For first time visitors, should you choose Chengdu or Chongqing?
This is a very common question from our friends.
It depends on what you like, both are China cities but the vibes are vastly different! Yes, we could tell the difference even though we spend only 9D8N in China! (1N JiuZaiGou, 3N Chongqing, and 4N Chengdu)
We spend 3 nights in each city and there are plenty more to explore.
You really have to decide which city’s vibes appeal to you.
Image belows gives an estimate of the distance between Chengdu, Chongqing, Jiuzaigou and nearby attractions. (1) Chengdu, (2) JiuZaigou, (3) Chongqing and (4) ZhangJiajie
Distance between Chengdu and Chongqing attractions
Chongqing is buzzing 7×24, with many stunning architecture wonders. It is fast pace and packed with high rise. Super polular for your Instagram photos.
However, Chongqing has more to offer if you venture out! Try Wulong!
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Chengdu on the other hand, is very much more CHILL!
We prefer the more laid back vibes, even cars horn LESSER on Chengdu roads.
We prefer Chengdu’s food options, compared to Chongqing (more salty and spicy). Food and palette is always very subjective.
I will be adding more tips and details over time. Hopefully, this would help you plan your own itinerary and craft more memories too.
I have uploaded our photos from our Chengdu, JiuZaiGou and Chongqing trip on my Facebook albums. Take a look at decide which city is more suitable for you and family.
Both Chengdu and Chongqing would be stunning for first timers.
1.China is a big country, once you have day trips outside of city. Travel time would be easily 2 to 3hours one wat (200-300km). The recent expansion of trains help to ease travel fatigue. But you still have to factor in TRAVEL time in your your itinerary.
Cycling Taiwan Round Island 9D8N, this was what five of us did in April 2025. We have a support car and we went anti clockwise.
The cycling trip took us nine days, easy pace, allowing for ample time to rest and sightsee. On average, we clock 100-120km per day.
Day 1 Xindian (New Taipei) to Taoyuan (Daxi) to Hsingchu
Day 2 Hsingchu to Miaoli to Taichung and Changhua (Lukang)
Day 3 Changhua to Yunlin and Chiayi (Budai)
Day 4 Chiayi to Tainan (Beimen), Kaohsiung (Zuoying)
Day 5 Kaohsiung to Pingtung (Checheng), and extend Kenting
Day 6 Climb to Shouka, Zhiben (Taitung)
Day 7 Zhiben, to Chisang and Ruishui (Hualian)
Day 8 Ruisui, Hualien and Jiaoxi (Yilan). (Skip Taroko, bypass Suhua highway)
Day 9 Jiaoxi, Shifen, New Taipei (Complete)
The company makes the trip memorable.
And we had the best support from our vendor.
Taiwan is a popular cycling destination, and we will definitely be visiting Taiwan again.
Do pop by my YouTube videos too. Food, weather, and scenic landscapes are key attractions for our Taiwan trip. But it is the friendly Taiwanese culture which makes tourists feel most welcomed.
Refer to my Strava links and Facebook photos at the end of this blog post.
After landing in Taoyuan, we unload our bikes at hotel and load onto the support car (保姆車). Our boxes will stay at the hotel, until we complete our round trip on Day 9.
Last minute shopping for cycling gears and accessories.
Day 1
Got off to a wet start. Just raincoat and carry on.
Nothing will stop us from enjoying our holidays.
中庄吊橋
Nothing we can do about the wet weather, just Ride On!
Splendid 活鱼 “fish” lunch. Too much to go around, but every dish was spectacular. (Restoran 綠野鄉村)
After check in to hotel at Hsingchu, street food galore.
新竹市城隍廟夜市
Tip 01
Just follow the blue arrows and Taiwan route 1 signboard.
In Taiwan, vehicles move on the right side, and cyclists keep right.
There are dedicated lanes (shoulders), motorcycles and bicycles share the same lane.
Day2
Rolling to Changhua on Day 2. Spotted many windmills, love the “green corridor” near Miaoli.
竹苗單車道交界打卡處龍鳳漁港彩虹橋
Designated resupply points. “Shun4 Ge1” ensures we are hydrated.
Stinky socks.
Always remember to have FUN! It makes the journey more memorable.
長青之森 (Miaoli)
白沙屯拱天宮 (Miaoli)
Finding every opportunity to Cheers
Touring Taiwan on two wheels is different from four wheels. We can take our own sweet time, go nearer to the coastline, or visit less touristy corners.
If time permits, we can extend or shorten our itinerary depending on our whims and fancy.
Does not matter whether you average 30kmh or roll at 25kmh, as long as we are enjoying our journey. As with all rides, we will always remember the journey, rather than the destination.
新埔 old station
Always love local delights. Every town and province has their specialty.
day 3
Literally “Touch breast” alley!
They did not mention male or female chest, so we improvised 🙂
Of course, Ethan is our 美男子.
摸乳巷麥寮赤肉羹
It will get warmer as we cycle South. Chiayi, Taichung and Tainan up to Kaohsiung are always humid.
Famous attractions 打卡! 布袋鹽山, create more joy and memories.
Photo above, 3 fingers mean Day 3.
高跟鞋教堂
day 4
Heading to Kaohsiung, the second biggest city in Taiwan.
水晶教堂井仔腳瓦盤鹽田
Detour to 國聖燈塔 Guosheng, this is the most “West” lighthouse on Taiwan island.
阿安牛肉清湯 (Tainan)
Famous beef noodles in Tainan. Our guides ensure we get the best experience along the journey.
We are in Kaohsiung! (龍虎塔)
After four days of cycling, we deserve some tender care.
Rest, hydration and nutrition. Always take care of our body and legs.
Day 5
After Day 5, we would have completed the “West” side of Taiwan!
Time really flies when we are enjoying ourselves.
More opportunities to pose and 搞怪 (act cute). Kaohsiung’s cultural spot Pier 2 駁二 (文創區).
Below pic, famous Church and cafe (海上教堂咖啡),大鵬灣. We are already in Pingtung.
Lovely coastal views at a 7-11 pitstop, wait till you see the three-tone seas along the East coast.
車城福安宮
We extended our itinerary and rode further South till the edge (near to Eluanbi lighthouse). We got to experience fierce cross winds along Pingtung 屏東.
Everyone would instinctively slow down to minimise the impact. Mind you, a sudden gust can whack your wheels and tilt it 30%! (not exaggerating)
鹅銮鼻
Southernmost point of Taiwan (臺灣最南點).
Eluanbi lighthouse in the background, the main entrance needs a ticket to access.
Looking forward to mealtime everyday. Surprise us!.
Every meal got big fish big meat (大鱼大肉).熊家萬巒豬腳車城店
Day 6
Day 6 would let most of us experience the first climb. For those who are regularly cycling in Malaysia, the climbs would be ok. Just roll along.
Take note the climb will be tougher after Mudan “reservoir“.
石門古戰場
Sun4 Ge1, our friendly guide (and driver and mechanic) leading the charge up the hills. He is on a motorised bike :p
The famous Shouka rest point 壽卡鐵馬驛站 at the peak. After this spot, we cross over from Pingung to Taitung.
YES, we are officially on the East side of Taiwan.
Everyone is amazed at the sea views! The East side is always more scenic and relax, compared to the “industralised” West side.
Photo below, Wang Laoshi posing infront of 9, 420.
We are on Route 9, and only 420 km from Taipei!
Subtle reminder that we have already completed more than 50% of our journey.
Sea breeze and beautiful Pacific Ocean views.
Opposite 多良觀光車站葛的店深海鮮魚湯
Just follow “No1” Route 1 sign to round the island.
大頭目野食館
Day 7
Day 7 is one of the most scenic rides, we will cycle between valleys and across green padi fields. We will ride through Luye and Guanshan.
Tip 02
If time permits, I would recommend one night at Taitung. Enjoy the slow chill vibes of the town.
Enjoyed some famous bento lunch, before we hit 池上 Brown Boulevard.Bento 悟饕池上飯包文化故事館
Pina posing, no 金城武 today.
Happy to soak in the good weather, pose more. This corner is one of Taiwan’s rice bowls. Nearby mountains contain mineral rich spring water, to irrigate the green produce.
Near to Yuli and Ruisui, route 193 (花東縱谷) nearby offers the best scenic cycling routes. (refer rough segment here).
花東 means 花蓮台東 (aka Hualien to Taitung). Junction of Eurasian Plate and Philippine Sea Plate
If opportunity presents, choose hotels with hot springs 泡湯.
Day 8
Wet Day 8. Friends without raincoat, don the unglam disposable plastic :p
Super cold! We were freezing, and it was 16-18 degrees, the wind made it worse.
Our legs and arms were shivering! (at Hualien’s Danongdafu 大農大富)
We gate crash a local bike event to pose on the “podium” 🙂
All for good fun!
Hot bowl of soup to warm our tummies.
Our bikes and gears are all super dirty from all the rain and debris.光復車站
This restaurant has only one item on it’s menu, and the soup is the BEST I have tasted during my 9D8N trip!單一純賣 雞湯 小卷米粉
Avoiding the 蘇花公路 Suhua highway stretch. This is a series of narrow tunnels, and relatively less safe for cyclists, as trucks and buses ply the same road too.
Most will recommend taking a train from Hualien to Yilan.
(I suspect the infrastructure as been upgraded and made safer, with more bypass for cyclists. Please do your own research)
南方澳觀景臺
Birthday boy 🙂
day 9
Day 9, finale! We are going to cycle back to Taipei city.
It also means our epic journey is coming to an end.
Almost 1000km, 9 days, rain and shine, plenty of laughter. Brothers and Sister.
The tunnel between Taipei and Yilan (@舊草嶺隧道).
Still have plenty of energy to fool around with the sheeps (@南方澳觀景臺)
Then we climb 15% up to 三貂角燈塔 (Sandiaojiao). This is the Eastern most lighthouse.
They are not the cheapest, but they can offer customised itinerary to suit our cycling styles. We were very lucky to get to know both 王老师 and 顺哥. Thanks for the guidance an taking care of us!
ps.. If Cycling Taiwan Round Island is too mainstream, do try Taiwan’s famous cycling events too. I just completed 四極點 620km in Nov 2025.
