘇澳新) and Xincheng (新城).

Taiwan Railway lists Su'ao New, Xincheng and Hualien among the stations that take whole bikes on bike-service trains, with a bike ticket. Otherwise bag the bike (within 150 cm longest side and 220 cm in total) and it can ride any train. → Taiwan Railway bike rules. East-coast trains often sell out, so read up on booking east-coast trains before they sell out.

The corridor is still affected by landslides after the April 2024 Hualien earthquake. In 2026 alone, a debris flow closed Su'ao to Dong'ao in March, rockfall damaged a tunnel near Heren in April, and the whole Su'ao to Chongde corridor closed ahead of a typhoon on 23 to 24 October. Check the Highway Bureau road conditions before any east-coast day.

The South Link: over Shouka, not through the tunnel

On the South Link Highway between Fangshan and Taitung, the Caopu tunnel has been closed to bicycles since it opened in 2019. Riders use the old road over Shouka (Provincial Highway 9E), a long climb with an official bike station at the top (壽卡驛站). Both official itineraries go this way. In winter the portal warns of strong downslope winds (落山風) on the Hengchun Peninsula.

Independent or on a tour?

→ Supported round-island tours

Route 2 is not open yet

A second round-island route, Route 2 (環島2號線), is being built to move more riding off main roads. The Ministry of Transportation said on 30 September 2026 that it is 1,019.4 km long, with 37% off-road bike path, and should be finished and opened by the end of December 2026. As of early November 2026 no opening had been announced. We will add it once it officially opens.

Plan it

• StagesItinerary and daily distancesThe official overnight towns, and what 9, 11 or 14 days means per day.
• NightsWhere to stayStage towns and how to choose a bike-friendly bed.
• LogisticsPlanning and packingSeasons, bikes, luggage, trains, GPX and a printable packing list.