Not many people outside of Taipei know just how amazing the cycling is in just about every direction out of the city – and how easy and quick it is to leave the urban behind and get lost in the hills.

Before you read on, if keen on checking tuos route out or any others in Taiwan, please contact me or head to Taiwan KOM Tours!

I live just 30km north of Taipei Main Station, 300 meters from the beach, on the foothills of Yangmingshan National Park, in a place called Qianshuiwan, which is part of Sanzhi Town, just 7km from the very northernmost tip of the island. I’m a big advocate for encouraging people to come up here and ride.

Most folk from Taipei will do the big climbs and the ocean road and that’s about it, but it’s when you get off the beaten track that you really start to discover all the nooks and crannies of this area – cool temples, single lane trails, off road sections, super short steep arse kickers – and this amazing Sakura Route.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of cycling along a beautiful country road under the full bloom of the resplendent sakura trees, the bright pink flowers carpeting the lane below your tires and the sun glimmering between the branches – with only the traffic jam to annoy you!

Well, there is one place, deep in the hills above Sanzhi, where the cherry blossom line the roads and there are very few cars. Most drivers will head to Tian Yuan Temple one the 101, in Beixinzhuang – and it’s a nice place to stop and see the cherry trees perfectly complimenting the temple – but you need to go early to avoid the crowds. 

So, I recommend you take the right just before the temple, and just after the Hi-Life convenience store, get on the Balaka ropute for 2km, then head left and over to Qingshan Road – home of the Sakura Route. Though there are generally few cars, it’s best to get there early and to always be aware of the possibility of oncoming traffic.

Once you’re done getting your Instagram shots and enjoying the wonderful scenery, head to the Little Devil breakfast shop in Sanzhi – their danbing (蛋餅 – a egg crepe type effort stuffed with bacon, cheese – you name it, they’ll stuff it!) is delicious, and the coffee is half decent!

Follow my route from Tamsui Station for the quietest  – and prettiest – approach to the Sakura Route. Just please don’t share this with too many drivers!

Good luck!