In order to make this big project a success, we arrived in Taiwan the day before with plenty of time to spare. We assembled the bicycles we brought in by bike bag, and inspected the equipment.
This is because we have overcome quite a few problems in the past that almost forced the cancellation of the trip, such as a flat tires as well as a broken derailleur, The importance of preparation before starting out is something we are well aware of.

The trip started in front of Taipei's Songshan Station, where there is a "0km" monument as the starting point of a round trip of Taiwan. We started with a commemorative photo with our well-packed bicycles."

Avoiding the busy city streets, the first step is to head for the riverside bike path.

Taipei City has a number of rivers flowing through it, and bike paths stretch along each of them. The roads are wide and the surfaces are well maintained. Taiwan is the opposite of Japan, where the right side of the road is used, so it is important to get used to it while riding comfortably.

We arrived at our first rest stop after a 12km ride on the bike path along the Keelung River. In the old days, Taipei was dotted with wharfs along the river where merchant ships carrying tea and other trade goods from mainland China used to stop. This "Dadaocheng Pier Plaza" was one of the busiest wharfs. In recent years, it has been transformed into a rest point for cycling trails and leisure facilities.

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From Taipei City, cross the bridge to New Taipei City. When crossing over to the other side of the river, the bike path continues as is, allowing you to continue riding without using the public road.

We arrived at the Sanxia tourist area in New Taipei City, a satellite city of the capital, Taipei City.
As the name suggests, this area is where three rivers (Dahan Creek, Sanxia Creek, and Hengxi River) converge. It developed with many merchant ships stopping here. Nowadays, the area has become a popular tourist spot with its atmosphere of classic red-brick stores.

Took a break while eating "Golden Cow Horns," a specialty of the Sanxia area. It is said to be Taiwan's croissant and resembles a cow's horn. They look hard but are crispy and chewy. The filling is varied, including chocolate and red bean paste.

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Leaving the Sanxia behind, we headed for the neighboring town of Daxi.
On the side of the road, there is a signboard for the "Cycling Route No.1," which indicates the route around Taiwan.

After driving about 15km from the Sanxia, one arrives at "Daxi Old Street" in Taoyuan City. Here, too, beautiful streets with a sense of history remain, as if Japan and Europe were mixed in the Taisho era.

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Took a break for a drink at Guiji, 大溪慈湖店(dà xī cí hú diàn), a tea shop a little way from the center of Daxi Old Street.
I ordered a "Red Oolong Milk," which is oolong tea with milk, and added tapioca. The base is oolong tea, so it tastes refreshing.
It is interesting to note that Taiwanese tea shops allow customers to make detailed adjustments, such as the presence or absence of tapioca, the degree of sweetness, and the amount of ice.

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After taking a drink break, we headed for the lunch spot. The lunch spot is located halfway up the mountain, at the foot of the Ishimon water reservoir (dam), so it is a gradual uphill climb.

At the Guǒyuán Restaurant, located at the foot of the Shimen Water Cave, they serve freshwater fish caught in the area. We ordered a dish of white fish with sweet sauce, which was about 30cm in length, and the three of us shared it.

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Arrived at the largest dam in Taiwan, the Shihmen Reservoir. The water stored in the reservoir is used as living water for Taipei City and other cities. From the top of the dam, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the city of Taoyuan.

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After riding about 10km from Shimen Dam, we arrived at the Guanxi area. We took a short break with grass jelly at "Guanxi grass jelly shop" recommended by Sam. This is a standard Taiwanese dessert made from "Mesona," a kind of medicinal herb. It looks like coffee jelly and is almost tasteless like agar-agar.
Each cup of ultra-low-calorie grass jelly is equivalent to about 1/8 of a rice bowl. It is a good supplemental food when topped with sweeteners such as red beans or peanuts.

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We arrived in Hsinchu City, the city of today's finish point. Hsinchu is known as Taiwan's Silicon Valley, with an urban atmosphere lined with IT company office buildings and luxury condominiums.

The first day's ride ended safely when we arrived at our hotel in town, the Fleur Lis Furoli Grand Hotel, where we stayed for the first day.
According to Sam, the Hsinchu area has the highest hotel accommodation prices in Taiwan.

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I had my bicycle stored in the hotel lobby and checked in after removing my luggage. On the first day, I decided to keep the distance I traveled small so I could get used to the bike packing equipment. I was relieved to find that I could finish the ride without any problems.

Luxurious room decor. Thank goodness there is a bathtub so I could have a hot bath.

Dinner on the first night was at Hot Pot Specialty Restaurant, "鍋工館(guō gōng guǎn)" near the hotel. Hot pot in Taiwan is generally a one-pot style. After choosing the soup and meat, you can eat as much vegetables, mushrooms, and tofu as you like. On the first day, we held back on beer to allow our bodies to acclimatize.