Premier Jiang Yi-huah today lauded eastern Taiwan's bicycle trails as among the island's most beautiful, and hopes Hualien and Taitung counties will combine cycling, leisure and tourism activities to draw more visitors and boost tourism as one of the nation's six emerging industries.
The premier made the remarks after joining King Liu, chairman of Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd., in completing a 53-km ride today as part of Liu's round-the-island bicycle tour.
Liu started the 12-day bicycle tour on May 1 to celebrate his 80th birthday this year. On the tour's 10th day, the premier and Executive Yuan Spokesperson Sun Lih-chyun rode with Liu from the Lintian Mountain Forestry Center through Fongli Elementary School and Jian Chinxiu Temple, taking in beautiful scenery along the East Rift Valley and admiring the temple's unique architecture.
Liu is one of the founders of Taiwan's bicycle culture and his perseverance in cycling to work every day even at his age is admirable, Jiang said. Several months ago when the premier heard about Liu's wish to bike around the island for his 80th birthday, he promised to join the octogenarian's tour.
Eastern Taiwan has already made a name internationally for its tourism and agriculture industries, Jiang said, and the right marketing strategies will help bring in more bicycle tourists to Taiwan.
Before reaching their final destination of the Qixingtan Scenic Area, Jiang, Liu and the other cyclists stopped by one of Giant's shops in Hualien County to enjoy the region's special cuisine. Jiang said that riding bicycles is not only a good form of exercise but also the best way to see Taiwan. He hopes in the future to finish his own bike trip around the island and get to know local towns up close and personal.