Tajvan

Taiwan is a climber's island, where the road pitches upward almost as soon as it leaves the coast. Three catalogued climbs reward riders willing to trade sea-level heat for thin mountain air, and the highest of them crests at 2,509 metres — a summit that leaves the humid lowlands far below. None here carry an hors catégorie rating, but the sustained gradients and sheer vertical gain make each ascent a serious day in the saddle.

The marquee names tell the story. Dayuling reaches deep into the high country, while Siyuan Pass links valley to valley over a demanding saddle, and Shouqia offers its own steady, punishing rhythm. Together they form a tight, rewarding trio for anyone chasing altitude on two wheels. Compact yet unrelenting, Taiwan proves that a small island can deliver mountains worthy of any climber's ambition.