paradise found
March 2018
PA R A D I S E FOUND Fas h io n e nt re p re n e u r Pa l o m a U r q u i j o Zo b e l s e e k s i n s p i r at i o n i n Pue r to Pri n ces a
Indonesian f lavors win back Bali’s f ine - dining scene
The modern reinvention of Sydney’s old industrial buildings
Coral reef preser vation takes top priority in Guam
Life
Taiwan
Island of bicycles Home to rugged mountains, sprawling rice terraces and pristine coastlines, Taiwan is a cycler’s paradise – even for beginners
Taitung: Guanshan Bike Trail Visitors can take a threeand-a-half-hour express train from Taipei Main Station to Taitung and rent a bike from Giant Bicycles at Taitung train station. It takes two hours (40km) to cycle from there to Guanshan. Novices can simply take a taxi from Taitung train station to Guanshan Old Railway Station to rent a bike from the Giant Bicycles shop there. Guanshan’s 12km circular trail is relatively easy to follow and takes an hour to complete.
Dulan: Highway 11
North of Taipei: Guandu to Tamsui
For a more ambitious ride from Taitung, there’s Dulan. Known as a surfer’s paradise, Dulan is a small village about 23km north of Taitung City, and is home to scenic bike trails. Rent a bike from Giant Bicycles at Taitung train station and follow Highway 11 up the coast, while listening to lapping waves and songs sung by the Amis tribe in the mountains. Donghe and Dulan beaches are worth a visit during the day, and cyclists can end the night at live-music venue Dulan Sugar Factory.
The fishing village of Tamsui boasts one of the most scenic cycling routes near Taipei. Start by renting a bike from Bicycle Classroom outside of Guandu MRT station, a few stops from the city center, and breeze through Guandu Nature Park. Follow the marked mangrove trail from Guandu Temple along the Tamsui River for 30 minutes (about 11km) towards Fisherman’s Wharf, where vendors sell fried squid and skewered fish balls.
Hualien: Qixingtan Bike Trail The express train from Taipei Main Station to Hualien zips through black sand beaches and limestone cliffs for two and a half hours before arriving at Hualien train station, where Giant Bicycles is conveniently located. From there, follow Huaxi Road to Qixingtan Scenic Area where the 15km bike trail begins near pebbly, crescentshaped Qixingtan Beach. Follow the trail south along the Pacific coast, where cyclists can stop at Hualien Harbor for fresh sashimi.
18
P H I L I P P I N E A I R L I N E S .C O M | M A B U H AY
WORDS: DANA TER IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES (GUANDU, DULAN, TAITUNG), ALAMY (HUALIEN)
A subtropical island, CYCLING Taiwan is blessed with pine forests in the north and warm beaches in the south, making it one of the best places to explore by bike – especially in the spring. YouBike (a bike-sharing system with kiosks throughout the capital) is ubiquitous in Taipei, and nowadays, it’s easy to rent bicycles outside of the city. From coastal routes to paths cutting through charming villages, here are four of Taiwan’s most picturesque biking trails.
PA R A D I S E FOUND Fas h io n e nt re p re n e u r Pa l o m a U r q u i j o Zo b e l s e e k s i n s p i r at i o n i n Pue r to Pri n ces a
Indonesian f lavors win back Bali’s f ine - dining scene
The modern reinvention of Sydney’s old industrial buildings
Coral reef preser vation takes top priority in Guam
Life
Taiwan
Island of bicycles Home to rugged mountains, sprawling rice terraces and pristine coastlines, Taiwan is a cycler’s paradise – even for beginners
Taitung: Guanshan Bike Trail Visitors can take a threeand-a-half-hour express train from Taipei Main Station to Taitung and rent a bike from Giant Bicycles at Taitung train station. It takes two hours (40km) to cycle from there to Guanshan. Novices can simply take a taxi from Taitung train station to Guanshan Old Railway Station to rent a bike from the Giant Bicycles shop there. Guanshan’s 12km circular trail is relatively easy to follow and takes an hour to complete.
Dulan: Highway 11
North of Taipei: Guandu to Tamsui
For a more ambitious ride from Taitung, there’s Dulan. Known as a surfer’s paradise, Dulan is a small village about 23km north of Taitung City, and is home to scenic bike trails. Rent a bike from Giant Bicycles at Taitung train station and follow Highway 11 up the coast, while listening to lapping waves and songs sung by the Amis tribe in the mountains. Donghe and Dulan beaches are worth a visit during the day, and cyclists can end the night at live-music venue Dulan Sugar Factory.
The fishing village of Tamsui boasts one of the most scenic cycling routes near Taipei. Start by renting a bike from Bicycle Classroom outside of Guandu MRT station, a few stops from the city center, and breeze through Guandu Nature Park. Follow the marked mangrove trail from Guandu Temple along the Tamsui River for 30 minutes (about 11km) towards Fisherman’s Wharf, where vendors sell fried squid and skewered fish balls.
Hualien: Qixingtan Bike Trail The express train from Taipei Main Station to Hualien zips through black sand beaches and limestone cliffs for two and a half hours before arriving at Hualien train station, where Giant Bicycles is conveniently located. From there, follow Huaxi Road to Qixingtan Scenic Area where the 15km bike trail begins near pebbly, crescentshaped Qixingtan Beach. Follow the trail south along the Pacific coast, where cyclists can stop at Hualien Harbor for fresh sashimi.
18
P H I L I P P I N E A I R L I N E S .C O M | M A B U H AY
WORDS: DANA TER IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES (GUANDU, DULAN, TAITUNG), ALAMY (HUALIEN)
A subtropical island, CYCLING Taiwan is blessed with pine forests in the north and warm beaches in the south, making it one of the best places to explore by bike – especially in the spring. YouBike (a bike-sharing system with kiosks throughout the capital) is ubiquitous in Taipei, and nowadays, it’s easy to rent bicycles outside of the city. From coastal routes to paths cutting through charming villages, here are four of Taiwan’s most picturesque biking trails.
