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  • Home 首頁
  • Blog 部落格
  • Taiwan FAQ 常見問題
  • Blog Index 部落格指南
  • Maps 地圖
  • About 關於我們
  • Contact Us 聯絡我們
  • Privacy 隱私

Blog Posts

Changhua Confucius Temple 彰化孔子廟

8/19/2022

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Changhua's Confucius Temple is one of the oldest Confucius Temples in Taiwan and one of the first Academies in Taiwan, dating back nearly 300 years ago. Today it is an important place for Confucian learning and a popular tourist attraction in Changhua. 

Historical Background:
The Changhua Confucius Temple was completed in 1726 during the Qing Dynasty, shortly after the Qing had taken control of western Taiwan. The construction was overseen by the magistrate of Changhua County, Zhang Gao. Later the temple was repaired in 1753 and later expanded. 
During the Japanese era, the Academy (Wen Miao) was used as a school.
After the ROC took Taiwan, the temple was repaired in 1952 and Confucian ceremonies were held on a regular basis. Later the temple was renovated in 1978.  
​The temple is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Changhua.

Hours:
8:30 AM to 5 PM 

Price:
Free
​
How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Changhua Train Station, drive south until you reach provincial highway 19, then turn left until you reach the temple. The temple will be on your left. There is limited paid parking nearby.
By Train: From Changhua Train Station, the temple is within 10 minutes walking distance. 

Map:
Please see below:

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Pizza Hut Buffet (Huanleba) 必勝客歡樂吧吃到飽

8/8/2022

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Taiwan's Pizza Hut 歡樂吧 all you can eat buffet is every American pizza lover's dream, at a reasonable price.
Let me reiterate this clearly: Pizza Hut has buffets in Taiwan. For about 400 NT, you can have all you can eat pizza. This is cheaper then buying a small Pizza Hut pizza from their delivery locations. And you can sample all the new weird pizza hut flavors without having to buy an entire pizza.

Pizza Hut's Buffet is my favorite restaurant in Taiwan, and the world actually. I am a sad American who still loves his pizza more than anything. Pizza Hut has been my favorite since childhood. Sadly, there are no Pizza Hut Buffets in the USA, but there are some in Taiwan. Honestly it has been a major contributing factor in me deciding to move to Taiwan permanently, I visit at least four times a year. The local Pizza Hut Huanleba in Nangang has stood for over 10 years while all other restaurants around it have closed down, because it is the best, and people keep coming back.

Price: (as of August 2022): 319 NTD on weekdays, 369 NTD on weekends. 

Website: ppb.pizzahut.com.tw/ppbmeals.php#openhour

Locations: Currently there are only four locations in Taiwan. Taipei Dunhua, Taipei Guangfu, Taipei Nangang, and Kaohsiung Dram Mall: ppb.pizzahut.com.tw/ppbmeals.php#openhour​

Map: See the four Taiwan locations below:

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Finding a Long Term Hotel in Taiwan - FAQ

8/7/2022

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I have had many friends ask me if I know where they can stay in Taiwan that rents month to month, or for only a few weeks at a time. Whether it be for a short time contract, short term work, a business trip, or a short time study, it can often be hard to find suitable accommodation that will not cost you a fortune. Therefore we have created this frequently asked question guide to help foreigner travelers find short term hotels that have what they need.

Your decision between an extended stay hotel and a regular hotel depends on your preferences and what amenities you anticipate needing. You can, however, enjoy more benefits with extended-stay hotels in terms of features, flexibility in booking, and prices.

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Our Guide to Hualien 花蓮懶人包

8/5/2022

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Hualien is the largest county in Taiwan and is considered by many to be the most beautiful. It includes a breathtaking coastline along the Pacific Ocean, including cliffs thousands of meters high, marble gorges, fertile valleys, and a large section of Taiwan's central mountain range. Hualien is simply a must-stop location on your trip to Taiwan.

Historical Background
Hualien was first inhabited by Sakiraya aborigines and was known as Kilai. Later the Spanish came here to pan for gold for a brief period. Afterward, the first Han Chinese settlers came to the area in 1851, and named the place Hualien after the swirling delta of the Liwu River. During the Japanese era, many Japanese people were relocated here to develop agriculture. 
Now Hualien is the key population center on Taiwan's East Coast. 

Map: Please see the map below for the areas we will cover in the blog.

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The Best Views of Taipei 台北最佳觀景的地方

8/3/2022

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Every time I see a stock photo of Taipei shot from Elephant mountain, a little part of me dies inside because Taipei has so many other beautiful viewpoints and vistas. If you are looking for stock photos of Taipei, consider going to one of the following locations to take a less cliché photo.

The following blog is a list of places I have been with the best views of Taipei. When I say Taipei, it means the Taipei 101 is somewhere in the photo, so you could say these are the best views of the Taipei 101 or something like that. There are literally infinite views of Taipei for you to discover, this is only a list of some. I am also sure that I will add to this list in the future.​

Map: Please see a map of most of the places in this blog below:

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10 Things Taiwanese People Love about Foreigners 台灣人喜歡外國人的10個原

8/1/2022

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Liuhe Night Market in Kaohsiung is one of the most wide open I’ve seen, maybe because it was on a week night. It turned out there were lots of western and southeast Asian foreigners here.
It's no secret Taiwanese people love foreigners in general. Taiwan is one of the most foreigner friendly countries on earth, especially when it comes to western foreigners, and it has constantly been named one of the best places in the world for expats. Here we will list the main reasons why Taiwanese people love foreigners. 

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Our Guide to Taroko National Park 太魯閣國家公園懶人包

7/29/2022

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If you only have a few days in Taiwan and you want to go somewhere outside of Taipei, you should definitely go to Taroko National Park. On an island full of mountains, rain forests, beaches, and abounding natural beauty, Taroko might just take the top spot as the most beautiful scenic area in Taiwan. 

Taroko National Park is well known for its  amazing marble cliffs and canyons carved out by the Liwu River. It is also a popular spot for hiking, rafting, and river tracing. If you have the time, come to the East coast and see it. If you don't have time, then make some time!

​History and Background:

Taroko National Park is well known for its  marble cliffs and canyons, and is also known as "The Marble Gorge." Millions of years ago, the rock we see today was sediment at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, but oceanic and tectonic pressure turned it into limestone, and later into marble. Later the Eurasian plate was uplifted where Taiwan is today, and a gorge was cut out of the limestone thanks to the Liwu River. 

Taroko means "human being," from the Truku tribal language. Originally the Tupido Tribe settled in the area of what is now Tianxiang Taiti mesa. They built the Tupido Tribe Trail which was only 30 cm wide, and resided there until they were massacred by the Japanese in 1914. In 1917, the Japanese expanded the original trail made by the Tupido Tribe to 1.5 M and forced aboriginal tribesmen to carry goods along the trail to the east coast. This is now the Zhuilu Old Trail. Currently only 3km of the trail is open to the public. The Japanese created a national park in the Area in 1937, which was disestablished by the ROC in 1945, and then reenstated in as a national park in 1986.

How to get there:
By Car: From Taipei, Take National Highway 5 to Yilan and then drive on the Suhua Highway 9 to Hualien. A few miles before Hualien City, the gorge will be on your right.
By Train: Take the train to Hualien station, and from there you can rent a scooter or car, or take a tour bus to the gorge.
​For more travel information see here.

Hours: 8:30AM-5PM (Zhuilu old trail is open from 7AM to 10PM).

Flying a Drone? 
​Apply for a drone permit here.

Price: Free! (Except Zhuilu old trail, which is 200 NT per adult. See below for more info.)

​Map: Please see a map of the places mentioned in this blog below:

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Taiwan Hotpot Buffet 台灣的火鍋吃到飽

7/27/2022

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One of the best parts of Taiwan is it's cuisine, and one of the greatest forms of cuisine in Taiwan is hot pot. Basically it involves boiling meat and vegetables in a broth to eat. In particular, all you can eat hot pot buffets in Taiwan are a great way to get full, which can be divided into small hot pots, low end hot pot buffets, and high end hot pot buffets. 

Background:
Hot pot first originated in China in the Zhou Dynasty, and the traditional food making process has continued to this day. Hot pot exists in many forms, such as Mala (spicy) hot pot, Lamb Hot Pot, Beef Hot Pot, Seafood Hot Pot, Seafood Hot Pot, Stinky Tofu Hot Pot, etc.
In Taiwan it is popular to add Shacha sauce and other hot sauces to mix with the cooked foods.
In addition, most hot pot places will offer unlimited drinks, rice, and ice cream, while full buffets will offer all you can eat meats and vegetables, along with other hot foods and desserts.
Hot pot is most popular during winter months when it is colder, but you will find a lot of people still eating hot pot in summer because it is so delicious.

Price:
Small hotpot (no buffet): 80-150 NT per pot
Semi-buffet hotpot (free drinks, rice, and maybe ice cream): 100-200 NT per person
Low-end full hotpot buffet (cheaper buffet items): 300-500 NT per person
High-end hotpot buffet (more expensive higher quality buffet items): 500-2000 NT per person

Popular Hot Pot Chains:

Semi-buffet hot pot (free drinks, rice, and maybe ice cream):
Sanma Stinky Hotpot 三媽臭臭鍋
Dahu Guoyin Hotpot 大呼過癮小火鍋

Low-end full hot pot buffet (cheaper buffet items):
Shabu Shabu 千葉 (Qianye)
Jixian Hotpot 
極鮮火鍋 ​
Xianyou Hotpot 鮮友火鍋
12 Hotpot 石二鍋
​
High-end hot pot buffet (more expensive higher quality buffet items): 

HaiDiLao Hotpot 海底撈火鍋 
Xindian Hotpot 辛殿麻辣鍋
Leqi Hotpot 樂崎火鍋 

There are basically countless hot pot restaurants and restaurant chains, more than I could ever list in this blog. 

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Shanling Haowangjiao Hostel 山嶺好望角民宿

7/22/2022

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Shanling Haowangjiao Hostel in Hualien is a small hostel on top of a mountain above the east coast in Hualien. In provides amazing 360 degree views of Hualien City, the central mountain range, and the east coast, as well as a bunch of themed props to take selfies with. It is worth a visit if you have time.

Background:
Shanling Haowangjiao Hostel has 4 rooms. It is a unique hostel in Taiwan because basically they charge you to look at the view, and provide some snacks. I have never been to any place like it before. 

Price:
100 NT per person, including parking and all you can eat snacks and drinks. 
5000-6000 NT per room per night.

Hours:
9 AM to 7 PM

Map:
​Please see below:

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Taroko Gorge 太魯閣

7/21/2022

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If you only have a few days in Taiwan and you want to go somewhere outside of Taipei, you should definitely go to Taroko Gorge. On an island full of mountains, rain forests, beaches, and abounding natural beauty, Taroko Gorge might just take the top spot as the most beautiful scenic area in Taiwan. 

Taroko National Park is well known for its  amazing marble cliffs and canyons carved out by the Liwu River. It is also a popular spot for hiking, rafting, and river tracing. If you have the time, come to the East coast and see it. If you don't have time, then make some time!

​History and Background:

Taroko National Park is well known for its  marble cliffs and canyons, and is also known as "The Marble Gorge." Millions of years ago, the rock we see today was sediment at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, but oceanic and tectonic pressure turned it into limestone, and later into marble. Later the Eurasian plate was uplifted where Taiwan is today, and a gorge was cut out of the limestone thanks to the Liwu River. 

Taroko means "human being," from the Truku tribal language. Originally the Tupido Tribe settled in the area of what is now Tianxiang Taiti mesa. They built the Tupido Tribe Trail which was only 30 cm wide, and resided there until they were massacred by the Japanese in 1914. In 1917, the Japanese expanded the original trail made by the Tupido Tribe to 1.5 M and forced aboriginal tribesmen to carry goods along the trail to the east coast. This is now the Zhuilu Old Trail. Currently only 3km of the trail is open to the public. The Japanese created a national park in the Area in 1937, which was disestablished by the ROC in 1945, and then reenstated in as a national park in 1986.

How to get there:
By Car: From Taipei, Take National Highway 5 to Yilan and then drive on the Suhua Highway 9 to Hualien. A few miles before Hualien City, the gorge will be on your right.
By Train: Take the train to Hualien station, and from there you can rent a scooter or car, or take a tour bus to the gorge.
​For more travel information see here.

Hours: 8:30AM-5PM (Zhuilu old trail is open from 7AM to 10PM).

Flying a Drone? 
​Apply for a drone permit here.

Price: Free! (Except Zhuilu old trail, which is 200 NT per adult. See below for more info.)

​Map: Please see below:

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Fudekeng Graveyard 福德坑墓園

7/20/2022

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Fudekeng/Liuzhangli Graveyard is the largest graveyard area in Taipei, and also happens to provide amazing views of Wenshan and Xinyi Districts. Nearby you can also find many hiking trails. It is a great place for a bike ride or hike if you are not afraid of ghosts.

Background:
Currently the Fudekeng Graveyard is run by the city of Taipei's funeral and cremation department which has over 200 employees. It started in 1942 under Japanese rule, and in 1945 it became a public cemetery. 
Due to many families making illegal structures to hold the remains of their ancestors, Taipei City allocated more and more land for graves in the 1950s to 1970s.
There are two areas the provide mortuary services in Taipei: one near Xingtian Temple, and the other behind Fuzhoushan Park. 
Nowadays a funeral plot is very expensive, so most people choose to cremate their dead and keep them in Spirit Bone Towers.

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/scooter: From central Taipei, drive on Heping East Road to MRT Liuzhangli Station, then head up Chongde Street. The graveyard lies all along this street. I do not recommend driving a car up there, the road is very narrow. During tomb sweeping festival, the roads are closed and you can only visit via shuttle bus. 
By Youbike: Get a Youbike from MRT Liuzhangli Station, then head up Chongde Street. The graveyard lies all along this street.
By Bus: Bus S12 visits the cemetery. 

Map:
​Please see below:

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Taiwan Apartment Rental Guide 台灣租屋常見問題

7/18/2022

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Renting an apartment in Taiwan can be confusing and frustrating. As a long term rental tenant and expat in Taiwan I have lived in over ten apartments and have dealt with all kinds of problems, from bad landlords to noise to bugs. I feel like my experience can help other expats searching for apartments in Taiwan, so I have created this guide and FAQ to help people avoid the mistakes that I have made in the past, and have a pleasant rental experience in Taiwan.
​

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Dongshan (Hualien)  花蓮東山

7/13/2022

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Dongshan Mountain above the east coast in Hualien provides amazing 360 degree views of Hualien City, the central mountain range, and the east coast. You can also find Farglory's Hotel and Fargolry Ocean Park here. It is worth a visit if you have time.

Background:
Farglory Hotel in Hualien has 381 rooms and was completed in 2005. It sits 200 meters above sea level and looks over the east coast and Hualien City, and is less than 1 KM away from Farglory Ocean Park. It is the only hotel to be listed on a stock exchange in Taiwan.
Farglory Ocean Park was the first marine theme park constructed in Taiwan, and was completed in 2002. The area is 51 hectares and features a theme park and an aquarium. It includes roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, waterpark, dolphin shows, aquarium, restaurants and other events and shows.

Price:
100 NT per person, including parking and all you can eat snacks and drinks. 
5000-20,000 NT per room per night.

Farglory Ocean Park:
890 NT per adult

Hours:
9 AM to 7 PM

Map:
​Please see below:

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Baiyun Police Station 白雲派出所

7/8/2022

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Baiyun Police Station is an abandoned police station in Xizhi District of New Taipei that was first established during the Japanese era in Taiwan. Later it was used as an outpost as part of Taiwan's White Terror by KMT police who were looking for communist spies nearby, and ended up killing and imprisoned many innocent people. Currently it has been turned into a historical park for all to enjoy.

Background:
Baiyun Police Station was completed in 1920 by the Japanese. It was also known as Shisanfen Police Station, because the area there was also known as Shisanfen at the time. The police station was also added on to in 1939. 
Two brothers, Chen Pen-chiang and Chen Tung-ho (陳通和), created an armed communist party holdout in the Luku village of Shiding District. They also organized a youth group consisting of underage villagers, however this group did not participate in any illicit activity.
In response, on Dec. 28th, 1952, about 10,000 police officers and ROC armed soldiers used Baiyun Police Station as a base to raid the village over the space of four months, blocking off roads and arresting everyone while trying to remove the communists. 
Around 400 people in the surrounding areas were arrested, with 200 of those people being tortured and 35 killed. According to the Taipei Times: "Among the 200, 12 were not indicted or released for turning themselves in, while 98 were given prison sentences, 19 of whom were underage."
Due to the terrible injustice dealt to the village and the surrounding people, the Luku Incident Memorial was erected in the year 2000.
For more information on the incident, check out the articles written by the Taipei Times here and here. You can also check out the Wikipedia article in Chinese here.
After use by the KMT, the police station was abandoned in 1980 and the roof collapsed.
It was restored and the roof rebuilt in 2019. Currently it is a relatively unvisited historical site, but we did find a group of Instagrammers when we visited there. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
​By Car/Scooter: Travel south on Academia Sinica Road in Nangang, and then take Dongshi Street (東勢街) all the way up the mountain. The police station sits near border between Taipei City and New Taipei City, in between Forest Elementary School (森林小學) and Fuan Temple (福安宮) on Xiding Road (汐碇路).
By Bus: You can also take bus F903 to this location, get off at Forest Elementary School stop. 

*note: if you get lost, look for the brown sign that says "白雲派出所" in Chinese on the side of the road. 

Map:
Please see below:

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Jiqi Beach 磯崎海水浴場

7/6/2022

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Jiqi Beach in Fengbin Township of Hualien County is one of the best surfing spots in Taiwan. This is one of the few sandy beaches on the east coast between Hualien and Taitung. It is definitely worth a visit if you are looking for an exquisite and less crowded beach.

Background:
On both sides of the beach are volcanic rock formations, while the middle is sandstone and shale, which helped to form this amazing beach. 
Jiqi was originally called Kaluluan by the native Amis people. Originally they used the beach to dry salt, and later settled here during the Qing Dynasty, relying on fishing. 
Now the beach is a popular summer destination, especially for surfing. 
However, just one month ago the beach closed to the public, and access is only allowed to a restaurant that charges 100 NT per person to enter. The government promises they will give access to the beach soon, but water activities may be banned forever. 

Hours:
24/7 (But officially closed now the the public)

Price:
Currently a restaurant charges 100 NT per person just to look at the beach, the government says they will allow beach access again soon

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take highway 11 south from Hualien or north from Taitung, It is more than an hour's journey from either city.
By bus: The beach can be reached by bus 1140 or 1145. 

Map:
Please see below:

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Tips for Students Studying in Taiwan for a Better Experience

7/5/2022

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​Taiwanese higher education is unquestionably highly regarded globally. It must provide access to universities with a strong international reputation, generous support networks, carefully designed degree programs, a welcoming local community, and instruction from some of the top professors in the world. Overall, whoever chooses to visit Taiwan will have a fruitful educational experience. But is that all that is necessary to study here? Not. As you might have guessed, we're going to explore Taiwan's higher education system. Usually, high marks achieving students are awarded scholarships to study in Taiwan in various academic fields. The duration of the program could vary it could be of one year, three, or four as well. The students who wish for acquiring this scholarship must need to work hard in their academics and if they need any sort of assistance for that then we are mentioning here an amazing website called peachy essay which would help you with your research writing with best thesis writers who are experts of their respective fields.   ​

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Nangang Bottle Cap Factory (POPOP Taipei) 瓶蓋工廠台北製造所

7/1/2022

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Nangang's Bottle Cap Factory, now POPOP Taipei, was a Japanese era factory built 80 years ago and stopped production in 2004. Now it has been converted into a space for meetings, exhibitions, seminars, workshops, musical performances etc.

Background:
​Nangang's Bottle Cap Factory was built during the Japanese era in 1943, and continued operating until 2004, providing bottling parts for over 14 wine manufacturers. It was then abandoned until 2010 when Taipei City chose the spot for urban revitalization. The bottle cap factory renovation was completed in 2020.
Currently there is space for meetings, exhibitions, seminars, workshops, musical performances, a night market, and more. On weekends it attracts hundreds of visitors especially when there are special events.

Hours:
10 AM to 6 PM every day

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take Civic Boulevard or Nangang Road to Nangang Station. The bottle cap factory is just north of the station, across the street. There is paid parking at Nangang Station. 
By TRA/HSR/MRT: Take the TRA/HSR/MRT/inter-city bus to Nangang Station. The bottle cap factory is just north of the station, across the street.

Map:
Please see below:

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The Top 10 Questions Foreigners Have About Taiwan 外國人看臺灣的十個大問題

6/30/2022

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Taiwan is strange and new to foreigners. Many things in Taiwan take foreigners by surprise. As Americans we want Taiwanese people to know what kind of questions foreigners have when first coming to Taiwan. This is by no means a complete list, but is written with the intent to help Taiwanese and Foreigners have a better understanding of one another’s culture.
台灣對外國人很陌生,很稀奇。台灣有的東西會把外國人嚇一大跳。身為美國人的我們想要讓台灣人了解我們外國人對台灣常發生的問號。這不是一個很完整的列表,只是為了讓台灣跟外國跟了解彼此的文化。

10. Why are There so Many Scooters? 怎麽這麽多機車? 

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Hualien Nanbin Park 花蓮南濱公園

6/29/2022

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Hualien's Nanbin Park is one of the most accessible beach location in Hualien. It also features a night market and a large grassy park and bike path to enjoy the oceanside views. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Hualien.

Background:
In the 1800s, Nanbin Park was the first area that Han Settlers landed their boats, and began to farm the local land. Later, the harbor was moved further south where it was less windy.
Nanbin Park covers about 1 KM of coastline near Hualien City.  It includes a bike path, camp ground, palm trees, a playground, sand pit.
At night there is also a small night market here in the parking lot.
​
Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/scooter: From central Hualien, take highway 193 south along the coast until you get to Nanbin Park.
By bus: Sadly there are no bus stops near Nanbin park. The closest bus stop is at Dongdamen Night Market. 

Map:
​Please see below:

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10 Strangest Places in Taiwan, Number 7 will Give You Nightmares!

6/27/2022

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Taiwan is a weird place, especially in the eyes of a western foreigner. In this blog listicle, we have filtered down the 10 most weird places we have visited in Taiwan. Most of these places are not scary, are actually quite beautiful, and you should visit them.

Let's get started. This list is not going to write itself. 

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Haiweizi Beach 海尾仔

6/24/2022

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Haiweizi is a small beach along the coast in Tamsui. Once there was a bike path here, but it was damaged by wave action, so no one is allowed on the south side of the beach. It it usually devoid of people and is a nice place for a stroll.

Background:
Originally the bike path here was part of a 2.5 KM stretch. However after some wave action in 2021, rocks started to cover the bike path and the foundation was damaged. Therefore out of concern for safety, the New Taipei government closed the area to the public. However that has not stopped some citizens from clearing out the rocks and enjoying the amazing ocean scenery here anyway. 

Hours:
24/7
​
Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/scooter: From Tamsui, make your way north to Danhai and go on Houzhou Road Section 1 north until you reach the ocean. There is free parking on the side of the road. 
By LRT: From LRT Kanding station, the seaside area is about a 1 KM walk away.

Map:
Please see below:

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Qingshui Cliffs 清水斷崖

6/22/2022

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The Qingshui Cliffs in Taroko National Park on the coast of Hualien are some of the most spectacular geological features in the country, and the world. The tallest peak on the cliffs is 2,408 meters (7,900 feet) above sea level, and drops straight into the Pacific Ocean. It is a spectacular sight to behold.

Background:
Taroko National Park is well known for its  marble cliffs and canyons, and is also known as "The Marble Gorge." Millions of years ago, the rock we see today was sediment at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, but oceanic and tectonic pressure turned it into limestone, and later into marble. Later the Eurasian plate was uplifted where Taiwan is today, and the cliffs were lifted out of the ocean. The cliffs are subject to constant erosion and rockslides are common. 
The cliffs are roughly 12 KM long and rise to over 2400 meters. 
They are a popular scenic stop along the Suhua highway that connects Yiland and Hualien.

Hours:
24/7


Price:
Free:

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Hualien, Take highway 9 north until you reach the Qingshui Cliff lookout. There are actually a number of places to see the cliffs.
By Bus: There is no public bus to the cliffs. You will have to rent a scooter or take a tour bus. 

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You know you’ve lived in Taiwan too long when...

6/20/2022

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A few years ago, it was popular to make lists with answers to: "you know you have lived too long in Taiwan when..." and I never got around to making one until now. So here is a recent, up to date, modern list of items to tell if you have lived too long in Taiwan. 

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Qianshuiwan Beach 淺水灣

6/17/2022

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Qianshuiwan (aka Qianshui Bay) in Sanzhi District of New Taipei is a popular beach destination, which includes a pristine bike path that goes all the way to Baishawan. There is also a nice sandy beach, pier, and lots of beach side restaurants nearby. It is a great beach destination along the northeast coast of Taiwan.

Background:
Qianshuiwan beach (literally meaning shallow water bay)
was formed roughly 800,000 years ago by volcanoes spewing lava into the ocean. Later coral grew near the shoreline, which makes up for most of the white sand seen on the beach today. The white sandy beach extends about a kilometer along the coast. Now it is one of the most popular destinations on the north coast of Taiwan. Because of its proximity to Taipei, there are sure to be many visitors, and because Taipei has the highest concentration of foreigners, be prepared to see a lot of other foreigners as well. It is a popular area especially during the summer months when it is warmer. It is especially known for the many outdoor restaurants along the beach, that makes it feel like an overseas destination. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:

By Bus: Take Keelung bus from either Danshui MRT station or Keelung TRA station.
You can also take the yellow and white North Coast Shuttle Bus to Qianshuiwan station.
By Car: Drive on provincial highway 2 out of Danshui to the northeast, or out of Keelung to the northwest. The beach area is near Sanzhi District 三芝區. 

Map:
Please see below:

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Qixingtan 七星潭

6/15/2022

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Qixingtan is the best beach in Hualien City. It is a few KM long and also features a long grassy park next to it. It is famous for its oval shaped stones which tourists like to stack together. It is definitely worth as stop on your next trip to Hualien. 

Background:
Qixingtan gets its name because originally it was a lake close to the seashore, that was in the shape of the Big Dipper (or Qixing 七星, seven stars). During the Japanese era, the lake was filled in in order to make an airport, which is now used by the Taiwan air force. 
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https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%83%E6%98%9F%E6%BD%AD#/media/File:Malungayangay_in_1924_map.png
Afterward, the residents instead called what before was Yueya Bay (月牙灣), a crescent beach nearby Qixingtan to honor their lost lake.
Qixingtan has now become a major tourist attraction, with thousands of visitors a year, and many hotels nearby.

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
Car/Scooter: From central Hualien, take highway 9 north until you reach past Mintou street and turn right. Keep going until you reach the beach. There is more parking at the middle and north sides. 
Bus: From central Hualien, you can take bus 308 to Hualien Manbo Park. The beach is just a short walk away. 

Map:
​Please see below:

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     Author 作家

    We are US Expats that have extensive experience living, working, and travelling in Taiwan. In our day, we had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But we have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. ​Our blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. We are just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country.

    ​​我們是在台灣的外國人!我們透過額部落格想要幫助外國人了解台灣生活,旅遊,和商業的環境!我們不代表所有在台灣的外國人, 我們只是想要幫助世界各地的人了解台灣美好的一切! (美國人在管理)

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