To promote cycling tourism in the East Longitudinal Valley and build a travel brand combining sustainability, low-carbon travel, and in-depth experiences, the East Longitudinal Valley National Scenic Area Headquarters, Tourism Administration, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (hereinafter the Valley Headquarters) held a press conference today to launch the "2026 Slow Traveling along the East Valley " campaign and officially announce this year's series of events. Guests included Legislator Lin Chien-chi and travel industry representatives from Lili Tourism Group, Colatour, ezTravel, Kunheshuo Travel, and Hele Travel Service.
The press conference openedad with a dance performance by the lively and energetic troupe "DSDJ Dance Studio." Legislator Lin Chien-chi, who has a background in music and the arts and a passion for outdoor sports, shared that she personally rode the Slow Traveling along the East Valley cycling route last year (2025). Representing fellow legislators from the Hualien-Taitung region and Indigenous peoples, she invited everyone to explore Hualien-Taitung by bicycle at a leisurely pace and experience the valley's scenery and the distinctive features of Indigenous communities.
Director Hsu Tsung-min of the Valley Headquarters noted that last year's popular " Slow Traveling along the Tectonic Plate Boundary”returns this year with the theme "Batongguan Ancient Trail Cycling Challenge and Yuli Town Cycling Monopoly Challenge." The event will take place on October 18 in Yuli Township and will be divided by difficulty and riding style into two tracks: the "Batongguan Ancient Trail Cycling Challenge" and the "Yuli Town Cycling Monopoly Challenge." In addition to taking in the valley's mountains and forest trails by bike or on foot, participants can cycle through streets transformed into a giant game board, explore local attractions, businesses, and historic sites, and enjoy a cycling adventure centered on checkpoint challenges, interactive stamp collecting, and local shopping experiences rather than speed racing.
Today's press conference also welcomed Turkish-born travel content creator Shu Shu, a long-time resident of Taiwan, as the event's spokesperson. An avid cycling traveler, Shu Shu shared that she loves exploring mountain and coastal scenery by bike, and that Hualien-Taitung has always been the destination she most recommends to friends for cycling.
Talking about the event she's most looking forward to this year, Shu Shu smiled and said: "I most want to join October's 'Batongguan Ancient Trail Cycling Challenge and Yuli Town Cycling Monopoly Challenge'! It's the first time I've seen an entire town turned into a Monopoly game, where you complete missions and visit attractions and shops by bike — it's really creative. I don't want to rush; I want to ride slowly, stop at every attraction to take a look, and visit every specialty shop, hoping that in the end I can become a true 'Yuli Town Cycling Monopoly'!"
Beyond the major October event, this year's biggest highlight is the debut of the "Slow Traveling along the East Valley Guided Cycling Service." Director Hsu explained that, to ensure visitors can enjoy a professional, safe, and in-depth cycling experience whenever they visit Hualien-Taitung, the Valley Headquarters will use trained ride leaders to formally establish a reservation-based guided cycling service. Groups of five or more may book, with a maximum of 15 people per group. Travelers simply apply through the event link at least seven days in advance and pay a deposit, which is refunded on the day of the event, to follow an expert guide at a comfortable pace over about 15 kilometers and explore the valley's cultural stories, natural ecology, and distinctive settlements. For registration details, please follow official website and Facebook page of the Valley Headquarters.
The guided cycling service features seven scenic routes: Liyu Lake, Xincheng Township, Guangfu Township, Yuli Township, Chishang Township, Guanshan Township, and Luye Township. They link key attractions across different areas of the East Longitudinal Valley. Most routes use Taiwan Railway stations as gathering and dispersal points, with bicycles provided on-site, allowing travelers to arrive by train and easily begin a low-carbon "train and bike" journey. This showcases a convenient and visitor-friendly rail-and-bike travel model in Hualien-Taitung.
Director Hsu said he hopes trained ride leaders will be more than guides and become storytellers of local culture. Through their guidance and companionship, he hopes visitors can truly enter and get to know the Longitudinal Valley, while cycling tourism becomes an important force for advancing sustainable local tourism.
Through the "Slow Traveling along the East Valley" brand, the Valley Headquarters hopes to make cycling more than a means of transportation: a way to connect with the land, experience culture, and practice sustainability. It warmly invites more travelers from Taiwan and abroad to explore Hualien-Taitung at their own unhurried pace, take in the valley's most beautiful scenery, and let the world discover the unique charm of cycling tourism in the East Longitudinal Valley.
