The Pingxi Lantern Festival in New Taipei has some of the most popular attractions in Northern Taiwan, and is known as one of the best festivals in the world. Thousands of lanterns are set off during the festival, to celebrate the traditional Chinese Spring Lantern Festival Holiday. It is definitely worth experience if you are in Taiwan during Lantern Festival.

Background:
The practice of lighting off sky lanterns in Taiwan began in Shifen, when during the Qing Dynasty local villagers would flee into the mountains during raids from bandits. Once the bandits had left, the remaining villagers sent sky lanterns into the air to let the fleeing villagers know that it was safe to come down from the mountains.
The people of Shifen send off sky lanterns as a symbol of peace, and celebrate every year during Lantern Festival (元宵節), a Chinese holiday.
Setting off sky lanterns as a tourist attraction began in the 1990's and you can find people lighting off lanterns every day from Shifen. Since 1990 the Lantern Festival has been held every year (expect 2021 due to COVID-19).
The Pingxi Lantern Festival is part of larger festivities around Taiwan at the time, known as the Taiwan Lantern Festival.
Because of the hundreds of sky lanterns set off every day, this creates an environmental problem with lantern trash piling around the forests and mountains of Pingxi District. The local people and volunteers help to clean up, but because of the tourism allure associated with lighting off the sky lanterns, it seems that this practice is not going away anytime soon.


Hours:
The Lantern Festival is usually held for the entire week that Lantern Festival falls on, which is the 15th day of the first month of the Lunar New Year. Setting off hundreds of lanterns at night is usually done during the evenings. 

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA to Ruifang Station, buy the Pingxi Railway line one day pass, and then switch to the Pingxi Railway line. Get off at any station! The main lantern setting is done at Shifen Square, which is right next to the Shifen Waterfall parking lot.
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 east toward Pinglin, then get off the main highway once you reach Shifen. You can drive right or left to reach all of the stations on the Pingxi Railway line. But please know there is limited car parking around the stations. 

Map:
​Please see below:

Qingtiangang in Yangmingshan National Park is a large grassland that lays on top of an old lava terrace. It is famous for the water buffalo that congregate here to graze, and is one of the most popular areas in the park. Besides enjoying views of wild water buffalo, there are also many hiking trails and historic trails nearby. Overall it is a family friendly destinations and one of the most popular attractions in Taipei City.

Background:
Qingtiangang, literally meaning "Hill Holding up Heaven" gets its name from the KMT Qingtian garrison that once guarded the hills and grasslands here.  Officially it lies in Shilin District of Taipei, but parts of the grassland also lie in Jinshan District of New Taipei. The grassland lies 770 meters above sea level. 
The area known as Yangmingshan now was formed by volcanoes about 700,000 years ago, forming many mountains about 1000 meters or less in northwestern Taiwan. The park still features active volcanoes, vents, and hot springs.
The original name of the area was Caoshan (grass mountain 草山). During the Qing Dynasty, the area was used to harvest sulfur, and many of the hills were burned to help catch sulfur thieves, Qingtiangang likely being one of these areas. 
Sulfur mining at Dayoukeng Crater in Yangmingshan National Park started in the Qing Dynasty by a British mining company who first obtained the rights to mine here in 1897. Currently you can find lots of old mining equipment that were abandoned here. The Yulu Old Trail was built near Dayoukeng to transport mining materials, and extended over to Qingtiangang. Mining sulfur ended with the formation of Yangmingshan National Park. 
In 1927 during the Japanese era, Yangmingshan was made as the first national park in Taiwan, then known as Datunshan National Park Association. 
The area around Qingtiangang to Lengshuikeng was made into a ranch for water buffalo, and grass from Japan was planted here for them to graze.
In 1950 after the ROC took Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek renamed the park after the philosopher Wang Yangming, and called the area Yangmingshan. 
The KMT kept the ranch at Qingtiangang and continued to maintain it. They also built bunkers here and kept a garrison of troops.
In 1985, after resolving many land disputes, Yangmingshan National Park was officially designated as a national park in the ROC era. 
In2018, a mother died after being pushed over by a water buffalo at Qingtiangang. In 2020, the family was awarded NT$3.96 million from the park and wooden fences were built around the grasslands shortly after. 
The water buffalo at Qingtiangang are actually closely watched and cared for. Although they roam free around Yangmingshan, they are watched over by the Agricultural Associations of Jinshan, Shilin, Yangmingshan, and Beitou, and well as the national park management.
In the winter of 2020 which was unusually wet, tens of cows began to die of malnutrition, therefore the park took steps to supplement the diet of the remaining cattle. Many cows were brought to lower eve lavations for rehabilitation before being released back to Yangmingshan. 
Due to its easy accessibility and nearby attractions such as Lengshuikeng and Qixingshan, it is a popular stop in Yangmingshan and has a parking lots and a visitor's center. In addition, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Taipei City. 

Hours:
The visitor's center is open from 9 AM to 4:30 PM.
​
Price:
Free
(car parking 30-50 NT， scooter parking 20 NT)

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 2A north to the Zhuzihu Lookout. Keep right until you reach the turnoff the the Qingtiangang parking lot. Car parking is limited on weekends and the number of cars allowed up the mountain is also limited. There is also paid scooter parking.
On weekends this place can be the most popular place in the park, and cars can be backed up for up to an hour or more, so consider taking a scooter or bus. 
By Bus: From Beitou MRT Station, Take Little Bus 9 (小9) to Qingtiangang Station (擎天崗).
​
Map:
Please see below: 

Formosa Boulevard Station has been named the second most beautiful MRT station in the world. It includes the largest glass piece of artwork in the world, which covers the roof and pillars in the central part of the station. Did I mention it's an MRT station? Yeah. Some people like to take selfies here. 

Background:
Formosa Boulevard Station is currently the only interchange station on the Kaohsiung MRT, connecting the red and orange lines. 
It's name in Chinese is simply "Formosa Station" referring to the Formosa Incident in 1979 (aka the Kaohsiung incident) which was a crackdown by the KMT on the pro-democracy movement in Taiwan and helped lead to the full democratization of Taiwan. 
The added the name "boulevard" to the English name, refers to Chungshan Road which is also known as Formosa Boulevard. 
The "Dome of Light" was designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata, and is made of over 4,000 glass pieces. The art piece took over 4 years to complete and the glass was shipped from Germany. The four main themes of the station are Water: The Womb of Life; Earth: Prosperity and Growth; Light: The Creative Spirit; and Fire: Destruction and Rebirth. It has a diameter of 30 meters. ​
In addition, large bending glass windows on the four main exits were designed by Shin Takamatsu Architect & Associates.
The station was completed in 2008 and had 18,000 daily passengers as of 2019. ​

Hours: 
6 AM to midnight. 

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA to Kaohsiung Station, and then switch to the MRT line. Get off at Formosa Station, and you have arrived!
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 17 in downtown Kaohsiung to the intersection of Chungshan 1st Road and Zhongzheng 4th Road. The station is underneath the roundabout. 
​
Map:
Please see below:

Sulfur Valley (Liuhuang Valley) in Yangmingshan National Park is a large volcanic sulfur hot spring area with hiking trails, steam vents, sulfur deposits, and large natural hot springs. Sulfur Valley contains a trail that circles the area, and also has a free public spring to soak your feet in. It is a unique and interesting stop on the mountain and worth a visit on your trip to Yangmingshan. 


Background:
The area known as Yangmingshan now was formed by volcanoes about 700,000 years ago, forming many mountains about 1000 meters or less in northwestern Taiwan. The park still features active volcanoes, vents, and hot springs.
The original name of the area was Caoshan (grass mountain 草山). During the Qing Dynasty, the area was used to harvest sulfur, and many of the hills were burned to help catch sulfur thieves. 
In 1927 during the Japanese era, Yangmingshan was made as the first national park in Taiwan, then known as Datunshan National Park Association. 
In 1950 after the ROC took Taiwan Chiang Kai-shek renamed the park after the philosopher Wang Yangming, and called the area Yangmingshan. 
In 1985, after resolving many land disputes, Yangmingshan National Park was officially designated as a national park in the ROC era. 
The hot springs at Beitou were first converted into hot spring resorts in 1894, and Beitou become a popular hot spring location during the Japanese era, and there are many hot spring hotels and baths that exist there today.
Sulfur Valley is also the source of some of the hot spring water for Beitou Hot Springs.

Hours:
24/7

How to get there:
By Bus: From near Xinbeitou MRT station, take the S9 or S26 bus up the mountain to Mito Temple (Sulfur Valley) bus stop.
By Car/Scooter: From downtown Beitou, drive up Quanyuan Road until you reach the Sulfur Valley Parking lot, you can park there or on the side of the road. 

Map:
Please see below:

Fengshan County New City in Fengshan District of Kaohsiung is not new, but it was the new rebuilt city after the old city of Fengshan in Zuoying was destroyed in a rebellion. It now stands as a monument to the past with only one surviving city gate and three batteries, from when the Qing Dynasty ruled western Taiwan. The old city sits in a pedestrian shopping area and is a nice place for a stroll. It is definitely worth a visit on your trip to Kaohsiung. 

Historical Background:
After the capture of Taiwan by the Qing Dynasty, they quickly set up a settlement in Zuoying in 1684 because of its strategic location between hills and mountains.
The walls of the Old City of Fengshan first started as earthen walls with a moat in 1721. Before this, the construction of city walls was forbidden by the Qing government to prevent rebellions, but after a rebellion by Chu Yi-kuei (朱一貴) in which he ruined the government buildings there with no protection, the Qing allowed walls to be built.
The uprising by 17 year old Zhu Yigui was successful in exiling the provincial government out of Taiwan after heavy taxation and a bad earthquake had left the people destitute. The Qing took back the capital of Tainan about a month later and Zhu Yigui was executed. 
In 1787 another rebellion by Lin shuang-wen (林爽文) ruined the old city, and afterward the local government relocated to the current Fengshan district of Kaohsiung and created a new Fengshan City in 1788. However the government was still attacked continuously.
In 1826, the government rebuilt the Old Fengshan City walls and improved them. During the Japanese Era, most of the remaining city gates and walls were destroyed for city planning and development purposes.

The New City of Fengshan had six gates and six batteries, and included a bamboo wall and an earthen wall. Currently only one city gate remains intact, as well as three batteries.
Originally there were four gates: the Outer North Gate (外北門, no longer exists), North Gate (北門, no longer exists), Greater East  Gate (大東門, no longer exists), East Minor Gate (東便門,  also known as Tongyi Gate 同儀門 still exists), South Gate (南門, no longer exists, also known as Anhua Gate 安化門), and West Gate (西門, also known as Jinghua Gate 景華門 which no longer exists).
Originally there were also six batteries: Pingcheng Battery (平成砲台, still exists),  Chenglan Fort (澄瀾砲台, extant), Xunfeng Battery (訓風砲台, extant), Yingen Battery (迎恩砲台, destroyed), Dongnan Battery (東南砲台, destroyed), and Dongbei Battery (東北砲台, destroyed).

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free
​
Map:
Please see the existing city gates and batteries marked with red castle icons below, and temples dating back to the old city in orange below:

Taiwan's Alien Digital Citizen Certificate is a useful tool to authenticate your identity on the internet, so that you can take care of many government related tasks related to your personal data online. With this certificate you can pay taxes, check your health records, check your pension accounts, receive invoice lottery winnings, check your credit history, and much more. 

The main reason I applied for my Digital Citizen Certificate was to check my pension account. There is pretty much no other way to access your Taiwan pension information except with this card. 
​

Longfeng Valley in Yangmingshan National Park is a large volcanic sulfur hot spring area with hiking trails, steam vents, sulfur deposits, and large natural hot springs. Longfeng Valley remains as a mostly untouched natural pool that retains its natural beauty without man made structures surrounding it. It is a unique and interesting stop on the mountain and worth a visit on your trip to Yangmingshan. 


Background:
The area known as Yangmingshan now was formed by volcanoes about 700,000 years ago, forming many mountains about 1000 meters or less in northwestern Taiwan. The park still features active volcanoes, vents, and hot springs.
The original name of the area was Caoshan (grass mountain 草山). During the Qing Dynasty, the area was used to harvest sulfur, and many of the hills were burned to help catch sulfur thieves. 
In 1927 during the Japanese era, Yangmingshan was made as the first national park in Taiwan, then known as Datunshan National Park Association. 
In 1950 after the ROC took Taiwan Chiang Kai-shek renamed the park after the philosopher Wang Yangming, and called the area Yangmingshan. 
In 1985, after resolving many land disputes, Yangmingshan National Park was officially designated as a national park in the ROC era. 
The hot springs at Beitou were first converted into hot spring resorts in 1894, and Beitou become a popular hot spring location during the Japanese era, and there are many hot spring hotels and baths that exist there today.
Longfeng Valley literally means "Dragon and Phoenix Valley." Longfeng Valley remains as a mostly untouched natural pool that retains its natural beauty without man made structures surrounding it. 

Hours:
24/7

How to get there:
By Bus: From Xinbeitou MRT station, take the 508 shuttle bus up the mountain to Dunu Vocational High School of Business, and then walk about five minutes down to the valley.
By Car/Scooter: From downtown Beitou, drive up Quanyuan Road until you reach Longfenggu Visitor's Center. You can park at the visitor's center or down in the valley below.

Map:
Please see below:

From breathtaking landscapes to impressive urban centers, Taiwan is an exciting country with plenty to offer. If you are thinking of packing up your bags and moving to East Asia, there are a couple of things you need to know about this magical place:

The Old City of Fengshan in Zuoying is the oldest walled city on the island of Taiwan. It has survived rebellions, raids, and changes of power, and now stands as a well preserved monument to the past, from when the Qing Dynasty ruled western Taiwan. It is definitley worth a visit on your trip to Kaohsiung. 

Historical Background:
After the capture of Taiwan by the Qing Dynasty, they quickly set up a settlement in Zuoying in 1684 because of its strategic location between hills and mountains.
The walls of the Old City of Fengshan first started as earthen walls wiht a moat in 1721. Before this, the construction of city walls was forbidden by the Qing government to prevent rebellions, but after a rebellion by Chu Yi-kuei (朱一貴) in which he ruined the government buildings there with no protection, the Qing allowed walls to be built.
The uprising by 17 year old Zhu Yigui was successful in exiling the provincial government out of Taiwan after heavy taxation and a bad earthquake had left the people destitute. The Qing took back the capital of Tainan about a month later and Zhu Yigui was executed. 
In 1787 another rebellion by Lin shuang-wen (林爽文) ruined the city, and afterward the local government relocated to the current Fengshan district of Kaohsiung and created a new Fengshan City. However the government was still attacked continuously.
In 1826, the government rebuilt the Old Fengshan City walls and improved them, building them with concrete and granite stone, and at the time it was the most advanced city wall in Taiwan. However the city remained mainly unused because it was considered unlucky. 
During the Japanese Era of Taiwan, the Japanese made Zuoying a naval port and changed the area into a military zone. 
Zuoying continued as a military zone during the ROC era, but the old walled city of Fengshan was designated as a national monument.
Major renovations of the walls and gates occured in 1991 and renovations are still ongoing. 
Originally there were four gates: the North (also Gongcheng Gate 拱辰門), South (Ciwen Gate 啟文門), East (Fongyi Gate 鳳儀門), and West Gate (Dianhai Gate 奠海門, no longer exists).

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free
​
Map:
Please see the existing city gates marked with red castle icons below:

Tax season is here. In Taiwan, taxes must be filed from before May 31st. As a foreigner, you might be wondering how to file a tax return and what the regulations are. Luckily Taiwan has made it easy by creating an online tax filing system that you can complete from your computer, although you do still have to physically send some forms to the tax office. Let us answer some common questions about tax filing that might come up:

Forward: The following is Q+A for tax year 2020 only, based on information provided on Taiwan's Ministry of Finance website for your reference only. Personal income tax can be a complicated issue; for specific answers regarding your tax situation please contact the Taiwan tax office: +886-2-2311-3711. Press 7 for English service. The ultimate decision for tax payable is up to the discretion of the Taiwan tax office.
 
Q: When should I file Taxes?
A: Between May 1st to May 31st after the tax year (tax year is same as calendar year).
If you are leaving the country and do not plan to return to Taiwan, you must file an early tax return within 10 days before you leave. We recommend going to the tax office in person for an early filing. 

Q: When are Taiwan tax payments due?
A: Tax payments are due by June 3rd, after which there will be penalties for late payments.
 
Q: What makes me eligible for paying Taiwan taxes (or what makes me a tax resident)?
A: You become a Taiwan tax resident if you stay in Taiwan longer than 183 days, or you are a Taiwan national and have household registration（戶籍） in Taiwan and visit for at least one day. The address in your ARC is not household registration, it's a registration process from the local administrative office (戶政事務所）.
If you stay less than 90 days in Taiwan, in general you do not have to file taxes, and VAT or sales taxes are reimbursable.
If you worked in Taiwan and stayed over 90 days, you need to pay taxes on your Taiwan based salary even if your income came from overseas.
If you stayed in Taiwan between 90-183 days in a calendar year then you need to pay a fixed rate of 18% income tax （your company may have deducted this from your salary already).
If you have Taiwanese dual citizenship and Taiwanese house registration, then you need to pay taxes if you have stayed in Taiwan for over 31 days. Days are cumulative in a tax year, and it doesn't matter what you came for during these days.
​
Q: How do I count the days I stayed in Taiwan?
A: Please note that the day you come to Taiwan doesn't count, but the day you leave does. It's a good idea to keep track of the number of days you have been in Taiwan via the stamps on your passport.

​Q: What is the income tax rate?/ How much is Taiwan tax?
A: The income tax rate for non-residents who earn at least 1.5 the minimum wage per month (34,650 NT as of 2020) is 18% (you can get a tax refund if you pay 18% taxes and then become a tax resident). This tax rate is usually applicable for most white collar foreigners.
For non-residents who earn less than 1.5 the minimum wage per month (34,650 NT as of 2020), the income tax rate is 6%. This tax rate is usually applicable for most blue collar foreign workers. 18% usually is applicable to white collar foreign workers. 
The 2020 tax rate for residents (staying over 183 days in Taiwan) is as follows (source: Taiwan Ministry of Finance):

The Dayoukeng Crater in Yangmingshan National Park is the biggest sulfur vent area in Taiwan, and would likely be the first place to spew lava in the event of a volcanic eruption. This along with Turtle Island are the two known active volcanos in Taiwan. The area was also an important historical sulfur mine. Currently access to Dayoukeng is closed, but you can fly a drone hear with a permit.

Background:
The area known as Yangmingshan now was formed by volcanoes about 700,000 years ago, forming many mountains about 1000 meters or less in northwestern Taiwan. The park still features active volcanoes, vents, and hot springs.
The original name of the area was Caoshan (grass mountain 草山). During the Qing Dynasty, the area was used to harvest sulfur, and many of the hills were burned to help catch sulfur thieves. 
In 1927 during the Japanese era, Yangmingshan was made as the first national park in Taiwan, then known as Datunshan National Park Association. 
In 1950 after the ROC took Taiwan Chiang Kai-shek renamed the park after the philosopher Wang Yangming, and called the area Yangmingshan. 
In 1985, after resolving many land disputes, Yangmingshan National Park was officially designated as a national park in the ROC era. 
Dayoukeng (literally "Big Oil Crater" gets its name because the there are two main sulfur vents on Yangmingshan, and it is the biggest sulfur vent area in Taiwan. Temperatures here can reach 120 degrees celcious, and the water is very acidic with a PH level of only 1-2. The venting crater lies about 805 meters above sea level. A few kilometers under the ground, there is a leftover lava chamber from a previous eruption that heats up ground water and sends it spewing back to the surface.
Sulfur mining at Dayoukeng Crater in Yangmingshan National Park started in the Qing Dynasty by a British mining company who first obtained the rights to mine here in 1897. Currently you can find lots of old mining equipment that were abandoned here. The Yulu Old Trail was built near Dayoukeng to transport mining materials. Mining sulfur ended with the formation of Yangmingshan National Park. 
Dayoukeng lies in Jinshan District of New Taipei City. 
It is a popular stop in Yangmingshan and has two parking lots and visitor's center. It is also one of the starting points for the Mt. Qixing Trail. 

Hours:
The visitor's center is open from 9 AM to 4:30 PM.
​
Price:
Free
(parking 30 NT)

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 2A north to the Zhuzihu Lookout. Keep right until you reach the turnoff the the Qingtiangang parking lot. Car parking is limited on weekends and the number of cars allowed up the mountain is also limited. There is also paid scooter parking.
By Bus: From Beitou MRT Station, Take Little Bus 9 (小9) to Qingtiangang Station (擎天崗).
​
Map:
Please see below: ​

The Old Fengshan City Confucius Temple Chongsheng Shrine in Zuoying, Kaohisung dates back to the 17th centruy and is the second oldest Confucious Temple in Taiwan. The temple has survived typhoons, revolts, and allied air raids. Now only a part of it sits in the middle of an elementary school yard.

Historical Background:
The Old Fengshan City Confucius Temple Chongsheng Shrine dates back to 1685 when the first part of the Confucious Temple was built in Fengshan during the Qing Dynasty. It survived revolts, typhoons, other natural disasters, and was constantly repaired and expanded. 
During the Japanese era in 1914, a new public primary school was built and the Confucious temple was incorporated as part of the school. Later, in order to expand dormitories, the sides of the courtyard, main entrance, and main temple were torn down. The spirit tablets were transferred to the Tainan Confucious Temple. 
During allied air raids in Kaohsiung, what was left of the temple was completely destroyed except one building, which was the Chongsheng Shrine.
After the ROC took over Taiwan, the Chongsheng Shrine acted as Kaohsiung's confucious temple until the new Zuoying Confucious Temple could be built in 1976, and most of the important shrine artifacts were moved to the new temple. 
In 1982, the shrine was renovated. Later, more temples were built around Lotus Lake.
Now the shrine sits in the school yard at Fengshan Old City Elementary School, and is thought to bring good luck to the students. 

Hours:
Anytime besides school hours (7:30 AM to 4 PM on weekdays).

Price:
Free

How to Get There:
By Car/Scooter: From central Kaohsiung, go north on provincial highway 17 and then turn north on Zuoyingxia Road. The temple is on your right in the Elementary school yard and is hard to miss. There is free and paid parking all around near Lotus Lake. 
By Train: From the north you can walk to the pond from Zuoying HSR station, or from the south you can walk there from Zuoying Jiucheng TRA Station. 

Map:
Please see below:

Xiaoyoukeng in Yangmingshan National Park is a large volcanic steam vent area with hiking trails, fumaroles, sulfur deposits, and natural hot springs. Even though the name means "small sulfur hole," it is perhaps the largest and most easily accessible volcanic steam vent area in Taiwan. One could say that it is the Yellowstone of Taiwan.  It is a quiet a pleasant stop on the mountain and worth a visit on your trip to Yangmingshan. 

Background:
The area known as Yangmingshan now was formed by volcanoes about 700,000 years ago, forming many mountains about 1000 meters or less in northwestern Taiwan. The park still features active volcanoes, vents, and hot springs.
The original name of the area was Caoshan (grass mountain 草山). During the Qing Dynasty, the area was used to harvest sulfur, and many of the hills were burned to help catch sulfur thieves. 
In 1927 during the Japanese era, Yangmingshan was made as the first national park in Taiwan, then known as Datunshan National Park Association. 
In 1950 after the ROC took Taiwan Chiang Kai-shek renamed the park after the philosopher Wang Yangming, and called the area Yangmingshan. 
In 1985, after resolving many land disputes, Yangmingshan National Park was officially designated as a national park in the ROC era. 
Xiaouyoukeng (literally "Small Oil Crater" gets its name because the there are two main sulfur vents on Yangmingshan, and it was thought to be the smaller one.  The venting crater lies about 805 meters above sea level. A few kilometers under the ground, there is a leftover lava chamber from a previous eruption that heats up ground water and sends it spewing back to the surface.
It is a popular stop in Yangmingshan and has two parking lots and visitor's center. It is also one of the starting points for the Mt. Qixing Trail. 

Hours:
The visitor's center is open from 9 AM to 4:30 PM.
​
Price:
Free
(parking 30 NT)

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 2A north to the Zhizihu Lookout. Keep right until you reach the turnoff the the Xiaoyoukeng parking lot on the right. Car parking is limited on weekends and the number of cars allowed up the mountain is also limited. There is also paid scooter parking.
By Bus: From Beitou MRT Station, Take Little Bus 9 (小9) to Xiaoyoukeng Station (小油坑).
​
Map:
Please see below: 

The Zuoying Confucius Temple (aka Kaohsiung Zuoying Confucius Temple) is a large Confucius Temple in Taiwan. It sits near the beautiful Lotus Pond, and is surrounded by countless other temples in the area. Today it is an important place for Confucian learning and a popular tourist attraction in Kaohsiung City. 

Historical Background:
The Zuoying Confucius Temple was completed in 1974 over the ruins of the former Qishan Shinto Shrine.  Covering an area over 6000 cubic meters, it is one of the larger Confucious temples in Taiwan. It was built after the northern Taiwan temple style, resembling the Forbidden City in Beijing. 
Zuoying's Confucius Temple is not the only Confucius temple in Kaohsiung. There is another one in Qishan, so the temples trade years for annual Kaohsiung City Confucius ceremonies. 

Hours:
9 AM to 5 PM (closed on Mondays)

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From central Kaohsiung, go north on provincial highway 17 and then turn north on Xinzhuang 1st Road. The pond is on your left and is hard to miss. There is free and paid parking all around the lake. 
By Train: From the north you can walk to the pond from Zuoying HSR station, or from the south you can walk there from Zuoying Jiucheng TRA Station.

Map:
Please see below:

Lengshuikeng in Yangmingshan National Park is a small area with hiking trails, natural hot springs, waterfalls, and wildlife. Even though the name means "cold water hole," the water here is not cold, and there are plenty of hot springs around including a public hot spring bath house. It is a quiet a pleasant stop on the mountain and worth a visit on your trip to Yangmingshan. 

Background:
The area known as Yangmingshan now was formed by volcanoes about 700,000 years ago, forming many mountains about 1000 meters or less in northwestern Taiwan. The park still features active volcanoes, vents, and hot springs.
The original name of the area was Caoshan (grass mountain 草山). During the Qing Dynasty, the area was used to harvest sulfur, and many of the hills were burned to help catch sulfur thieves. 
In 1927 during the Japanese era, Yangmingshan was made as the first national park in Taiwan, then known as Datunshan National Park Association. 
In 1950 after the ROC took Taiwan Chiang Kai-shek renamed the park after the philosopher Wang Yangming, and called the area Yangmingshan. 
In 1985, after resolving many land disputes, Yangmingshan National Park was officially designated as a national park in the ROC era. 
Lengshuikeng (literally "cold water crater" gets its name because the hot spring waters here are only 40 degrees centigrade, the coldest hot spring waters on Yangmingshan. Lengshuikeng has the only sulfur deposit sediment layer in Taiwan. Nearby are many hot springs and vents.
It is a popular stop in Yangmingshan and has two parking lots and visitor's center.

Hours:
The visitor's center is open from 9 AM to 4:30 PM.
​
Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 2A north to Chungshan Hall, and take a right, then continue down the road up the mountain to the left until you reach Lengshuikeng. 
By Bus: From Shilin MRT Station, take bus S15 to Lengshuikeng Service Station.
​
Map:
Please see below: 

The Lotus Pond in Zuoying District of Kaohsiung is one of the most beautiful scenic areas in Taiwan. Much of the lake is full of traditional Chinese temples, gardens, and architecture. Because of its size, it cannot be properly appreciated by only going there for one afternoon; there are simply too many things to see and do there. In this blog, we will provide you a detailed virtual tour of the entire lake.

Historical Background:
Lotus Pond was originally a small natural pond next to what is now the Zuoying Confucious Temple. Starting from 1686 after the Qing Dynasty captured Taiwan from the Kingdom of Tungming, the pond was gradually expanded for water storage and irrigation purposes. Also, lotus plants were cultivated on the pond, giving it its name. It was known as one of the eight beautiful scenes of Fengshan Old City. It also became a hotbed for temple building, and now over 20 temples stand by the lake. 
In 1951 the Qiming Temple, Spring and Autumn Pavilions, and Guanwu God Temple were completed. 
In 1976 the Dragon and Tiger pagodas were completed. 
In 1978 Wuli Pavilion was completed.
Every year over a million visitors come to the park, although these numbers have gone down in recent years due to aging infrastructure and lack of new attractions. It is a haven for retired Taiwanese people to come and relax.
Due to its close proximity to the Zuoying Jiucheng TRA station and Zuoying HSR station, it is also a popular attraction for tourists in Kaohsiung. 

Price:
Free

Hours: 8 AM - 6 PM (Dragon and Tiger Pagodas)
 
How to Get There:
By Car/Scooter: From central Kaohsiung, go north on provincial highway 17 and then turn north on Xinzhuang 1st Road. The pond is on your left and is hard to miss. There is free and paid parking all around the lake. 
By Train: From the north you can walk to the pond from Zuoying HSR station, or from the south you can walk there from Zuoying Jiucheng TRA Station. 

Map:

Niugangleng Mountain (aka Niuganglengshan Trail or mispronounced Niugangling) is a short and easy trail in New Taipei with perhaps some of the best views of the Taipei Basin. This popular and easy hike covers is located in the Guanyinshan Recreation Area, in Wugu District of New Taipei, and offers excellent views of the Wugu, Luzhou, Sanchong, Bali, Tamsui and rest of downtown Taipei. It should be on your list of places to visit in Taipei.

Background:
Niugangleng Mountain is a peak sitting next to the slightly taller Guanyinshan. The mountain lies at 469 meters above sea level, and Guanyinshan, the highest peak in the area, is 616 meters above sea level.
These mountains lie on the Datun (大屯山系統), which starts in Yangminshan National Park, and goes through Linkou District of New Taipei .
The rock formations that form the Datun Mountain Chain formed by volcanic eruption nearly 600,000 years ago, and has been cut down slowly by the Tamsui River.
Currently the Guanyinshan and Niugangling trails are one of the most popular trails in New Taipei. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

Length:
Niugangling: 1 hour 2 KM one way
Total of about 117 meters in elevation gain
Guanyinshan: 3-4 hours 6.1KM one way 
Total of about 322 meters in elevation gain

Difficulty:
Easy, although there are many steep steps at the beginning. 

How to get there:
By Bus: Take the Orange Line MRT to the Luzhou Station stop. Then take bus 020 to the Guanyin Tourist Center stop. The trailhead is right to the south of the Guanyinshan visitor's center.
By Scooter/Car: From Luzhou, go across the bridge to Wugu and then take Zhongzhi Road up the mountain to the Guanyinshan Visitor's Center. There is free car and scooter parking in front of the visitor's center. 
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Map:
Please see below:

Taiwan is a place that should be explored not just with public transportation (as convenient as it is). If you only take public transportation everywhere you go, you are missing out on a huge part of Taiwan. You could take taxis everywhere to see these sights, like a rich Chinese person, or you can take the cheaper option and rent a vehicle. Many of the scenic and rural sights of Taiwan can’t be experienced except by hiring your own vehicle.
 
Renting cars or scooters in Taiwan:
 
        Taiwan is the scooter capitol of the world. Driving a scooter is dangerous, but scooters are fun. You can stop pretty much anywhere on the side of the road easily and take photos and enjoy the scenery. They are also pretty easy to learn how to operate; if you can already drive a car and/or ride a bike, picking up riding a moped shouldn’t be that hard. There’s not much better of way to experience Taiwan than cruising down the streets like everyone else with the wind blowing in your face. However, if you are afraid that scooters are dangerous, I would suggest renting a car.

Yinhedong Waterfall (aka Yinhe Cave Waterfall) is an easily accessible sight in Xindian District of New Taipei, and perhaps the most picturesque in all of Taiwan. It is easily accessible by public transportation, and the hike takes less than ten minutes to get there from the trailhead. The waterfall includes a cave and temple that are great for taking phots. It's spectacular cascading falls are definitely worth a stop for anyone in Taiwan. 

Background:
Yinhedong Waterfall is about 30 meters high and is separated into two parts by a cave in the middle of the waterfall. It is located near the town of Xindian, and it's name literally means "Silver River Cave" or "Milky Way Cave."
The waterfall lies a tributary of the Qingtan River which runs down tho the Xindian River, which runs into the Tamsui River. The rocks here easily erode, making for odd shapes in the riverbed. 
The earliest known discovery of the waterfall is by Chen Qiuju, who led a rebellion against the Japanese and used the cave as his hideout. The Japanese later discovered the cave and in 1914 a temple was built in the cave. The temple was renovated in 1958, and now the main god worshipped is Guanyin Bodhisattva. 
Now the waterfall is a popular attraction in the mountains of New Taipei with many other popular trails nearby. ​

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Gondola: From Xindian MRT station, you can take the green 12 bus to Yinhedong Station. According the Google the fastest way to get to Yinhe Cave from central Taipei is by taking the Maokong Gondla to Maokong Station, then taking the trail down to Yinhe Road and the waterfall trail entrance. I't about a hal hour or 2KM walk from the Maokong Gondola to the trail entrance. 
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 9 east from Xindian toward Pinglin, then turn left off the main highway once you reach Yinhe Road. The waterfall is to the right of the first switchback in the road, and car and scooter parking are free on the side of the road near the entrance.
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Map:
Please see below

The Pingxi Railway in New Taipei has some of the most popular attractions in Northern Taiwan. With a total of 7 stations (plus 2 if you count Ruifang and Houtong), there are endless places to explore, eat, hike, and enjoy Taiwan's history, culture, and natural beauty all in one place. 

Background:
Before the Pingxi Railway was built, during the Qing Dynasty a section of the Danlan Old Trail ran through roughly the same area, connecting Yilan to Tamsui.  The Japanese completed the Pingxi Railway in 1921 in order to transport coal from the area. Most all of the stations and villages along the line were economically reliant on the coal industry until its downfall in the late 1990s. 
The coal industry remained strong after the ROC took over Taiwan after WWII, but slowly waned in the 1980s and 1990s due to the decrease in global coal prices. 
In the year 2000, Sanxia’s Lifeng Mine shut down operations, and Taiwan’s mining company closed, and thus all coal mining in Taiwan effectively stopped.
The Pingxi Railway is a single track that is 12.9 KM long with 7 stations. 
Recently the government has offered many plans to connect the Pingxi Railway to the Taipei MRT via Jingtong to Jingmei, however due to many factors these plans have never been approved. 
The area around Pingxi and Ruifang is made up of sedimentary rock which easily erodes, creating many large waterfalls such as Shifen Falls, and pointy jagged peaks like the Pingxi Crags. 
Popular activities along the Pingxi Railway include hiking, river tracing, eating at one of the many old streets, setting off sky lanterns,  and exploring the many historical coal mining sites.

Hours:
The first train reaches Sandiaoling daily at 5:25 AM and the last train leaves Jingtong at 8:33 PM.

Price:
80 NT per person for a one day pass

When to go:
Any time of year is great. However, waterfalls are most enjoyable during the hot summer, and you may want to come for lantern festival when hundreds of sky lanterns are set off at once.
To avoid crowds and packed trains, do not go on weekends or holidays. 

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA to Ruifang Station, buy the Pingxi Railway line one day pass, and then switch to the Pingxi Railway line. Get off at any station!
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 east toward Pinglin, then get off the main highway once you reach Shifen. You can drive right or left to reach all of the stations on the Pingxi Railway line. But please know there is limited car parking around the stations. 

Map:
​Please see below:

The Pingxi Crags are a set of hiking trails that traverse steep mountain peaks and rock cliffs in the mountains south of Pingxi Village. The sedimentary rocks here stick out of the forest at the tops of the mountains, making for great views but also dangerous climbs. 

Background:
The rock formations that form the Pingxi crags hike formed as sediment under the ocean millions of years ago and were then uplifted thanks to the collision of the Eurasian and Phillipine plates. The rocks are mainly sedimentary and are part of the same formation that forms the special rock formations on the northern coast around Keelung.
The area also has some coal deposits, and there is an abandoned mine on the trail. 
There are basically six main peaks along the Pingxi Crags trail: Xiaozishan (孝子山), Cimu Peak (慈母峰), Cien Peak (慈恩嶺), Putuoshan (普陀山), Choutoutshan (臭頭山) and the Zhongyangjian Peak (中央尖)  which is the highest peak in that chain of mountains. 
Xiaozishan is 140 (459 feet) above sea level.
Much of the climbing is medium to difficult, and includes rock scrambling and rope climbs up steep cliffs with carved steps and footholds, as well as ladder crossings and chain ladder climbs in some places.
The area is popular with hikers and can get busy on the weekends. 

Hours:
24/7

Permits Required:
None

Duration:
The trail is technically 1.6 KM to Zhongyanjian, but it could take you most of the day because the hike is steep and there is lots of rope climbing. The difficulty here is medium because you are not gaining tons of elevation but there are some really scary rope climbs, rock scrambling, and near vertical rock climbs in some places. 

When to go:
On a sunny dry day. The rocks can get slippery and a fall on some of the trails could kill you. 

When not to go:
Don't go when it is raining. You could slip right off a cliff to your death, plus it will be cloudy with no good views. Don't bring children under 12 years old. 

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA to Ruifang Station, and then switch to the Pingxi Railway line. Get off at Pingxi Station, and then walk south past the river toward the mountains. The trailhead starts right to the right of the public bathroom.
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 east toward Pinglin, then get off the main highway once you reach Shifen. Then turn right and go west on county road 106 until you reach the Pingxi Old street and turn left up the mountain after you reach the Taiwan Power Company. There is a parking lot and trail head at the end of the road. 

Maps:
You can check out the full trail map here or here. 
For the location of the start of the trail, please see below:

Gangshan's Skywalk Bridge (aka Xiaogangshan Skywalk Park) is a tourist attraction in Gangshan District of Kaohsiung, which features great views of Agongdian Reservoir and norther Kaohsiung City. The bridge is in the shape of a violin, and there is constant music playing here. If you visit Kaohsiung, this place should definitely be on your list.

Background:
Siaogangshan Skywalk Park  was completed in 2018 at the price of 128,000,000 NT. It is 40 meters tall and 88 meters wide. It officially opened February 14th, 2018. The main pylon resembles a violin and includes 24 suspension cables that look like violin strings. It's Chinese name literally means "the eye of Gangshan."

Hours:
9 AM to 9 PM, closed Mondays

Price:
60 NT per person
Tickets are free until the end of December 2020!

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take Jiaxing East Road east out of Gangshan until it becomes Dazhuang Road, then park at the parking lot in front of the dam. There is a shuttle bus that will take you to the top of the mountain for 25 NT per trip. Vehicle traffic is not allowed up the mountain. The shuttle bus comes about every half hour.
By Bus: From Gangshan MRT Station, take buys R68 A or B to Siaogangshan Station. The trip takes over an hour. 

Map:
Please see below:

Ximending is a historical neighborhood and shopping district in west Taipei. Originally built by the Japanese as an entertainment district, it later became the first designated pedestrian zone in Taiwan. Here you can find night market like food choices, historical sights, and endless shopping options. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taipei.

Historical Background:
The land that Ximen Shopping District stands on was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers.
Sections of the area indicate that there was settlements here during the Dutch rule in the 1600s.
The name Ximending refers to the neighborhood just outside the west gate of Taipei City. Before the Japanese colonization of Taiwan, this area was wilderness connecting Taipei with Bangka. The Japanese decided to develop it into an entertainment area around the turn of the 20th century.  The walls of Taipei were later torn down in 1905. 
One historical building here is the Red House Theater (紅樓劇場) which was built in 1908. Originally the building was a department store, but after 1945 the building was transformed into a theater. After a fire in the year 2000, it was renovated and turned into a museum with shops and theater with more modern equipment. 
In the year 2000, Ximending was designated as a pedestrian zone, the first in Taiwan.  Because if its popularity, the area is also known for more crime and illicit activities. 
Currently the area sees over 300 shoppers per month. The area is also especially popular with young people because there are many high schools and cram schools nearby. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
24/7

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei Main Station, go east on Zhongxiao East Road until you reach Zhonghua Road and take a left. Take another right on Chengdu Road and you are there. There is some scooter parking on the street, but if you are driving a car I suggest parking at Carrefour and walking over. 
By MRT: Take the green line to Ximen Station. The shopping district can be found at exit 6.

Map:
Please see below:

Cheng Ching Lake (aka Cheng Cing Lake or Ching Qing Lake) in Kaohsiung is one of the most beautiful parks in Taiwan. Much of the lake is full of traditional Chinese gardens and architecture. Because of its size, it cannot be properly appreciated by only going there for one afternoon; there are simply too many things to see and do there. In this blog, we will provide you a detailed virtual tour of the entire lake.
 
People often don’t realize that Kaohsiung has a lot to offer to tourists. Many of the places down south aren’t represented as well in English as other sites in Taipei, which is why we want to help everyone realize what a great place it is. I used to live in Kaohsiung and exercised at Cheng Ching Lake daily, and it was like living in paradise every day. There are many Kaohsiung residents that visit the lake daily for free, and I envy them.

Historical Background:
Cheng Ching lake is the largest lake in Kaohsiung. Originally it was only a small irrigation pond, but in 1940 the Japanese diverted water here from the Gaoping River to act as a water supply for the surrounding area. During that time it was called Dabei Lake (大埤湖), however Chiang Kai-Shek (the leader of the ROC) renamed it Cheng Ching Lake (澄清湖) in 1963.
The ROC army used the lake as a base shortly after the Chinese Civil War, and built an underground tunnel and bunker to prevent against nuclear attack, which has now been converted into the Cheng Ching Lake Exotic Marine Life Museum. The lake contains a number of memorials to ROC soldiers, such as memorial plaques, army veterans mausoleum, and Fuguo island to commemorate soldiers that fled to the island of the same name in Vietnam during the Chinese Civil War.
The lake is meant to resemble Xihu (西湖, west lake) in Hangzhou, China. Chiang Kai-shek built a winter chateau on the lake, one of 30 guests houses that were built for him in Taiwan. 
Surrounding the lake are a number of other notable sites including the Kaohsiung Yuanshan Hotel Resort, Cheng Ching Lake Baseball Field, Cheng Ching Golf Club, Kaohsiung number 7 waterworks station, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Cheng Ching Lake Youth Activity Center.
Chengqing Lake is also a water source for a large area of Kaohsiung. Because of this (as well as risk of drowning), fishing and swimming in the lake are forbidden.
Every year over a million visitors come to the park, although these numbers have gone down in recent years due to aging infrastructure and lack of new attractions. It is a haven for retired Taiwanese people to come and relax, and more and more young people seem to forget it exists.

Price:
100 NT per person
50 NT for students, 60/100 NT for cars (there is a discount for cars on weekdays), and 30 NT for scooters.
Kaohsiung residents: free!

Hours: 4 AM - 9 PM (no entry after 6 PM)
 
How to Get There:
By Car/Scooter: There are two entrances to the park, one on the north side and one of the south side. There are plenty of places to park once inside. The price is 60/100 NT for cars (there is a discount for cars on weekdays), and 30 NT for scooters.
By Bus: From the Weiwuying MRT station, you can take the 70A bus straight to the main entrance.

Map:

Huaxi Street Night Market (aka Snake Alley) is a mostly indoor night market that stretches from Bangka Old Street to Longshan Temple in Wanhua District of Taipei. Some specialties of this market include snake meat and turtle meat. Overall it is a unique night market experience in Taiwan that feels more like it is in Southeast Asia.
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Historical Background:
The land that Huaxi Street Night Market stands on was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers. The area at Bangka was a trading center for the Basay people before Chinese settlers ever came. 
Maps dating to the Dutch rule in the 1600s marked Bangka as a trading location.
The name Bangka (or Měngjiǎ in Taiwanese Mandarin) comes from the fact that the Basay tribe called the Chinese trading ships that visited "Bangka" which means canoe, and was transliterated into Southern Min as (Bangkah 艋舺) which literally means small boat. 
Later when the Japanese came they mistakenly heard Bangka as “Mange” in Japanese (Wàn huá 萬華 in Chinese), which is the current name of the area. 
The settlement at Bangka (Měngjiǎ ​ 艋舺) quickly grew into the largest settlement in Northern Taiwan. Settlements at Dadaocheng and Bopiliao nearby also began to sprout up.  

Huaxi Street Night Market has been established for over 50 years. It used to be a red light district before prostitution was banned in Taiwan in 1991. Now it specializes in strange meats such as snake, turtle, and deer meat as well as animal blood. It is also known as "Snake Alley." You can also find normal Taiwanese night market snacks here. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
4 PM to midnight every day

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Ximending, go west on Guilin Road until you reach Huaxi Street. There is plenty of scooter parking on the street and paid car parking nearby.
By MRT: Take the blue line to Longshan Temple station, then walk northwest about two blocks to the night market.

Map:
Please see below: