Houbihu Beach (aka Zhongzhou Beach or Daguang Beach) is a long coral beach between Houbihu Harbor and the No. 3 Nuclear plant in Taiwan. It features shallow water and great snorkeling. Also due to its location and lack of facilities there are usually not many people here. 

Background:
Houbihu beach was originally closed to the public until recently. Now that it has opened up, it has become a popular location for snorkeling, surfing, and using SUPs.
There are no bathrooms or showers at the beach.
​
Kenting was first settled by Chinese during the Qing Dynasty. The word Kenting comes from two words that mean cultivate (ken3 墾) and strong man (丁 ding1). During that time, a group of strong men (or Zhuang Ding 壯丁) came from Guangdong, who were basically Chinese pioneers of the area to cultivate the land, hence the area was named Kenting for them.
The area was considered to be made into a park during the Japanese occupation due to it being the only tropical location in the Japanese Empire, but was never officially created.
Kenting National Park was established in 1984 as the first national park in Taiwan after WWII.
Kenting became a major vacation spot, becoming a center for hostels and hotels for travelers. 
Kenting is considered by many to have the best beaches in Taiwan. This is because of its fine white sand and year-round warm temperatures and sunshine (it is in the tropical part of Taiwan after all). 

Hours: 24/7

Price: Free

When to go:
Summer! It's when the water is warmest and the sun is hottest. However there will be more people in summer, and there could be Typhoons. 
Spring and Fall are also good times to go, as there will be less visitors and cooler temperatures.
Winter is an okay time to go as well, it will be warmer than the rest of Taiwan and the water will still be warm enough to swim in. 

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 1 south to the bottom of Taiwan until it becomes provincial highway 26. After you pass Hengchun, take a right onto Longguang Road and keep left toward Houbihu Harbor. The beach is to the north of the fishing harbor. There is free parking on the side of the road. 
By Bus: Busses leave daily to Kenting from Zuoying HSR station, Kaohsiung Station, and Pingtung. Get off at the Hengchun Bus Station, and then take the 102 shuttle Bus to the Houbihu stop and walk about 15 minutes to the beach.
By Plane: There are direct shuttle busses to Kenting from Kaohsiung's Xiaogang (KHH) Airport. 

Map: Please see below:

Zhuwei Fishing Harbor is a recreational tourist harbor in Taoyuan, Taiwan. It includes a large seafood market and a long rainbow arch bridge across the harbor. If you love fresh seafood for a good price, you definitely need to come here.

Background:
Zhuwei Fishing Harbor had its beginnings in 1952 when a small boat dock was created in the area. Later a levee was built in 1959. The harbor was massively expanded in 1993, and was declared a tourist fish market in 2000. 
The harbor lies only 3 KM from Taoyuan International Airport. 
The main fish caught and sold here are Catfish, Sharks, Black pomfret, Squid, Bonito, and mullet. 

Hours:
8 AM to 6 PM 

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car: Take expressway 61 to Taoyuan and take the exit near Zhuwei. The harbor is just west of the expressway. There is limited free parking near the harbor, and also paid parking nearby. 
By scooter: Take provincial highway 15 south from Taipei stop at Zhuwei Harbor.
By bus: From Taoyuan, take bus 5017 west to the harbor. 

Map:
​Please see below:

The photo sample above was taken from the National Development Council website.

On February 8th, 2018, Taiwan rolled out the Act for the Recruitment of Foreign Professionals, which included the employment gold card four-in-one visa to entice foreign special professionals to come and seek work opportunities in Taiwan. Details and common questions about this new type of visa/work permit can be answered below.
In October 2021, the gold card benefits were also extended and expanded. 
Please note that this blog not a comprehensive guide but only gives basic information about the gold card based on the information on the National Development Council website. They also have an FAQ sectionhere. 

Q: What is the Taiwan employment gold card?
A: The employment gold card is a four-in-one visa, work permit, alien resident certificate, and re-entry permit. It also provides other benefits to foreigners as mentioned below.
 
Q: What benefits does Taiwan's employment gold card have?
A: The benefits associated with the employment gold card or special professional work permit are as follows:

• A tax benefit of only being taxed on 50% of annual income above 3 million NT, for the first five years in which the foreigner is a tax resident (stays in Taiwan over 183 days).
• Exemption from tax on overseas income (alternative minimum tax, or AMT) for the first five years in which the foreigner is a tax resident (stays in Taiwan over 183 days).
• For individuals that apply for the gold card, they are free to change work or employers freely without application from the labor bureau for the duration of the gold card (3 years).
• Allows foreign teachers with specialist skills to teach in cram schools (buxibans).
• Allows work permits to be issued to freelance artists that qualify.
• Those that meet requirements for a gold card to do not have to meet the 5 million NT paid in capital requirement (or annual 10 million NT turnover) for a company to sponsor a work permit.
• The same law that created the gold card (Act for the Recruitment of Foreign Professionals) also stipulated that all foreign white collar professionals (with or without a gold card) have other immigration benefits for family dependents, such as no wait for health insurance, extended work permit times, easing permanent residency rules, etc.
• Work permit duration can valid for up to 3 years if submitted by an individual, or 5 years if submitted by an employer. After this time period expires the individual may apply for an extension. 
• The expatriate and their spouse’s lineal ascendants can obtain a family visit visa for a 6-month stay extendable to a maximum 1-year stay
• Professionals who obtain the employment gold card or special professional visa and their qualifying dependents will be eligible to apply for permanent residency after three years of residing in Taiwan for an average of 183 days per year. For those who received a PhD. from a Taiwan university, the eligibility time for permanent residency can be further shortened to two years. 

Q: Who can apply for and obtain Taiwan’s employment gold card?
A: Foreigners that are specialists in their field. This includes ROC dual citizens and citizens of Macau and Hong Kong, but not ROC citizens with household registration. 

Q: Who can qualify for the tax benefits under the employment gold card?
A: Foreign nationals or dual citizens that have stayed over 183 days in Taiwan in a calendar year for the first time in 2018 or later. 
 
Q: What are the requirements for the employment gold card?
A: The full requirements for foreign special professionals can be found here.
The exact requirements vary by industry. However, the requirements generally require that an applicant show that they are a special professional or senior professional that has made special contributions to their field of work or received national recognition in one of the following 8 accepted professional industries:
1. Science and technology
2. Economy
3. Finance
4. Education
5. Culture and Arts
6. Sports
7. Law
8. Architectural Design
9. National Defense
10. Special Cases Recognized by the NDC
 
Q: Does the exemption from tax on overseas income (alternative minimum tax, or AMT) for the Taiwan gold card only last for the first five years?
A: Yes, this tax benefit only lasts for five years, the same as the tax benefit for 50% of income above 3 million.
 
Q: How is the five years calculated for tax benefits for AMT and 50% of income above 3 million?
A: The five years start from the first tax year in which the foreign professional becomes a tax resident (stays for 183 days or more in a calendar year). However, if the foreign professional does not meet the qualifications for tax resident, they can defer this tax benefit to the following year, but no longer than five years after the work permit or gold card was first issued.

Q: How is the 50% of income above 3 million NT calculated if I am filing jointly with my spouse?
A: In this case the 50% of taxable income above 3 million NT only applies to your income. You cannot use this tax benefit for your spouse unless he/she also has a gold card. 

Q: If I apply for a gold card but I am not a tax resident, when will the five years expire?
A: As explained above, you can defer the 5 year tax benefits to future years, but no longer that five years after the work permit or gold card was first issued.

Q: If I meet the 160,000 NT per month salary requirement, can I get a gold card?
A: Not necessarily. You also need to prove that you are a special professional in your field. In general this means proving your past work experience and awards to the government.

Q: Can I still get a Taiwan employment gold card without meeting the 160,000 NT salary per month requirement?
A: You can bypass the 160,000 NT per month requirement if you meet other requirements proving you are a special professional in your field.

Q: How will my dependents get visas?
A: As long as you have first been approved for your gold card or special professional visa, your dependents will be able to receive their dependent visas. If they enter Taiwan using the visa free program, they will need to come on the same flight as you, otherwise they will have to leave Taiwan and receive their dependent visas at the Taiwan office overseas, or receive them before they leave if you are coming on different flights.

Q: If I switch from a normal ARC to an employment gold card, will my dependent's visas be affected?
A: No, there will be no changes to your dependent's visas.

Q: How many year of experience do I need for the employment gold card?
A: Typically at least 5.

Q: How long does it take for the government to approve a gold card application?
A: After the application is submitted, it will take about 30 working days to receive an approval or rejection. Please also note that there is a government fee associated with each application.

Q: What is the difference between an employment gold card and a work permit for a foreign special professional applied by a Taiwan company?
A: They are basically the same, both have the same tax benefits, but the differences are as follows:

An APRC (short for Alien Permanent Resident Certificate, aka PR) is perhaps the most desirable immigration status for most foreigners in Taiwan. By simply living in Taiwan for five years or more in a row and meeting a few other requirements, you can enjoy permanent residency in Taiwan and an open work permit. However the process and requirements are not so straight forward depending on your situation, therefore we have created this guide to help answer some common questions.

Foreword: Please note that this guide is for reference only. The ultimate authority on what documents are required and whether or not your application will be accepted is the immigration bureau. Some of the information in the blog may be inaccurate for your specific situation. For clarifications, please call the foreigner hotline directly (toll free): 0800-024-111.
This information for this blog was taken from the NIA website and personal experience such as from calls to the immigration office, and in person visits to the immigration office. Personally I applied for an APRC as the spouse of a Taiwan national.

My personal experience getting my APRC was a confusing and difficult process. I made many mistakes along the way. I have listed some of the key takeaways from this process as follows. 

• I thought the five years for the APRC could be calculated using different ARC types. That is not true, you have to be on one ARC type for the whole five years.
• I thought the five years were calendar years, starting Jan. 1. But no, the count starts on the first day you were issued an ARC of the type you are still using. Because of this, my first application was rejected and I had to wait another year to apply.
• Double check when offices are open, and make sure you bring your passport everywhere with you just in case. Double and triple check you have all the required documents before you leave the door. 
• I forgot to write my middle name when applying for a Criminal Record Certificate. Luckily I was able to go back and fix it for free.
• I thought I did not have to apply for an open work permit because I have a Taiwanese spouse. That is not the case, even people with dependent ARCs must apply for a work permit after they receive their APRC. 

Now let's start the Q+A.

Toucheng Township in Yilan is known for its amazing beaches, but there is much more to do here, such as visit Lanyang Museum, visit Turtle Island, enjoy seafood, traditional fishing harbors, recreational farms, hiking, cycling, surfing lessons, and much more. Here is a short guide to Toucheng, to let you know the variety of activities that you can enjoy here. 

Background:
Before Chinese settlers came, the area around Toucheng was inhabited by the Ketagalan Aboriginal tribe, whose language is now extinct.
The name Toucheng literally means "first town" in Chinese, because it was the first settlement in Yilan, settled in the late 1700s. With the nearby Wushih and Touwei Harbors around the same time, it became the economic focal point of Yilan. However in the late 1800s and early 1900s Wushih Harbor and Touwei Harbor silted in, reducing their function.
With the advent of the Japanese built Yilan railway line in the mid-1900's, as well as constant floods and continually silting of the harbors, Toucheng quickly lost its importance economically and fell into decay. 
After residents of Turtle Island were relocated to Daxi in Toucheng, Daxi Harbor was expanded and has become one of the largest fishing harbors in the area. 
Due to its close proximity to Taipei, Toucheng has become a major tourist area and may be the most popular surfing location in Taiwan. 

How to get there:
By TRA: Take the TRA to any of the stations in Toucheng, 
By Car: From Taipei, take National Freeway 5 to Toucheng. Be careful to note that on Sundays there are highway controls for cars travelling from Yilan to Taipei from 3 PM to 8 PM, so avoid travelling back to Taipei at that time to beat the traffic. 

Map:
See below for a map of places that are covered in this blog:

Green Island is a paradise off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. Once a prison for political enemies of the KMT, it is now a tourist hot spot. It is one of the best places to snorkel and dive in Taiwan, one of only three salt water hot springs in the world, and it also includes amazing volcanic rock formations and scenery all around the island. 

Background:
Green Island is the remnant of a volcano that formed millions of years ago and is part of the Luzon Volcanic Arc. Today you can see lots of volcanic rock all along the shoreline.
Green Island is the seventh largest Island in Taiwan. 
Green Island became inhabited hundreds of years ago by the Tao indigenous people (達悟族) (aka Yami people 雅美族, which is a name coined by the Japanese, but the native people prefer Tao), which are thought to have traveled from the Batanes Islands in the Philippines, and then to Orchid Island. It was called Jitanasey by the Tao people. It was also known to be inhabited by the Amis Tribe (阿美族) which reside today in Taitung. It was known as the Amis people as Samasana Island. 
The Island was first settled by Han Chinese fisherman from Xiaoliuqiu Island in 1813, who called the island Huoshandao (火燒島) or Bonfire Island. More Han settlers from Donggang arrived in 1850.
In 1937 the American Steamship SS President Hoover ran ground at Green Island and all aboard were saved. To thank the people of Green Island, the US donated to build the Green Island Lighthouse which was designed by the Japanese and finished in 1938, at 33.3 meters or 109 feet high. 
Green Island also served as a penal colony for political prisoners' during the martial law era of Taiwan, which lasted from the late 9140s to late 1980s. Some prisoners went on to help form the Democratic Progressive Party. The prison is now open to the public. 
Currently the Island is powered by one deisel generator. It also includes an airport.
Currently about 4500 people live on the island, and the main industries are tourism and fishing.

Weather and Climate:
The island has a tropical rain forest climate, with average high temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees year round. The rainy months are in summer, especially due to Typhoons, but the most sunny days are also in summer (expect a lot of sun), and the most rainy days are in winter. Summer is the tourist season, but spring and fall are also popular times to visit. Winters are said to be dreary, cold, and have constant northeastern winds that can stop airplanes and ferries from departing to the island.

When to go:
The best time to go they say is around May when it is not too hot and there are no northeasterly winds or typhoons which can cancel your transportation to the island.
​Typhoon season lasts from around June to October. The busy season is during summer break from June to August, during which time it can be hard to book a hostel or airplane ticket. Winter is the less crowded season, but the water will be colder, there will be constant wind (which could cancel transportation), and it will rain more often. 

Rules to Consider:

• Do not go snorkeling or diving during bad weather, low tide, or big waves. 
• Do not trespass private property or government property that is off limits (such as military base, weather station, reservoir, or garbage dump)
• Always snorkel or dive with a buddy
• Have fun

How to get there:
By Plane:
The only planes to and from Green Island come from Taitung City in Southeastern Taiwan. From Taipei, there are daily flights from Songshan Airport to Taitung, where you can switch to Saily Air which will take you the rest of the way to Green Island.
Flight times: As of the time of this blog, there were six flights per day by Daily Air Corporation from about 8 AM to 4 PM (Please note their website is only in Chinese). The flight from Taitung to Green Island takes about 15 minutes. Please note that the aircraft are small and flights can be  cancelled due to high winds or unfavorable weather. 
Costs: NT 1428 to Green Island and NT 1360 from Green Island.
You can purchase a tickets through a tour agency such as My Taiwan Tour or a similar website.
 
By Boat:
There are two places that offer ferry rides to Green Island: Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港） in Pingtung and Fugang Harbor in Taitung (臺東富岡漁港). However, to get there from Houbihu you need to stop in Lanyu, so I will focus this blog on hust Fugang Harbor. There are also about three ferry companies that operate at both harbors. Both companies leave from both harbors at the same time and arrive at the about same times for the same prices (1200 NT per person round trip/600 NT per single trip).
Ferry Boat costs:
1200 NT per person round trip (600 NT per single trip) from Taitung. Ferry companies have roughly the same price.
Ferry Boat Times*:
7:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 8:20 AM arrival to Green Island.
8:30 AM departure from Green Island, 9:20 AM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
9:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 10:20 AM arrival to Green Island. (permanent set time)
10:30 AM departure from Green Island, 11:20 AM arrival to Fugang Harbor. (permanent set time)
11:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 12:20 PM arrival to Green Island.
12:30 PM departure from Green Island, 9:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
13:30 PM departure from Fugang Harbor, 14:20 PM arrival to Green Island. (permanent set time)
14:30 PM departure from Green Island, 15:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor. (permanent set time)
15:30 PM departure from Fugang Harbor, 16:20 PM arrival to Green Island.
16:30 PM departure from Green Island, 17:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
*Note: the above times change according to the seasons. There may only be one boat per day during winter, while all the boat times may be available during summer break and weekends. Please double check which times are available before you go.
You can purchase a tickets through a tour agency such as My Taiwan Tour or a similar website.

Getting around the island:
Rent a scooter! The island is small so you should not need to rent a car. You can rent bicycles but you will not be able to travel as fast. You can also hire a driver to take you on tours.
Ask your hostel for more rental information. They can help you book a rental in advance.

Scooter Rental:
Price: expect 400 NT per day.
It may be better to book your scooter rental in advance, especially during summer weekends. Ask for help from your hostel owner if needed.
I am 100% percent certain you do not need a Taiwan local license to rent scooters here, however they may ask for an international license (but I'm fairly sure they will let you rent without one).
Helmet wearing is not enforced at all as you will quickly find, but it's still the law.
Also be careful to not hit any goats because they wander as they please.
There is only one gas station next to Nanliao Fishing Harbor.

Car Rental:
Price: expect 2000 NT per day.
Don't rent a car unless you absolutely need to. Renting scooters should be sufficient for most travelers.

Accommodation:
Booking accommodation on the island can be difficult in summer months and on weekends, when rooms can be fully booked for months in advance. AirBnb has the most choices, however there is also a nice selection on Booking.com. 
​My hostel did not require that I pay for my room in advance via bank wire transfer (as was the case on Lanyu), but they required me to pay in cash.
Expect to pay 2000 - 4000 NT per night for a standard double room on Green Island. 

Map:
​Please see a map of all the locations covered in this blog below:

Lovers Beach is a small secret beach behind the Youth Activity Center in Kenting. It is small but usually free of crowds, and has calm, clear water. If you have time, you should check out this secret beach paradise. 

Background:
Lovers beach is a very small coral beach. The sand here is mostly rocky, but the water is clear. There is also a place to wash your feet nearby.
​The Youth Activity Center is the largest of its kind in Taiwan, and offers accommodation in the form of traditional Min style houses. There is also a restaurant on the site. If you book a room here you do not have to pay the price of admission. 
The entrance to the park also features hiking trails to Frog Rock and the surrounding area. 

Kenting was first settled by Chinese during the Qing Dynasty. The word Kenting comes from twp words that mean cultivate (ken3 墾) and strong man (丁 ding1). During that time, a group of strong men (or Zhuang Ding 壯丁) came from Guangdong, who were basically Chinese pionners of the area to cultivate the land, hence the area was named Kenting for them.
The area was considered to be made into a park during the Japanese occupation due to it being the only tropical location in the Japanese Empire, but was never officially created.
Kenting National Park was established in 1984 as the first national park in Taiwan after WWII.
Kenting became a major vacation spot, becoming a center for hostels and hotels for travelers. 
Kenting is considered by many to have the best beaches in Taiwan. This is because of its fine white sand and year-round warm temperatures and sunshine (it is in the tropical part of Taiwan after all). 


Hours: 
6:30 AM - 5 PM

Price: 
Entrance fee: 50 NT per person
Parking: 50 NT per car

When to go:
Summer! It's when the water is warmest and the sun is hottest. However there will be more people in summer, and there could be Typhoons. 
Spring and Fall are also good times to go, as there will be less visitors and cooler temperatures.
Winter is an okay time to go as well, it will be warmer than the rest of Taiwan and the water will still be warm enough to swim in. 

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 1 south to the bottom of Taiwan until it becomes provincial highway 26. After that keep going past Kenting Street. There is paid parking inside the youth activitity center.
By Bus: Busses leave daily to Kenting from Zuoying HSR station, Kaohsiung Station, and Pingtung. Get off at the Xiaowan Beach stop （小灣）.

Map: Please see below:

Wuzhishan is a beautiful mountain in Xizhi District of New Taipei. It is a popular place to stop for hikers, bikers, and Instagrammers due to its amazing views of east Taipei. Also there are many coffee shops here with amazing views. Besides taking photos, Wuzhishan is a great place to relax and enjoy nature.

Background:
The rock formations that form Wuzhishan formed as sediment under the ocean millions of years ago, and was later uplifted thanks to the collision of the Eurasian and Philippine 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, and the waterfalls in Pingxi.
Wuzhishan sits at 376 meters above sea level, while the bottom of the mountain is 76 meters, and the road it is 2.1 KM, making it a short, steep climb.
Dream Lake get's its name from the thick fog that covers it during winter months, making it look like a dreamscape. Dream Lake is a popular spot for couples, wedding photography, and Instagram photos. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

Hike Difficulty:
Moderate: About a two hour hike round trip, steep and difficult climbing through the forest with aid of ropes.

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take Xiwan Road (夕萬路) all the way to the top. You can also hike it starting from the Wuzhishan Old Trail trailhead. 
By Bus: Take Dongnan Bus F910 from Xizhi Park about 40 minutes up the mountain to Wuzhishan.

Map:
Please see below:

Manzhou Beach is a small sandy beach on the southeast coast of Kenting National Park. It features gold sand and warm year round temperatures. Seasonal winds also means there are usually waves here to surf on. Due to its remote location and lack of facilities, usually it is devoid of people. 

Background:
Manzhou Beach is a natural patch of sand among coral rocks on the southern tip of Manzhou Township. There is free parking here, but no showers, bathrooms, or other facilities. Because of the constant wind and large waves, usually you do not see many sunbathers or swimmers.

Hours:
24/7
 
Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/scooter: Take provincial highway 26 on the east side of Kenting until you come to Manzhou on the side of the road. There is a large white pillar and small parking lot that is usually never full. 
By bus: From Hengchun, take bus 8249 to Shuiwaku and then walk about 30 minutes on the side of the road to get there. 

Map:
Please see below:

Fudekeng Environmental Restoration Park is one of the best parks in Taipei City. The park is built on top of a used landfill, and many parts of the park are made out of recycled materials. There are also solar panels in this park. The best parts about this park though is the large green spaces, lack of people, and amazing views of Shenkeng and Wenshan Districts. Other popular activities here are sledding down grass hills, flying remote control airplanes and drones, kite flying, and dog walking. 

Background:
The landfill at Fudekeng was created in 1980 to relieve capacity at Neihu's garbage mountain (also now a park). It was filled in and discontinued use in 1994, and was replaced by the Shanzhuku landfill which is still in use. In 2004, it officially was transformed into Fudekeng Environmental Restoration Park. In 2017, many solar panels were installed at the park. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/scooter: From central Taipei, take highway 106 to Shenkeng and head up Muzha Road Section 5 Lane 43 up the mountain to the eco park. There is plenty of parking inside the park. It never gets full.  
By bus: From Taipei Zoo MRT Station, take bus S12 Extend Zoo to Fudekeng Environmental Protection Repopulation Park bus stop. 

Map:
Please see below:

On the plane leaving Taiwan's Taoyuan Airport in 2014, I promised myself I would find a way to stay in Taiwan permanently. I had just finished a 90 day vacation on a visitor free visa, which included a round island trip, daily bike rides around Kaohsiung, and daily trips to the beach in Qijin. I was not going to let a 90 day visa stop me again from enjoying what still to me is the most beautiful Island in the world, and the most friendly place in the world to western foreigners.

Shadao Beach in Kenting (aka Sand Island) is arguably the best beach in Taiwan, with excellent sand, warm clear water, pristine surroundings, warm temperatures year round, and no visitors. That's right, this beach is so great that it has been made into an environmentally protected area that no once can visit. Humans are banned.

Background:
Shadao (literally meaning sand island) was originally named because the local residents thought the small bit of sand here looked like an island among the coral rocks. 
98% of the sand on the beach is made of sea shells. Many of the sea shells that washed up on the beach were collected in the past and sent to other countries as precious ornaments. To protect the beach from disappearing, the government made the beach a protected area. 
Kenting was first settled by Chinese during the Qing Dynasty. The word Kenting comes from two words that mean cultivate (ken3 墾) and strong man (丁 ding1). During that time, a group of strong men (or Zhuang Ding 壯丁) came from Guangdong, who were basically Chinese pioneers of the area to cultivate the land, hence the area was named Kenting for them.
The area was considered to be made into a park during the Japanese occupation due to it being the only tropical location in the Japanese Empire, but was never officially created.
Kenting National Park was established in 1984 as the first national park in Taiwan after WWII.
Kenting became a major vacation spot, becoming a center for hostels and hotels for travelers. 
Kenting is considered by many to have the best beaches in Taiwan. This is because of its fine white sand and year-round warm temperatures and sunshine (it is in the tropical part of Taiwan after all). 


Hours: 24/7

Price: Free

When to go:
Summer! It's when the water is warmest and the sun is hottest. However there will be more people in summer, and there could be Typhoons. 
Spring and Fall are also good times to go, as there will be less visitors and cooler temperatures.

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 1 south to the bottom of Taiwan until it becomes provincial highway 26. After that keep going past Kenting Street and on to Shadao. The parking for Shadao is on the ocean side of the road. 
By Bus: Busses leave daily to Kenting from Zuoying HSR station, Kaohsiung Station, and Pingtung. Get off at the Shadao bus stop （砂島）.

Map: Please see below:

Xizhi Night Market is an indoor night market under Xizhi TRA station. It includes nearly 100 stalls and is famous for its spring onion cakes and sticky rice. If you are in the area this night market is definitely worth a stop. 

Background:
In the past Xizhi was a very important transport hub along the Keelung River. After World War 2, the train to Yilan replaced the need for a boat dock for shipping in Xizhi, and the town slowly fell out of importance. However with urban sprawl and rising housing prices in Taipei, many people have moved to Xizhi as kind of a suburb, and it is now mainly a residential area. 

Xizhi Night Market was originally created in 1981 on the intersection of Xintai 5th Road and Renai Road. Later after the TRA railway bridge in Xizhi was completed in 2012, the night market moved to underneath the railway bridge on Shuiyuan Road. The night market is government owned and includes 83 stalls. In the morning, the area becomes a vegetable market. Popular foods here include stinky tofu, sticky rice meat balls, steak, pork noodles, and fried chicken. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
5 PM to 11 PM

How to get there:
By car/scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 5 north to Xizhi. Turn west onto Xinxing Road and stop at the railway bridge. There is no car parking and limited scooter parking. 
By TRA: Take the TRA to Xizhi Station. The Night Market, is directly under the station to the south. 

Map:
Please see below:

Shuiwaku is one of the most beautiful places in all of Kenting National Park. It features a large grassland that covers the southern tip of Taiwan. has great views of the shoreline on the east side of the peninsula, featuring a wind-cut sandy landscape and sea cliffs.

Background:
Shuiwaku literally means "Water Frog Hole." It was first settled about 100 years ago by local residents (including both Han Chinese and those with aboriginal ancestry). They would fish for milkfish in the summer, and in the winter time when the weather was not good for fishing they planted crops here at the grasslands of Shuiwaku. One can also often see Sika deer grazing here. 
Kenting was first settled by Chinese during the Qing Dynasty. The word Kenting comes from twp words that mean cultivate (ken3 墾) and strong man (丁 ding1). During that time, a group of strong men (or Zhuang Ding 壯丁) came from Guangdong, who were basically Chinese pioneers of the area to cultivate the land, hence the area was named Kenting for them.
The area was considered to be made into a park during the Japanese occupation due to it being the only tropical location in the Japanese Empire, but was never officially created.
During the Japanese era Nanwan was used as a whaling area and there were a few fishing villages here. 
Kenting National Park was established in 1984 as the first national park in Taiwan after WWII.
Kenting became a major vacation spot, becoming a center for hostels and hotels for travelers. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/scooter: Take provincial highway 26 on the east side of Kenting until you come to Shuiwaku on the left side of the road. There is parking on the side of the road.
By bus: From Hengchun, take bus 8249 to Shuiwaku bus stop. 

Map:
Please see below:

Xizhi Old Street was once an important trading location along the Keelung River. After the advent of railroads, the street was no longer useful, and now it is used mainly as a morning vegetable market. However many of the old red brick buildings here are still intact, and it is worth a stroll down the street if you are in the area.

Background:
Xizhi Old Street is only about 1 Km long, and it's official name is Zhongzheng Road. In the past it was known as Shuifanjiao Street, and was a very important transport hub along the Keelung River. It is also known as Xizhi's first street. After World War 2, the train to Yilan replaced the need for a boat dock for shipping in Shenkeng, and the town slowly fell out of importance. Many of the shops here have been running for over three generations. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
24/7, vegetable market only open before noon. 

How to get there:
By car/scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 5 north to Xizhi. Turn west onto Zhengzheng Road and you are on the old street. There is no car parking and limited scooter parking. 
By TRA: Take the TRA to Xizhi Station. The Old street is about a two minute walk to the northwest. 

Map:
Please see below:

I am a native born American learning Mandarin Chinese as a second language. I have a bachelor's degree in Chinese, and at this stage in my Chinese learning, I have hit a peak with spoken Chinese and I have been putting all my energy into learning more written Chinese. Chinese idioms are special because normally they are only four characters and you need to memorize what they mean in order to understand; this is the education that is taught in Taiwan elementary schools that I was never able to be a part of. If you can memorize these, you can drastically improve your formal Chinese reading and formal Chinese writing skills.

It can be hard to pick up idioms just out of context. However there are not a lot of English resources that focus on just idioms, and the ones that do don't filter out the commonly used idioms. Chinese idiom dictionaries also have too many idioms that are not widely known or used, or are too formal for normal writing or speech. Some idioms are more formal variations of other more common idioms with the same meaning. In this blog, I am focusing on the more commonly used idioms that most native speakers will recognize, and which are commonly used in formal speech and writing such as news reports and newspapers.

Therefore I have created this list using commonly used idioms selected from the dictionary with the help native speaker, filtering the idioms by asking whether or not the native speaker has ever heard of or knows of the idiom.

This is a major project, and it will probably take me a few years to catalog all of the useful idioms in the dictionary. The list below is organized according to character stroke order and will be added upon regularly. Some words have two definitions, which are separated by a semicolon. Similar meanings are separated by a comma.
​
FYI: the reason I do not use a table is for SEO purposes, so this list can be found in Google. Also, all these English translations are from yours truly, using a Chinese to Chinese idiom dictionary, translated with my knowledge of Chinese and referencing various other dictionaries when needed. 

在這個階段我的中文學習主要專注於閲讀及寫作。成語特別難因爲每一個都需要背起來，但是有太多沒有用的成語，所以我請了一位台灣朋友幫我整理比較常見的成語。以下是常用成語的中翻英對照表，我會陸陸續續把字典裏面所有有用的成語寫上去，可能要花個幾年的時間。以下所有翻譯都是我親自從中文字典里面的解釋直接翻成英文，如果有問題可以在下面留言。

Gangkou Beach near Jialeshui Scenic Area in Kenting is one of the premier surfing beaches in Taiwan, with its most famous landmark being the Gangkou Suspension Bridge which leads to the Diaoqiao Wetland area. Popular activities here include surfing, kite surfing, swimming, and hiking. It is a must see on your trip to Kenting. Due to its location there are rarely crowds here even on weekends. 

Background:
The area around Gangkou was originally inhabited by the Paiwan Tribe. Afterward, Chinese settlers started moving in to farm the area, and it remains mainly a rural area to this day, with about one fourth of the population being indiginous people.
Gangkou suspension bridge is190 meters long and less than 10 meters high. The bridge was built to give passage to locals who in early times had to cross the Gangkou River during winter when it was cold and windy in order to leave town. 
Gangkou Beach is usually free of crowds due to its location, and there are multiple surf board rentals nearby. Strong winds year round mean there are always constant large waves coming into the bay. 

Hours:
7:30 AM to 6:00 PM

Price:
Gangkou Suspension Bridge: 20 NT 
Parking: Free

How to get there:
​By Bus: Take bus 8247 from Hengchun about half an hour to Gangkou Village.  
By Car/Scooter: Take Provincial highway 26 to its easternmost point to enter Gangkou Village. There is a parking lot near the suspension bridge with free parking. 

Map:
Please see below:

The Hengke Road dependents village was once home to a community of dependents of ROC soldiers. It sat abandoned for nearly 20 years. Now it has been destroyed. Even though it was full of garbage and decay, it had a charm of its own that is captured in the photos of this blog. 

Background:
The Hengke Road Dependents Village was created sometime after the second world war. This village was built for KMT dependents after 1949 when they fled to Taiwan after losing the Chinese Civil War. It included 30 households that were once inhabited at the time. 
It was abandoned in 2002 probably due to unlivable conditions in the poorly built houses. The land is owned by the department of defense. Since then it has been an eyesore for the community, and many have complained it has become a secret gathering place for youths to do drugs, etc. However from what I could see on my trip there in 2018, the place is mainly used as a private gardening area by local residents. In addition, the road next to it is very busy but because of the village is very narrow and can only accommodate one direction of traffic at a time. 
The village was razed to the ground in On October 9th, 2021, with no explanation. 

​Map:
Please see below. 

New Taipei Metropolitan Park in Sanchong and Luzhou Districts is my favorite city park in northern Taiwan. It features long green grass fields, lots of sidewalks and places to rest, as well as rivers and ponds.  It's a great place to ride a bike and exercise and relax if you are in the area. 

Background:
New Taipei Metropolitan Park was first began work in 2008 and it is still undergoing improvements.  Originally it's name was "Greater Taipei Metropolitan Park 大臺北都會公園" but its name changed to New Taipei Metropolitan Park 新北都會公園 in 2009 to differentiate it from Taipei City.
​It sits on the Erchong Floodway, a flood overflow basin which began construction in 1987 and was finished in 1996. Before that, there were no levees here and Sanchong and the surrounding areas were prone to flooding every time a Typhoon hit, due to the rising of the Tamsui River. The area where the Erchong Floodway sits was once the direction that the Tamsui River flowed before this section silted in, diverting the flow of the river north. 
The park is 7.5 km long, which includes wetlands, grasslands, basketball courts, baseball fields, tennis courts, slides, bicycle paths, and much more. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
24/7

How to get there:
By MRT: Take the purple line MRT to Sanchong Station. The station is inside the park. 
By Car/Scooter: From central Taipei, take provincial highway 1 south to Sanchong, and do not cross the bridge toward Xinzhuang. There is plenty of parking on the side of the road near the levee. 
By Bicycle: There are many Youbike stations nearby. Also there is a bicycle rental shop near the basketball courts. You can also bring your own bike. I highly recommend riding a bike here, it is safe and fun and there are tons of bike-friendly paths. 

Map:
​Please see below:

Longpan Park is one of the most beautiful places in all of Kenting National Park. It features a large grassland that covers the southern tip of Taiwan. has great views of the shoreline on the east side of the peninsula, featuring a wind-cut sandy landscape and sea cliffs.

Background:
The area that covers Longpan Park originally a coral reef that was elevated above the shoreline. Due to the easily eroding limestone leftover after the rocks were thrust upward, it created a large plateau on the southern tip of Taiwan.  The plateau has a long grassy plain that is a unique feature in Taiwan. 
Kenting was first settled by Chinese during the Qing Dynasty. The word Kenting comes from twp words that mean cultivate (ken3 墾) and strong man (丁 ding1). During that time, a group of strong men (or Zhuang Ding 壯丁) came from Guangdong, who were basically Chinese pionners of the area to cultivate the land, hence the area was named Kenting for them.
The area was considered to be made into a park during the Japanese occupation due to it being the only tropical location in the Japanese Empire, but was never officially created.
During the Japanese era Nanwan was used as a whaling area and there were a few fishing villages here. 
Kenting National Park was established in 1984 as the first national park in Taiwan after WWII.
Kenting became a major vacation spot, becoming a center for hostels and hotels for travelers. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/scooter: Take provincial highway 26 on the east side of Kenting until you come to Longpan Park on the right side of the road. There is parking on the side of the road.
By bus: From Hengchun, take bus 8249 to Longpan Park bus stop. 

Map:
Please see below:

Hukou Cultural Creative Park (or literally Hukou Village Hospitable (Haoke) Agricultural Cultural Creative Park 湖口鄉好客農業文化創意園區) is a small agricultural and cultural museum in Hukou Village of Hsinchu County, and provides visitors a taste of local agricultural products, as well as Hakka culture and traditions. It also features a modern built Hakka Roundhouse with an electronic God of Agriculture inside.

Background:
The Hukou Cultural Creative Park was completed in November of 2018, after 12 years of construction, covering 1.23 hectares of land. It also acts as the headquarters for the Agricultural Association of Hukou Village. Before 2018, the agricultural association was located under an overpass and many people complained that it was hard to access.
The park commemorates over 300 years of culture of the Hakka people after moving from China to the island of Taiwan.
The area often creates events such as promoting local products and providing workshops on traditional Hakka Culture. The area consists of about five main buildings, including museums, exhibits, a Hakka Roundhouse, and the association headquarters.

Hours:
8 AM to 4:30 PM

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/scooter: Take Hsinchu County Road 8 west toward Hukou and it will be on the right. There is free parking on the side of the road. 
By TRA/Bus: The only way there via public transport is walking from Hukou TRA station or Hukou Bus Station. 

Map:
Please see below:

Fengchuisha is one of the most beautiful places in all of Kenting National Park. It has great views of the shoreline on the east side of the peninsula, featuring a wind-cut sandy landscape and sea cliffs. It is a must see on your trip to Kenting National Park. 

Background:
Fengchuisha 風吹砂 literally means "wind blows sand." You can see why it was named this because the wind is constantly blowing and there is sand everywhere, even up from the shore onto the plateu above. The lookout area at Fengchuisha is on the side of the road on top of a cliff, offering pristine views of the most southeast section of shoreline in Taiwan. 
Kenting was first settled by Chinese during theQing Dynasty. The word Kenting comes from twp words that mean cultivate (ken3 墾) and strong man (丁 ding1). During that time, a group of strong men (or Zhuang Ding 壯丁) came from Guangdong, who were basically Chinese pionners of the area to cultivate the land, hence the area was named Kenting for them.
The area was considered to be made into a park during the Japanese occupation due to it being the only tropical location in the Japanese Empire, but was never officially created.
During the Japanese era Nanwan was used as a whaling area and there were a few fishing villages here. 
Kenting National Park was established in 1984 as the first national park in Taiwan after WWII.
Kenting became a major vacation spot, becoming a center for hostels and hotels for travelers. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/scooter: Take provincial highway 26 on the east side of Kenting until you come to Fengchuisha on the side of the road. There is a small parking lot that is usually never full. 
By bus: From Hengchun, take bus 8249 to Shuiwaku and then walk about 15 minutes on the side of the road to get there. 

Map:
Please see below:

Nanliao Harbor (aka Hsinchu Fishing Harbor) along Taiwan's west coast in Hsnichu City includes includes a seafood market and a wide grassy area (International Kite Park 國際風箏場). There is also a long sandy intertidal area nearby. It is a popular location for its seafood, kite flying, and ocean scenery. 

Background:
The Hsinchu Fishing Harbor at Nanliao dates back to 1731 when the Qing Dynasty first built a harbor in Hsinchu at the head of the Touqian River to aid with international trade. Over the centuries, the harbor went through various changes which included silting in many times, until its current form which was completed in 1991, to combat silting that occurred before the 1980's. 
Currently the main purpose of the harbor is to dock fishing vessels.  
During Dragon Boat Festival, dragon boat races are also held here. 
Kite flying is also a popular activity at the park. There is an international kite flying competition every September at the grassy park next to the harbor. On weekends you can also find many people relaxing here. 
In August 2020, a three year old was caught in a kite and flow 30 feet into the air. Luckily no one was injured by the kite activities were suspended for the rest of the day and it became viral news.

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car: From Taipei, take National Freeway 1 from Taipei and once in Hsinchu head west on expressway 68. The harbor is at the end of the road. Parking can be hard to find on weekends. 
By Scooter: From Hsinchu, drive along expressway 68 until you reach the harbor.
​By Train/Bus: Take the TRA to Hsinchu Station, then switch to BL15 shuttle bus and take it to Nanliao Station. 

Map:
Please see below:

Wanlitong is one of the premier scuba diving and snorkeling spots in Taiwan, and sits inside Kenting National Park. The waters here are clear and full of coral and sea life. Other popular activities here are kayaking, SUPing and eating seafood. 

Background:
The waters of Wanlitong have one of the highest concentrations of coral and sea life in Kenting National Park. Underneath the water is its own underwater coral forest park. 
Kenting was first settled by Chinese during the Qing Dynasty. The word Kenting comes from twp words that mean cultivate (ken3 墾) and strong man (丁 ding1). During that time, a group of strong men (or Zhuang Ding 壯丁) came from Guangdong, who were basically Chinese pionners of the area to cultivate the land, hence the area was named Kenting for them.
The area was considered to be made into a park during the Japanese occupation due to it being the only tropical location in the Japanese Empire, but was never officially created.
Kenting National Park was established in 1984 as the first national park in Taiwan after WWII.
Kenting became a major vacation spot, becoming a center for hostels and hotels for travelers. 
Kenting is considered by many to have the best beaches in Taiwan. This is because of its fine white sand and year-round warm temperatures and sunshine (it is in the tropical part of Taiwan after all). 

Hours: 24/7

Price: Free
Snorkeling: 300 NT per hour (or thereabouts).

When to go:
Summer! It's when the water is warmest and the sun is hottest. However there will be more people in summer, and there could be Typhoons. 
Spring and Fall are also good times to go, as there will be less visitors and cooler temperatures.
Winter is an okay time to go as well, it will be warmer than the rest of Taiwan and the water will still be warm enough to swim in. 

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 1 south to the bottom of Taiwan until it becomes provincial highway 26. After you pass Hengchun, take a right onto Longguang Road and then turn right on Wanli Road. The village will be on your left. 
By Bus: Busses leave daily to Kenting from Zuoying HSR station, Kaohsiung Station, and Pingtung. Get off at the Hengchun Bus Station, and then take the 101A to Xiaowanlitong bus station.
By Plane: There are direct shuttle busses to Kenting from Kaohsing's Xiaogang (KHH) Airport. 

Map: Please see below:

Yuanshan in Sanxia District is a popular hike in greater Taipei. It features a short easy hike has some amazing views of southern Taipei. It can also get very crowded on weekends despite the lack of public transportation. If you are looking for amazing views that are easy to get to, this is the place. 

Background:
Yuanshan stands at 299 meters above sea level, and the top features a bell tower and exposed rocks that provide a great view of Taipei. 
From the top you can enjoy views of Taipei such as Sanxia and Shulin Districts of New Taipei, as well as north east Taoyuan.
Currently the hike is very popular for local people especially on the weekends. 

When to go:
Go on a sunny day when the air is clear for the best views. 
​Also consider going early in the morning or on a weekday, because the trails can get really clogged with crowds of people during the day on weekends. 

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Sanxia Old Street, travel west up the mountain, on the one way road. There is very limited car and scooter parking, I do not recommend driving a car up here on the weekend or on holidays. I'm serious, I saw someone pop their tire trying to park on the side of the road here.
By Train: You can get close to the mountain via Yingge TRA station. 

Map:
​Please see below: