Only a 20 minute car drive away, Dawulun Beach in Keelung is the closest sandy ocean beach to Taipei City. Although it is small, it has a calm shallow swimming area and the sand looks like it was shipped straight from Kenting. It is definitely worth a visit for all beach lovers in Taipei.

Background:
This beach is also known as Aodi Beach (澳底沙灘) or Waimushan Beach (外木山沙灘). In 2007, a road was created that connected Dawulun Beach with Wanli, creating a circular road around the north coast that was previously cut off. After that, more and more tourists started coming to this beach, especially from Taipei, because it is the closest oceanside destination to Taipei City. On weekends during the summer, the area can be totally packed with people. 

Hours:
24/7, but showers close after about 7 PM

Price:
Free

Showers:
Yes, multiple paid shower areas, about 30-50 NT per person

How to get there:
By car/scooter: From Keelung, take provincial highway 2 toward Wanli, and after you cross over the hill and see the ocean, turn right down to the beach. There is free parking on the side of the road, but good spots are limited. You can always park for free on the steep road that goes up the hill. 
By bus: From Keelung Station, you can take the T99 tourist shuttle Binhai Qiji Line to the beach. The ride takes about 13 minutes. 

Map:
​Please see below:

Baguanshan is perhaps the most famous religious site in Changhua, and has the best views of the city and the surrounding area. It is also known for its large buddha statue and viewing platform. There are also hiking trails and historical sights nearby. It is definitely worth a visit on your next trip to Changhua.

Background:
Baguashan can literally be called "Eight Trigram Mountain" because Bagua means eight triangles placed together, which is said to ward off evil in Buddhism and Daoism. The mountain was named as a key battleground during the  Lin Shuangwen Rebellion, in which a clan of Hakka people rebelled and was crushed by the Qing Dynasty. 
Later during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, the mountain was used as a military base. During the ROC era, local resident Lin Qingyao built a temple here and a giant Buddha in 1956. A veteran's memorial martyr's shrine was also built by the ROC on the mountain.
The mountain itself is only 97 meters above sea level but still provides great views because it is surrounded by flat land. The mountain is slowly rising and in millions of years will create a mountain chain. 

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/scooter: Take provincial highway 1 to the foot of the mountain, then turn up. There is limited parking on the side of the road and two paid parking lots which can get full on weekends.
By Train: The mountain is within ten minutes' walking distance from Changhua TRA station.
​
Map:
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.

Map: Please see a map of the islands covered in this blog 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.​

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

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

Hours:
9 AM to 7 PM

Map:
​Please see below:

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

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

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

Farglory Ocean Park:
890 NT per adult

Hours:
9 AM to 7 PM

Map:
​Please see below:

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

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

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

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

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

Map:
Please see below:

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

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

Price:
Free

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

Map:
​Please see below:

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

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

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

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

Hours:
24/7
​
Price:
Free

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

Map:
Please see below:

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

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

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free:

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

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

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

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

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

Map:
Please see below:

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

Background:
Qixingtan gets its name because originally it was a lake close to the seashore, that was in the shape of the Big Dipper (or Qixing 七星, seven stars). During the Japanese era, the lake was filled in in order to make an airport, which is now used by the Taiwan air force. 

Afterward, the residents instead called what before was Yueya Bay (月牙灣), a crescent beach nearby Qixingtan to honor their lost lake.
Qixingtan has now become a major tourist attraction, with thousands of visitors a year, and many hotels nearby.

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

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

Map:
​Please see below:

If you feel like leaving the country for some different scenery, you can instead head over to the Shimen Songshan terraced fields in New Taipei (aka 100 year stone terrace fields 百年石砌梯田)
near the border of Yangmingshan National Park. Here you can enjoy walking around the only stone terraced fields in the entire country. 

Background:
The area known as Yangmingshan now was formed by volcanoes about 700,000 years ago, forming many mountains about 1000 meters or less in northwestern Taiwan. The park still features active volcanoes, vents, and hot springs.
About 100 years ago, settlers came to cultivate the mountainous area here. They used the easily obtainable volcanic rocks and used them to build stone terraces in the hills in order to plant crops. This kind of terraced field in Taiwan can only be found here. 
Currently the most famous crop here is the Chrysanthemum Flower, which flowers about in mid-June.  

Hours:
You can visit the fields here anytime, but the coffee shop here is only open on weekends until 4 PM.

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Laomei Beach in Shimen, take highway 19-1 Laobengshan Road up the mountain until you reach the terraced fields, they are hard to miss. 
By Bus: You can take bus 867 which departs from Tamsui to Shuntian Shengmu Temple bus stop, and you are there! No more walking required. 

​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.

Price: Free

Hours: 24 hours a day

​Map: Please see below:

Shalun Beach is a long sandy beach with shallow water in Tamsui, New Taipei. It is a popular beach for locals, and now has convenient access to public transportation via the LRT, making it the closest and fastest beach to reach from Taipei. However, swimming here is forbidden and there are no showers. It is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. 

Background:
During the Japanese era, this beach was made into a resort area. After the ROC took control of the island, they made it into a military zone. However after martial law was lifted, the beach opened to the public. After years of water pollution, the beach was closed to the public in 1999. Despite this, people still visited the beach, but some people died by being caught in the rip tide here. Therefore the beach is now patrolled by the coast guard, who may warn potential swimmers to stay out of the water. Swimming is forbidden here, and there are no showers or amenities nearby. 
Despite this, it is still a popular sunbathing spot due to its close proximity to Taipei.

Hours:
24/7

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By car/scooter: Take provincial highway 2 乙 all the way to the northwest and keep going, the beach will be there.
By LRT: Literally right next to LRT Shalun station. 

Map:
Please see 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.

Price: Parking is 50-60 NT for cars, and 15-20 NT for scooters. Otherwise entrance to the park is free.

Hours: 24 hours a day

​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.
​
How to get there:
By car/scooter: There is paid car parking at Academia Sinica, and scooters must park outside.
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.

​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.
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.
​For more travel information see here.

Hours: 24/7

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

Price: Free! 

​Map: Please see below:

Dexing Coal Mine in Xinyi District of Taipei is a refurbished coal mining tunnel that has been opened to the public. is a great place to get familiar with the extinct coal mine industry in Taiwan, and is conveniently close to Taipei's city center. 

History of Coal Mining in Taiwan:
 
Before I show you my adventure, I’d like to give a background of the coal mining industry in Taiwan. If you aren’t interested, you can just skip this section.
 
Coal mining in Taiwan started during the Dutch rule, starting in Keelung and Tamsui. The Dutch started mines there, but didn’t have sufficient transportation infrastructure to move large amounts of coal. The Koxinga era didn’t see much coal mining.
 
After the Qing dynasty took back Taiwan following Koxinga and his son’s death, the government strictly banned mining of any kind in order to restrict the people from hiding in the mountains and starting rebellions. Despite this, coal was still mined and sold in on the black market in Taiwan.
During and after the Opium wars, many English and Americans scouted Taiwan for possible coal deposits. In 1864, despite the ban on coal mining, there was at least 4315 tons of coal exported out of Taiwan.
Pressure from western countries to open ports in Asia that had water and coal available to power steam ships forced the Qing government to finally allow legal coal mining in 1870.
 
After the ban was lifted, the size of coal mining operations was still very small. In 1874, due to Japanese influence, Liu Mingchuan convinced Beijing to allow advanced mining machinery in Taiwan, starting in Baodouzi, Keelung, and new mines were started under government control. During this time, many miners died due to poor and unsanitary working conditions and the fact that the government officials running the mines were inexperienced and did not run effective operations. During this time, infrastructure and railways were lacking in Taiwan, halting transportation of coal. By 1892 after the Sino-French war, government owned mines were closed and the industry became privatized. In 1895, Taiwan produced more than 10,000 tons of coal. By this time, Liu Mingchuan had constructed the Keelung-Xinxhu railway, helping alleviate the coal transportation problem.
 
In 1895 Japan took control of Taiwan and Penghu as a result of the Sino-Japanese war, and began to survey the forests and geography to maximize capitalist gains for the empire. Coal would be an important part in industrializing the Empire, as it was the major fuel source at the time. In 1896 Japan opened the coal mining industry to the public, and the next year the price of coal doubled, as demand increased. But as local know how and technology was lacking, imported coal from Japan was actually cheaper than producing it in Taiwan.
 
However in 1906 the coal industry in Taiwan gradually improved. New mining machinery moved to Tianliao, Keelung to support Japan’s Naval fleet. Sugar factories in southern Taiwan also needed a constant supply of coal.
 
During the First World War, the Empire of Japan became an important supplier of coal to western countries fighting in the war, and Taiwan’s coal exports gradually increased. In 1917-1918, Japan opened 194 new coal mines in Taiwan. They also built the Pingxi Railway which became the most productive site for coal mining, in its heyday producing 220,000 tons of coal per year.  (The Taiwan coal mine museum now lays here, along withHoutong cat village).  However, after World War I ended, the demand for coal declined, many mines closed, and there was widespread overproduction. But as industrialization continued in Taiwan, so did the demand for coal. To keep production going constantly, Japan provided subsidies to coal mines.
 
At the start of the second Sino-Japanese war, demand for coal rose dramatically, as did the price of coal. But also due to losses of manpower during the war, coal production saw a huge drop.
 
In 1945 Japan lost the war and Taiwan and Penghu were given back to China. Not long after this, the remaining government owned mines were transformed into the Taiwan mining company, but by then mining had all but stopped. However by 1949 after the KMT retreated to Taiwan, Taiwan became an important economic partner with America, and coal production began to soar to 1,650,000 tons of coal in 1951, mainly to fuel Taiwan’s coal power plants and other large industries. With economic support from the USA, new mines started opening. In 1960 Taiwan produced 4 million tons of coal.
 
Due to demand and the free market, coal mines gradually started closing and production went down, until by 1964 Taiwan produced only 2.8 million tons of coal. In 1969 Taiwan Power started using gas power plants which were cheaper than coal, lowering demand. By 1977 Taiwan had produced only 2 million tons of coal. During this time, Taiwan also improved safety regulations for coal mines, but accidents still kept happening, forcing the government to close quite a few mines. Here is a list of mining incidents in Taiwan.

The lone survivor of one1984 mining incident that killed 93 people survived by cannibalism and drinking pee over a period of 90 hours inside the mine. He later said that if he had to do it all over again, he would still have eaten his coworkers.

Local coal soon became more costly to mine than just importing it. In the year 2000, Sanxia’s Lifeng Mine shut down operations, and Taiwan’s mining company closed, and thus all coal mining in Taiwan effectively stopped.

History of Xinfeng Coal Mine:

Dexingeng Coal Mine was one of many mines around Taipei, as there are many coal seams in the mountains of northern Taiwan. The coal mine was active from 1946-1978. Once the coal mining industry shut down in the late 1990's, this mine shut down too and was left abandoned for a number of years until the area was restored by Taipei City in the early 2000's. Now it is a well kept tourist attraction, where one can enjoy the history of the mine as well as the natural scenery nearby.

Hours:
9 AM to 4 PM every day

Price:
Free

How to get there:
by scooter/car:
by MRT/bus:

Map:
​See 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. 
​By bus: There is a stop here on Bus 304's route, or take bus 1140 from Hualien Station to Fanshuliao bus stop.

Map:
Please see below:

The Jingpu Tropic of Cancer Monument is a special geological marker along the road on the coast of Hualien County, and is a must stop for a selfie.  There are also some fruit stands and shops nearby. It is  a beautiful and unique monument to commemorate your journey around the island.

Historical Background:
The Jingpu Tropic of Cancer Monument sits at 23.5 degrees N, and is the dividing line between tropical and temperate climates. You will notice that more tropical fruit grows south of here. At noon during the summer solstice, sunshine will shoot right down the black center of the monument, meaning everything will have no shadow under the sun.

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.

Price: Parking is free.

Hours: 24 hours a day

​Map: Please see below:

Hexing Coal Mine in Xinyi District of Taipei is a refurbished coal mining tunnel that has been opened to the public. is a great place to get familiar with the extinct coal mine industry in Taiwan that is close to Taipei's city center. 

History of Coal Mining in Taiwan:
 
Before I show you my adventure, I’d like to give a background of the coal mining industry in Taiwan. If you aren’t interested, you can just skip this section.
 
Coal mining in Taiwan started during the Dutch rule, starting in Keelung and Tamsui. The Dutch started mines there, but didn’t have sufficient transportation infrastructure to move large amounts of coal. The Koxinga era didn’t see much coal mining.
 
After the Qing dynasty took back Taiwan following Koxinga and his son’s death, the government strictly banned mining of any kind in order to restrict the people from hiding in the mountains and starting rebellions. Despite this, coal was still mined and sold in on the black market in Taiwan.
During and after the Opium wars, many English and Americans scouted Taiwan for possible coal deposits. In 1864, despite the ban on coal mining, there was at least 4315 tons of coal exported out of Taiwan.
Pressure from western countries to open ports in Asia that had water and coal available to power steam ships forced the Qing government to finally allow legal coal mining in 1870.
 
After the ban was lifted, the size of coal mining operations was still very small. In 1874, due to Japanese influence, Liu Mingchuan convinced Beijing to allow advanced mining machinery in Taiwan, starting in Baodouzi, Keelung, and new mines were started under government control. During this time, many miners died due to poor and unsanitary working conditions and the fact that the government officials running the mines were inexperienced and did not run effective operations. During this time, infrastructure and railways were lacking in Taiwan, halting transportation of coal. By 1892 after the Sino-French war, government owned mines were closed and the industry became privatized. In 1895, Taiwan produced more than 10,000 tons of coal. By this time, Liu Mingchuan had constructed the Keelung-Xinxhu railway, helping alleviate the coal transportation problem.
 
In 1895 Japan took control of Taiwan and Penghu as a result of the Sino-Japanese war, and began to survey the forests and geography to maximize capitalist gains for the empire. Coal would be an important part in industrializing the Empire, as it was the major fuel source at the time. In 1896 Japan opened the coal mining industry to the public, and the next year the price of coal doubled, as demand increased. But as local know how and technology was lacking, imported coal from Japan was actually cheaper than producing it in Taiwan.
 
However in 1906 the coal industry in Taiwan gradually improved. New mining machinery moved to Tianliao, Keelung to support Japan’s Naval fleet. Sugar factories in southern Taiwan also needed a constant supply of coal.
 
During the First World War, the Empire of Japan became an important supplier of coal to western countries fighting in the war, and Taiwan’s coal exports gradually increased. In 1917-1918, Japan opened 194 new coal mines in Taiwan. They also built the Pingxi Railway which became the most productive site for coal mining, in its heyday producing 220,000 tons of coal per year.  (The Taiwan coal mine museum now lays here, along withHoutong cat village).  However, after World War I ended, the demand for coal declined, many mines closed, and there was widespread overproduction. But as industrialization continued in Taiwan, so did the demand for coal. To keep production going constantly, Japan provided subsidies to coal mines.
 
At the start of the second Sino-Japanese war, demand for coal rose dramatically, as did the price of coal. But also due to losses of manpower during the war, coal production saw a huge drop.
 
In 1945 Japan lost the war and Taiwan and Penghu were given back to China. Not long after this, the remaining government owned mines were transformed into the Taiwan mining company, but by then mining had all but stopped. However by 1949 after the KMT retreated to Taiwan, Taiwan became an important economic partner with America, and coal production began to soar to 1,650,000 tons of coal in 1951, mainly to fuel Taiwan’s coal power plants and other large industries. With economic support from the USA, new mines started opening. In 1960 Taiwan produced 4 million tons of coal.
 
Due to demand and the free market, coal mines gradually started closing and production went down, until by 1964 Taiwan produced only 2.8 million tons of coal. In 1969 Taiwan Power started using gas power plants which were cheaper than coal, lowering demand. By 1977 Taiwan had produced only 2 million tons of coal. During this time, Taiwan also improved safety regulations for coal mines, but accidents still kept happening, forcing the government to close quite a few mines. Here is a list of mining incidents in Taiwan.

The lone survivor of one1984 mining incident that killed 93 people survived by cannibalism and drinking pee over a period of 90 hours inside the mine. He later said that if he had to do it all over again, he would still have eaten his coworkers.

Local coal soon became more costly to mine than just importing it. In the year 2000, Sanxia’s Lifeng Mine shut down operations, and Taiwan’s mining company closed, and thus all coal mining in Taiwan effectively stopped.

History of Xinfeng Coal Mine:

Xinfeng Coal Mine was one of many mines around Taipei, as there are many coal seams in the mountains of northern Taiwan. Once the coal mining industry shut down in the late 1990's, this mine shut down too and was left abandoned for a number of years until the area was restored by Taipei City in about 2005. Now it is a well kept tourist attraction, where one can enjoy the history of the mine as well as the natural scenery nearby.

Hours:
9 AM to 5 PM every day

Price:
Free

How to get there:
by scooter/car:
by MRT/bus:

Map:
​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. 

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. 
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. 
​For more travel information see here.

Hours: 24/7

​Map: Please see below:

Wuling Farm is a recreational farm in the mountains of Taichung, Taiwan. It is one of the only places that you can spot the endangered Formosan Landlocked Salmon in the wild, and includes flowers, fruit trees, tea plantations, cherry blossoms, hikes, camping, waterfalls, and wildlife to enjoy. It is a great place to experience Taiwan's high mountain ecology.

Background:
Originally the Qijia Valley where Wuling Farm sits was home to seven families of the Ayatal Tribe, and aboriginal peoples lived here starting over 4,000 years ago. The aboringal people were relocated to Sqoyaw Village in the 1950s. 
Wuling Farm was established in 1963 as a way to provide a living for retired KMT veterans. The farm's original purpose was to plant temperate fruit trees and vegetables. 
Starting in 1989, the farm began tourist acticites, such as building a campground, tea houses, gardens, hotels, and a tourist service center. 
The farm sits at about 2000 meters above sea level (6,561 feet).

Website:
https://lang.wuling-farm.com.tw/lang/index.php 

Price:
160 NT per person to enter
50 NT for cars
10 NT for scooters

Accommodation:
We recommend staying overnight because you will likely have to travel a long time to get here (4 hours from Taipei), and staying overnight lets you maximize your time here. You can book online for one of the following accommodation options:
Wuling National Hostel (2,000 NT - 8,000 NTD per night)
Wuling Hoya Resort (6,000 - 15,000 NTD per night)
Wuling Campground (1,000 - 2200 NTD per night)

Hours:
24/7

When to go:
A popular time to go is in March-April when there are cherry blossoms. Also, it can get very cold in the winter.

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: It is actually faster to travel to Wuling Farm from Taipei instead of downtown Taichung, even though technically the farm is in Taichung City. From Yilan, take provincial highway 7 through Datong Township and up the mountain until you reach Wuling Farm.  
By Bus: Taiwan Tour Bus and Lion Travel have busses that leave from Taipei and arrive 4 hours later. 

Map:
Please see below: