Location: Hsinchu
Distance: 55km Elevation Gain: 2,000m
The climb to Guanwu National Forest Recreation Area may not be as famous as some of the other high mountain climbs in Taiwan, but it certainly should be. Reaching a height of 2100m in elevation, this is a must for any cyclist looking to conquer the highest paved roads in Taiwan, and is a staple of the Hsinchu County cycling scene.
Starting from the Hsinchu HSR station is possible but with a round trip of 140 km and over 2500m of elevation gain involved, it is recommended to begin in Zhudong which makes it a more digestible 110km round trip with 2300m of climbing. Regardless of where you start, be sure to get rolling as early as possible to beat the traffic heading up to Shei Pa National Park.
Leaving Zhudong south on the 122-Nanqing Highway the climb remains relatively gentle for the first 30 km. There are few places to stock up on food and water so it is recommended to hit the Hi-Life just past Shan Ping Old Street which is open 24 hours a day. There is a 711 in Wufeng, but as the name implies in this case, it is only open from 7am-11pm. Passing this 711 while it is closed means you left early enough to enjoy the climb to the fullest! In this first section you will roll through several small settlements and be welcomed by increasingly beautiful views as you get deeper into the mountains.
The climb truly begins at the 50.4 km marker and end of the 122, here the road splits and you head left toward Guanwu NFRA. As you continue climbing you will start wrapping around the ridge and get some great views of Miantuoyoushan which stands at a height of around 1800m. As it towers over you in the distance it is daunting to know that you will be climbing around 300m higher than its peak. Take extra care during this section as metal grates run across the road every few hundred meters and will be slippery.
At around 1430m of elevation there is a hairpin turn with some small shops and a great viewing platform. This turn marks the beginning of what can be considered the final summit push and where the flora and fauna begin to really change. Coniferous trees line the narrow but smooth road all the way to the top, and the temperature begins dropping. All indicative of your hard earned elevation.
Nearing the summit you will likely pass by groups of people taking photos at the Shei Pa National Park sign, a few hundred meters from this and nearly at the summit you also enter Miaoli County.
Reaching the summit at Guanwu NFRA there is a large visitors center, Salamander Eco. Center, and a cafe which has a small but sufficient menu to choose from. While many people do turn around at this point there are two other short extensions that can be done. Turning left leads to a 20km road ending at Madala, this route is undulating but descends about 480m from Guanwu. Turning right leads you to a 10km road to Leshan and climbs an additional 450m.
After a quick field trip to learn about salamanders, a coffee, and zongzi (粽子), you can throw on your jacket and prepare for a long but enjoyable descent into thicker and warmer air.
At this point regardless of how early your day started, there will be cars funneling up the narrow road as you descend. As you get closer to the bottom, traffic will be getting seriously thick and you will be happy you left early.
Here are the GPX and KML files.