Riding under the sun (Travel in Taiwan)

There was a time, not long ago, when people would've looked at you very strangely — and possibly questioned your sanity — if you'd suggested cycling around Kaohsiung for fun. Times have changed. Kaohsiung's streets and air are much cleaner than before. Thousands of trees have been planted, and bike paths that keep cyclists safely separated from motor vehicles have been established in nine of the 11 districts of the metropolis. By the end of 2011, the total length of these routes will exceed 250 kilometers.

The city government has been doing its utmost to make Kaohsiung bike-friendly. Nothing can be done about south Taiwan's sweltering summers, of course, but there's another side to this coin: Between October and April temperatures are usually perfect for cycling, and more often than not the sun is shining...

The entire article appears in the most recent issue of Travel in Taiwan. Qijin Island (sometimes spelled 'Cijin') is especially popular with cyclists.