Hualien‘s Dongdamen Night Market is the largest night market in Eastern Taiwan. It is actually four night markets in one. The night market lies on the spot of a former train station, and is also connected to the beach via pedestrian bridge. Popular delicacies here include fried chicken, shish kabab, coffin bread, and braised duck head. 

Background:
Dongdamen gets it's name because it lies on the east side of the city, literally meaning "east gate" however Hualien has never had walls or gates. 
Dongdamen Night Market was formed in 2015 over the site of the former Hualien TRA train station. The Night Market features four night markets in one: Fuding Night Market, Aborigine Street, Gesheng Street, and Ziqiang Night Market.  The night market has over 400 stalls and sees over 200,000 visitors per month. 

Hours:
5:30 PM to 11:30 PM open every day.

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: The night market lies on the central eastern part of the city along Chungshan Road and Chongching Road. There is free car parking inside and free scooter parking too. 
By Train: From Hualien TRA station, take bus 301, or walk about 30 minutes. 

Kenting Dawan Beach (aka Kenting Beach Swimming Area) is a premier beach destination on the Taiwan mainland, and attracts a fair amount of visitors, especially those that stay at the Kenting Chateu Beach resort that sits right on the beach. It features beautiful yellow sand and the longest beach in Kenting. In addition, the beach is right next to Kenting Street Night Market, a great night market for snacking and tourist oriented shopping.

Background:
Kenting was first settled by Chinese during theQing Dynasty. The word Kenting comes from twp words that mean cultivate (ken3 墾) and strong man (丁 ding1). During that time, a group of strong men (or Zhuang Ding 壯丁) came from Guangdong, who were basically Chinese pionners of the area to cultivate the land, hence the area was named Kenting for them.
The area was considered to be made into a park during the Japanese occupation due to it being the only tropical location in the Japanese Empire, but was never officially created.
During the Japanese era Nanwan was used as a whaling area and there were a few fishing villages here. 
Kenting National Park was established in 1984 as the first national park in Taiwan after WWII.
Kenting became a major vacation spot, becoming a center for hostels and hotels for travelers. 
Kenting is considered by many to have the best beaches in Taiwan. This is because of its fine white sand and year-round warm temperatures and sunshine (it is in the tropical part of Taiwan after all). 
The facilities at Kenting Beach include a foot wash, and swimming is actually technically prohibited. Therefore usually you will not see many people on the beach. 

Hours:
Kenting Beach: 24/7
Kenting Street Night Market: 6:30 PM - Midnight

Price: Free

When to go:
Summer! It's when the water is warmest and the sun is hottest. However there will be more people in summer, and there could be Typhoons. 
Spring and Fall are also good times to go, as there will be less visitors and cooler temperatures.
Winter is an okay time to go as well, it will be warmer than the rest of Taiwan and the water will still be warm enough to swim in. 

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 1 south to the bottom of Taiwan until it becomes provincial highway 26. After that keep going past Hengchun into Kenting National Park. The beach will be on your right as you pass the a 7-11. There is a parking lot next to the beach.
By Bus: Busses leave daily to Kenting from Zuoying HSR station, Kaohsiung Station, and Pingtung. Get off at the Kenting Arch Stop (墾丁牌樓).
By Plane: There are direct shuttle busses to Kenting from Kaohsing's Xiaogang (KHH) Airport. 

Map: Please see below:

Raohe Street Night Market is a bustling night market in Eastern Taipei, and one of the most popular in the city. One could argue that Roahe street is the best night market in Taipei, but this blog was not written to prove that debate. With a large assortment of great food and snacks, along with the usual night market cheap clothes and everyday items, along with a close proximity to public transport, Raohe street is a must see destination when you come to Taipei.

Price:
Free! But don't you dare come with an empty wallet. 

Hours:
4 PM to 12 AM

How to get there:
By MRT:
Take the MRT green line to Songshan station (the last station), and get out at exit 2, 3, or 4, and continue walking north for about 1 minute to Raohe street.
By Car or Scooter:
Don't take a car. But if you do, there is a parking garage on Bade street.
There is scooter parking next to Songshan elementary school and on Songhe street in front of Rainbow bridge. Do not park on areas with a red line; this place is a hot spot for parking tickets, so beware.

Map:

Historical Background:
The name Raohe comes from a county in Heilongjiang, China, meaning the place of many birds. Starting in the Qing Dynasty, the area around Raohe Street and Songshan station was called Xikou (tin port), an important transportation hub in Taiwan (for more information about this old industrial area in East Taipei, check out our blog here). From Songshan station, goods from Taipei, Keelung, and Yilan could be directly loaded to the Keelung River and transported to the sea. However due to silting, the Keelung River became less and less import in terms of transportation, and Raohe Street became obsolete, especially after the much wider Bade street was built right next to it.

In order to help business in the area, the Taipei city government established a tourist night market on Raohe Street on May 11th, 1987, which was the second tourist night market established in Taipei.

Green Island is a paradise off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. Once a prison for political enemies of the KMT, it is now a tourist hot spot. It is one of the best places to snorkel and dive in Taiwan, one of only three salt water hot springs in the world, and it also includes amazing volcanic rock formations and scenery all around the island. 

Background:
Green Island is the remnant of a volcano that formed millions of years ago and is part of the Luzon Volcanic Arc. Today you can see lots of volcanic rock all along the shoreline.
Green Island is the seventh largest Island in Taiwan. 
Green Island became inhabited hundreds of 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, and then to Orchid Island. It was called Jitanasey by the Tao people. It was also known to be inhabited by the Amis Tribe (阿美族) which reside today in Taitung. It was known as the Amis people as Samasana Island. 
The Island was first settled by Han Chinese fisherman from Xiaoliuqiu Island in 1813, who called the island Huoshandao (火燒島) or Bonfire Island. More Han settlers from Donggang arrived in 1850.
In 1937 the American Steamship SS President Hoover ran ground at Green Island and all aboard were saved. To thank the people of Green Island, the US donated to build the Green Island Lighthouse which was designed by the Japanese and finished in 1938, at 33.3 meters or 109 feet high. 
Green Island also served as a penal colony for political prisoners' during the martial law era of Taiwan, which lasted from the late 9140s to late 1980s. Some prisoners went on to help form the Democratic Progressive Party. The prison is now open to the public. 
Currently the Island is powered by one deisel generator. It also includes an airport.
Currently about 4500 people live on the island, and the main industries are tourism and fishing.

Weather and Climate:
The island has a tropical rain forest 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 colder, there will be constant wind (which could cancel transportation), and it will rain more often. 

Rules to Consider:

• Do not go snorkeling or diving during bad weather, low tide, or big waves. 
• Do not trespass private property or government property that is off limits (such as military base, weather station, reservoir, or garbage dump)
• Always snorkel or dive with a buddy
• Have fun

How to get there:
By Plane:
The only planes to and from Green Island come from Taitung City in Southeastern Taiwan. From Taipei, there are daily flights from Songshan Airport to Taitung, where you can switch to Saily Air which will take you the rest of the way to Green Island.
Flight times: As of the time of this blog, there were six flights per day by Daily Air Corporation from about 8 AM to 4 PM (Please note their website is only in Chinese). The flight from Taitung to Green Island takes about 15 minutes. Please note that the aircraft are small and flights can be  cancelled due to high winds or unfavorable weather. 
Costs: NT 1428 to Green Island and NT 1360 from Green Island.
You can purchase a tickets through a tour agency such as My Taiwan Tour or a similar website.
 
By Boat:
There are two places that offer ferry rides to Green Island: Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港） in Pingtung and Fugang Harbor in Taitung (臺東富岡漁港). However, to get there from Houbihu you need to stop in Lanyu, so I will focus this blog on hust Fugang Harbor. There are also about three ferry companies that operate at both harbors. Both companies leave from both harbors at the same time and arrive at the about same times for the same prices (1200 NT per person round trip/600 NT per single trip).
Ferry Boat costs:
1200 NT per person round trip (600 NT per single trip) from Taitung. Ferry companies have roughly the same price.
Ferry Boat Times*:
7:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 8:20 AM arrival to Green Island.
8:30 AM departure from Green Island, 9:20 AM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
9:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 10:20 AM arrival to Green Island. (permanent set time)
10:30 AM departure from Green Island, 11:20 AM arrival to Fugang Harbor. (permanent set time)
11:30 AM departure from Fugang Harbor, 12:20 PM arrival to Green Island.
12:30 PM departure from Green Island, 9:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
13:30 PM departure from Fugang Harbor, 14:20 PM arrival to Green Island. (permanent set time)
14:30 PM departure from Green Island, 15:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor. (permanent set time)
15:30 PM departure from Fugang Harbor, 16:20 PM arrival to Green Island.
16:30 PM departure from Green Island, 17:20 PM arrival to Fugang Harbor.
*Note: the above times change according to the seasons. There may only be one boat per day during winter, while all the boat times may be available during summer break and weekends. Please double check which times are available before you go.
You can purchase a tickets through a tour agency such as My Taiwan Tour or a similar website.

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.

Scooter Rental:
Price: expect 400 NT per day.
It may be better to book your scooter 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 Nanliao Fishing Harbor.

Car Rental:
Price: expect 2000 NT per day.
Don't rent a car unless you absolutely need to. Renting scooters should be sufficient for most travelers.

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. AirBnb has the most choices, however there is also a nice selection on Booking.com. 
​My hostel did not require that I pay for my room in advance via bank wire transfer (as was the case on Lanyu), but they required me to pay in cash.
Expect to pay 2000 - 4000 NT per night for a standard double room on Green Island. 

Map:
​Please see a map of all the locations covered in this blog below:

Xizhi Night Market is an indoor night market under Xizhi TRA station. It includes nearly 100 stalls and is famous for its spring onion cakes and sticky rice. If you are in the area this night market is definitely worth a stop. 

Background:
In the past Xizhi was a very important transport hub along the Keelung River. After World War 2, the train to Yilan replaced the need for a boat dock for shipping in Xizhi, and the town slowly fell out of importance. However with urban sprawl and rising housing prices in Taipei, many people have moved to Xizhi as kind of a suburb, and it is now mainly a residential area. 

Xizhi Night Market was originally created in 1981 on the intersection of Xintai 5th Road and Renai Road. Later after the TRA railway bridge in Xizhi was completed in 2012, the night market moved to underneath the railway bridge on Shuiyuan Road. The night market is government owned and includes 83 stalls. In the morning, the area becomes a vegetable market. Popular foods here include stinky tofu, sticky rice meat balls, steak, pork noodles, and fried chicken. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
5 PM to 11 PM

How to get there:
By car/scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 5 north to Xizhi. Turn west onto Xinxing Road and stop at the railway bridge. There is no car parking and limited scooter parking. 
By TRA: Take the TRA to Xizhi Station. The Night Market, is directly under the station to the south. 

Map:
Please see below:

Xiaowan Beach in Kenting (aka Little Bay) features beautiful white sand and a long, flat beach, as well as clear water that is relatively warm year round. In addition, the beach has sunshine for most of the year. Popular activities include , surfing, swimming, and sunbathing. Located right next to the beach is Kenting Street, a great night market for snacking and tourist oriented shopping.

Background:
Kenting was first settled by Chinese during theQing Dynasty. The word Kenting comes from twp words that mean cultivate (ken3 墾) and strong man (丁 ding1). During that time, a group of strong men (or Zhuang Ding 壯丁) came from Guangdong, who were basically Chinese pionners of the area to cultivate the land, hence the area was named Kenting for them.
The area was considered to be made into a park during the Japanese occupation due to it being the only tropical location in the Japanese Empire, but was never officially created.
During the Japanese era Nanwan was used as a whaling area and there were a few fishing villages here. 
Kenting National Park was established in 1984 as the first national park in Taiwan after WWII.
Kenting became a major vacation spot, becoming a center for hostels and hotels for travelers. 
Kenting is considered by many to have the best beaches in Taiwan. This is because of its fine white sand and year-round warm temperatures and sunshine (it is in the tropical part of Taiwan after all). 
The facilities at Xiaowan include changing rooms, showers, toilets, rentals, and a parking on the side of the road.


Hours:
Nanwan Beach: 8:30 AM to 9 PM
Kenting Street Night Market: 6:30 PM - Midnight

Price: Free

When to go:
Summer! It's when the water is warmest and the sun is hottest. However there will be more people in summer, and there could be Typhoons. 
Spring and Fall are also good times to go, as there will be less visitors and cooler temperatures.
Winter is an okay time to go as well, it will be warmer than the rest of Taiwan and the water will still be warm enough to swim in. 

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 1 south to the bottom of Taiwan until it becomes provincial highway 26. After that keep going past Kenting Street. There is parking next to the side of the road near the beach.
By Bus: Busses leave daily to Kenting from Zuoying HSR station, Kaohsiung Station, and Pingtung. Get off at the Xiaowan Beach stop （小灣）.
By Plane: There are direct shuttle busses to Kenting from Kaohsing's Xiaogang (KHH) Airport. 

Map: Please see below:

Taiwan's northern coast is an amazing, beautiful area with unique geology and rocks, lots of sandy beaches, amazing mountain views and hikes, old streets, night markets, historical sites, and much more to discover. Don't not come here.

Here is a map of the locations we will cover in this blog:

Located right next to the beach is Kenting Street, a great night market for snacking and tourist oriented shopping. It is the main street in Kenting, and at night both sides come alive to become a tourist night market in Taiwan. It may be the most pure tourist night market in Taiwan, with most visitors coming from out of town to enjoy Kenting's warm weather and beautiful beaches.

Background:
Kenting was first settled by Chinese during theQing Dynasty. The word Kenting comes from twp words that mean cultivate (ken3 墾) and strong man (丁 ding1). During that time, a group of strong men (or Zhuang Ding 壯丁) came from Guangdong, who were basically Chinese pionners of the area to cultivate the land, hence the area was named Kenting for them.
The area was considered to be made into a park during the Japanese occupation due to it being the only tropical location in the Japanese Empire, but was never officially created.
During the Japanese era Nanwan was used as a whaling area and there were a few fishing villages here. 
Kenting National Park was established in 1984 as the first national park in Taiwan after WWII.
Kenting became a major vacation spot, becoming a center for hostels and hotels for travelers. 
Kenting is considered by many to have the best beaches in Taiwan. This is because of its fine white sand and year-round warm temperatures and sunshine (it is in the tropical part of Taiwan after all). 
Popular treats at Kenting Street Night Market include seafood, and there are many international restaurants on the street, as well as swimming gear. Because most customers are tourists from out of town, prices at this night market are a bit higher than other more localized markets in Taiwan. 

Hours:
6:30 PM - Midnight

Price: Free

When to go:
Summer! It's when the water is warmest and the sun is hottest. However there will be more people in summer, and there could be Typhoons. 
Spring and Fall are also good times to go, as there will be less visitors and cooler temperatures.
Winter is an okay time to go as well, it will be warmer than the rest of Taiwan and the water will still be warm enough to swim in. 

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 1 south to the bottom of Taiwan until it becomes provincial highway 26. After that keep going past Hengchun into Kenting National Park. The night market will appear after you reach the Mcdonlads, and there is paid parking nearby. 
By Bus: Busses leave daily to Kenting from Zuoying HSR station, Kaohsiung Station, and Pingtung. Get off at the Kenting Bus stop. 
By Plane: There are direct shuttle busses to Kenting from Kaohsing's Xiaogang (KHH) Airport. 

Map: Please see below:

People often don’t realize that Kaohsiung has a lot to offer to tourists. There are many amazing historical and natural sites to see, as well as amazing food, shopping, and an interesting culture. 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 lived in Kaohsiung for three years and it was like living in paradise every day (I wish I still lived there).

Below I will list out some of the best places in Kaohsiung that I have visited. I will be sure to update this blog as I visit more places (and take more photos) later. 

How to get around in Kaohsiung?
As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. Getting around in a car is also a convenient option as there is plenty of parking pretty much everywhere in this less crowded county. However, you can also a great deal of Kaohsiung by taking the MRT, light rail, train, inter city bus, local bus, taxi, or bicycle (U-bike rental). 

When to go?
Kaohsiung 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 dryer. 

Map:

Liuhe Night Market (aka Liuhe Tourist Night Market) is the oldest and perhaps most popular night market in Kaohsiung. It is located right next to the Formosa Boulevard MRT station, making it a convenient place for tourists to visit. Here you can find every kind of traditional Taiwan night market food you could ask for, especially fried chicken, squid, shrimp, and crab, as well as dried pork. Also Liuhe is very pedestrian friendly and you do not have to fight crowds here.

Background:
Liuhe Night Market has about 200 set stalls, and stretches along both ends (and center) of Liuhe Road. It dates back to 1940, where there was an empty lot in front of the Gaoyi Hospital on Liuhe Road. At that time it was known as Dagangpu Night Market. In 1987, the area was made into the earliest pedestrian night market area in southern Taiwan by the Kaohsiung City government. In 2010, according to an online poll, the night market was voted the most eco-friendly, pedestrian friendly, and best overall night market in Taiwan. 
From 2010 to 2016, the night market serviced many Mainland tourists, so many of the old stalls moved out and were replaced in more tourist oriented stalls with higher prices. However after Mainland tourists were barred from coming to Taiwan in 2016, the night market began to cater more to locals and prices have gone down. 
The night market is one of the largest in Kaohsiung, and certainly could be the winner of most pedestrian friendly night market in Taiwan. 

Hours:
5 PM to 2 AM every day.

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 17 north to Formosa Boulevard MRT station. There is paid car parking nearby and free scooter parking near the night market. 
By MRT: Take the Kaohsiung Red or Orange Line MRT to Formosa Boulevard MRT station. The night market is about a three minute walk from the station. 

Map:
Please see below:

Ruifeng Night Market (aka Rueifong Night Market) is currently the largest and most crowded night market in Kaohsiung, and in my view the best. It is located right next to the Kaohsiung Arena MRT station, making it a convenient place for tourists to visit. Here you can find every kind of traditional Taiwan night market food you could ask for, such as fried squid, fried octopus balls, papaya milk, milk tea, and chicken and beef steak, as well as games, clothes, and other shopping. 

Background:
Ruifeng Night Market has about 1000 stalls, and includes over 21 rows of stalls. Parking is available next door at the Kaohsiung Arena in Zuoying District of Kaohsiung. 
The name Ruifeng comes from Ruifeng Street in Gushan District of Kaohsiung, where the night market was originally located. After about 10 years there, due to lack of convenient transportation the night market was relocated to its current location near the MRT, where it has remained for about 20 years. 
The night market is near many high schools and universities, so the crowds here are mostly younger. 
The night market is one of the largest in Kaohsiung, and certainly could be the winner of most crowded night market in Sothern Taiwan. 

Hours:
About 8 PM to 2 AM
Closed Mondays and Wednesdays. 

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 17 north to Kaohsiung Arena MRT station and turn left. There is paid car parking nearby and free scooter parking near the night market. 
By MRT: Take the Kaohsiung Red Line MRT to Kaosiung Arena station. The night market is about a three minute walk from the station. 

Map:
Please see below:

Huaxi Street Night Market (aka Snake Alley) is a mostly indoor night market that stretches from Bangka Old Street to Longshan Temple in Wanhua District of Taipei. Some specialties of this market include snake meat and turtle meat. Overall it is a unique night market experience in Taiwan that feels more like it is in Southeast Asia.
​
Historical Background:
The land that Huaxi Street Night Market stands on was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers. The area at Bangka was a trading center for the Basay people before Chinese settlers ever came. 
Maps dating to the Dutch rule in the 1600s marked Bangka as a trading location.
The name Bangka (or Měngjiǎ in Taiwanese Mandarin) comes from the fact that the Basay tribe called the Chinese trading ships that visited "Bangka" which means canoe, and was transliterated into Southern Min as (Bangkah 艋舺) which literally means small boat. 
Later when the Japanese came they mistakenly heard Bangka as “Mange” in Japanese (Wàn huá 萬華 in Chinese), which is the current name of the area. 
The settlement at Bangka (Měngjiǎ ​ 艋舺) quickly grew into the largest settlement in Northern Taiwan. Settlements at Dadaocheng and Bopiliao nearby also began to sprout up.  

Huaxi Street Night Market has been established for over 50 years. It used to be a red light district before prostitution was banned in Taiwan in 1991. Now it specializes in strange meats such as snake, turtle, and deer meat as well as animal blood. It is also known as "Snake Alley." You can also find normal Taiwanese night market snacks here. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
4 PM to midnight every day

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Ximending, go west on Guilin Road until you reach Huaxi Street. There is plenty of scooter parking on the street and paid car parking nearby.
By MRT: Take the blue line to Longshan Temple station, then walk northwest about two blocks to the night market.

Map:
Please see below:

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is a bustling city with vibrant street life, delicious food, amazing temples, and the grand palace. Here in this blog I will take you on our four day three night journey to Bangkok.

Before the Pandemic began, I had planned a trip to Thailand for the summer of 2020. Obviously that didn't happen, and to console myself here is a blog detailing our trip to Bangkok and Ayutthaya. 

Background:
Bangkok is the most populous city in Thailand with over 10 million residents, and is also the nation's capitol. During the Ayutthaya Kingdom, it was merely a small trading post. In the late 1700s, it was named the capital of Siam (as Thonburi and Rattanakosin). The city has been the center of modernization in the country, and the heart of the government, which is ruled by constitution but also includes monarchy and has undergone numerous military coups. Currently, democratic rights are being contested by young people who feel they do not have a voice in the government.
Ayutthaya Historical Park is an old capital of Thailand (Ayutthaya Kingdom), and was the capital of Thailand for the longest period of time from around 1351 to 1767 when it was destroyed by the Burmese, ending the empire. 

Here is a map of Bangkok Below:

Macau is a small city and special autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, and the most densely populated place in the world. With a long history of Portuguese colonial rule mixed with Chinese culture, it is an interesting mix of east and west, with a unique cuisine and history. What is there to do when you only have two days in this urban paradise?

*cough*
After this pandemic is over of course.

Background:
The name Macau comes from the Sea Goddess Mazu. When Portuguese first came to the area, they asked for the name of the place, but the local Han Chinese fisherman though they were asking about the name of the nearby Mazu temple "Ma Kok 媽閣"
Macau had human settlements beginning six thousand years ago, and was part of China since 221 BC, but it was not really built as an established settlement until the Portuguese colonized it in 1557, via lease agreement with China.
I999, Portugal agreed to return Macau to China with the provision that it would retain its economic and political system for 50 years. After that time, Macau relied on the casino industry for growth, and now is one of the richest places in the world per capita.

How to get there:
By Plane: Daily flights are available from Macau International Airport. 
Routes from China: You can reach Macau by Ferry or Bus from Zhuhai or Hong Kong.

How to get around:
Bus: There are plenty of buses that go all over this small island.
Bikes: The area is small enough that you can get around by renting a bike.
Walking: You can walk around the most of Macau in a day, but it might get tiring.

​Map:
Please see below:

Chiayi is a mostly rural county in south-central Taiwan. Despite its relatively small population compared to other counties in Taiwan, it has some of the most beautiful scenery, delicious local food, and interesting history. Come for Alishan, and stay for everything else you find along the way.

Below I will list out some of the best places in Chiayi that I have visited. I will be sure to update this blog as I visit more places later. 

How to get around in Chiayi?
As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. However, you can also a great deal of Chiayi by taking the TRA train, Alishan Forest Railway, inter city bus, or local bus. Getting around in a car is also a convenient option as there is plenty of parking pretty much everywhere in this less crowded county. 

Need a Tour Guide?
You can purchase many of the tickets to the following places through a tour agency such as My Taiwan Tour or a similar website.

Map:
You can see a map of all the places that we will visit in this blog below:

Bangka Old Street (aka Mengjia Old Street, officially Guiyang Street 貴陽街) is a historical street in Wanhua District of Taipei and the site of the oldest settlement in northern Taiwan. It is one of three official old streets in Taipei, and dates back hundreds of years to the first Chinese settlers in northern Taiwan. Besides the historical buildings here, you can also enjoy the nearby Huaxi Street Night Market which was known for snake meat.
​
Historical Background:
The land that Bangka Old Street stands on was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers. The area at Bangka was a trading center for the Basay people before Chinese settlers ever came. 
Maps dating to the Dutch rule in the 1600s marked Bangka as a trading location.
The name Bangka (or Měngjiǎ in Taiwanese Mandarin) comes from the fact that the Basay tribe called the Chinese trading ships that visited "Bangka" which means canoe, and was transliterated into Southern Min as (Bangkah 艋舺) which literally means small boat. 
Later when the Japanese came they mistakenly heard Bangka as “Mange” in Japanese (Wàn huá 萬華 in Chinese), which is the current name of the area. 
The settlement at Bangka (Měngjiǎ ​ 艋舺) quickly grew into the largest settlement in Northern Taiwan. Settlements at Dadaocheng and Bopiliao nearby also began to sprout up.  
Important products that were sold here include coal, tea, as well as various other goods. It was the most prosperous area in Taipei for a while, until in 1860 the harbor near the area silted in, and so Dadaocheng became the new center of commerce in northern Taiwan. 
Currently Bangka Old Street has very few shops and is more of a residential area compared to Dadaocheng and Bopiliao Old Streets which are much more popular with tourists. 

Huaxi Street Night Market used to be a red light district before prostitution was banned in Taiwan. Now it specializes in strange meats such as snake, turtle, and deer meat as well as animal blood. It is also known as "Snake Alley." You can also find normal Taiwanese night market snacks here. 

Price:
Free

Hours:
Bangka Old Street: 24/7
Huaxi Night Market: 4 PM to midnight every day

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei Main Station, go south on and take a right on Changsha Road. Take another slight right at the roundabout onto Guiyang Street and you are there.
By MRT: Take the blue line to Longshan Temple, then walk north three blocks to the old street.

Map:
Please see below:

Jialefu Night Market is the largest night market in Chiayi, located right next to the local Carrefour shopping center. Jialefu Night Market is a play on words, sounding like the Chinese for the popular department store Carrefour (家樂福 Jiālèfú) and adding in the first character in Chiayi (Jiāyì 嘉義). The Carrefour next door doesn’t seem to mind. Here you can find every kind of traditional Taiwan night market food you could ask for. The main delicacy here is Mongolian grill and barbecue. 

Background:
Jialefu Night Market has about 300 stalls, and includes the only indoor batting cage in a Taiwan night market. Parking is provided by the Carrefour shopping center next door, which has over 1500 parking spots. 
The night market is the largest in Chiayi, considerably larger than the night market on Wenhua Road in downtown Chiayi.

Hours:
About 6 PM to 12:30 PM
Closed Mondays

Price:
Free

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From the front of Chiayi Train Station turn south and take a right on provincial highway 159. After that take a left on Bo'ai West Road until you reach Carrefour. There is free scooter and car parking at Carrefour. The night market is right to the left of Carrefour.
By Train/Bus: From Chiayi Station, take bus 7320, 7325, or 7326 to Fulong Temple Station (伏龍宮 Fúlónggōng) after which you need to walk south about 10 minutes on Bo'ai West Road until you reach Carrefour. 

Map:
Please see below:

Taiwan is the best kept secret in Asia, and is a great destination to travel. But if you come to Taipei on a business trip or layover, what are the best things to see and do in the city with limited time? 
Below we have laid out what we feel are the best one day itineraries in Taipei for those coming to Taiwan for the first time.
in Taipei?
Before we get started, below is a map of the places mentioned in this blog:

Miaoli Yingcai Night Market it the largest night market in Miaoli and has some great treats and foods that you would expect from a Taiwan Market. However, the market is only open Friday, Saturday, and Wednesday. Here you can find an authenitic Taiwan night market experience unspoiled from foreign tourists and large crowds. 

Background:
Before 2010, the night market was located at the Miaoli activity center, after which it was moved to the sports center. Because visitors decreases after moving to the sports center, it was later moved in 2011 to its location today behind the train station on land owned by the farmer's association.
Because of a lack of visitors and tourists during the week, the night Market is only open Friday, Saturday and Wednesday. On Sunday, the night market moves to Houlong, where it only opens for that day.

Hours:
Friday: 6:30-11:30 PM
Satruday: 5-10 PM
Sunday: Closed. Moves to Houlong Night Market which is open from 5-11 PM.
Wednesday: 5-10 PM

How to get there:
By car/scooter: Take provincial highway 13 to Miaoli City, then turn south on Yingchai Road until you come to the train station. The night market is right in front of the train station. There is parking available on the street and there are some paid parking lots nearby.
By train: Take the TRA to Miaoli Station. The night market is right in front of the west entrance across the street.

​Map:
Please see below:

Nangan is the largest Island in the Matsu Archipelago. Besides being the main transportation hub to the other islands in Matsu, it also has traditional stone house villages, military  museums, a giant statue of Mazu, a variety of local food, and much more to explore.

Background:
Thousands of years ago, stone aged peoples once inhabited the Matsu Islands, including Beigan Island itself. These stone aged people later disappeared. 
The Matsu islands were inhabited again around the Song Dynasty (990 - 1200 AD) by Chinese Fisherman, the descendants of whom still inhabit the islands today. 
Because the Goddess Mazu's corpse washed ashore on this island, Nangan is also known as Matsu Island. 
During the Chinese Civil War, Matsu was used as a military  outpost for the retreating ROC. During the years that followed, it withheld shelling and threats of invasion from China, helping to keep Taiwan free of communist control.
In 1992 after cross straight relations had warmed up, martial law was lifted on the islands and tourists were allowed to visit.
In  the year 2000, a ferry link with Fuzhou started to provide constant China Mainland visitors to the island, as part of the three links with China. 
​In 2003, the Nangan airport was completed, which made Nangan the true transportation hub of Matsu. 
Nangan has a population of 4,000 people, and is the largest island in Matsu in terms of population and geographical size. 

How to get there:
By Boat: There are daily ferries from Keelung Harbor that usually take an overnight trip to Nangan, passing through Dongyin Island. 
There are boats from Beigan Baisha Harbor (北竿白沙港) to Nangan Fu'Ao Harbor (南竿福奧港) every hour from 7 AM to 5 PM. 
By Plane: There are flights to and from Taipei Songshan Airport three times a day via Uni Air.

Price:
By Boat:
500-2000 NT per person (one way from Keelung)
160 NT per person (one way from Beigan)
By Plane:
​About 2000 NT (one way from Taipei)

How to get around the island:
Nangan is a large, hilly island and it would be very hard to get around on foot or bicycle. We recommend one of the following
By Scooter: We recommend riding a scooter as your #1 choice. It's fast, convenient, and there isn't much traffic on the island. A scooter will cost about 500 NT per day to rent.
When braking on hills, use both brakes, otherwise you could lose traction on one tire and skid. Don't stop or park on a slope. Also, some hills that are too steep are closed off for scooters.
By Car/Taxi: You can rent a car or hire a taxi for 200O NT per day.
By Bus: There is a bus that goes around the island, but wait times can be 30 minutes or more. 

When to go:
We recommend going between April and June when the "blue tear" phosphorescent microbes in the water will be the most visible at night. Also, winters can be cold and windy and summers very hot, and there could also be typhoons in the summer and fall. 

Map:
Please see below:

Tonghua Street Night Market (aka Linjiang Street Night Market) is a large night market in Da'an District of Taipei City. It's not as touristy as other night markets in Taipei, and you can find almost anything to eat here, along with cheap clothes and accessories. If you want to experience an authentic night market experience while in Taipei, Tonghua is the place to go.

Background:
Before1964, the area known as Tonghua Night Market was just rice paddies. In 1965, a military dependents village was built on Tonghua Street. In 1979, Linjiang Street was created as an asphalt road, and has since become what we know today as Tonghua Street Night Market.
The name of the night market was officially changed to Linjiang Street Tourist Night Market (臨江街觀光夜市) in 2001.
The night market sits between Tonghua Street and Keelung Road. It is roughly 300 meters long and has over200 food stalls. 
Popular foods that the night market is known for include dry noodles, oyster omlettes, suasages, brazed meat, among others.
With competition from Raohe Street, Shihlin Night Market, Ximending, and Ningxia Night Market, not as many foreign tourists end up visiting Tonghua Street. 

Hours:
Roughly 6:00 PM to Midnight. 

How to get there:
By MRT: Take the red line to Xinyi Anhe Station, then get off at exit 3, then take a left down Toinghua Street for four blocks until you reach Linjiang Street, the entrance to the night market. 
By car/scooter: Go East on Xinyi Road and then turn right on Tonghua Street until you come to Linjiang Street. There is some scooter parking on Tonghua Street and in the alleys, but for a car you need to park in a nearby parking lot or garage. 

Map:
​Please see below:

Keelung's Miaokou Night Market is a large night market in northern Taiwan, full of all kinds of delicious Taiwanese street food considered by some to be the best in Taiwan. The market consists mostly of food stalls in front of the Dianji Temple  in Keelung, streching on both sides down the street. It is said to be a must see night market and one of the busiest in Taiwan. 

Background:
The Miaokou Night Market started up after completion of the Dianji Temple (奠基宮) during the Qing Dynasty in 1873. At the time the temple was surrounded by rice fields, but by the Japanese Era the area around the temple began to be developed. 
Food stalls really started to spread out at the entrance of the temple at the end of the Japanese Era. Since then, the famed food at Miaokou has brought more and more tourists to the area seeking delicious snacks.
In recent years (since 2017), many stalls at the night market have become vacant due to high rents, and there have been notably less people visiting the night market. Some say that this is because of the advent of online shopping and food delivery apps. However another big factor is overpriced properties and stingy landlords. The night market is not going to close down anytime soon, but Taiwan is going through an economic transition period that is not only affecting the rental market but also consumer trends. Despite this, you will still be able to find delicious food on the street any night of the year. 

Hours:
Every day 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight. 

Price:
Free admission.

How to get there:
By Train: Take the TRA to Keelung Station, then walk east on Zhongyi Road (忠一路) until you reach the night market. 
By Bus: Taking Keelung Bus (intercity bus) or K-Bus from Taipei Main Station or City Hall to Keelung. 
By Car: Take National Highway 1 north to the end of the highway until it becomes central Keelung, then turn right. There is plenty of parking to the south of the night market underground. 
By Scooter: Take provincial highway 5 to central Keelung. There is parking along the street but you might have to walk a ways to be able to park in a legal spot. 
​
Map:
Please see below:

Shilin Night Market (aka Shihlin Night Market) is the largest night market in Taipei and also one of the most popular. Full of delicious street food, small hole in the wall restaurants, souvenirs, and clothes, it is a great destination to experience Taiwan's night market culture.

Background:
Shihlin Night market lies next to Jiantan MRT station, surrounded by Wenlin Road (文林路), Jihe Road (基河路), and small alleyways Xiaobei Street (小北街), and Xiaoxi Street (小西街), forming a giant triangle making it the biggest night market in Taipei City by area. 
Shihlin may have the most food stalls and restaurants of any night market in Taiwan, and is often regarded as the best or one of the favorite night markets in Taiwan by both locals and tourists alike.
The night market features multiple alleyways as well as an underground food court and underground parking garage. 
Located next to Mingchuan University, Soochow University, China Culture University, and Shih Chien University, it has a constant supply of hungry university students visiting every day.

Shilin Market was first established in 1909 near the Matzu Cicheng Temple, which now lies at the center of the night market. Before that is was a resting stop for cargo on the way to Dadaocheng. 
In 1998, Shilin Market was named as a historical monument. After that from 1999-2011, the market underwent multiple renovations, and relocated to a temporary structure near Jiantan MRT station, until renovations were completed in 2012.

Hours:
Around 4 PM until 12 Midnight, every day.

How to get there:
By MRT: Take the Red Line to Jiantan Station and then take exit 1 north out of the station. The night market is right across the road. 
By Scooter: Take Zhongshan North Road out of Taipei and wind around Yuanshan Hotel into Shilin. You can park on the right side of the road next to Jiantan Station. 
By Car: Take Zhongshan North Road out of Taipei and wind around Yuanshan Hotel into Shilin. There are many parking garages around the night market.

Map: Please see below:

The first time I heard of Neiwan old street was when I asked my Mioali native coworker what there is to do in Miaoli. She told me there was a fun place called Neiwan. It turns out, Neiwan isn't even in Miaoli, its in Hsinchu, but obviously it is one of the most popular places in north-central Taiwan. I am not an expert about this location, but I would like to share my experience here with the world.

History:

During the Japanese rule of Taiwan, Neiwan was mainly a lumber driven town, as well as other industries such as mining and mineral extraction. Many Japanese era buildings still remain in the city, such as the well preserved police station. The main ethnicity here is Hakka, and you can still find lots of traditional Hakka food in Neiwan like their famed Zongzi.

Some popular destinations for tourists are the Neiwan Theatre (内灣戲院）, built in 1950 and and now converted into a restaruant, as well as Neiwan Suspension bridge （pitcured above).

The Neiwan railway was started in 1944 by the ruling Japanese, but construction was interrupted by WWII. It was completed by the ROC government in 1951 to help transport mainly lumber and lime. Now it is used as a commuter train for the suburbs of Hsinchu as well as a destination for tourists.

How to get there:
By Train:
Get off at Zhudong station and then take the Neiwan Liujia line.
This takes about an hour from Hsinchu.

By Car:
From Taipei, take National Highway 3 to the Guanxi Exit and travel down provincial highway 3 to Neiwan.

Map: