One of Southern Taiwan’s main tourist attractions is languishing for a lack of infrastructure funds.

The News Lens
Date: 2018/01/22
By: Eryk Smith

In the late-1990s, I hopped on my “New City Nobleman” 150cc Kymco motorcycle and

Photo Credit: Reuters/達志影像

began a ride over Taiwan Provincial Highway 20 (also called the Southern Cross-Island Highway or 南橫公路). I had a map, but little common sense.

Long on confidence and short on research, I wasn’t aware the highest point of Route 20 is more than 2,700 meters above sea level, and I was woefully unprepared. One item glaringly missing? Gloves. Operating a clutch bike on top of a mountain in February requires fingers that are not frozen solid. By the time I made it to that highest point – the Yakou Tunnel – I was in pretty bad shape. Kind locals offered me gloves and warm rice wine, and the next morning I sputtered my way down into Taitung County (台東).    [FULL  STORY]