Eluanbi Lighthouse is a nice place to relax on the very southern tip of Taiwan in Kenting National Park. It is surrounded by grassy park and hiking trails through tropical forests with coral rocks. It is also within walking distance the most southern tip of the island of Taiwan on Cape Eluanbi. It is a must visit place for travelers to Taiwan.
Background: The lighthouse is named after Cape Eluanbi, the most southern point of Taiwan. The lighthouse is also know as the light of East Asia because it is the brightest lighthouse in Taiwan. It was constructed in 1883 during the Qing Dynasty. At the time, 500 soldiers were sent to protect the lighthouse against native Paiwan aboriginal tribesmen. The lighthouse served as a fort also. Later the lighthouse was damaged by Qing Officials as they lost control of the island, and the Empire of Japan later repaired the lighthouse. The lighthouse was then damaged by allied bombing raids. After WWII, the ROC rebuilt the lighthouse again, and it was opened to the public in 1982. Price: 60 NT per person You can book discount tickets to the lighthouse park on KKday here. Hours: Roughly 7 AM to 6 PM, varying depending on the season. When to go: Probably spring or fall are the best times to go, because during the summer it can get really hot and there is not much shade around. Winter is also colder and very windy. How to get there: By Bus: Take bus 9188 from Hengchun to Eluanbi Bus stop. It take about an hour to get there. You can book tickets to Pingtung 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 Pingtung via inter-city bus on Klook here. By Car/Scooter: Drive south on provincial highway 26 until you reach Eluanbi Park. There is paid parking right next to the park entrance. Looking for scooter rental in Pingtung? Click here or here to search for options. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search here. Accommodation: Looking for a hotel? 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. 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, Booking.com 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, Klook here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, or Booking.com here), or Kenting Dajianshan Hotel (book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia 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, Booking.com, Hotels.com, or Expedia for those) but they are in my opinion the above have the best value for the money. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago 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. Map: Please see below:
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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 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. 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. Looking for scooter rental in Pingtung? Click here or here to search for options. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search here. By bus: From Hengchun, take bus 8249 to Longpan Park bus stop. You can book tickets to Pingtung 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 Pingtung via inter-city bus on Klook here. Accommodation: Looking for a hotel? 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. 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, Booking.com 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, Klook here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, or Booking.com here), or Kenting Dajianshan Hotel (book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia 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, Booking.com, Hotels.com, or Expedia for those) but they are in my opinion the above have the best value for the money. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy 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. Map: Please see below:
Chuhuo (Eternal Flame) is an area where natural gas escapes from the earth and is burned as never ending flames in Hengchun Township of Pingtung County. The area lies just outside Kenting National Park. It is an interesting geological sight, what more reason do you need to visit than an endless fire? 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) and strong man (ding1). During that time, a group of strong men (or Zhuang Ding) 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. The fire at Chuohuo has been witnessed since before Han settlement in the area, by Paiwan indigenous people. The fire has moved slightly over the years, and sometimes the flames are brighter or dimmer. Chuhuo Natural gas is a product of the Kenting Shale formation in the area, which seeps up from cracks in the shale. Cooking or otherwise utilizing the natural gas to burn things is prohibited. Hours: 9 AM to 8 PM Price: Free You can take a day tour of Kenting including a visit to Chuhuo on Klook here. 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. Looking for scooter rental in Pingtung? 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. You can book tickets to Pingtung 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 Pingtung 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: Looking for a hotel? 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. 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, Booking.com 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, Klook here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, or Booking.com here), or Kenting Dajianshan Hotel (book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia 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, Booking.com, Hotels.com, or Expedia for those) but they are in my opinion the above have the best value for the money. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Tours and Activities in Pingtung: 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. Map: Please see below:
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: When to visit? Hualien is great year round, but it can get a little hot in the summer, and Typhoon season and heavy rain season last from about May to October. If you are afraid of the heat and rain then you can visit during winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is usually dryer. 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. 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. 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 Bus: There is no public bus to the cliffs. You will have to rent a scooter or take a tour bus. Tours and Activities: You can book a SUP or kayak experience at Qingshui Cliffs and more on Klook here and KKday here. 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. Map: See below:
Orchid Island (not to be confused with the Fijian Island of the same name), known in the local Tao language as Ponso No Tao (Island of the people), and in Chinese as Lanyu (蘭嶼) is a secret indigenous people's paradise off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. It is different than any other place in Taiwan, and has the best preserved indigenous culture anywhere in the country. If Taiwan's best tourist activity is experiencing the culture of Taiwan's indigenous peoples, then Lanyu has the best tourist experience anywhere in Taiwan.
Background: History: Orchid Island became inhabited about 800 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, which are a little less than 200 KM away, cut off by the Bashi Channel. However, Orchid Island is very different than the Philippines. Beginning in1644, some Dutch Sailors were sent to investigate the island, and some settled there among the natives. Because of this, the Island was known as Red Head Island (紅頭嶼) by the Chinese and the Japanese. After the Dutch were defeated in Taiwan, Lanyu was claimed but not controlled by the Qing Dynasty. The Japanese claimed the Island shortly after the Sino-Japanese War in 1895, but protected it as an "ethnological research site" and forbid outsiders from entering. After the Republic of China took over Taiwan following the end of WWII, they continued to ban visitors to the island until 1967, after which tourists were allowed to enter and public schools were built there. Christian missionaries began preaching and living on the island starting in the 1950s, and now basically all native people on the island are Christian (mixed with traditional beliefs). However Christianity was introduced much earlier starting with the Dutch in the 1600s although to a lesser extent. In 1982 a nuclear waste storage plant was built on the south side of the Island without the islanders' consent, causing protests from the inhabitants. Also because of this, the Island inhabitants receive free electricity. The island is volcanic in nature, with the last major eruption being over 5 million years ago. The highest mountain is 552 meters (1,811 feet). Currently there are 2,400 people permanently living on the island, 90% of them being of native Tao descent. Tao Culture: The Tao people number about 2,000 living on Orchid Island, with about another 2,000 living on the Taiwan mainland. The Tao people rely on the sea for survival, and much of their traditions and lifestyle are centered on fishing. The Tao people are mostly Christian but also still practice many of their traditional beliefs. However their ancestral religion included a pantheon of Gods. Traditional roles for men are fishing while roles for women include harvesting taro and sweet potato and weaving. The men usually fish at night or early morning and rest on traditional wooden platforms during the day. Boats are made from planks of wood and are painted red, white, and black. The boat usually has human figures, waves, and the traditional sun image (red and black circles and sun rays) which is said to warn off evil spirits. Boats are considered sacred and the ultimate human creation. There is also a launching ceremony for new boats in which traditional clothes and headgear (such as silver helmets for men and wooden hats for women) are worn, pigs are slaughtered, and the boat is lifted into the air multiple times before being set in the water. Traditional clothes include loin cloths and vests for men, and aprons and vests for women. Young people on the street usually do not wear traditional dress. Flying Fish Festival: There are three basic seasons on Lanyu: one is the flying fish season when flying fish can be easily caught and used and lasts from February to May. The other seasons are from May to October and October to February, when flying fish cannot be caught for ceremonial use. There are many taboos during flying fish season which are discussed below. The Flying Fish Festival lasts from aboutMarch to October when flying fish are caught. During this time many ceremonies take place such as for the beginning of the festival, plentiful harvest, etc. During the festival, there are multiple migrations of flying fish species near Lanyu. There are many taboos during this time, especially when it comes to catching and eating flying fish which are the main life source of the Tao people. Weather and Climate: The island has a tropical rainforest 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 cold, there will be constant wind (which could cancel transportation), and it will rain more often. Taboos: General Taboos:
How to get there: By Plane: You can book discount air tickets from Taipei to Taitung on KKday here. The only planes to and from Orchid Island come from Taitung. Flight times: As of the time of this blog, there were six flights per day byDaily Air Corporation from about8 AM to 4 PM (Please note their website is only in Chinese). The flight from Taitung to Lanyu takes about 25 minutes. Please note that the aircraft are small and flights can be cancelled due to high winds or unfavorable weather. Costs: NT 1428 to Lanyu and NT 1360 from Lanyu. You can purchase plane tickets through a tour agency such as Klook or a similar website. By Boat: There are two places that offer ferry rides to Lanyu: Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港) in Pingtung and Fugang Harbor in Taitung (臺東富岡漁港). There are also two ferry companies that operate at both harbors. Both companies leave from both harbors at the same time and arrive at the same time for the same price (2300 NT per person round trip/1150 NT per single trip). Ferry Boat costs: 2300 NT per person round trip (1150 NT per single trip)from both Taitung and Pingtung. Both ferry companies have the same price. Ferry Boat Times: 7:30/7:00 AM departure, 9:30 AM arrival to Lanyu. 12:00/12:30 PM departure, 3:00 PM arrival to Lanyu. 9:30 AM departure from Lanyu, 11:30 arrival to Taitung or Pingtung. 3:00 PM departure from Lanyu, 5:00 PM arrival to Taitung or Pingtung. Both ferry companies depart and arrive at the same time to both locations. You can purchase ferryboat tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here. 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. Tours: You can book multiple tours and activities such as a Tribal Tour, Underground House Tour, day hiking, night hiking, snorkeling, scuba Diving, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, and Freediving. You can search for more tours through Klook here or KKday here. Scooter Rental: Price: expect 500 NT per day. You can book a scooter through Klook here or KKday here. Be sure to book your 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 Kaiyuan Fishing Harbor. Car Rental: Price: expect 2000 NT per day. You can rent a car for Lanyu on KKday here. Bicycle Rental: Price: Bike rental is about 400 NT per day. You can rent a bike for Lanyu on KKday here. 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. There is a nice selection of rooms on Agoda. Here is a list of every registered hostel on the island, but it is in Chinese. My hostel required that I pay for my room in advance via bank wire transfer (this may not be an option if you are a foreign traveler, so make sure they accept credit cards if you do not have a Taiwan bank account). Expect to pay 2000 - 4000 NT per night for a standard double room on Lanyu. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago 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:
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. When to visit? Hualien is great year round, but it can get a little hot in the summer, and Typhoon season and heavy rain season lasts from about May to October. If you are afraid of the heat and rain then you can visit during winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is usually dryer. Sponsored Links 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. 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. 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. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. How to get around in Taroko Gorge: As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. However, you can also a great deal of Tainan by taking the train, inter-city bus, local bus, biking, or just walking. Getting around in a car is also a convenient option as there is plenty of parking pretty much everywhere in this less crowded county. By Bus: You can book a shuttle bus to Taroko Gorge from Hualien on Klook here. Scooter Rental: Looking for 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. Car Rental: 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. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Hualien such as Surfing, Paragliding, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Canoeing, River Tracing, River Rafting, Whale Watching, Snorkeling, Diving, ATV / 4-wheeling, Paintballing, Farm Dream Estates Zoo, Water Biking, Oyster Harvesting, Shrimp Harvesting, Indigenous Experience, Glamping, Cycling, Ziplining and much more on Klook here or KKday here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago 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. 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:
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:
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:
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:
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. 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. Here are some of the post popular tours of Taipei on Tripadvisor:
Attractions in Taipei: There are many attractions that you can enjoy in Taipei such as Taipei 101 Observatory, Taipei 101 460 Skyline Observatory, Taipei Children's Amusement Park, Maokong Gondola, National Palace Museum, Yehliu Ocean World, Yehliu Geopark, National Museum of Marine Science and Biology, i-ride 5D cinema, Astronomical Museum, Miniatures Museum of Taiwan, Double Decker Sightseeing Bus, Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket, Taipei Zoo, Heping Island Park, Ju Ming Museum, Yuanshan Hotel Secret Road, National Taiwan Museum, New Taipei Gold Museum, Futian Leisure Farm, Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence, Chi Po-lin Museaum, Beitou Museum, Tsao Wonderland, Railway Museum, Fort San Domingo, 13 Levels Archaeology Museum, Austin Land, Museum of World Religions, Formosan Aboriginies Museum, ASE Parent-child Park, teamLab Future Park, Yukids Island, VR Experience, Bat Cave, Neidong Waterfall, Candlestick Islet, Jurassic Snow Park, Zhonghe High5 Amusement Park, Longshan Temple, Xingtian Temple, Ningxia Night Market, Yansan Night Market, Meteor Garden, Yingge Old Street, and many more attractions on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. Activities in Taipei: Don't forget that there are many activities available in Taipei such as Indoor Skiing, Rock Climbing, Hiking, Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking, River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Cooking Class, Archery, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Tree Climbing, Urban Camping, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Escape Room, Shen'ao Rail Bike, Laser Gun Experience, Batting Cages, Bowling, Paintball, Flight Simulation Experience, Taipei Tram Driving Experience, Rail Simulation Experience, Taipei 101 Observation Deck activity, Strawberry Picking, Professional Photo Shoot, Body Relaxation SPA, Night Tour, Calligraphy Workshop, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. Hotels in Taipei: High end: 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 also stayed at and recommend the Grand Hyatt (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Marriot (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Sheraton (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Shangri-la (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), and Regent (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), which are all very high quality hotels in the middle of Taipei City. We also recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). Budget Hotels: 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). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com 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 around in Taipei: Taipei's transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei below: By Train: Gets you to the city center of all major cities in Taiwan. It is about 800NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Roughly half the price of the HSR. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. By HSR: (High-Speed Rail) – Gets you quickly from north to south. Besides Taipei and Kaohsiung, most of the stations are far from city centers. It costs about 1500NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. You can book tickets to the high-speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. By MRT: (Mass Rapid Transit, Metro train, subway) – Easily gets you around Taipei and Kaohsiung. 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 Bus: Buses can be tricky. Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. They can take you to the city center of every city throughout Taiwan and to remote tourist destinations such as sun moon lake. A long-range bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung is about 500 NT. You can also book tickets to travel to Shifen via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here. By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD. By Car: 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 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. 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 a map of most of the places in this blog below:
Shitiping Geopark along Taiwan’s east coast, literally meaning Stone Step Plain, because it looks like a bunch of stone steps. Some special geological forces have created this rock that resembles a bunch of stone steps on the east coast of Taiwan. Did I mention that there are stone steps? It is still a beautiful and unique stretch of coastline.
Historical Background: Shitiping literally means "rock stair plateau" get's it's name from the staircase shaped rocks along the coast. The area is made up of hard sedimentary rock placed over softer sandstone, which creates cuestas or staircase shaped rock formations. This makes for a unique structures and shapes, including potholes and trenches. Now it is a major tourist attraction along Taiwan's east coast. How to get there: Take highway 11 south from Hualien City about 60km or two and a half hours. If you do not have a scooter or car, buses also stop along this route. You can also take bus 1140A which takes about three hours. 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. When to visit? Hualien is great year round, but it can get a little hot in the summer, and Typhoon season and heavy rain season last from about May to October. If you are afraid of the heat and rain then you can visit during winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is usually dryer. 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. Price: Parking is 50-60 NT for cars, and 15-20 NT for scooters. Otherwise entrance to the park is free. Tours: You can book a snorkeling, SUP, or diving experience and more at Shitiping on Klook here or KKday here. Hours: 24 hours a day Map: Please see below:
Shihmen Recreation Area (aka March Cave, Mochi Cave, Shimen, or Shimendong) is a unique geological area on the coast of Hualien County (not to be confused with Shimen in New Taipei). It is famous for it's large, car shaped cave. It is still a beautiful and unique stretch of coastline.
Historical Background: Shimen literally means "rock gate" get's it's name from the caves along the coast here. The area is made up of hard sedimentary rock placed over softer sandstone, which after thousands of years of waves from the ocean, creates unique rock formations. Now it is a major tourist attraction along Taiwan's east coast. How to get there: Take highway 11 south from Hualien City about 60km or two and a half hours. If you do not have a scooter or car, buses also stop along this route. You can also take bus 1140A which takes about three hours. 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. 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. Price: Free Hours: 24 hours a day Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Hualien such as Surfing, Paragliding, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Canoeing, River Tracing, and much more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below:
Tianxiang Recreation Area features the widest and most flat terraces within Taroko Gorge. Here you can find Xiangde Temple, Tianfeng Pagoda, Pudu Suspension Bridge, and Silks Place Taroko, which are all surrounded by amazing high canyons and beautiful deep river ravines. It is a must see spot inside Taroko Gorge.
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. Tianxiang lies 455 meters above seas level, and lies at the convergence of the Dasha River and the Tazijili River, forming the Liwu River. Xiangde Temple was built in 1966 shortly after the central cross island highway was finished. It is a Buddhist monetary, and the area was chosen for it's quiet beauty. 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. Tianxiang is 18 KM in. 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: Take the train to Hualien station, and from there you can rent a scooter or car, or take a tour bus to the gorge, and then get off at Tianxiang. 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. For more travel information see 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 tours of Tianxiang on Klook here or KKday here. You can find more tours and activities in Hualien such as Surfing, Paragliding, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Canoeing, River Tracing, and much more on Klook here or KKday here. Hours: 24/7 Flying a Drone? Apply for a drone permit here. Price: Free! Map: Please see below:
The Baxian Caves (aka Baxiandong) on the east coast in Taitung County have the earliest evidence of humans living in Taiwan, including stone tools dating back to over 30,000 years ago. In recent times the caves were converted into Taiwan folk religion temples, but now all of the 30 caves in the area have been reclaimed by the government to preserve this important archaeological site. The area is now open to the public, and there are trails and a large park in front of the caves.
Background: The Baxian Caves were originally underwater until geological forces between the Philippine and Eurasian tectonic plates forced the ground upward. The first traces of people living here date back to 30,000 years ago during the late Paleolithic age. They were thought to have crossed a land bridge between what is now Fujian Province of China and Taiwan, and created what is known as the Changbin Culture, and stayed here until about 1500 years ago during the late stone age. After that, their culture mysteriously disappeared. The people that lived in the caves were mostly hunter-gatherers that used stone tools, and used the caves as shelter. Later the area was inhabited by the Amis Aboriginie Tribe (阿美族) who have lived there since at least 1500 BC, and called the area Lohan, which means caves. After the area was settled by Han Chinese farmers, there arose a legend that the caves were home to the eight immortals (八仙 Baxian), from where the caves now get their name and many temples were built in the caves here, as well as to other gods such as the Earth God, Buddha, Guanyin, and others. Price: Free Parking: 60 NT for cars, 20 NT for scooters. You can book a tour to Taitung with Klook here or KKday here. Hours: 8:30 AM PM every day. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: We recommend taking Provincial Highway 11 from Taitung north 30km to the caves. Feel free to stop and enjoy the scenery along the way. You can also try to coming south down from Hualien. Looking for scooter rental in Taitung? You can search 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 KKday here or Klook here. You can check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: You can take bus 8102 or 8103 from Taitung, but according to Google this will take about 3 hours. You can also try to coming south down from Hualien. You can book tickets to travel to Taitung via inter-city bus on Klook here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Accommodation: Booking accommodation in the Taitung can be difficult in the summer months and on weekends when rooms can be fully booked for months in advance. We suggest a better quality selection on Agoda.com. We have stayed at and recommend the Papago International Resort in Chishang (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here), which is a five star hotel with private villas with pools for each room, and Mountain and Ocean B & B in Taimali (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here), which is a quiet and affordable B&B right next to the beach. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. Tours: There are many tours and activities such as snorkeling, diving, SUPing, Surfing, Speed Boating, Glamping, River tracing and more in Taitung. You can find more tours of Taitung 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 the map below:
Fanshuliao in Hualien is the most unique looking canyon on the east coast, and is a popular river tracing spot. The canyon is over 100 meters deep, and metal steps have been hammered into the canyon wall for those brave enough to walk down them.
Background: The Canyon at Fanshuliao is 100 meters deep and 45 meters wide. It was formed by loose volcanic rock, which erodes easily, which helped to create the canyon. The Amis aborigine people that lived here sais that any young man that could traverse the canyon in one leap using a bamboo stick would become the village chief. Because of this, many young men fell to their death, and a pile of bamboo sticks began to pile up at the bottom of the canyon known as the "forest of lost brave ones." Highway 11, also known as the Hualien-Taitung Coastal Highway, first began as a trail during the Qing Dynasty in 1877. During the Japanese era of Taiwan, the road was improved and open to vehicles in 1930. The current two lane highway as we know it today was completed after WWII in 1968. The Fanshuiliao rest area (named after the nearby Fanshu village) was probably also completed at that time. It is a popular stop along the highway, and the Fanshuliao River is a popular river tracing destination. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free How to get there: By car/scooter: Travel along Highway 11 until you reach the spot. There is usually plenty of free parking here. 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 bus: There is a stop here on Bus 304's route, or take bus 1140 from Hualien Station to Fanshuliao bus stop. 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 such as River Tracing, Surfing, Paragliding, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Canoeing, and much more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below:
Sixty Stone mountain (aka Liushidan Mountain) is a beautiful flower and mountain landscape on the eastern flank of the eastern rift valley in Hualien County. The annual Daylily flower blooms and amazing views of the Eastern Rift Valley attract thousands of tourists each summer. Some of the picturesque and beautiful views anywhere in Taiwan can be seen from this mountain.
Background: The main crop on Sixty Stone Mountain is the Orange Daylily (aka tawny dayliliy, hemerocallis, golden needle flower, etc.). Orange Daylily is a nutrient and iron-rich plant, and is traditionally used as a garnish, spice, and preservative. In addition it is also added as raw materiel for rice paper and Chines medicine. You can buy dried bags of the stuff all over the mountain and surrounding areas. According to some of the locals, Sixty Stone Mountain gets its name from the fact that instead of producing 50 stones (or dan, measure of flowers) per field, the fields on this mountain can produce 60 stones. Other people say that it is because during the Japanese Era, all the trees were cut down and there were 60 large boulders left on the mountain. Nowadays the Mountain is a major tourist attraction, and has been highly marketed by the Taiwan tourism bureau. You can find pictures from this mountain on almost any Taiwan tourism brochure. How to get there: BY Car/Scooter: Take highway 9 south from Hualien. When you reach Dongzhu, there will be a sign to Sixty Stone Mountain just after the police station. The road up the mountain is small and closes after 6:00 PM. Only cars, small vans, and scooters are allowed up the road. There are many tour groups such as KKday here and Klook here that offer van rides up the mountain. 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. Hours: Technically open 24/7. When to go: We suggest going during the Orange Daylily flowering season, which is from about July to September. If you go from 3-5 PM you should see an awesome view of the sunset if the weather is good. 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. We have also stayed at and recommend the Papago International Resort in Chishang (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here), which is a five star hotel with private villas with pools for each room, and Mountain and Ocean B & B in Taimali (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here), which is a quiet and affordable B&B right next to the beach. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Hualien such as Surfing, Paragliding, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Canoeing, River Tracing, and much more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below:
Wulu Fort in Haiduan Township of Taitung County was originally made by the Japanese to suppress an uprising by the Bunun indigenous tribe. Now it stands as a monument to Taiwan's colonial past. The area also has great views of the Wulu Gorge and Wulu Village along Taiwan's South Cross-Island Highway.
Historical Background: As per the sign on sight, the history of Wulu Fort is as follows: "Wulu Battery was constructed in 1927 when the Japanese were building the Guanshan Cross-Ridge TRail (now the South Cross-Island Highway) from Xinwu to Wulu. This cannon, manufactured by the Russians in 1903, was captured by the Japanese during the Russio-Japanese War and shipped to Taiwan for the Japanese Police to use in the suppression of an uprising of the aboriginal Bunun tribe. Batteries were also built in neighboring Saku (Dalun) and Madiangulu (Motian); but Wulu Battery is the only one that has survived, a witness to the bloody and tragic history of the Japanese occupation." Usually, this area is not crowded. If you visit, it is likely you will be the only person there. Price: Free Hours: 24/7 How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From Taitung, take provincial highway 9 north until you reach provincial highway 20 (South Cross-Island Highway) then turn west up into the mountains. Turn off at Wulu Village. The fort is just above the elementary school. Looking for scooter rental in Taitung? You can search 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 KKday here or Klook here. You can check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: From Guanshan TRA station, you can take bus 8178 to Wulu. The Fort is about a 25 minute walk from the bus station. You can book tickets to travel to Taitung via inter-city bus on Klook here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. Accommodation: Booking accommodation in the Taitung can be difficult in the summer months and on weekends when rooms can be fully booked for months in advance. We suggest a better quality selection on Agoda.com. We have stayed at and recommend the Papago International Resort in Chishang (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here), which is a five star hotel with private villas with pools for each room, and Mountain and Ocean B & B in Taimali (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here), which is a quiet and affordable B&B right next to the beach. 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: There are many tours and activities such as snorkeling, diving, SUPing, Surfing, Speed Boating, Glamping, River tracing and more in Taitung. You can find more tours of Taitung 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:
Baqi Rest Stop along Coastal Highway 11 in Hualien has some of the best views of the East Coast, right alongside the road. The rest stop also includes hiking trails, a restaurant, gift shop, bathrooms, viewing platforms, and covered seating areas.
Background: Highway 11, also known as the Hualien-Taitung Coastal Highway, first began as a trail during the Qing Dynasty in 1877. During the Japanese era of Taiwan, the road was improved and open to vehicles in 1930. The current two lane highway as we know it today was completed after WWII in 1968. The Baqi rest area (named after the nearby Baqi village) was probably also completed at that time. It is a popular stop along the highway. Price: Free Hours: 24/7 How to get there: By car/scooter: Travel along Highway 11 until you reach the spot. There is usually plenty of free parking here. 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 bus: There is a stop here on Bus 304's route, or take bus 1140 from Hualien Station to Niuliuaokeng bus stop, and walk about 15 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. When to visit? Hualien is great year round, but it can get a little hot in the summer, and Typhoon season and heavy rain season last from about May to October. If you are afraid of the heat and rain then you can visit during winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is usually dryer. 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:
Smangus is an Ayatal tribal village deep in the mountains of Hsinchu. At an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level, it is also known as Taiwan's most remote aboriginal village. It has become a tourist hot spot not only for the aboriginal culture here, but also for the grove of giant Cypress trees which are close to 3,000 years old.
Background: The name Smangus is the Ayatal name of the Netleaf Oak tree (querus rugosa 銳葉高山櫟) that grows here. The Ayatal tribe has inhabited this area for thousands of years. After the ROC took control of Taiwan, most of the tribe converted to Christianity thanks to western missionaries. The village of Smangus was electrified only in 1979, and a road to the village was only completed in 1995. Before that, it was a three hour walk to the nearest town. After word got out about the grove of giant Cypress trees in the area, the village quickly became a tourist hot spot and remains so today. Price: Free Tours: You can book a tours to Smangus on Klook here. Where to stay: Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you will only visit downtown, you can consider a day trip from Taipei. We have stayed at and recommend the Golden Motel a high quality motel near Green Grass Lake (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, or Trip.com here), and CD Motel, another high quality motel in downtown Hsinchu (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, or Trip.com here). Unfortunately I cannot recommend any further hotels that I have stayed at in Hsinchu because usually we stay at my wife's uncle's house. 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. 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 eastern Hsinchu, take highway 109 to Jianshi Township until you reach the turnoff to Smangus. It's about a 2 hour drive from Guanxi township in Hsinchu. If you are looking for car rentals in Hsinchu, 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 Hsinchu? You can search Klook here or KKday here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. Bus: There is no public transportation to Smangus. You can book tickets to travel to Hsinchu via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Hsinchu via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. 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 search on KKday here and Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. Tour: You can take a day tour to Smangus with Klook here. Map: Please see below:
Baiyang Falls are a beautiful set of waterfalls in Taroko National Park. The trail is only 2 KM long and is flat and paved with no steps. It is an easy and relaxing way to enjoy some of the best scenery in the park.
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 reinstated in as a national park in 1986. The road to Baiyang Waterfall was created by the Taipower Company in an effort to build a hydropower reservoir in Taroko Gorge. However the project was not completed, to protect the natural scenery in the area. The roads and tunnels left over from the project now make up the current trail, to what would normally be an arduous hike through impossible terrain. Baiyang Waterfall is 220 meters high, and the highest waterfall in Taiwan to fall off one sheer cliff. When to visit? Hualien is great year round, but it can get a little hot in the summer, and Typhoon season and heavy rain season last from about May to October. If you are afraid of the heat and rain then you can visit during winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is usually dryer. 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. 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. Keeping going until you reach the Baiyang Waterfall hike about 20 KM up the road. 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: Take the train to Hualien station, and from there you can rent a scooter or car, or take a tour bus to the gorge, and get off at Baiyang Waterfall station. 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. For more travel information see here. Tours: You can book a tour to Baiyang Falls on KKday here. Find more tours and activities in Hualien such as Surfing, Paragliding, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Canoeing, River Tracing, and much more on Klook here or KKday here. Hours: 24/7 Map: Please see below:
Lion Park sits above a quiet and beautiful stretch of coastline in Wanli District of New Taipei. There is also a 1 KM pedestrian path that connects the park to Dawulun beach. Popular activities here include hiking, fishing, paddle boarding, and watching the sunset.
Background: The sandstone and sedimentary rock that forms the coastline here was created between 10 and 20 million years ago and was pushed out of the sea along with northern Taiwan thousands of years ago. The rocks here were formed by easily eroding sandstone, with the area underneath being eroded away by the sea and waves. Lion Park in Wanli was created by the Taiwan Lion's Club, Su'Ao chapter. The park includes a pavilion and a large stone sculpture that is popular with Instagrammers. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free Activities: Don't forget that there are many activities available along Taiwan's Northern Coast such as Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking, River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Archery, Tree Climbing, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Shen'ao Rail Bike, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. Hotels on Taiwan's Northern Coast: We recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com 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: Drive to Keelung, then from downtown take provincial highway 2 west about 10 KM until you reach Lion Park, and there is some free parking at the park. 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 Bus: From Keelung, take bus 305 to Dawulun Beach. The park is about a 10 minute walk west along the coast. 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 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 cycling tour on TripAdvisor here. For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. Map: Please see below:
Emerald Valley is a popular river tracing spot near in Xiulin Township of Hualien County. It is also home to the Emerald Valley Old Trail, a trail used by Taroko Aborigines and Japanese to connect to Taiwan's central mountain range. The Dam, tunnel, and suspension bridge here are all remnants from the Japanese era.
Background: Emerald Valley Old Trail dates back to over 200 years ago and was used by the Taroko tribe to travel deep into the Taiwan's central mountain range, along the Mugua river. During the Japanese control of Taiwan after 1895, the Japanese built a bridge, tunnel, and waterworks here and mined copper, and set up an artillery shelter, among other things. The area has been basically untouched since the Japanese era, and now a popular hiking trail connects the tunnels to the made made waterfall and river tracing valley beyond. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free How to get there: By car/scooter: Take provincial highway 9 southeast until you reach the Tongmen bridge and keep going. There is free parking on the side of the road. 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 bus: Take bus 1131A or 1131 from Hualien about an hour to Tongmen Village. 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. When to visit? Hualien is great year round, but it can get a little hot in the summer, and Typhoon season and heavy rain season last from about May to October. If you are afraid of the heat and rain then you can visit during winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is usually dryer. 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 such as River Tracing, River Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, and much more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below:
Nanfang'ao is the third-largest fishing harbor in Taiwan and is an important part of the local economy. Just above the harbor along the Suhua highway is an amazing lookout that gives a 180-degree view of southern Yilan, Su'ao, and the surrounding area. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to the east coast of Taiwan.
Background: The first path between Su'ao and Hualien was a trail built in the Qing Dynasty that was completed in 1876, for the Qing to better control aboriginal peoples on the east coast. Later after Japan took control of Taiwan, they widened the path and built 9 bridges and 14 tunnels along the way, making it drivable for cars (one way only) by 1932. Because much of the road was next to cliffs that underwent constant landslides, it was considered one of the most dangerous roads in the world at the time. In the 1980s the ROC government further widened the road, and the two-lane highway was completed in 1990. In 2020, the section of road between Su'ao and Dong'ao was bypassed by a tunnel. Nanfang'ao is the third-largest fishing harbor in Taiwan and is an important part of the local economy. There is a popular fish and seafood market there that is open from 3 PM to 5 PM every day at the harbor if you a fan of fresh seafood. Price: Free Hours: 24/7 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, or 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 Su'ao or Dong'ao, take Highway 9 east along the coast. You will have to take a dangerous U-turn or left turn across double yellow lines if you come from Su'ao, so it is better to come from Dong'ao. 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: Take the Nanfang'ao Blue line to Nanjian Shopping Center (南建購物中心) then walk up the Nanfang'ao Lookout trail about 15 minutes to the lookout. 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:
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. How get to Hualien? 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. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. 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 How to get around in Hualien: As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. However, you can also a great deal of Tainan by taking the train, inter-city bus, local bus, biking, or just walking. Getting around in a car is also a convenient option as there is plenty of parking pretty much everywhere in this less crowded county. Scooter Rental: Looking for 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. Car Rental: 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. Map: Please see below:
Academia Sinica is the top research institution in Taiwan. It also borders a forest and has beautiful hiking trails where you can enjoy nature and see historical military sites. The area is worth a stroll if you have time.
Background: The trails I will show date back to when the ROC and KMT first retreated to Taiwan. They decided to set up a military compound in Nangang, including training facilities, walls, razor wire, bunkers, towers, etc. Much of this is off limits and secret so I will stop there. Academia Sinica borders to military compound, and for some reason it has aquired some land that belonged to the former military training compound, and made some trails through it. Hours: 24/7 Length/Difficulty: Less than one hour, easy. Tours: You can book a tour of Taipei on Tripadvisor here, KKday here or Klook here. Where to stay: High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Nangang Marriott (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com 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: There is paid car parking at Academia Sinica, and scooters must park outside. 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 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. By MRT/Bus: Take the blue MRT line to Nangang Exhibition Hall station, then transfer to any number of busses from exit 5 to Academia Sinica. 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. Map: Please see below: |
Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Tutor ABC - World's No. 1 Online Platform for learning English and Chinese. Get 10% off all Tutor ABC website listed prices with promo code: FOREIGNERS10 Tutor ABC - 世界第一英語和中文線上學習平台 使用促銷代碼: FOREIGNERS10 可享有 Tutor ABC 網站上列出的所有價格 10% 的折扣 Archives 檔案
May 2024
Tutor ABC - World's No. 1 Online Platform for learning English and Chinese. Get 10% off all Tutor ABC website listed prices with promo code: FOREIGNERS10 Tutor ABC - 世界第一英語和中文線上學習平台 使用促銷代碼: FOREIGNERS10 可享有 Tutor ABC 網站上列出的所有價格 10% 的折扣 Categories
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