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East · Hualien: Liyu Lake, Shoufeng Township

Liyu Lake Loop Bikeway

鯉魚潭環潭自行車道

A short loop of about 4.8 km around Liyu Lake south of Hualien City, partly on a shared walk and bike path and partly on the lakeside road's slow lane, with bike rentals at the lake.

Checked November 2026Paths close and change. Check the official source before you ride.

Length
4.8 kmSource and notes below
Route shape
Loop
Surface
Surface not stated
Traffic
Path with road sections
Level
Easy
Riding time
About 20 min at an easy 14 km/h, not counting stops Estimate ride time
Families
Families: with care
Climbing
Not measuredNo official figure, so none given
Start
Liyu Lake Visitor Center (north shore)
Official mapEstimate ride time

No official route line is published for this exact ride yet, so we don't draw one. Use the official map linked above.

About the lengthEast Rift Valley National Scenic Area (ERV NSA) cycling page for the loop: 4.8 km, about 30 minutes ERV NSA's own text on the same page says about 5 km. Hualien County's cycling page heads the route 4.8 km and says 5 km in its description. The national cycling portal (taiwanbike.tw) lists the Liyu Lake section of its East Rift Valley Hualien route as 5 km and about 20 minutes. All describe the same loop around the lake.

Why these labels

Traffic and path type: The national cycling portal's route map marks the path along the east and south shores as a shared walking and cycling path (自行車與行人共用道) and the west side as the slow lane (慢車道) of the lakeside road, so part of the loop is beside motor traffic. Hualien County mentions raised wooden boardwalk sections. ERV NSA calls the route a ride on the lake ring road with some ups and downs along the hillside.

Families: ERV NSA and Hualien County both describe the loop as short and easy enough for families. It is not fully separated: the west side uses the road's slow lane, the shared path has people walking, and ERV NSA warns of slippery downhill sections by the water. Keep young children close on those parts.

Liyu Lake is the largest inland lake in the East Rift Valley, according to ERV NSA, at the foot of Liyu Mountain in Chinan Village, Shoufeng. A bike loop of roughly 5 km follows the shore, and ERV NSA suggests starting from the visitor center on the north side.

The east and south shores are on a shared walking and cycling path under the trees, with raised boardwalk sections that Hualien County highlights for views across the water. The west side runs on the slow lane of the lakeside road.

The loop follows the hillside, so there are short climbs and descents. ERV NSA notes that the lakeside air is damp and descents can be slippery, so take them slowly.

Who it suits

Families, beginners and visitors who want an easy hour by the water without bringing a bike. Riders looking for distance or training should look elsewhere: it is short and shared with walkers.

The route

A ride plan, in order

  1. Start at the visitor center on the north shore, where ERV NSA suggests beginning, and rent a bike nearby if needed.
  2. Follow the shared path along the east and south shores, including the raised boardwalk sections the county points out.
  3. Return along the west side in the road's slow lane to the north shore.
  4. If you want more, ERV NSA suggests riding on toward Baibao Creek, or south on Highway 9 to Fengtian. Those are road rides and were not checked for this guide.

Opening hours and closures

Opening hours and closuresNo official opening hours or gates for the loop were found. Visitor center and rental hours were not verified. Hualien County lists a Two Lakes, Two Rails and Baibao Creek bikeway upgrade (the Two Lakes route ends at this visitor center) due to finish by the end of November 2026, so watch for work signs nearby.

Getting there without a car

  • Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 303B (Tuesday to Sunday) and 303C (Monday) are cruise-style day-tour buses that stop at Liyu Lake: the operator's page says passengers get off at the Liyu Lake North Visitor Center stop and board again at the South recreation area. Stop times are set by the tour, so check the route page before planning a ride.
  • The national cycling portal's Two Lakes page gives bus 1139C from Hualien Station via Tongmen toward Shoufeng Station, getting off at Yushan Theological Seminary (玉山神學院) near the lake. Check the current timetable with the bus operator before you go.
  • By train, the portal lists TRA Zhixue Station among stations near this route. The road from the station to the lake was not checked for this guide; a taxi from Hualien Station is the simplest option if buses do not fit.

Bringing your own bike: TRA: a bike fully packed in a proper bike bag (no plastic or cloth bags; at most 150 cm long, and length plus width plus height at most 220 cm) can go on any train class; TRA may suspend this on long holidays. Unbagged bikes (人車同行) need a bike ticket on trains with bike capacity, booked online or at a ticket window, between stations on TRA's list. East Rift Valley NSA also lists bike consignment (託運) on certain trains at Xincheng, Hualien, Shoufeng, Fenglin, Ruisui and Yuli.

Renting a bike

ERV NSA lists three rental points by the lake: Shanhu Bike Rental (山湖租車店), Youjia Bike Rental (佑嘉單車出租) and Chuangyi Space (創藝空間). The national cycling portal also lists bike rental at the Liyu Lake Visitor Center rest stop. Prices, bike types and hours were not verified. YouBike does not operate in Hualien County.

  • Shanhu Bike Rental 山湖租車店
    Rental · Hualien: Liyu Lake, Shoufeng
    Listed by ERV NSA as a bike rental point. Prices, bike types, hours and ID or deposit rules not verified.
    花蓮縣壽豐鄉池南村池南路一段78號 · 03-8641562
  • Youjia Bike Rental 佑嘉單車出租
    Rental · Hualien: Liyu Lake, Shoufeng
    Listed by ERV NSA as a bike rental point. Prices, bike types, hours and ID or deposit rules not verified.
    花蓮縣壽豐鄉池南村環潭北路1號 · 093-879-2835
  • Chuangyi Space 創藝空間
    Rental · Hualien: Liyu Lake, Shoufeng
    Listed under rental points on ERV NSA's Liyu Lake cycling page (and also as a nearby shop). Prices, bike types and hours not verified.
    花蓮縣壽豐鄉環潭北路12-50號 · +886-3-8641222

Confirm hours, rates and availability directly with the provider. Cycle.tw does not take bookings.

Toilets, water and food

The national cycling portal lists the Liyu Lake Visitor Center as a cycling rest stop with toilets, drinking water, food and bike rental. ERV NSA lists a row of restaurants and snack shops next to the lake. No other water points around the loop were confirmed.

Around the ride: → getting to Liyu Lake, the boats and the fireflies

Safety and conditions

  • ERV NSA warns that the lakeside is damp and descents can be slippery: slow down and brake early.
  • On the west side you ride in the road's slow lane next to cars and scooters. Keep right and ride in single file.
  • The shore path is shared with people walking. Ride at a pace that lets you stop, and ring before passing.
  • After typhoons or heavy rain, check conditions first. The October 2026 typhoon (薔琵 in Taiwanese reports) brought strong wind to Hualien in October 2026 and toppled roadside trees; no closure of the lake loop was found on 2026-11-04.
  • Check the Central Weather Administration forecast before you go. Heavy rain, typhoons and earthquakes close paths, river parks and roads, sometimes for weeks.
  • Wear a properly fitted bike helmet, whatever the law says for your bike.

When to go

ERV NSA names April and May as the best time for fireflies at the lake. In hot weather ride early or late.

Nearby and related

Emergency: 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance. From a mobile phone, 112 also reaches emergency services.

Sources

Checked November 2026 Next review due December 2026. Spotted a change on this route? Tell us

Printed from https://cycle.tw/routes/liyu-lake-loop/

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Questions

How long is the bike path around Liyu Lake?

ERV NSA gives 4.8 km and about 30 minutes; it and Hualien County also round it to about 5 km.

Can I rent a bike at Liyu Lake?

Yes. ERV NSA lists three rental points by the lake, and the national cycling portal lists bike rental at the visitor center. Prices and hours were not verified.

Is the Liyu Lake loop OK for kids?

Mostly, with care. The east and south shores are a shared walking and cycling path, but the west side is the road's slow lane and some descents are slippery.