Tour de Taiwan: Antong Hot Spring to Kending

Fresh from the exhilarating ride of stage six through the Northern East Rift Valley and the fabulous high-quality, mineral-rich soothing waters of Antong Hot Spring, we excitedly prepared for stage seven and a continuation of the wonderful ride down Taiwan’s east coast.

Stage seven dawned with an overcast but pleasant day as we climbed the Yuchang (玉長) Mountain Road out of the Antong Hot Spring Area and proceeded to make our way across the Haian (海岸) Coastal Mountain Range. Just as everyone was looking in dread at the continuation of the looming mountains ahead, a well-placed tunnel burst us onto the picturesque east coast with its stunning beauty and the feeling that time just stopped moving.

With the sea gently rolling in against the foreshore, birds lazily chirping, and with miles upon miles of rolling betel nut and rice-covered hills, we glided down to the coast and the wonderful route No. 11.

Hugging the island’s isolated eastern coastline, this rural road yields constant views of its remarkably varied topography through one of Taiwan’s most laid-back regions. With the sea on one side and the Coastal Mountain Range on the other, we rode through prime indigenous territory pockmarked with idyllic fishing villages, rice paddies and herds of water buffalo cooling off in roadside pools.

When Taiwan was first settled by Chinese immigrants, the eastern part of the island was commonly known as the "mountain back,” since it lay over the divide of the Central Range, far removed from the more heavily populated areas of the west. Thanks to this high mountain barrier, the natural beauty of eastern Taiwan has remained unspoiled by industrialization and urbanization, making this one of the most pristine areas in Taiwan.

Indeed, eastern Taiwan boasts magnificent mountains and breathtaking river and ocean landscapes. It also has abundant natural resources, colorful cultural heritages, and a selection of delicious local snacks and cuisine to please almost any palate.

Halfway along, we stopped for a rest at the Sansiantai (三仙台) Recreation Area, which consists of a variety of rocky islets, coral reefs and outcrops. By far the most famous of these is the Sansiantai (The Three Immortals), a series of small islets crowned with three rocky outcroppings named after a trio of legendary Taoist sages who, according to local lore, once visited the area. A series of arched bridges spans the shallow water off the coastline leading to the three immortals and provides a great place to take a rest.

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