Sha Mao Rd. is lovely. Hope you continue up to the flower clock and go up Zhong Xing Rd. which is just as well shaded as Sha Mao but cooler because it’s higher. I went to Balaka for the shade a few weeks ago. Very lovely, perfect for summer rides, except I had to endure the baking sun getting to the road. The 101 at 11:00 a.m. is not a good place for cycling.
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Was the road closed?
Yup! Road closed up and down the mountain. Pros and cons really. It does get pretty cold and weather conditions tend to change pretty quickly at 2000m+ above sea level and you need to descend. Good because you’ll never have to worry about a single car going up 20km and down that 20km.
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Buxiaoxin I designed a route that included these two segments:
https://www.strava.com/segments/3366535
https://www.strava.com/segments/4427272
As you can imagine by their names, the first one was quite nice and can be recommended. While the second one…
We did it downhill. Full descend is very rough concrete and VERY steep. Except for the last part, which has smoother concrete and it is EVEN MORE steep. In other words, with a road bike is an always on the brakes descend. My front rotor has given me overheating and fading issues before, and it just totally gave up going down this thing. I had to stop 4 or 5 times to let the brake cool down. I even had to walk the last 200 m or so because I didn’t trust the brake anymore.
FWIW, it is a 180 mm TRP rotor and it has less stopping power than 160 mm Shimano. Although the rear 160 mm is the same TRP model and I haven’t had any issues so far.
My next purchase will be a new rotor. Very soon.
Also, always check Google street view when designing routes. I usually do, but not this time, and we paid for it.
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I’ve always wondered about those side roads off Xinwu Rd. when I ride to Wulai. Xinwu is just too long and has too much traffic. That Yongfu Rd. at the start of your first segment looks nice. It actually leads to New Garden City. Not sure if I’ll attempt your actual segments though.
I prefer to use the road to the west of the river so I have to ride the main road only 6 km. Yongfu Rd. is indeed nice, but not really an alternative to go to Wulai, unless you don’t mind adding more distance and elevation.
Nah, if I ride Yongfu, I will not be heading out to Wulai 
It would make a nice loop which I should be able to complete in 3 hours from where I live in south side Taipei. You probably know the secluded side road off Xinwu that leads down to the water purification plant:
Instead of turning right and heading down to the residential area at the end of it, I turn left toward the reservoir and then ride up the cemetery. The road leads back to Xinwu exactly at the top of the high point where the road bends. From there I can just hop over to Yongfu across the street and eventually come out of New Garden City 
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Oh nice. At first glance I thought that was the 9. I avoid the 9 as much as I can. Too dangerous given the big motorcycles, sports cars and trucks. I then enlarged it and realized it’s a secluded side road off the 9. Looking at your elevation chart, the climb seems gentler going in the opposite (counterclockwise) direction?
I wish Kick Burger would open on weekdays.
Yeah why anyone stays on Xinwu is beyond me. It’s such a funner ride over there and zero traffic.
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Same.
Maybe. Besides Bamboo climb, the other climbs I have only done them downhill. Here and there, there is always a steep section somewhere.
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