Hualien/Taichung @ TAIWAN 2008
Hualien/Taichung @ TAIWAN 2008
Taichung County is located at the central part of Taiwan, with the Central Mountains in the east and adjacent to Hualien County.
Taichung County is faced with Taiwan Strait in the west, Changhua County and Nantou County in the south, Miaoli County in the north.
It covers 2,051.4712 square kilometers, divided into twenty-one towns and villages. As to the contour, the County con-sists of on -coast plains in the west, highlands in the west, Taichung Basin & Hills, and mountainous areas.
Main rivers from the north to the south are as follows: Da-an river, Dajia river,and Ue river. The second largest streams are Da-Li stream, Han stream, Tow-ben-kun creek, Bu-tsi-Kun creek, Tsa-hu stream, Gan stream,Fa-tsi stream, etc.
The County has a mild climate, with the yearly average temperature of 22.8 degrees Celsius. It also has abundant rainfall, with 2,000 millimeters in mountainous areas and 1,000 to 2,000 millimeters on ground level. Its four seasons feel like spring, extremely good for farming
Nantou City
Nantou City is a county-controlled city located in the northwest of Nantou County, Taiwan. It lies between the Bagua Mountains and the Maoluo River and is the county seat of Nantou County. Freeway No. 3 serves Nantou City. Its name is a transliteration of the Hoanya word Ramtau with the characters 南投 chosen to complement 北投 (Beitou), a district in Taipei, even though there is no relation between the aboriginal words.
History
Qing Dynasty
The Han Chinese began arriving in the area during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor of Qing Dynasty. Members of the Zhang clan from Zhangzhou as well as the Jian , Lin and Xiao clans from Nanjing County in Zhangzhou were among the early settlers. A yamen was established in 1759 near the present Nantou Elementary School. In 1898, Nantou Commandery was organized.
Empire of Japan
In 1901, during Japanese rule, Nanto Cho was one of twenty local administrative offices established. In 1909, part of Toroku Chō was merged into Nanto Cho. In 1920, Nantō Town was governed under Nantō District, Taichū Prefecture.
Traveling Beautiful Taiwan on Motorbike (1800 KM) around the whole Island!
So we'd gone through those cities (8 days on motorbikes):
Before we'd gone on motorbikes, we enjoyed 2 days in the Capital city Taipei! (Foodmarket, Cats Caffe, Nightlife). Specific places and actions: street like Ximen Night Market, played claw games and visited popular Michelin Star restaurant with typical food.
Now it's the plan for the whole trip 1800 km:
Day 1: Taichung to Yilan (270 km) - Mostly quiet roads when out of Taichung, down to beautiful countryside roads, mountains roads for most of it, up to 1500m.
The way: Route- 3, right onto 124 at Shitan to Nanzhuang. Back onto 3 Guanxi, right onto 118, right onto 7.
Famous stops: Kuhua Pong Waterfall, Ronghua Dam, Yixing Suspension bridge, Xiaowulai Falls, Baling (Youling Falls, Shuangfeng Waterfall) Natural Hot springs, Kavalan Brewery.
Price for accommodation: TWD 2100 for 1 room, 3 Double beds, Buffet Breakfast at Hsing Tsuan Inn,.
Day 2: Yilan to Renai Township (160km) - Mostly high valley, winding mountain roads. Up to 3500m at its peak.
Stops- Lanyang Museum, Waiao Beach, Jim & Dad’s Brewery, Wuling farm, Cingjing farm.
The way: Direction- 191 to Waiao, 2 along the coast, right onto 7, 131 at Lishan onto 89 to Cingjing.
The accommodation price - TWD 4900 for 2 double beds & 2 single beds, 2-floor bungalow, breakfast included at Cingjing Hanging Garden & Resort.
Day 3: Renai to Hualien (160KM) - Initially a steep rise to a peak of the mountain and then 100km following a huge valley down into Taroko Gorge. The ride was amazing!
Stops- Henshuahan Peak Mountains, Bilu Giant Tree, Luishui Wenshan Trail, Baiyang Trail, Xiangde Temple, Tunnel of 9 turns, Changchun Shrine, Qingshui Cliffs, Hualien Nighmarket.
The accommodation price - TWD 1900 for 2 room, 5 beds, breakfast at Phoenix Hostel.
Day 4: Hualien to Taitung (170KM) - This is a straightforward coastal drive with not too much elevation.
Stops - Jiqi Beach, Shipping Scenic Area, Baxiandong Archaeological Site, Sanxiantai Bridge, Dulan surf village, Tropic of Cancer marker, Taitung Old Street
Hiking Old Zhuliu Train.
The way - Directions- 11 to Taitung.
The accommodation price - TWD 2550 for 2 twin rooms, 1 single room at Genuinn.
Day 5: Taitung to Kenting (130KM) Kenting has some tropical beaches and plenty happening all the time.
Stops- Xuhai Grassland Trail, Alangyi Historic Trail, fengchuisha Cliffs, Southern Tip, Nightmarket, tropical beaches!
The way - Directions- 9 South, left onto 199, left onto 199B, right on 26, onto 200, left 200b, to 26 all around.
The accommodation price - TWD 3200 for Private Cabin, 4 double beds, 1 sofa at Dajenshan Chalet.
Day 6: Kenting to Chaiyi (250km) - The middle section of this ride is in a built-up area and isn’t enjoyable. The last section follows a huge man-made reservoir and is a beautiful road.
Stops- Tiantai Mountain temple, Shiba Luoho Mountain, Duonagao Suspension Bridge, Luigui Buddha, Tsengwen Resevoir.
The way - Directions- 1 North to 185, onto 27, left onto 20, turn right onto 3, North to Chaiyi.
The accommodation price - TWD 2850 for 2 Twin rooms & 1 single room, buffet breakfast at Back Home Hotel.
Day 7: Chaiyi to Taichung (240KM) - the mountain road, through Alishan National Park, on to Sun Moon Lake and in the back road to Taichung.
Stops- Fenqihu Village, Alishan National Park, Dong Pu scenic area, longest suspension bridge, Sun Moon Lake, cable car, hill tribe, Big Buddha, Xiannu Waterfall.
The way - Directions- 159B, left 169 to Fenqihu, double back left onto 18, uphill., onto 21, hard right 16, 63b, on home