Chinese New Year 2006: Yushan, Kenting, Taroko and the Southern-Cross Highway

During Chinese New Year 2006, my friend and I went on a seven day trip around the island. We first headed south on national highway number 21 which passes Alishan and continues up into the Yushan National Park. We spent the first night near Chiayi before continuing south to Kenting. After spending the night in Kenting, we followed national highway number 26 and then national highway number 11 up the east coast to Taroko. We spent two nights at Taroko and then headed back south again, this time on national highway number 9 which passes through the east coast rift valley. We crossed the Southern-Cross Highway and then travelled back up the west side of the island before spending our final night near Chiayi.

My new motorbike; a locally made 200cc Hartford on national highway number 21.

A sea of clouds in the Yushan National Park.

Monkeys at Tatajia in the Yushan National Park.

Heading south on national highway number 3 near Dapu.

A view looking west at the Zengwen Reservoir on national highway number 3.

Baishawan near Kenting.

This makes a pleasant change from people stepping into the road without looking!

The south-eastern tip of Taiwan boasts some of the best scenery on the whole island.

Approaching Taitung on national highway number 9.

As we travelled further north on national highway number 11, the weather got progressively worse.

Back in Taroko Gorge again.

This is the beginning of the Southern-Cross Highway looking west. The scenery proved to be just as stunning as on the Central-Cross Highway. Sadly, I didn't have the time to take many pictures as we were in a hurry to get across the mountains before it went dark. By the end of the day we'd ridden almost 500 kilometres which is not bad on a 200cc bike.