If you are visiting Hualien during the Lunar New Year, a trip to the well-known Cisingtan scenic area will give you a spectacular view of the blue ocean. The trip can be done by riding bikes with a couple of friends, accompanied by the ocean breeze. You can begin the journey from Der-Yen Beach Botanical Park, and ride along the Two Lakes Bikeway southward to Liyutan in Soufeng Township. Not only will you have the gorgeous views of the mountains and the ocean, you can also enjoy the magnificent sight of where the ocean touches the sky, as you pause along the way.
The Two Lakes Bikeway, which is 35.5km long, connects Cisingtan and Liyutan. If you continue the journey northward, you will reach Taroko National Park, whereas if you go southward, you will reach the East Rift Valley. The bikeway is the main route for bikers to journey through Hualien. Along the ride, bikers can also stop at Cilaibi Lighthouse, Siba Gaodi and Hualien Port’s Siangrih Square, and the view of cargo ships and fishing boats on the ocean will accompany you throughout the journey. When you arrive at the Pacific Park, you can enjoy the scene of Shapotang River making its way to the sea beneath Shuguang Bridge.
Along the ride, in addition to the visual pleasure of the pebble coastline, the southbound route also provides a plethora of mountain views. As you travel past the old railway along Provincial Highway No. 9 and Mugua Stream Bridge into Soufeng Township, you will finally arrive at the Liyutan scenic area. After giving yourself a short break, you can continue to explore the beautiful mountain views and lake views along the Liyutan bikeway. The total length of the route along the lake is 5km. You can also put down your bike and take a walk around the lake.
Photo: Wang Chun-chi, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者王峻祺
A single trip along the bikeway takes approximately 3.5 hours. Those in great physical shape can organize a full day’s bike trip. If children and elders also take part, you can drive to Cisingtan or Liyutan first, then rent tandem bicycles there and ride for short distances, which is a fun way of doing a half-day trip.
(Liberty Times, translated by Ethan Zhan)
過年期間走訪花蓮，不妨到知名的七星潭海岸風景特定區，一望遼闊無際的蔚藍海水，與三五好友迎著海風來趟單車輕旅行。從德燕濱海植物園區出發，沿著「兩潭自行車道」，一路往南騎到壽豐鄉鯉魚潭，途中不僅能夠一覽山海美景，還能隨時在路旁停歇，欣賞海天一色的絕佳美景。
全長35.5公里的兩潭自行車道，將七星潭及鯉魚潭連接起來，北承太魯閣、南接花東縱谷，是貫穿花蓮地區自行車步道的主要路線。沿途可經奇萊鼻燈塔、四八高地、及花蓮港「向日廣場」，一路有海上貨輪、漁船相伴。到達太平洋公園後，可欣賞曙光橋下砂婆礑溪出海口景致。
騎乘過程中，自行車道除有卵石海岸線可欣賞外，往南接續還能眺望層層山巒，經舊鐵道，並沿著台9線、木瓜溪橋，進入壽豐鄉，最後抵達鯉魚潭風景區。只要稍做片刻休息，就能繼續探索鯉魚潭自行車道的山水美景。環潭路線全程共五公里，也可下車步行。
兩潭自行車道單趟騎乘時間需花3.5小時，體能較佳民眾，可安排單車一日遊。若成員中有小孩及老年者，建議可先驅車至七星潭或鯉魚潭，在當地租賃協力車，分別騎乘小公里數，充當半日樂活族。(自由時報綜合報導)
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