![[ Power Through! ] Mid Miaoli Trans-Mountain Ride 苗栗新中橫騎](http://modernblackhand.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/mid-miaoli-trans-mountain-ride.jpg "[ Power Through! ] Mid Miaoli Trans-Mountain Ride 苗栗新中橫騎")
- Mid Miaoli Trans-Mountain Ride Summary
- Background
- Start: SanYi 三義
- ShiTan & Up
- Trans-Mountain Tunnel
- TaiAn 泰安 & Back
- Also Recommended:
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Mid Miaoli Trans-Mountain Ride Summary
- Self ride.
- Starting/ending Location: SanYi Public Parking (三義)
- Bike Length: ~ 106 km.
- Total Elevation: ~1700 m.
- Hill profile: Rolling steep hills.
- Good for: Repeated power through training.
- Caution:
- Steep descend after TaiAn tunnel.
- Lots of short steep ascend sections.
- Route Highlights:
- ShiTan Old Street (獅潭老街)
- XiShuiKeng Old Street (洗水坑老街)
Background
A few years ago Miaoli government made a tunnel to connect NanZhuang (南庄) to TaiAn (泰安). Nick-named “Miaoli Trans-Mountain route” (苗栗新中橫).
A few reviews said it was a tough climb with great scenery, but sadly the route was reported to have rock slides right after the rain season, and the governor was jailed for his corruption on many constructions, including road constructions. LOL.
As an exploratory ride, this Mid Miaoli Trans-Mountain Ride checked out the tunnel during safe dry season, and expected the badly designed roads.
Start: SanYi 三義
Our Mid Miaoli Trans-Mountain Ride started at good old SanYi. We rode towards north and soon started climbing over Miaoli’s mountain ridges to ShiTan 獅潭.
The famous painted stairs at SanYi’s local elementary.
Crossing HouLong River 後龍溪
YunDong Temple (雲洞宮) at first mountain ridge top.
Viewing Miaoli City.
ShiTan & Up
After passing the first mountain ridge we arrived at ShiTan. Again we stopped by at the famous local grass jelly store for re-supply.
Old style public laundry place.
Local grass jelly store.
After resupply, our Mid Miaoli Trans-Mountain Ride tacked the second mountain ridge up to XianShan (仙山)
Top monument for the second mountain ridge.
Looking back the first mountain ridge we crossed.
Trans-Mountain Tunnel
At about the BaGuaLi aboriginal village (八卦力部落) near the Thunder Lady signs was where the new Trans-Mountain route north entry.
Village welcome statues.
The Trans-Mountain route northern entry.
As you climbed the road you could easily feel how bad the road was designed and built. The road was “stair-like” with intervals of flat and steep sections. There were already cracks across the road, and grass was able to penetrate through the asphalt.
After riding through some badly designed road the tunnel was in sight.
The new TaiAn Tunnel.
As what we expected, the well-paved the Trans-Mountain route suddenly ended with shitty country road. Oh well.
TaiAn 泰安 & Back
Our Mid Miaoli Trans-Mountain Ride eventually reached the southern entry: TaiAn (泰安), a popular Miaoli winter hot spring resort.
Hot spring hotels.
Along the way towards DaHu was an old street famous for tofu: XiShuiKeng Old Street (洗水坑老街).
Back to DaHu’s strawberry fields!
The last climb: Route 130.
