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Xianshan KOM Guide｜Racing and Reaching Nanzhuang

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Xianshan KOM is the cycling day of the Nanzhuang Run & Ride weekend in Nanzhuang, Miaoli. The weekend has two days and two road closures, which is rare in Taiwan. On Saturday people run along the Zhonggang River, and on Sunday Miao-124 is closed for the climb up Xianshan. The 2025 edition drew more than 6,000 runners and riders from eight countries; 2026 registrations passed 4,900, and the race is a Category C national-team selection points event sanctioned by the Chinese Taipei Cycling Association. Nanzhuang sits on no railway line. This guide covers the field size, the course and cut-offs, how to get there from airports and stations, and what to do about your bike along the way.

A large Xianshan KOM field lines up beneath the start arch at the Nanzhuang venue in 2026
At Xianshan KOM 2026, riders gather at the Nanzhuang start before heading along Miao-124 toward Xianshan.

Official 2026 Race Video

See the 2026 event from the venue and closed-road course to the Xianshan KOM finish.Watch on YouTubeVisit the official website

A Hill Climb Inside a Slow City

Nanzhuang is one of the few townships in Taiwan certified as an international Slow City (Cittaslow), a mountain town on the cultural boundary between Hakka and Saisiyat communities. Xianshan KOM takes place here as day two of the Nanzhuang Run & Ride weekend. Day one is a run along the Zhonggang River. Day two is a closed-road climb up Miao-124 toward Xianshan. Both days share the same venue.

The earliest verifiable edition of the cycling race was in 2024, then called the Xianshan King of the Mountain Race, with an elite 31K, a challenge 31K and a 21K slow-city leisure group. In 2025 it ran as the Xianshan KOM hill climb; in 2026 it was renamed the Slow City Climb (Spectator) Race and a spectator entry was added. The organisers do not publish an edition number, so this guide only states verifiable years.

In 2026 it is the Miaoli Xianshan round of the 96 League and is sanctioned by the Chinese Taipei Cycling Association as a Category C national-team selection points event. The criteria are a course under 50 km with less than 500 m of climbing, and points are awarded down to fifth place. Results by foreign nationals are excluded from selection points, so visiting riders can enter the competitive groups without affecting local selection.

After the 2026 race, participant Xiaoye Photography & Fun said in a full race video that the organisation was more rigorous than the previous year and rated the event quality a full score. The video particularly praised the wave starts, controlled group descents and finisher supplies. Fried rice noodles, fried noodles, prawns, crayfish, and hot and cold drinks at the Lingdong Temple feed station were also among the most discussed highlights in the video and comments. This is one participant’s post-race view, not a consensus score from all riders.

Another race video by Paul Goes Out focuses on riders cheering one another on, sharing the work along the route, and gathering safely after the finish. Together with the organiser’s official 2026 race video, the three videos show the closed-road racing, local support and atmosphere of the Nanzhuang mountain town from both participant and organiser perspectives. All three videos are listed in the sources below.

Field Size Across Three Years, 2024 to 2026

Over 6,000 people took part across the 2025 weekend, with more than 100 foreign entrants from eight countries. They came from Japan, Canada, Bulgaria, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

For 2026, registration data shows 4,910 valid entries, of which 340 signed up for both days, and 55 foreign entrants. The two figures are counted differently. The 2025 number is reported attendance across the event, while the 2026 number is valid registrations, and the elite competitive group registers through a separate system not included in the 4,910. Either way the event runs at roughly four to six thousand people, so Nanzhuang fills up on race weekend and travel and lodging should be booked early.

31 km Total, Only 12.93 km Timed

The course starts at the Nanzhuang public car park, heads south on Miao-124, and is released at the Fude Bridge junction where timing begins. It climbs to the township boundary on County Road 124, which is the timing finish, continues to Lingdong Temple for feeding, then returns the same way to the venue on the commissaire's instruction. The racing section totals 31 km out and back, but only the 12.93 km in the middle is timed.

From the start to the release point the field rides as a neutralised group behind the commissaire vehicle; the race only begins when the flag drops at the release point, and jumping early is a violation. Back at the venue you must register at the chip checkpoint in the car park or you are scored as a non-finisher. First-timers should note that nothing before the release point is timed, so there is no reason to burn matches early. Only the timed 12.93 km counts for the result, and pacing differs from a standard road race.

There is a single feed station, at Lingdong Temple. Rolling feeds are not allowed and support vehicles may not follow riders; team support cars must be up the mountain before 06:20, and coaches are not permitted on the climb. Expect to wait 30 minutes or more at the turnaround before your descent group is called. Descents are released in controlled batches by the commissaires and breaking away on your own is prohibited. The road is narrow with riders in both directions, so descents follow the commissaires' release.

Finisher Colours and How to Collect

Finisher rewards are tiered by colour according to your chip time on the timed segment. After the finish, scan the QR code on your number card or helmet sticker, screenshot the full result screen showing your name and time band, then show it at the tent of the matching colour. Riders below the standards still receive the commemorative socks and a Xianshan ring if they finish before the cut-off.

If You Also Run, Race Day One Has Three Groups

The running day has seven feed stations; stations 1/7, 2/6 and 3/5 are the same points used on the way out and back, and station 4 sits at the Nanzhuang Farmers Market about 200 m before the half-marathon turnaround. Starts are staggered, 06:30 for the half, 06:45 for the 10K, 07:00 for the 4K. Starting early, or more than 20 minutes after your gun time, voids your result. If you plan to run the 10K on Saturday and climb on Sunday, note that the climb's team managers meeting is at 16:00 on Saturday, which makes for a tight schedule.

Three Ways In to Nanzhuang

Nanzhuang has no railway line, so the first thing to settle is how you get in. Driving is the simplest option. Take National Freeway 1 to the Toufen interchange, then Route 124B toward Nanzhuang, roughly 25 minutes.

By public transport, take the TRA to Zhunan Station and transfer to a Miaoli Bus service bound for Nanzhuang. The ride takes about 45 to 60 minutes, and you alight at Nanzhuang Station within walking distance of the venue. The three routes pass different stops. Route 5804 runs via Shangshun and Changlong Plaza, 5805 via Toufen and Shitoushan, and 5806 via Toufen and Dananpu. There is also the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Nanzhuang Line 5805A, which terminates at the Nanzhuang Visitor Center. These routes carry reservation-only departures, so some services only run if booked in advance, and frequency is low. There may be no early service that gets you there for the 05:00 check-in on race day.

If you are travelling with a bike, rail and coach services each limit how bikes may be carried. Squeezing a fully built race bike onto a bus the day before is risky for the bike and crowded, since everyone else has a bike too. A support transfer carries riders, bikes and luggage together from the airport or the city straight to the Nanzhuang venue, with no need to strip the bike or bag it.

24EZGO runs Taoyuan Airport to Nanzhuang, Miaoli as a fixed route, with bike racks and luggage space on board. The booking page locks the route, so you only enter rider and bike counts. Riders flying in can step off the plane and straight into the vehicle for the ride into the mountains.

Road Control Means You Cannot Park at the Venue

On race day and the day before, the public car park, which is the event venue, is closed to parking and to cars entirely. Setting your navigation to the venue and driving in will get you turned around by marshals.

Check-in opens at 05:00, which means finding a space in the dark. At an event of four thousand people and up, spaces fill fast, so budget time for parking and the walk in. Mornings in the hills are cold; if you end up parking far out, bring an extra layer.

Pre-Race Practical Checklist

Registration typically opens in April and closes at the end of August, with early-bird extras. Race packs are either posted to you or collected in person at one of 11 pick-up points around Taiwan, each with its own collection window. Always check the official site.

Cyclists ride along a mountain road in Nanzhuang with the valley and forest on either side
The 2026 route crosses the Nanzhuang hills. Riders stay together early on before the timed climb begins.
A youth drum troupe in traditional dress performs beside the Nanzhuang event venue
The venue blends racing with local Nanzhuang culture, with the youth drum troupe warming up riders and spectators.
A rider in a red polka-dot jersey shakes hands with a presenter on the awards stage
Red polka dots are Xianshan KOM’s strongest visual signature, carrying the king-of-the-mountains tradition into Nanzhuang.

FAQ

When did Xianshan KOM start?

The earliest verifiable edition is the 2024 Xianshan King of the Mountain Race, followed by the 2025 Xianshan KOM hill climb and the 2026 Slow City Climb. The organisers do not publish an edition number, so only verifiable years are stated here.

How many people take part?

The 2025 event drew over 6,000 participants (roughly 3,500 runners and 2,500 riders) with more than 100 foreign entrants from eight countries. For 2026 there were 4,910 valid registrations, 340 of them for both days, and 55 foreign entrants; the elite competitive group registers separately and is not included.

How do I reach Nanzhuang without a car?

Take the TRA to Zhunan Station and transfer to Miaoli Bus 5804, 5805 or 5806 (or Tourist Shuttle 5805A), about 45 to 60 minutes to Nanzhuang Station. Frequency is low and some departures are reservation-only, so an early service may not reach the 05:00 check-in. If you are carrying a bike or travelling as a group, a support transfer straight to the venue is more reliable.

Can I park at the venue?

No. On race day and the day before, the public car park that serves as the venue is closed to parking and to cars entirely. Use the surrounding points B through H instead; point K, roadside parking on Miao-124, opens only on climb race day.

Do I race the full 31 km?

No. Only the 12.93 km from the Fude Bridge junction to the township boundary on County Road 124 is timed. Before that the field rides neutralised behind the commissaire vehicle and jumping early is a violation. You also have to register at the chip checkpoint back at the venue to be scored as a finisher.

Can foreign riders enter?

Yes. In 2025 more than 100 foreign riders from eight countries took part, and 2026 registrations included 55 foreign entrants. Results by foreign nationals are excluded from national-team selection points, so entering the competitive groups does not affect local riders.

Sources

Rules and road conditions change, so always check the official announcements before you travel.

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