The Cycling Culture Museum was opened in July 2020 by Taiwan’s celebrated bike manufacturer Giant, opposite their headquarters in the Central Taiwan Science Park. Its unique form, flowing lines and floor-to-ceiling windows embody the speed and freedom felt on a bicycle. Within is a journey through 200 years of cycling history, with a focus on Taiwan’s global contributions: first as a base for original equipment manufacturing and later revolutionizing the industry. One of the museum’s stated aims is to help people see bicycles in a new light, and it does this through engaging, annotated displays.
The first floor is an interactive walk through the origin of bikes, the science behind materials and design and an astonishing century of road races and rider tactics. The second floor introduces mountain biking, how to choose the right type of bike for your body and urban planning concepts for bike-friendly cities. The third floor hosts a hands-on road course with safety quizzes based on YouBike, the country’s public bike share system. There is also a breath-taking VR road bike experience in which riders cycle through deep forest, descend steep mountain roads and race toward the finish line. To recover from the race, the Tour de Cafe offers coffee and desserts under the skylight window which tops the airy building. No museum visit would be complete without an exit through the gift shop which showcases the industry’s innovations in material recycling, in addition to offering a range of useful bike-related items.
—by Nai Li
The building’s arcs and sweeping curves echo the fun and freedom of cycling.
E-bikes use electric power to support riders of various levels, making cycling more accessible to a wider demographic.
Autographs from famous pro cyclists show that Taiwan is firmly on the map for international biking enthusiasts.
Mountain biking has evolved since the 1970s into disciplines including cross-country, trail-riding, enduro and downhill.
VR riders can test their endurance, concentration and riding skills on various types of mountain trails.
The museum’s interactive and VR displays offer rides through a variety of terrain from peaceful forests to thrilling rough trails.
Taiwan’s public bike-share system was developed by Giant Group and now extends to multiple cities and counties, logging the world’s number one turnover rate.