Cycle Taiwan Day 4 - Hsinchu to Taichung - Discovering good old cycling trail & hilltop view

Hsinchu is the hometown of the rice noodle (vermicelli) or beehoon commonly known in Malaysia and it's farewell to Hsinchu as I passed by this sign on the way out of the city.

The rainbow Bridge 三 姓 公 溪 at Xiangshan District GPS : 24.801507, 120.916765 at our 6.5KM

This 17km Bicycle Path at Xiangshan has been around for a long while, some of it signages are already worn out but it is still a lovely trail to ride. I love this canopied trail.

A Chinese Temple 惠民宮天上聖母 after the trail at the wetland.

風情海岸 Coastal Promenade of Xiangshan.GPS : 24.778629, 120.914491 at our 10.5KM

We stopped by at the promenade and have a good view of the place.

We were fortunate to find this lovely path instead of the normal route 1 as recommended in the cycling route.

The tide was so high that the sea water was splashing onto the road at Haishan Fishing Harbor 海山漁港

It is also at the neighbourhood of Siangshan Wetland of Hai Shan Area.

At his Blue Sky Bridge 藍天橋 (GPS : 24.760373, 120.906139) at our 14 there are so many wind turbines more than what we saw in Jeju Island. This is at our 14KM.

White Cloud Bridge 白雲橋 still on the bicycle path at GPS : 24.746215, 120.900762

At last we were at the end of the bicycle path and had to find our way off the path to continue with Route 61. It was a good and lovely ride on this trail.

On Route 61 and our journey continued with typical scenery of Taiwan outskirt.

It indicates another 23km to Tongxiao which is our next destination.

A comforting sign that indicates that we were on track at the cycling route.

A pit stop (marked as Bicycle Resting Area on Google Map) at Cheyouxiuxi Station 車友休息站 where we had a try of Taiwanese grilled sausages. Location was at Houlong, Miaoli County GPS : 24.659290, 120.813720 (our 30KM)

The proprietor was chewing his favourite betel and happily taking a picture with us. There are basic tools for bicycle repair in this shop if you happen to need it.

The start of a severe climb at Route 61 particularly at GPS : 24.597847, 120.741815 at our 40KM

Just a little push to overcome the hilly route.

At the junction for a detour at 南港里 GPS : 24.587595, 120.730477

It was climbing again to a higher elevation with wind turbines welcoming us as we scaled up the hill, by the way it was only 2km up the hill.

At last we reached to the peak of Houlong Cape of Good Hope (Haowangjiao). GPS : 24.601855, 120.731113. The view was spectacular but the wind was super strong, few times our bicycles were blown off to the ground.

Taiyen Salt factory cum Museum 鹽來館 at GPS : 24.555956, 120.703050 at our 51KM

Let's lepak at this cool corner at the the salt factory.

Foot spa with warm salted water to sooth our feet.

Lunch time at QQ 大碗公 for Pork Leg Rice along Route 61 GPS : 24.550974, 120.699974

Fenn and Anne amazed by the huge melon inside QQ Restaurant.

The food we had at QQ Restauarant.

We took the coastal road (Yugang Road GPS : 24.491989, 120.678167) instead of route 61 which is running in parallel and approaching at the rear of Tongxiao Station.

We checked a few hotels in Tongxiao but we were not happy with it either it was old or with no lift to the room and with steep staircases. We decided to proceed to Taichung for the night with a train.

Sorry Tongxiao we are going to a bigger city to stay.

Finally we arrived at Taichung City where we will spend 2 nights here and a chance to have more time in this city.

And off we went searching for a suitable place to sleep.

After much consideration and checking we concertedly agreed on Chance Hotel for 2 nights located at Jianguo Road, Taichung City, GPS: 24.138184, 120.685375

At a side lane next to Chance Hotel we went to a stall selling economy rice located at Jianguo Road, GPS : 24.138143, 120.685167

Day 4 - We cycled from Hsinchu to Tongxiao and boarded a train to Taichung.