Taipei Museum of Drinking Water 自來水博物館

7/31/2025

The Taipei Museum of Drinking Water is both a children's water park and a museum of tap water engineering dating back to the Japanese Era. It is definitely worth a visit on your next trip to Taipei.

Planning your trip to Taipei?

Here are some top travel tips for you:

Book tickets to the Taipei Water Museum via Klook here
How to get there: Taiwan High Speed Railway and Inter-City Bus
Best places to stay: Yuanshan Grand Hotel or Fu Chang Hotel
Book tours and activities in Taipei on Klook
Stay connected with a local SIM
Rent a car to explore distant sights

Background:
The Water Treatment Facility at the Drinking Water Museum was built in 1908 during the Japanese era to provide drinking water to local residents. The main reason it was built is because so many Japanese soldiers died from disease during the occupation of Taiwan (4,600 disease deaths compared to 164 deaths from war). Waterworks were created to draw water from the Xindian River, purify it, and store it. In addition, infrastructure was built to pump drinking water to the city. Later, the rest of Taiwan's cities also had their drinking water systems modernized.
In 1952 and 1974 under the ROC capacity was expanded.
In 1977, the old water drawing station was decommissioned.
The area was later renovated in 1997 and opened to the public as a museum in 2000.
The area is a popular destination, especially in the summer when many parents bring children to play in the splash pool and water slides.

Hours:
Tuesday to Sunday 9 AM to 5 PM every day.
July and August: Open until 6 PM every day.
Swimming pool: July - August only

Price:
Summertime (July - August): 80 NT
Non-summer time: 50 NT
Kids 12 and under: Free
You can buy discounted tickets to the tap water museum and water park on Klook here.

Hotels in Taipei:
High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Taipei Marriot (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here).
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

Activities in Taipei:
You can look for more activities in Taipei such as Rock Climbing, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, Diving, Snorkeling, Cooking Class, Glamping, Motorcycling, and more on Klook here or KKday here.

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Roosevelt Road, turn left onto Siyuan Street until you reach the museum. There is paid parking nearby.
Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
By Bus/MRT: Take the MRT to Gongguan Station. The museum is about a ten minute walk. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here.
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here.

Map:
Please see below:

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4 Reasons Why You Have to Visit Kinmen Island

7/12/2025

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At the beginning of the year, I published a guide to Kinmen Island, including a summary of its history and the amazing places I visited. However, Ferdinand, a travel vlogger documenting Kinmen, pointed out that there are some unique sights worth adding. In this article, he introduces four incredible things you can only experience on the island.

He also runs a travel blog with more information about Kinmen. Among other things, he answers the question “why is Kinmen part of Taiwan”, and also tells you the story behind the Wind Lions of Kinmen. But now let us talk about the four coolest things on the island.

See the Blue Diamonds Lighting Up the Ocean

At the very top of the list are the so-called Blue Diamonds: A natural phenomenon that causes the ocean to light up at night. It turns the sea into a magical shade of blue. This glowing effect is created by marine microorganisms called dinoflagellates. They emit light as a defense mechanism. The phenomenon is also known as the Sea of Stars.

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Online Safety Tips for Taiwan Travelers

7/12/2025

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Taiwan is brilliant. It’s a destination with a rich history, delectable food, and gorgeous sights. Abundant with Japanese influence, this island has a unique culture. No country is quite like Taiwan, and Taipei, its capital city, boasts efficient public transportation and modern infrastructure.
Despite the political mess surrounding Taiwan, with invasion threats every month or other, it’s actually a safe place to visit. In fact, it’s one of the safest countries in the world for tourists. Violent and petty crime rates are low. However, online scams are a common occurrence, and digital security may be lacking in this region.
If you’re about to embark on a trip to Taiwan, it’s time to get your ducks in order. Alongside your downloaded maps and lists of things to see and food to eat, what do you need? Prioritizing your digital safety isn’t overthinking - it’s being prudent and smart, knowing how easy it is to lose your life savings to online criminals.
Luckily, MarsProxies makes life simple for travelers. It provides tools that enhance anonymity and privacy, giving users immense reassurance when performing various online activities in Taiwan.

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Qingshui Cliffs 清水斷崖

7/9/2025

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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
Currently access to the scenic lookout area is closed due to the aftermath of the 2024 earthquake.

Price:
Free:

When to visit?
Hualien is great year round, but it can get a little hot in the summer, and Typhoon season and heavy rain season last from about May to October. If you are afraid of the heat and rain then you can visit during winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is usually dryer.

Where to stay?
Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit Hualien City and Taroko Gorge, you can consider booking a hotel near downtown, walking or cycling around the city, and taking a bus to Taroko Gorge.
We have stayed at and recommend Dream Taiwan Homestay (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), a high quality hostel for the money in downtown Hualien, Farglory Hotel (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), right next to Farglory Ocean Park with amazing views of Hualien, and Goldenflower B&B (Agoda / Booking.com) in Yuli right next to Sixty Stone Mountain.
You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.
Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here.

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Hualien, Take highway 9 north until you reach the Qingshui Cliff lookout. There are actually a number of places to see the cliffs. Looking for a scooter rental in Hualien? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
If you are looking for car rentals in Hualien, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
By Bus: There is no public bus to the cliffs. You will have to rent a scooter or take a tour bus.

Tours and Activities:
You can book a SUP or kayak experience at Qingshui Cliffs and more on Klook here and KKday here. You can book tickets to travel to Hualien via inter-city bus on Klook h ere.  Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.

Map:
See below:

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Tianxiang 天祥

7/9/2025

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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.

As of July 2025, Tianxiang is fully open to visitors (it was closed for a while after the 2024 earthquake).

Planning your trip to Taroko Gorge?

Here are some top travel tips for you:

Best time to visit: Winter when the temperatures are mild and the climate is usually dryer
How to get there: Taiwan Railway (TRA/TRB) and Inter-City Bus
Best places to stay: When Happiness Knock Your Door or Dream Taiwan Homestay
Book tours and activities in Hualien on Klook
Stay connected with a local SIM
Rent a car to explore distant sights

Background:
Taroko National Park is well known for its marble cliffs and canyons, and is also known as "The Marble Gorge." Millions of years ago, the rock we see today was sediment at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, but oceanic and tectonic pressure turned it into limestone, and later into marble. Later the Eurasian plate was uplifted where Taiwan is today, and a gorge was cut out of the limestone thanks to the Liwu River.

Taroko means "human being," from the Truku tribal language. Originally the Tupido Tribe settled in the area of what is now Tianxiang Taiti mesa. They built the Tupido Tribe Trail which was only 30 cm wide, and resided there until they were massacred by the Japanese in 1914. In 1917, the Japanese expanded the original trail made by the Tupido Tribe to 1.5 M and forced aboriginal tribesmen to carry goods along the trail to the east coast. This is now the Zhuilu Old Trail. Currently only 3km of the trail is open to the public. The Japanese created a national park in the Area in 1937, which was disestablished by the ROC in 1945, and then reenstated in as a national park in 1986.

Tianxiang lies 455 meters above seas level, and lies at the convergence of the Dasha River and the Tazijili River, forming the Liwu River.
Xiangde Temple was built in 1966 shortly after the central cross island highway was finished. It is a Buddhist monetary, and the area was chosen for it's quiet beauty.

How to get there:
By Car: From Taipei, Take National Highway 5 to Yilan and then drive on the Suhua Highway 9 to Hualien. A few miles before Hualien City, the gorge will be on your right. Tianxiang is 18 KM in.
Looking for a scooter rental in Hualien? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
If you are looking for car rentals in Hualien, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
By Train: Take the train to Hualien station, and from there you can rent a scooter or car, or take a tour bus to the gorge, and then get off at Tianxiang. You can book tickets to travel to Hualien via inter-city bus on Klook h ere. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.
For more travel information see here.

Where to stay?
Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit Hualien City and Taroko Gorge, you can consider booking a hotel near downtown, walking or cycling around the city, and taking a bus to Taroko Gorge.
We have stayed at and recommend Dream Taiwan Homestay (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), a high quality hostel for the money in downtown Hualien, Farglory Hotel (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), right next to Farglory Ocean Park with amazing views of Hualien, and Goldenflower B&B (Agoda / Booking.com) in Yuli right next to Sixty Stone Mountain.
You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.
Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here.

Tours:
You can find tours of Tianxiang on Klook here or KKday here.
You can find more tours and activities in Hualien such as Surfing, Paragliding, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Canoeing, River Tracing, and much more on Klook here or KKday here.

Hours:
24/7

Flying a Drone?
Apply for a drone permit here.

Price:
Free!

Map:
Please see below:

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Planning your trip to Taiwan?

Here are some top travel tips for you:

Best time to visit: Spring and Autumn when it is not too hot or cold and less rainy
How to get there: Plane tickets via Trip.com
Best places to stay can be found on Agoda
Book tours and activities in Taiwan on Klook
Stay connected with a local SIM
Rent a car to explore distant sights

Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.

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