Peking University, July 13: Fifteen students from Peking University on the Chinese mainland started a 10-day sightseeing tour around Taiwan by bicycle Tuesday.

 

Chairperson of Taiwan's "Sports Affairs Council" (SAC) Ms. Tai Hsia-ling fired a starting pistol to launch the 832 kilometer ride that was organized by SAC as part of a cross-strait student exchange program.

 

 

The students will cycle through the western counties of Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Changhua, then on to Tainan, Pingtung in the south and Taitung, Hualien and Yilan on the east coast before returning to Taipei, Tai said.

 

Along the route they will be greeted and hosted by local university students, she said.

 

Tai said she hopes the tour will not only help to promote cultural exchanges between students from Taiwan and the mainland, but will also give young cyclists an opportunity to enjoy Taiwan's scenery and traditional cuisine.

 

Chen Yi, one of the PKU students, said he is pleased to be celebrating his 20th birthday by participating in the event.

 

"I've heard that in Taiwan you have to complete a 1,000 km cycling route as part of a coming-of-age ritual at 20," he said. "Although the route on this tour is less than that, I will make up for it on my next trip to Taiwan."

 

The "council" is also encouraging local youth aged 18-20 to take part in a "Roll Your Dream" round-the-island cycling event that will be held July 19-23.

 

Reported by: Hsiao Pao-hsiang and Maia Huang

Source: CNA