Cihu Lake (aka Cihu Mausoleum 慈湖陵寝, or Mausoleum of Late President Chiang) in Daxi District of Taoyuan is one of the most interesting parks in Taiwan. Much of the park is full of statues of a former dictator, Chiang Kai-shek. Also, Chiang Kai-shek's former residence and his mausoleum are on the site. It is definitely a unique place worth visiting. 
 
People often don’t realize that Taoyuan has a lot to offer to tourists. Many of the places here aren’t represented as well in English as other sites in Taipei, which is why we want to help everyone realize what a great place it is. 

Historical Background:
Chiang Kai-shek's residence at Cihu lake was built in 1975, and it was known as his favorite residence because it reminded him of his home town in Fenghua, Zhejiang, China. When Mr. Chiang died, he requested that his body be kept in a sarcophagus at Cihu until Taiwan took back the Chinese mainland, at which time he could be buried again in his home town. 
The area around the lake was controlled by the ROC army until 2007, when it was transferred to the Taoyuan City Government. The area was closed briefly in 2008 and then, at which time many statues of the former dictator were moved to a park nearby, under the direction of DPP president Chen Shui-bian. Later the park was reopened when KMT president Ma Ying-jiu won the election in 2008. In 2018 the mausoleum was vandalized with red paint, after which it was closed to the public. 
As of 2017 there were 219 statues in the park, 190 of which are of Chiang Kai-shek, 27 of Sun Yat-sen, and 2 of Chiang Ching-kuo.

Price:
Seeing statues and visitors' center: Free
Back part of Cihu park: 100 NT per person
50 NT for cars

Hours: 9 AM - 4:45 PM 
 
How to Get There:
By Car/Scooter: From Daxi, take provincial highway 7 east until you reach Cihu, it is hard to miss. There is a large paid parking lot near the park. 
By Bus: From Taoyuan, take bus No. 116 or No. 7.

Map:
Please see below.

Taipingshan (aka Taipingshan National Forest Recreational Area 太平山國家森林游樂區) is a magical mountain paradise in Datong Township of Yilan County in Taiwan. It has an old Japanese era logging railroad track which has mostly been abandoned, but part of it has been restored with a working train. In addition there are hot springs, Taiwan's largest alpine lake, hikes, wildlife, and endless mountain scenery to explore.
 
Background:
In 1906, the Japanese Indigenous affairs police officers sent a team of men to Fanfan Mountain, where they discovered huge ancient cypress trees. Later the Japanese renamed the area Taipingshan, and began logging the mountain in 1915.
The Taipingshan Forest Railway was completed in 1934 and had at least 12 stations, with the grade up the mountain ranging from 2-3%. Loggers relied heavily on wires and pulley systems to haul logs to the railway, which differentiates it from the Alishan Railway. Because of the extensive use of wires or iron donkeys, it was difficult to convert the entire railway to a tourist railway, therefore only a short section at Maosing remains for tourists. 
The logging industry continued in Taiwan until it was banned in the 1980s, after which the area was converted into a forest recreation area in 1983 and opened to the public.
The mountains in Taipingshan range from 500 to 2000 meters high, and is part of the northern central mountain range. The highest peak here is Nanhu Mountain at 3,740 meters high. The terrain generally consists of high mountains and deep valleys, which have been pushed up by the convergence of the Eurasian and Philippine plates, and eroded by torrential rains.
Taipingshan is 12,929 hectares, and includes six major areas: Tuchang, Jioujhihze, Jhongjian, Taipingshan, Maosing and Cueifong Lake.
Taipingshan holds the record for 24 hour rainfall in Taiwan of 1015 mm, recorded in 2016 during Typhoon Megi. The area is also one of the most accessible places in Taiwan to see snow during winter.
The forest recreation area is now a popular place for nature enthusiasts and hikers, and is one of the top three most popular forest recreation areas in Taiwan.
 
Hours:
6 AM to 8 PM (open 4 AM on weekends)

Price:
150 NT for non-holidays, 200 NT for holidays
Cars: 100 NT
Scooters: 20 NT
Jioujhize Hot Springs: 250 NT in winter and 150 NT in summer
Bong Bong Train: 180 NT
For more info click here.
 
Website:
https://tps.forest.gov.tw/
 
How to get there：
By Bus: Kuo-kuang departs from Yiland and Luodong at 7:40 and 8 AM, and arrives at Taipingshan at 10:30 AM. The bus then departs Taipingshan at 2:30 PM.
By Car: From Taipei, take National Freeway 5 to Yilan, then turn southwest on provincial highway 7 until you reach the turnoff to Taipingshan via Yijhuan Route 1.
 
Map:
Please see below of the places covered in this blog:

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

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

Price:
Free

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

Map:

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

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

Hours:
9 AM to 9 PM, closed Mondays

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

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

Map:
Please see below:

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

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

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

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

Map:

Fengshan Reservoir in Kaohsiung lies on the top of Fengshan Mountain in Xiaogang District of Kaohsiung, and is a nice area to relax and enjoy views of the surrounding area. 

Background:
Fengshan Reservoir was completed in 1984 to provide water for the surrounding industrial areas in Xiaogang and Linyuan. The reservoir itself lies across three districts of Koahsiung: most of it is in Xiaogang, about one third of it lies in Linyuan, and one industrial spillway lies in Daliao. 
The dam holds 7.8 million tons of water, making it a medium to small sized reservoir in Taiwan.
The road around the area is open at the hours listed below. Swimming, bicycle riding, barbequing, and fishing are prohibited.  

Hours:
5 AM to 8 AM 
and
2 PM to 5 PM

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: You can enter from the east or west gate which can be reached from Dapingding or Daliao (see map below). The gates are only open in the early morning and in the afternoon as noted above. 
By Bus: From Xiaogang MRT station, you can take bus R8 E to Daliao Yuantong Temple station. From there you can walk about 30 minutes up the hill to the reservoir's east entrance. 

Map:
​Please see below:

Xikou Little Switzerland (aka Tianjing Whirlpool) is a glory hole above Wushantou Reservoir in Dongshan District of Tainan City. It looks like a giant bathtub drain, moving water from the waterway above down to the Wushantou power station below, making a giant whirlpool, and has become a unique tourist destination in Tainan. 

Background:
The glory called "Xikou Little Switzerland" was built as a drain to connect water coming from Tsengwen Reservoir (曾文水庫) and Wushantou Reservoir (烏山頭水庫). The water from Tsengwen River below Tsengwen Reservoir flows through an underground tunnel under a mountain to the small waterway where Xikou Little Switzerland lies. This underground tunnel and waterway was built during the Japanese Era in about 1930. Wushantou Reservoir was also completed in 1930. The Xikou Little Sweden drain was also completed at this time. 
Tsengwen Reservoir was completed later in 1973 to increase water capacity in the area.  
The water from Xikou Little Switzerland flows down to a tower and then a power generating station at the mouth of the Wushantou Reservoir.
The name "Xikou" means west entrance, referring to the west entrance of the underground tunnel connecting the Tsengwen River.
The name "Little Switzerland" was used to describe the area long before the dam was built, because the surrounding mountains to the east make the place look like a miniature Switzerland.
Now the area only sees a few visitors a day because of its remoteness, but is still a unique place that many people want to see. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/taxi: From Tainan, take National Freeway 3  north to Wushantou exit 329. From there take Tainan City highway 174 east, and turn right at the sign to 西口小瑞士.
Unfortunately there is no public transport to this location; the nearest bus stop is 3-4 KM away. 

Map:
​Please see below:

Lantan Lake, also known as orchid lake, and Renyitan Reservior are two reservoirs right next to each other near Chiayi City, drawing water from the Bazhang River (八掌溪). The reservoirs are interconnected, and together they serve as main source of Chiayi City's water, and date back to the Dutch rule of Taiwan. Both are also great places to relax and enjoy the scenery near Chiayi.

Background:
Lantan Lake Reservior 蘭潭水庫:
Lantan Lake dates back to the Dutch Rule of Taiwan in the1600s. The Bazhang River was dug out and dammed by the dutch to provide irrigation to the surrounding farmland, which produced crops for the Dutch East India Trading Company. 
After the Dutch rule, the lake went largely to waste until the Japanese occupation when it was rebuilt. 
Currently Lantan Lake along with Renyitan are main source of water for Chiayi City.
Renyitan Reservior 仁義潭水庫:
Renyitan Reserivour was completed along the Bazhang River in 1987 to add water reserves to Chiayi City, because Lantan Lake was not providing enough for water need. It is105 meters deep at its deepest point. It is connected with Lantan Lake and can be used to adjust the Lake's Water level. Renyitan and Lantan Lake are the main water source for Chiayi City. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/scooter: From Chiayi Station, go east on Chiuyang Road, then once you get near the resevior, take a right on Xiaoya Road. The Road will take you to the Lantan Lake scenic area, then it is a short ride east to Renyitan.
By Bus: From Chiayi Station, go east on Chiayi County Bus No. 1 until you reach Lantan Scenic Area (Yueyingtanxin Stop). 

Map:
​Please see below:

Xinshan Dream Lake (aka Xinshan Menghu) is a beautiful lake in Xizhi District of New Taipei. It is a popular place to stop for couples and Instagrammers due to its dream like aura. Also you can take the steep climb up Xinshan and enjoy some amazing views of east Taipei and Keelung. Besides taking photos, this Xinshan Dream Lake is a great place to relax and enjoy nature.

Background:
The rock formations that form the Xinshan Dream lake hike formed as sediment under the ocean millions of years ago, and was later uplifted thanks to the collision of the Eurasian and Phillipine plates. The rocks are mainly sedimentary and are part of the same formation that forms the special rock formations on the northern coast around Keelung, and the waterfalls in Pingxi.
Xinshan sits at 499 meters above sea level, while dream lake is 325 meters above sea level, which means the hike gains 175 meters from dream lake (in less than .5 KM), making it a short, steep hike. 
Dream Lake get's its name from the thick fog that covers it during winter months, making it look like a dreamscape. Dream Lake is a popular spot for couples, wedding photography, and Instagram photos. 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

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

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take Xiwan Road (夕萬路) from Xizhi until you come to the turnoff the Xinshan Menghu on the right. It is a small one lane road up the mountain. There is scooter parking and limited car parking on the side of the road. You may need to park further down and hike up if you drive a car. The Lake trail is at the end of the road. 
By Bus: Take Dongnan Bus F910 from Xizhi Park about 40 minutes up the mountain to Xiwan Raod Bridge No. 3. From there you have to hike up to Xinshan before you come down to dream lake. Or you can get off at Menghu Intersection, but it is a long walk up the road. 

Map:
Please see below:

Bitan is a slow moving part of the Xindian River in Xindian District of New Taipei. It is also known as Bitan Lake, or Bitan Scenic Area (碧潭風景區). Here you can bike ride, paddle boat, go hiking, and shop at Xindian Old Street (新店老街). With convenient transportation via Taipei MRT, it is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taipei. 

Background:
The name Bitan means "green lake" in Chinese, which was coined by Sun Ke, vice chairman of the KMT after WWII. It is also known as Chibi Lake (赤壁潭)、Shibi Lake (石壁潭)、and Shishan Big Lake (獅山邊大潭). 
Bitan suspension bridge was completed in 1937. Before that time, ferry boat was the best means of transport. In 1997, the National Freeway 3 bridge was completed across the lake. In 2000, Bitan Suspension Bridge was refurbished. 
It is also known as one of Taiwan's top 12 or top 8 sights. 
It is also a very popular recreational spot for Taipie residents on the weekend. 
Near Bitan is Xindian Old Street (新店老街), which sells street food, fruits, and vegetables. It has been the main acrigultural market in Xindian for over a hundred years. The Changxing Temple on the Old Street (長興宮) is over 150 years old, and is dedicated to the Earth God. 

Price:
Free entrance
Ferry boat: 20 NT one way
Paddle boats: 300 NT for a two person boat, more for more people or electric boats
Bike rental: 15-70 NT per hour depending on the bike

Hours:
About 8 AM to 10 PM.

How to get there:
By MRT: Take the Green Line MRT south to Xindian Station, or Xiaobitan Station. Xindian Old Street is within walking distance of Xindian Old Street. From Xiaobitan Station, you can rent a bike and ride up the river to Xindian Old Street.
By car/scooter: From Taipei, go south on provincial highway 9 until you reach Xindian Old Street. There is paid parking near the old street. 
​
Map:
Please see below:

Shimen Dam and reservoir are popular destinations in Taoyuan City of Taiwan. The dam is open to the public, and around the dam are many parks and trails to enjoy, as well as great scenery of the surrounding mountains and plains. 

Background:
The name "Shimen 石門" which means "stone gates" comes from the fact that the dam was built on a narrow gorge in the Dahan River valley, which was called the "stone gate."
Shimen Dam was completed in 1964 and took 9 years and NT 1.4 billion to complete. It was the ROC's first major water project. 2,000 people were displaced due to the dam's construction. The reservoir created year round water capacity for surrounding farmland, doubling agricultural yields. 
Since it was built, the water capacity has been reduced by about a third due to silting.
The dam has also become a popular tourist destination due to the beautiful scenery surrounding it.

Hours:
8:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Price:
Entrance Fee: 80 NT for cars, 30 NT for scooters

How to get there:
By Bus: Take Taoyuan Bus 505 from Zhongli Station south until you reach the Dam (about a two hour ride).
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 3 in Taoyuan South until you reach county road 63. Then turn south toward the reservoir. There is parking near either side of the dam.
​
Map:
Please see below:

Thousand Island Lake (Officially Feitsui Reservoir 翡翠水庫 or Emerald Lake) is a reservoir in New Taipei that sits in Shiding District. It is a popular place to visit because the reservoir winding through the mountain valleys looks like many islands from a distance. It also has the largest concrete dam in Taiwan.

Background:
When it was seen in the 1970s that the Shimen Dam could not meet all the water needs of greater Taipei, the Taipei City government set out to build another dam along the Beishi River.
The Dam was completed in 1987 at a cost of 11 billion NT. 
The Dam holding the reservoir back is 122 meters high and 510 meters long, making it the biggest concrete dam in Taiwan by volume.
The Dam today serves over 6 million people in greater Taipei. Besides providing water, the dam also generates electricity. 
To ensure water quality, most of the Dam is closed off the the public, expect with a permit and accompaniment by a guide. The best place to see the Dam is from the tea plantations on the Shiding side (northeast). 

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 9 east toward Pinglin. Take a right down the mountain right before Taipei Garden Cemetery. There are a few restaurants and lookouts along this road.
Bus: Take Sindian Bus GR12 east to Shisangu Station. From there you can walk about half an hour down to the lookout. 

Map:
Please see below: