Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The 100km-long
Kenting coastal loop
is a popular and scenic cycling route. From
Checheng, take County Rd 153 along the coast down to Nanwan; from there, swtich to
Hwy 26 and head east to Jialeshui. The roads are usually not busy and run through a
beautiful landscape of beaches and coastal bluffs. From Jialeshui, the 200 takes you back
to Hengchun via beautiful Manjhou.
At Checheng, another good alternative is to head east on County Rd 199, one of the
sweetest rural roads in the south.
COUNTY ROAD 199
This idyllic country road rewards at every turn with a rich history and a varying
landscape of hills, ponds, farms, aboriginal villages and open fields. It's a preferred
route for those continuing at a leisurely pace on to the east coast (Hwy 9 is faster
but thick with speeding buses and trucks), or vice versa.
The first historical sight of note is the
Tomb of Ryukyuan Sailors
(Liúqiú Fānmín
Mù) just off County Rd 199 near the Km36 mark (look for the Japanese-style stone
lantern on the roadside). It's a collective tomb of 54 sailors from Ryuku (today's
Okinawa), murdered by Paiwan aborigines in 1871. The incident subsequently ig-
nited the battle between the Japanese and the Paiwan in Shihmen in 1874. Note
that the first three characters on the stele, literally saying 'Greater Japan', have
been blotted out.
Heading east,
Sichongsi (Szchongshi) Hot Springs
(Sìchóngxī Wēnquán) is a
real treat, and a soak in an outdoor pool in the cooler evenings is especially recom-
mended.
Seisen Hot Spring
(Qīngquán Rìshì Wēnquánguǎn; 5 Wenhua Rd; unlimited time NT$220;
6am-11pm)
was a honeymoon destination for the then Japanese crown prince Hiro-
hito and his wife in 1915. The Japaneseonsen, now restored, has lovely indoor and
outdoor pools. It's accessible via the alley next to the 7-Eleven.
East of Sichongsi, on a high meadow, the
Shihmen Historical Battlefield
(Shímén Gǔzhànchǎng) is worth a visit more for the views than for any historical
remains. After this, for the next few dozen kilometres just kick back and enjoy as
the road winds and curves through an ever-thickening forest cover. Human settle-
ments are few, but flocks of endemic birds such as the Taiwan partridge are often
seen by the roadside.
Just before the coast, you have the choice of taking 199 to the photogenic grass-
lands around Syuhai (Xùhǎi), or continuing up the 199 to Hwy 9 and turning left to
The park offers an easy day hike with two trails to some gorgeous waterfalls and
wooded hills.
