Pingtung is gearing up for a major cycling festival at the picturesque Dapeng Bay. It’s the Year of Cycling Tourism in Taiwan, and Dapeng Bay’s Cruising 300 events are bigger than ever. From Nov. 6 to 7, there’ll be lots of different races and challenges for cyclists of different abilities. There are even ‘slow races’ for kids, encouraging the slow and steady tortoises of the world.

Cyclists circle Dapeng Bay in Pingtung County, admiring the beautiful shores of this lagoon, which stretch out 11.7 kilometers. The annual Dapeng Bay Cruising 300 series of events will return in November.

Chang Shi-chung
MOTC Tourism Bureau chief
In wide, open spaces, so long as you maintain social distancing while riding, you probably don’t need to wear a mask. But social events are a different kettle of fish. If crowds gather at an event, masks should always be on.

And it’s not just fun for adults – balance bike races will be held for kids as well. To avoid pushing kids into a hurry, there will also be “slow races” – to see who can reach the finish last.

Event host
The rules are: you have to ride slowly. You can’t touch the ground with your feet. We’ll see who can reach the finish line last! It’s a test of balance.

And for teams of adults, there’s a chance to win prizes through a photo opportunity. All cyclists who can reach the picturesque location and share a photo online will win a prize.

Event host
In the “experience” category, we designed a “photoshoot circuit”. There are 10 scenic spots, and if you collect eight of them, you can win a commemorative vest.

2021 is the Year of Cycling Tourism in Taiwan. The Dapeng Bay Cruising 300 events will be bigger and brighter than ever this year, with two venues instead of one, plus spaces for up to 500 cyclists, up from the previous cap of 300. Officials are also encouraging tourists to spend Quintuple Stimulus Vouchers and Domestic Tourism Vouchers at the event, and help support local economies.