Thursday, January 31, 2019

Yuli: Our New Base in the East Rift Valley

One of the highlights of our 2012 Taiwan trip was bicycling in the East Rift Valley. This time we tried out a new base, Yuli, north of Guanshan. We both found Yuli very likable. It is a very laid back small town with plenty of services for travelers. Exactly the kind of small town we like, full of local life, not tourists.

The first day we rode on the Yufu Bike Way, a rail trail. With no hills or powered vehicles there to worry about, we could look around and see much evidence of spring planting in this center of Taiwan's rice country. The bridge right outside town has markings of the tectonic plates that gave rise to the East Rift Valley.

On the way back, John had to squeeze the breaks really hard in order to avoid being crushed by a right-turning bus while in a roundabout. The front brake handle broke. We picked our guesthouse partly because of the free bikes. While the guesthouse was perfectly nice, the bikes were not; only maintained when something breaks. We are just grateful a) John was not hurt b) it happened only two blocks from home after a wonderful tour around town.

John adds: The local night market was very authentic; that is, friendly, foody, and not for solely for tourists. And we found a veg resto run by a Vietnamese lady and ate there all 5 nights, tweaking the noodle soup each evening so that the 5th bowl was perfect.;-)

The sun finally came out over Taroko Gorge the morning we walked to the train station to head to Yuli.
View from our Window - Xincheng, Taiwan

As soon as we were settled in our accommodation in Yuli, Little Town Guesthouse, we headed out to a nearby vegetarian restaurant for some famous Yuli noodles.
Yuli, Taiwan

Then happened to walk by a place that was making said noodles by the pile.
Yuli, Taiwan

Yuli has a branch of he Tzu Chi Foundation.
Yuli, Taiwan

Our base for 5 nights was the Little Time Guesthouse - the white building on the corner - on a quiet street where dogs can safely lie in the sun.
Little Time Guesthouse - Yuli, Taiwan

The Yufu Bike Way (Yuli to Fuli - get it?) starts near the train station and follows the now-not-in-use-tracks to the former Dongli Station now relocated to the new tracks.
Yuli, Taiwan

Yuli, Taiwan

So soon after we settled in at our guesthouse we borrowed their bikes and headed to Dongli Station on a beautiful afternoon.
Yuli, Taiwan

Crossing the old railroad bridge where there is a big plaque marking the point where the Philippine Sea and Eurasian tectonic plates meets.
Yuli, Taiwan

Yuli, Taiwan

Tectonic Plates Meet - Yuli, Taiwan

Tectonic Plates Meet - Yuli, Taiwan

One of the old station platforms.
Yuli, Taiwan

It's rice planting season.
Rice and Mountains - Yufu  Bikeway - Yuli, Taiwan

Yuli, Taiwan

The very cool Dongli Cycling Station as it's now called.
Yuli, Taiwan

Yuli, Taiwan

Click on this pano to get the full size.
Cycling Station - Yuli, Taiwan

And video.


Link here.

The first bowl of wide noodles.
Yuli, Taiwan

Some of the many red lanterns put up for Chinese New Year.
Yuli, Taiwan

The night market.
Friday Night Market - Yuli, Taiwan

Pastry Vendor - Friday Night Market - Yuli, Taiwan

The former Japanese shrine above Yuli.
Former Japanese Shrine - Yuli, Taiwan

The GPS track of the route.
Yuli, Taiwan


1 comment:

Crash Eddy said...

Yeah, rails to trail are really flat, like the ATT. And usually straight, curved only if following a river.

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