Hongludi Nanshan Fude Temple in Zhonghe, New Taipei is a temple complex known for its prominent Earth God statue, and also its amazing views of southwest Taipei. The hike up the mountain also provides a decent aerobic workout. It is an unmissable stop on your trip to New Taipei.
Background: Hongludi Nanshan Fude Temple started off as a small earth god temple built around the year 1900 by local tea farmers and was not well known. In 1952, a construction company donated a large amount of money to build a road up to the temple. After that, more and more people came here and made donations. In 1971 the temple complex was expanded significantly, and in 1994 the Earth God statue was completed. Besides the earth god, other gods such as Caishen (God of riches), Tai Sui, Wenchang Wang, and Yue Lao are worshipped here. The temple is popular especially on weekends for hikers and temple worshippers. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free Tours in Taipei: There are many tour itineraries that you can enjoy in Taipei that will take you to multiple destinations and arrange transportation. For more information, you can check out Tripadvisor here, KKday here or Klook here, which are both great tour websites that can connect you with the right tour and tour guide for you. Activities in Taipei: You can also look for more activities in Taipei such as Rock Climbing, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, Diving, Snorkeling, Cooking Class, Glamping, Motorcycling, and more on Klook here or KKday here. Hotels in Taipei: We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By MRT: You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. ​You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. Map: Please see below:
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Taiwan's outer islands are some of the most beautiful and scenic places in the whole country, and each of them can be considered a secret paradise. You can find the best beaches, snorkeling, and diving on these islands. You can also find rich and important historical sites here. Transportation may be difficult, but you will never regret visiting Taiwan's outer islands, and no trip to Taiwan should be complete without doing it.
In this blog, we will introduce the main outer islands in Taiwan that are open to tourists (there are 166 islands in Taiwan, this blog only covers a few), point out their unique traits, and compare them to each other. This way you can best prepare for your trip to the outer islands, and at the same time know what you are missing out on. All the outer Islands are great, and I highly recommend visiting them all if you can. When to visit:
How to get there:
Where to stay: Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. Tours: There are many tours available on the islands, including scooter rentals, boat tickets, and other activities. For more information, book with Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see a map of the islands covered in this blog below: 
https://unsplash.com/photos/uwagwk2FywU
Are you tired of stressing out about every little detail of your vacation or business trip? Whether you are jetting off across the globe or merely taking a weekend away, life on the road can sometimes be quite chaotic. But here is your chance to take back control and master the art of travel with these top 7 travel hack secrets collected from seasoned travelers! In this post, we will reveal insider tips, tricks, and techniques that will save you money, time—and maybe even a few grey hairs! Get ready for smoother journeys filled with amazing experiences - let’s dive right in!
Keelung Islet is the tall, rocky island off the coast of Keelung City that has recently been reopened to tourists. The island features a trail to the lighthouse at the highest peak that provides breathtaking views of the surrounding area. Just a short trip from Taipei, and then a 20-minute boat ride, it is one of the most accessible outer islands that you can visit in Taiwan.
Background: Keelung Islet is a volcanic remnant dating back to the Pleistocene era about 1 million years ago and is part of the Ryukyu Volcanic Arc which is formed from the subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate under the Eurasian Plate. After the volcano was formed, it was slowly eroded away by wave action, creating a steep mountain peak with sides at about a 60-degree angle. The island is 182 meters tall (597 feet), 960 meters long (3139 feet), and 400 meters (1312 feet) wide. Except for crabs, birds, lizards, and insects, the island remained uninhabited until the Japanese stationed troops here during the colonization of Taiwan. After the ROC took control of Taiwan, the island continued to be a military base. In 1980, the Keelung Islet Lighthouse was completed. It was the first lighthouse in Taiwan built in an octagonal shape, and the first powered by solar power and batteries. The islet was opened to tourists in 2001, however, tourism to the island was stopped in 2014 after Typhoon Maria ravaged the island, and was closed for five years until 2019. Currently, the island is open to tourists, but you cannot stay overnight there. The only people that live on the island are members of the coast guard who stay there on a rotational basis. Tourist boats take off daily from Baodouzi Harbor from April until October, and the island is closed to tourists during the winter months due to strong northeasterly winds. The island is popular especially on weekends during the summer, but only 1200 people are allowed to visit each day, so you may have to book in advance. Hours: Boats to Keelung Islet leave at about 8 AM, with the last boats leaving at about 1 PM. Everyone has to be off the island before sundown. Each trip lasts about 3-5 hours depending on the itinerary. You can book boat tickets on Klook here or KKday here. Boats to Keelung Islet are only available from April to October due to northeasterly winds in the winter. Price: Boat trip to the island and hike to the lighthouse: about 700 NT Boat trip to the island, lighthouse, and other places such as elephant trunk rock: about 1200 NT Again, you can book tickets on Klook here or KKday here; booking on these sites is usually cheaper than buying tickets in person. When to go: Boats to Keelung Islet are only available from April to October due to northeasterly winds in the winter. If you visit from May - June you will be able to see white lily flowers, and August to September is golden spider lily season. How to get there: In order to get to Keelung Islet, you first need to make your way to Badouzi Harbor (see map below). By Car/Scooter: Drive to Keelung, then from downtown take provincial highway 2 East about 10 KM until you reach the turnoff to Badouzi Harbor, and there is some paid parking in front of the harbor. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. Looking for scooter rental in northern Taiwan? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. By Train/Bus: Take the TRA to Badouzi (八斗子） station, then walk about 1 KM northwest until you reach the Badouzi Harbor. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT and buses from Klook here or KKday here. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. By Ferry: Next you have to take a boat to the island. There are multiple ferry boats running to Keelung daily from April to October. You can book tickets on Klook here or KKday here. Hotels in Keelung: We recommend Just Live Inn-Keelung and Yung Feng Hotel, which are two great quality hotels for a reasonable price in Keelung's City Center. You can book Just Live Inn-Keelung on Booking.com here, Agoda here, Klook here, Hotels.com here, Trip.com here, or Kayak here. You can book Yung Feng Hotel on Booking.com here, Agoda here, Hotels.com here, Trip.com here, Klook here, or Kayak here. Map: 
Hualien's old railway pedestrian area in the middle of the city has taken a 1.8 km old railway line and transformed into a pedestrian shopping district, much like an old street or night market. It is a worth while stroll on your next visit to Hualien.
Background: The original Hualien Train station was built over the current Dongdamen Night Market, however the railway was diverted in 1979, leaving the old railway left to rust. The old railway left is 1.8 km long and 6 m wide. In 2003, a plan was put in place to renovate the old railway into a pedestrian shopping area. Price: Free Hours: 24/7 How to get there: By Car/Scooter: The night market lies on the central eastern part of the city along Chungshan Road and Chongching Road. There is free car parking inside and free scooter parking too. Looking for a scooter rental in Hualien? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Hualien, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Train: From Hualien TRA station, take bus 301, or walk about 30 minutes. You can book tickets to travel to Hualien via inter-city bus on Klook here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit Hualien City and Taroko Gorge, you can consider booking a hotel near downtown, walking or cycling around the city, and taking a bus to Taroko Gorge. We have stayed at and recommend Dream Taiwan Homestay (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), a high quality hostel for the money in downtown Hualien, Farglory Hotel (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), right next to Farglory Ocean Park with amazing views of Hualien, and Goldenflower B&B (Agoda / Booking.com) in Yuli right next to Sixty Stone Mountain. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Hualien on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival (宜蘭國際童玩藝術節) is one of the largest children's festivals in Taiwan, occurring every year during summer break along the Dongshan River in Yilan. It features a large outdoor waterpark as well as musical performances, exhibitions, games, and cultural events. It has become a yearly tradition for many families in northern Taiwan.
Background: The festival first began in 1996 and has continued every year, except for 2008-2009 due to lack of funds, in 2003 because of SARS, and in 2020 due to COVID. The completion of the Hsueshan Tunnel in 2006 made it much easier for large amounts of people to travel quickly from Taipei to Yilan. The large event attracts many visitors from Taipei. During summer weekdays and weekends the venue can be expected to be totally packed with visitors. Hours: 10 AM to 9 PM (pool area closes at 6 PM), starting from the begining of July to mid-August every summer. In 2023 the festival runs from July 1st to August 13th. Price: 350 NT on weekends and 250 NT on weekdays 50 NT parking fee for cars 20 NT parking fee for scooters You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here or book a day tour on KKday here. Website: https://www.yicfff.tw/index.php?lang=5tKpKqHPsMZQ82iPyZj4TQ Tours and Activities: You can purchase tours and tickets for many activities in Yilan such as Su'ao Crayon Castle, Taipingshan, Turtle Island, Lanyang Museum, Toucheng Leisure Farm, Zhang Mei Ama Capybura Farm, Bambi Land, Yinong Ranch, National Center for Traditional Arts, Taxi Museum, Glamping, Camping, ATV / 4-wheeling experience, SUP / paddle boarding, Ximeng Forest Theater, Surfing, Kayaking, Horse Riding, River Tracing, River Rafting, River Tubing, Pack Rafting, Water Biking, Snorkeling, Canoeing, Shrimping and many others through Klook here or KKday here. Accommodation: Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. We have stayed at and recommend Ying Shih Guest House, a resort in Datong Township near Taipingshan and Fan Fan Hot Spring (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), and Jiaosi Hotspring Hotel, a hotel with hot springs in each room (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, or Trip.com here). We have also stayed at Toucheng Leisure Farm, a recreational farm and experience center in Toucheng (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, on Klook here, or on Trip.com here). You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. How to get there: By car/scooter: From National Highway 5 in Yilan, take provincial highway 7 east to Dongshan River Water Park. Looking for scooter rental in Yilan? You can search Klook here or KKday here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Yilan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By bus: From Luodong TRA station, take bus GR21 to Dongshan River Water Park. You can book tickets to travel to Yilan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Yialn via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Bicycle rental: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. Map: Please see below: 
Kenting Dawan Beach (aka Kenting Beach Swimming Area) is a premier beach destination on the Taiwan mainland, and attracts a fair amount of visitors, especially those that stay at the Kenting Chateu Beach resort that sits right on the beach. It features beautiful yellow sand and the longest beach in Kenting. In addition, the beach is right next to Kenting Street Night Market, a great night market for snacking and tourist oriented shopping.
Background: 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. 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). The facilities at Kenting Beach include a foot wash, and swimming is actually technically prohibited. Therefore usually you will not see many people on the beach. Hours: Kenting Beach: 24/7 Kenting Street Night Market: 6:30 PM - Midnight 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 that keep going past Hengchun into Kenting National Park. The beach will be on your right as you pass the a 7-11. There is a parking lot next to the beach. Looking for scooter rental in Kenting? Click here or here to search for options. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search here. By Bus: Busses leave daily to Kenting from Zuoying HSR station, Kaohsiung Station, and Pingtung. Get off at the Kenting Arch Stop (墾丁牌樓). You can book tickets to Kenting via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here, or book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. You can book tickets to travel to Kenting via inter-city bus on Klook here. By Plane: There are direct shuttle busses to Kenting from Kaohsing's Xiaogang (KHH) Airport. You can search for cheap flights in Taiwan here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Accommodation: I have stayed at many hostels and hotels in Kenting, and even almost bought a house here. Some places that I have stayed at and can recommend are Nanwan Kiki (book on Agoda here), a B&B next to Nanwan Bay, Kenting's most popular Beach. There are also a few decent hotels near Kenting Street Night Market like Kenting Star Inn 888 (book on Agoda here or on Klook here), or Kenting Dajianshan Hotel (book on Agoda here). You will notice that none of these hotels are five star resorts (I do not come to Kenting to waste my time at a resort, but you can still search Agoda for those) but they are in my opinion the above have the best value for the money. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Tours and Activities in Kenting: There are many activities available in such as snorkeling, diving, SUPing, surfing, submarine riding, and river tracing in Kenting. You can find more tours of Kenting on Klook here or KKday here. Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. Map: Please see below: 
Fairy Cave in Kenting National Forest Recreation Area is the longest limestone cave in Taiwan, and right next to it is Silver Dragon Cave. These two caves are some of the most beautiful and easily accessible limestone caves in Taiwan. Next to the caves there is also a tower with a café and viewing platform that offers amazing panoramic views of the Hengchun Peninsula. You should definitely stop by on your next trip to Kenting.
Background: 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 (ä¸ ding1). During that time, a group of strong men (or Zhuang Ding 壯ä¸) 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. Fairy Cave is 120 meters long and includes features such as buddhas ear, south pole man, and milk waterfall. Silver dragon cave is 30 meters long and is so named because of the dragon like rock feature inside. Hours: 8 AM to 5 PM Price: Kenting Forest Recreation Area 墾ä¸åœ‹å®¶æ£®æž—éŠæ¨‚å€:150 NT per person You can book discount tickets to Kenting's Forest Recreation Area on Klook here or KKday here. Tours and Activities in Kenting: There are many activities available, such as snorkeling, diving, SUPing, surfing, submarine riding, and river tracing. You can find more tours of Kenting on Klook here or KKday here. ​ Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 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 Hengchun into Kenting National Park and take Sheding Road to the Kenting National Forest Recreation Area parking lot. You can search for scooter options here or here, and you can check out our scooter rental guide here. By Bus: Busses leave daily to Kenting from Zuoying HSR station, Kaohsiung Station, and Pingtung. You can book tickets to travel to Kenting via inter-city bus on Klook here. By Plane: There are direct shuttle busses to Kenting from Kaohsing's Xiaogang (KHH) Airport. You can search for cheap flights in Taiwan here. Accommodation: I have stayed at many hostels and hotels in Kenting, and even almost bought a house here. Some places that I have stayed at and can recommend are Nanwan Kiki (book on Agoda here), a B&B next to Nanwan Bay, Kenting's most popular Beach. There are also a few decent hotels near Kenting Street Night Market like Kenting Star Inn 888 (book on Agoda here or on Klook here), or Kenting Dajianshan Hotel (book on Agoda here). You will notice that none of these hotels are five star resorts (I do not come to Kenting to waste my time at a resort, but you can still search Agoda for those) but they are in my opinion the above have the best value for the money. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. ​Map: Please see below: |
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. Archives 檔案
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