Location: Yilan/Keelung/New Taipei City
Distance: 145km Elevation Gain: 850m
There are 3 sections of Taiwan’s coastline that I would regard as excellent – the Su-Hua Highway covered in #027 and Kenting covered in #041. The third, but by no means least, would be the northern coast from Yilan to Danshui in New Taipei City. With this post, we have covered the east coast from south to north, completing a popular randonneur (long-distance ride) known as the ‘Twin or Triple Towers,’ comprising the northern, eastern, and southernmost lighthouses.
Starting from Yilan train station in the center of the city there is no ideal way to get to the coast, so the best advice is to ride in a northeast direction on County Road No. 192 until it merges with Provincial Highway No. 2. There are plenty of convenience stores along the way. Just north of Yilan is the hot spring town of Jiaoxi, a good place for an overnight soak before the ride. This section of the coast is mostly undulating with only 500m of ascent for the first 100km.
Approximately 16km up the coast, you’ll reach the first point of interest, Toucheng. From here, you can take a ferry to the uninhabited Turtle Island (visible for a fair portion of the ride). Most people who go to Toucheng are more interested in the Lanyang Natural History Museum, which is an architectural masterpiece and a building more impressive than its contents. Link here for the museum.
A must-stop along this section is Sandiaojiao, the easternmost lighthouse in Taiwan. A short ride up a steep slope is worth the effort for the coast views. As you ride further north it is more appealing as a coast/ocean ride with some great beaches along the way. The best of these would be Fulong located at the 100km marker on the No. 2.
Approximately 15km north of this point is Bitou Cape at the 84.5km marker. This is a geological wonderland and well worth an hour or two if you want to get off the bike for a walk. More information here.
Continuing up the coast the least enjoyable part of the ride is getting through Keelung City. While the harbor area is an appealing sight the traffic and a series of one-way streets are annoying. Having said that it is a fun city to spend the night and its famous Miaokou night market is a highlight for any visitor.
Once you navigate your way out of Keeling it’s back to some really nice coast riding and this area is well frequented by all serious riders in the north of the country. Not specifically because of the coast, but more so because multiple loops over and back in Yangminshan National Park will involve descents down to the coast and back up into the hills.
Along the way, you will see signs for a turn-off to Yeliu Geopark. This is a popular tourist attraction with honeycomb and mushroom rock formations. More info here.
Fugui Lighthouse is the northernmost point of Taiwan. To get to it you have to take a path away from the main road at around the 20km marker on the No. 2. This is well worth the effort and you can ride right up to the lighthouse for that essential photo opportunity.
In these posts, we haven’t put much effort into the food scene, but it should be mentioned that all parts of the coast around Taiwan are great for seafood. Stop anywhere and you’ll find something tasty.
Once you are done at the lighthouse you are now on the home stretch with a 20km ride to Danshui – the delta of the river. This is an extremely touristy area with an abundance of coffee shops, restaurants, etc. Back in the good old days, it was a miserable ride to get from here into central Taipei. Now, however, there is a very pleasant river bike path with no traffic to contend with.
Adding to Mark’s write-up, I want to touch on the route from Danshui to Jinshan since plenty of folks located in Taipei will roll in this direction; here are a few key points, and a 3-minute chat:
Key Points:
- Popular with cyclists: A mix of flat sections and rolling terrain with moderate climbs.
- Coastal Views: The road hugs the coast, offering scenic riding with potential tailwinds from Jinshan to Danshui in the winter.
- Hill Climb Options: Branching roads into Yangmingshan provides an extra challenge.
- Saturday Morning Fast Ride: A well-known training route for local triathletes.
- Terrain: 35km from Danshui to Jinshan ~ 350m elevation gain, featuring short climbs (3-5% gradient).
- Traffic Considerations: Busier near Danshui with frequent stoplights.
- Scenic & Swim Stops: Qingshuiwan and Baishawan beaches offer great swimming spots.
- River Path Access: Ideal entry to the route from Taipei via Beitou, Guandu, Hongshulin, or any river path access point.
For an accessible, scenic coastal ride with plenty of extension options, Route 2 is a must-ride.
Here is the GPS information: