Taipei has some amazing old streets waiting to be discovered by you. Each one of the old streets around Taipei has a special story to tell that can help you understand more about Taiwan's History and Culture. In this guide, we will introduce the most popular old streets in Taipei, as well as some that are less well-known. ​

What is an "Old Street?"
Taiwan's "old streets" can be difficult to define. There are technically "old streets" in every town in Taiwan, but what makes them famous enough to become known as the old street of the town?
One can say that if there are enough historical buildings preserved in one spot, this can be considered an old street.
However, sometimes old streets are put together by the local government and turned into a market or renovated historical area, or pedestrian area, with lots of stalls selling food and snacks and attracting lots of tourists. This is the kind of old street that most people want to visit, but we will cover both non-touristy old streets and touristy old streets in this blog. 

Brief Historical Background of Taipei:
The land on which Taipei now stands on what was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers ever came.
Chinese settlers from Fujian began living here during the Dutch rule in the 1600s.
The first Chinese settlers came to the area in the mid-1800's during the Qing Dynasty. They created a public area for drying rice and grain, called Dadaocheng (大稻埕) which also became the central market in the area.
The earliest trading shops were built in 1851, mainly selling rice, sugar, camphor, and tea. Dihua Street (迪化街) was created around this time, making it the oldest street in Taipei. Most of the buildings were one story and made of red brick in Fujian style, and later western style houses were built. The walls and gates of Taipei were completed in 1884.
In 1891, the first train connecting Keelung and Taipei was completed.
During the Japanese era, in 1904 the walls of Taipei were destroyed after less than 30 years, and Taipei was re-planned into the capital of Taiwan. 
After the ROC took control of Taiwan, Taipei continued as the capital city, as well as the financial hub of Taiwan. During the Taiwan miracle, many rural families moved from southern Taiwan to factories and offices in Taipei, making Taipei the most populous urban area in Taiwan.
Currently, Taipei is the most advanced and affluent city in Taiwan. It also has Taiwan's most advanced public transportation system, making it easy for millions of commuters to live outside the city where rents are cheaper. Now, most of Taiwan's economic activity is based in this city.

Basic Taipei Travel Tips:

• There is no need to tip in Taiwan. It is not part of the culture here.
• Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar, and many transactions such as for street food still require cash. For more information, check out our guide to the New Taiwan Dollar here. 
• Get yourself a SIM card or portable WiFi such as from Gigago here so you can stay connected and don't get lost in the city.
• If you are from a country that does not have a 90-day visa-free program with Taiwan, consider getting your visa sorted with Ivisa.com. You can also check out our immigration FAQ here. 
• Get travel insurance in case of unforeseen events. You can compare prices on Insubuy here. 
• The electrical voltage is 110V.
• Get yourself an Easy Card, so you can travel easily on the MRT, Train, HSR, Youbike, and even shop at convenience stores. You can also book a Taiwan travel pass on Klook here. 
• For more travel tips, check out our foreigner survival guide here. 

When should you go to Taipei?
In my opinion, the best weather in Taipei is from March-May, and October - November, when the temperatures stay around 26 degrees Celsius and there is not as much rain.
Summers are also nice, with the most sunny weather, but also hot and rainy. 
Winters can be cold (but not below freezing) and usually wet. 
Overall, there is no wrong answer as to what time of year you should visit Taipei. You will have a great time here at any time of year. 

Hotels in Taipei:
We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Agoda here, or Kayak here). 
We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Agoda here, or Kayak 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.

Tours in Taipei:
There are many tour itineraries that you can enjoy in Taipei that will take you to multiple destinations and arrange transportation. For more information, you can check out KKday here or Klook here which are both great tour websites that can connect you with the right tour and tour guide for you. 

Attractions in Taipei:
There are many attractions that you can enjoy in Taipei such as  Taipei 101 Observatory, Taipei 101 460 Skyline Observatory, Taipei Children's Amusement Park, Maokong Gondola, National Palace Museum, Yehliu Ocean World, Yehliu Geopark, National Museum of Marine Science and Biology, i-ride 5D cinema, Astronomical Museum, Miniatures Museum of Taiwan, Double Decker Sightseeing Bus, Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket, Taipei Zoo, Heping Island Park, Ju Ming Museum, Yuanshan Hotel Secret Road, National Taiwan Museum, New Taipei Gold Museum, Futian Leisure Farm, Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence, Chi Po-lin Museaum, Beitou Museum, Tsao Wonderland, Railway Museum, Fort San Domingo, 13 Levels Archaeology Museum, Austin Land, Museum of World Religions, Formosan Aboriginies Museum, ASE Parent-child Park, teamLab Future Park, Yukids Island, VR Experience, Bat Cave, Neidong Waterfall, Candlestick Islet, Jurassic Snow Park, Zhonghe High5 Amusement Park, Longshan Temple, Xingtian Temple, Ningxia Night Market, Yansan Night Market, Meteor Garden, Yingge Old Street, and many more attractions on Klook here or KKday here​. 

Activities in Taipei:
Indoor Skiing, Rock Climbing, Hiking, Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking,  River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Cooking Class, Archery, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Tree Climbing, Urban Camping, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Escape Room, Shen'ao Rail Bike, Laser Gun Experience, Batting Cages, Bowling, Paintball, Flight Simulation Experience, Taipei Tram Driving Experience, Rail Simulation Experience, Taipei 101 Observation Deck activity, Strawberry Picking, Professional Photo Shoot, Body Relaxation SPA, Night Tour, Calligraphy Workshop and more on Klook here or KKday here. 
​​
Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. Some of the Klook links may not work if you are using an Ad blocker. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

How to get there:
The only way to get to Taiwan is via airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei's Songshan and Toayuan Airport. 
Taoyuan Airport: Taoyuan is Taiwan's largest airport and typically has cheaper flights and more flight times to choose from. It's about an hour's journey from Taoyuan Airport to the center of Taipei. You can travel via MRT, HSR, bus, or taxi to get to Taipei. 
You can get 30% off the Taoyuan Airport VIP lounge on KKday here. 
Songshan Airport: Songshan is a small airport in Taipei's city center, and can be a convenient option for people traveling within Asia. The airport is right on the Taipei MRT brown line. 
You can book cheap flights to Taiwan on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here.

How to get around in Taipei:
Taipei's transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei below:
By Train: Gets you to the city center of all major cities in Taiwan. It is about 800NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Roughly half the price of the HSR. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here.
By HSR: (High-Speed Rail) – Gets you quickly from north to south. Besides Taipei and Kaohsiung, most of the stations are far from city centers. It costs about 1500NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. You can book tickets to the high-speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here.  
By MRT: (Mass Rapid Transit, Metro train, subway) – Easily gets you around Taipei and Kaohsiung. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 
By Bus: Buses can be tricky. Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. They can take you to the city center of every city throughout Taiwan and to remote tourist destinations such as sun moon lake. A long-range bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung is about 500 NT. You can also book tickets to travel to Shifen via inter-city bus on Klook here. 
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD.
By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? Click here or here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike bike 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. ​
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 

Tourist Site Map:
Check out our map below of tourist sites in Taiwan, which is constantly updated:

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 saltwater 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) who reside today in Taitung. It was known by 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 the 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 diesel 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 rainforest climate, with average high temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees year round. The rainy months are in summer, especially due to Typhoons, but the most sunny days are also in summer (expect a lot of sun), and the most rainy days are in winter. Summer is the tourist season, but spring and fall are also popular times to visit. Winters are said to be dreary, cold, and have constant northeastern winds that can stop airplanes and ferries from departing to the island.

When to go:
The best time to go they say is around May when it is not too hot and there are no northeasterly winds or typhoons which can cancel your transportation to the island.
​Typhoon season lasts from around June to October. The busy season is during summer break from June to August, during which time it can be hard to book a hostel or airplane ticket. Winter is the less crowded season, but the water will be 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 Daily Air which will take you the rest of the way to Green Island.
You can book discount tickets from Taipei to Taitung on KKday here. 
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.
 
By Boat:
You can purchase boat ferry tickets through a tour agency such as Klook here or KKday here. 
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 departing from 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 tickets through a tour agency such as Klook here or KKday here. 

Getting around the island:
Rent a scooter! The island is small so you should not need to rent a car. You can rent bicycles but you will not be able to travel as fast. You can also hire a driver to take you on tours.
Ask your hostel for more rental information. They can help you book a rental in advance.

Scooter Rental:
Price: expect 400 NT per day.
You can book a scooter rental for Green Island on Klook here or KKday here. 
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.
You can rent a car for Green Island using KKday 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 search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 

Accommodation:
Booking accommodation on the island can be difficult in summer months and on weekends, when rooms can be fully booked for months in advance. AirBnb has the most choices, however there is also better quality selection on Agoda.com. 
We stayed at and can recommend Fire Island Guesthouse, which is a high quality B&B on right on the east coast of the island. 
​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. 

Tours and Activities:
There are many companies offering snorkeling, diving, SUPing, and other tours on Green Island. You can search for tours on Klook here or KKday here. 
You can also book discount tickets to Zhaori Hot Spring on KKday here. 

You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  

Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

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

Tours:
You can book a walking tour of Huaxi Street Night Market on Klook here or KKday here. 
You can also book a Private Street Food Tour of Taipei on TripAdvisor here. 

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

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: 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.
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 MRT: Take the blue line to Longshan Temple station, then walk northwest about two blocks to the night market. 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:

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.

Brief Historical Background of Taipei:
The land on which Taipei now stands on what was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers ever came.
Chinese settlers from Fujian began living here during the Dutch rule in the 1600s.
The first Chinese settlers came to the area in the mid-1800's during the Qing Dynasty. They created a public area for drying rice and grain, called Dadaocheng (大稻埕) which also became the central market in the area.
The earliest trading shops were built in 1851, mainly selling rice, sugar, camphor, and tea. Dihua Street (迪化街) was created around this time, making it the oldest street in Taipei. Most of the buildings were one story and made of red brick in Fujian style, and later western style houses were built. The walls and gates of Taipei were completed in 1884.
In 1891, the first train connecting Keelung and Taipei was completed.
During the Japanese era, in 1904 the walls of Taipei were destroyed after less than 30 years, and Taipei was re-planned into the capital of Taiwan. 
After the ROC took control of Taiwan, Taipei continued as the capital city, as well as the financial hub of Taiwan. During the Taiwan miracle, many rural families moved from southern Taiwan to factories and offices in Taipei, making Taipei the most populous urban area in Taiwan.
Currently, Taipei is the most advanced and affluent city in Taiwan. It also has Taiwan's most advanced public transportation system, making it easy for millions of commuters to live outside the city where rents are cheaper. Now, most of Taiwan's economic activity is based in this city.

Basic Taipei Travel Tips:

• There is no need to tip in Taiwan. It is not part of the culture here.
• Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar, and many transactions such as for street food still require cash. For more information, check out our guide to the New Taiwan Dollar here. 
• Get yourself a SIM card or portable WiFi such as from Gigago here so you can stay connected and don't get lost in the city.
• If you are from a country that does not have a 90-day visa-free program with Taiwan, consider getting your visa sorted with Ivisa.com. You can also check out our immigration FAQ here. 
• Get travel insurance in case of unforeseen events. You can compare prices on Insubuy here. 
• The electrical voltage is 110V.
• Get yourself an Easy Card, so you can travel easily on the MRT, Train, HSR, Youbike, and even shop at convenience stores. You can also book a Taiwan travel pass on Klook here. 
• For more travel tips, check out our foreigner survival guide here. 

When should you go to Taipei?
In my opinion, the best weather in Taipei is from March-May, and October - November, when the temperatures stay around 26 degrees Celsius and there is not as much rain.
Summers are also nice, with the most sunny weather, but also hot and rainy. 
Winters can be cold (but not below freezing) and usually wet. 
Overall, there is no wrong answer as to what time of year you should visit Taipei. You will have a great time here at any time of year. 

Hotels in Taipei:
High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Grand Hyatt (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Marriot (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Sheraton (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Shangri-la (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), and Regent (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), which are all very high quality hotels in the middle of Taipei City.
We also recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Budget Hotels: We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

Tours in Taipei:
There are many tour itineraries that you can enjoy in Taipei that will take you to multiple destinations and arrange transportation. For more information, you can check out Tripadvisor here, KKday here or Klook here, which are both great tour websites that can connect you with the right tour and tour guide for you. 
Here are some of the most popular tours of Taipei on TripAdvisor:

1. Yehliu, Jiufen & Pingxi Day Tour from Taipei
2. The 10 Tastings of Taipei With Locals: Private Street Food Tour
3. Full-Day Private Northern Taiwan Tour from Taipei with Pickup
4. Full-Day Private Custom Taipei City Tour
5. Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour from Taipei
6. Half-Day Muslim Friendly Tour in Taipei City
7. Private Taipei Tour for Families

​
Attractions in Taipei:
There are many attractions that you can enjoy in Taipei such as  Taipei 101 Observatory, Taipei 101 460 Skyline Observatory, Taipei Children's Amusement Park, Maokong Gondola, National Palace Museum, Yehliu Ocean World, Yehliu Geopark, National Museum of Marine Science and Biology, i-ride 5D cinema, Astronomical Museum, Miniatures Museum of Taiwan, Double Decker Sightseeing Bus, Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket, Taipei Zoo, Heping Island Park, Ju Ming Museum, Yuanshan Hotel Secret Road, National Taiwan Museum, New Taipei Gold Museum, Futian Leisure Farm, Chiang Kai-shek Shilin Residence, Chi Po-lin Museaum, Beitou Museum, Tsao Wonderland, Railway Museum, Fort San Domingo, 13 Levels Archaeology Museum, Austin Land, Museum of World Religions, Formosan Aboriginies Museum, ASE Parent-child Park, teamLab Future Park, Yukids Island, VR Experience, Bat Cave, Neidong Waterfall, Candlestick Islet, Jurassic Snow Park, Zhonghe High5 Amusement Park, Longshan Temple, Xingtian Temple, Ningxia Night Market, Yansan Night Market, Meteor Garden, Yingge Old Street, and many more attractions on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here​. 

Activities in Taipei:
Don't forget that there are many activities available in Taipei such as Indoor Skiing, Rock Climbing, Hiking, Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking,  River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Cooking Class, Archery, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Tree Climbing, Urban Camping, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Escape Room, Shen'ao Rail Bike, Laser Gun Experience, Batting Cages, Bowling, Paintball, Flight Simulation Experience, Taipei Tram Driving Experience, Rail Simulation Experience, Taipei 101 Observation Deck activity, Strawberry Picking, Professional Photo Shoot, Body Relaxation SPA, Night Tour, Calligraphy Workshop, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. 
​​
Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. Some of the Klook links may not work if you are using an Ad blocker. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

How to get there:
The only way to get to Taiwan is via airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei's Songshan and Toayuan Airport. 
Taoyuan Airport: Taoyuan is Taiwan's largest airport and typically has cheaper flights and more flight times to choose from. It's about an hour's journey from Taoyuan Airport to the center of Taipei. You can travel via MRT, HSR, bus, or taxi to get to Taipei. 
You can get 30% off the Taoyuan Airport VIP lounge on KKday here. 
Songshan Airport: Songshan is a small airport in Taipei's city center, and can be a convenient option for people traveling within Asia. The airport is right on the Taipei MRT brown line. 
You can book cheap flights to Taiwan on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here.

How to get around in Taipei:
Taipei's transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei below:
By Train: Gets you to the city center of all major cities in Taiwan. It is about 800NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Roughly half the price of the HSR. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here.
By HSR: (High-Speed Rail) – Gets you quickly from north to south. Besides Taipei and Kaohsiung, most of the stations are far from city centers. It costs about 1500NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. You can book tickets to the high-speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here.  
By MRT: (Mass Rapid Transit, Metro train, subway) – Easily gets you around Taipei and Kaohsiung. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 
By Bus: Buses can be tricky. Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. They can take you to the city center of every city throughout Taiwan and to remote tourist destinations such as sun moon lake. A long-range bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung is about 500 NT. You can also book tickets to travel to Shifen via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here. 
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD.
By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. ​
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. â€‹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. 

Tourist Site Map:

Before we get started, below is a map of the places mentioned in this blog:

Wulai Waterfall is the highest waterfall in northern Taiwan. Here you can find a street with snacks and restaurants, and a gondola that leads to a second tier of the waterfall and an amusement park. In addition there are hikes, wildlife, and endless mountain scenery to explore.
 
Background:
Wulai was originally an Atayal aborigine village, its name meaning hot and poisonous. There has always been natural hot springs in Wulai, but much of that water has been channeled into hotels and public bathhouses. The free hot springs stood at the bottom of the hill next to the river, and was a collection of used hot spring water from the hotels and paid hot springs above. In its prime, it boasted the largest free outdoor hot springs in Taiwan. Recently the District of Wulai in New Taipei has become a major tourist attraction, partly because of its close proximity to Taipei. It has museums, waterfalls, a gondola, a train, an old street night market, and most of all hot springs. The main delicacies on the old street are Taiwan ingenuous foods such as wild boar meat and rice steamed in bamboo. 

Wulai waterfall is 80 meters high, making it the highest waterfall in northern Taiwan. It's highest point sits at 230 meters above sea level, and drops to 150 meters above sea level. The waterfall is also about 10 meters wide.  
Yunceng Amusement Park began construction in 1960 and was completed in 1970. It includes a gondola, hotel, swimming pool, canoe pond, and other activities. Originally it had a roller coaster, pirate ship, and other rides, but these have all been taken down. 
 
Hours:
Waterfall: 24/7
Cable Car and Yun Hsien Amusement Park Entrance: 9 AM to 4:30 PM
You can book tickets to the gondola and to Yun Hsien theme park on Klook here or KKday here. 
Neidong Waterfall: 8 AM to 5 PM.
You can book tickets to Neidong Forest Recreation Area on KKday here or Klook here. 

Price:
Wulai Waterfall: Free
Cable Car and Yun Hsien Amusement Park Entrance: 220 NT per person
You can book tickets to the gondola and to Yun Hsien theme park on Klook here or KKday here. 
Neidong Waterfall: 65 NT per person. You can book tickets on KKday here or Klook here. 
Hot Spring Bath: 300-500 NT. You can look for hot spring bath experiences on Klook here or KKday here. 

Tours and Activities:
You can book a Taiwan Wulai Aboriginal Tribe afternoon Tour on TripAdvisor here. 
​You can also book a tour of Wulai on KKday here.  
You can also book a ticket on the Wulai Train on Klook here, or a river tracing experience in Wulai on Klook here, or SUP paddleboarding experience in Wulai on KKday here, hot spring baths on Klook here or KKday here, on or tickets to the gondola and to Yun Hsien theme park on Klook here or KKday here.  

Hotels in Wulai:
There are many hot spring hotels in Wulai that have a hot spring tub right in the room.
We have stayed at and recommend Wulai SungLyu Hot Spring Resort, which is a hot spring resort with great views just above Wulai Old Street. You can book on Booking.com here, Agoda here, Hotels.com here, TripAdvisor here, Trip.com here, Klook here, Kayak here, or Expedia here. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
​
How to get there：
By Bus: From central Taipei, take bus 849 to Wulai Waterfall. The trips takes about an hour and a half. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on a bus to Wulai on Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book a Taipei travel pass on Klook here. 
By Car: From Taipei, take provincial highway 9甲 to Wulai. There is a large paid parking garage in front of the old street. You may also be able to find free parking further up the road closer to the waterfall but car parking is very limited. 
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD 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 of the places covered 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. You can search for scooter options here or here, and you can check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Bus: Busses leave daily to Kenting from Zuoying HSR station, Kaohsiung Station, and Pingtung. Get off at the Kenting Bus stop. You can book tickets to travel to Kenting via inter-city bus on Klook here. 
By Plane: There are direct shuttle busses to Kenting from Kaohsing's Xiaogang (KHH) Airport. 
You can search for cheap flights in Taiwan here. 
​
Accommodation:
Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
I have stayed at many hostels and hotels in Kenting, and even almost bought a house here. Some places that I have stayed at and can recommend are Nanwan Kiki (book on Agoda here, Booking.com here), a B&B next to Nanwan Bay, Kenting's most popular Beach. There are also a few decent hotels near Kenting Street Night Market like Kenting Star Inn 888 (book on Agoda here, Klook here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, or Booking.com here), or Kenting Dajianshan Hotel (book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here). You will notice that none of these hotels are five star resorts (I do not come to Kenting to waste my time at a resort, but you can still search Agoda, Booking.com, Hotels.com, or Expedia for those) but they are in my opinion the above have the best value for the money. 
You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  

Tours and Activities in Kenting:
There are many activities available such as snorkeling, diving, SUPing, surfing, submarine riding, and river tracing. 
You can find more tours of Kenting on Klook here or KKday here. 

Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

Map: Please see below:

Jiufen is an old mountain village in Ruifang District of New Taipei City, and has perhaps the best old street in all of Taiwan, with authentic Taiwanese food, sloping steps, traditional Chinese architecture, and great views of Shen'Ao and Keelung Harbors. There are also multiple historical sights within the town. The entire village is built on a mountain slope so that you can enjoy views of Taiwan's north coast from basically anywhere in the city. 

Background:
Jiufen gets its name from the original nine families who settled in the village during the Qing dynasty, who asked for nine portions of shipments every time they arrived (九Jiu=nine 份Fen=portion). The discovery of gold in the area created a gold rush in the town that lasted until the last Japense Era. When gold mining ended in 1971, the town began to decay. After A City of Sadness was filmed there, the town began to see a tourist boom. Also the town began to see many visitors especially from Japan after 2001 due to the resemblance of the town in Spirited Away, even though Miyazaki has said that Jiufen was not the inspiration for the movie. 

Hours:
Around 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Price:
Free

Tours:
You can book a tour of Jiufen Old Street with TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. 

Hotels near Jiufen:
We recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
We have stayed at and recommend ​Gold Mountain Ranch, which is a horse ranch and glamping destination in Jinshan. ​You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here.  You can also check out our full blog on the ranch here. 
We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.

How to get There:
By Train: Take TRA to Ruifang Station, then transfer to Keelung Bus which goes directly to Jiufen every few minutes (about a 15 minute ride from Ruifang). Book tickets via the normal train (TRA)  on Klook here. You can book tickets to the high speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here. 
By Bus: Buses directly to Jiufen leave from Taipei Main Station and Songshan Station regularly. You can also book a shuttle bus to Jiufen from Taipei on KKDay here. You can also book tickets to travel to Jiufen via inter-city bus on Klook here. 
​By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 to Ruifang and then travel on highway 102 all the way up to Jiufen. Parking is scarce and some of the most expensive in Taiwan. Expect at least 250 NT per day for a car and 50 NT per day for a scooter. 
Looking for scooter rental in New Taipei? Click here or 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 here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. 
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD. You can also charter a car for a day to Jiufen on Klook here. 
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a cycling tour on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 

Map:
Please see below:

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 get to Chiayi?
You can book tickets to travel to Chiayi via inter-city bus on Klook here. 
You can book tickets to Chiayi via high speed rail (HSR)  on Klook here or KKDay here. 
Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.

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. 

Scooter Rental: Looking for scooter rental in Chiayi? You can check out Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.  
Car Rental: 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.  
Bicycle Rental: Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here.
You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 
Train / Bus: You can purchase tours and tickets of the Alishan Railway through Klook here or KKday here. ​Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.

Tours and Activities:
You can purchase tours and tickets for many activities in Chiayi such as glamping, Three Pigs Farm, Janfusun Fancy World, Taiping Suspension Bridge, Chateau de Jourdeness , Kumquat Tourist Factory, Taisugar Siantou Cultural Park, Meteor Garden, Veoveoana Tribe Tour, Danayi Valley, Batongguan Historic Trail, Xianghe Leisure Farm, Foot massage and many others through Klook here or KKday here. 

Accommodation:
We have stayed at and recommend Chiayi Crown Hotel (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here), Shin Kao Hotel (you can book on Agoda here or Trip.com here), and YesHotel (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here), which are all quality hotels for a reasonable price near Chiayi Station. We also recommend Shianghu Botique Hotel (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here), with excellent quality for the money just our of Chiayi City center. Finally we have stayed at and recommend Fenchihu Street Hotel (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, or Expedia here), which is within walking distance of Fenqihu Old Street, Fenqihu Station, and many amazing hikes in the area.
Find out more about where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.  We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands.
You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  
Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. 

Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

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

Gold Mountain Ranch and Resort (aka Jinshan Yijing in Chinese, or simply "Horse Camp") is a campground and horse ranch in Jinshan District of New Taipei. A stay here includes activities such as horseback riding, four-wheeling, archery and bb-gun practice, and also a filling BBQ dinner and western style breakfast. Staying here makes you feel like you are in the rural American West, which is a unique experience in Taiwan. With a shortage of ranches and horse riding opportunities in Taiwan, Gold Mountain is a special place that you should not miss on your trip along Taiwan's northern coast. 

Background:
From my conversation with the Laoban (Boss), Mr. Z, as well as info from their website, Mr. Z. started this ranch about three years ago as a pet project, due to his love of horses. Before that he was in the restaurant business. He said that he searched the entire island for a suitable place for a Horse Ranch, which was his dream, and happened to find this spot of land where the ranch currently operates. When he started the ranch, he would still drive back to Zhonghe every night to take care of his ailing cat. Now he spends all his time taking care of the horses, even sleeping next to them at night in case something goes wrong. Now him and four other employees help to run the campground and ranch.
Currently the ranch has 6 horses, about five ATVs, and can accommodate 60 people. Soon they plan to open a restaurant and bar on the property, as well as a wilderness survival training camp. 

Hours:
Check in: 1 PM 
Check out: 11 AM
​
Price:
1600 NT - 2750 NT per night per person
Additional horse rides charged per hour/lesson.
​You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here. 

Website: https://goldmrnr.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/goldmrandr/ 
​(like and share button below)

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: From Taipei, take National highway 3 north to Wanli, then take provincial highway 2 along the northern coast until you reach Jinshan. Then take provincial highway 2A east to county highway 25, and turn right at Sanhe elementary school. Turn left when you see the sign for "金山驛境." The ranch is at the end of the road. It takes about 50 minutes from Taipei by car. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Looking for scooter rental in northern Taiwan? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a cycling tour on TripAdvisor here. 
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 
​By Bus/taxi: There are buses that leave from Taipei City Hall station to Jinshan hourly. The ride takes about an hour. From central Jinshan you can take a taxi (about 200 NT) to the ranch. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT and buses from Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. ​

Map:
Please see below:

Some people out there may think that Taiwan and Thailand are the same country. However, one of these countries is clearly better than the other one. To help you understand why Taiwan is better than Thailand, we have laid out the key differences that you need to know here.
I have made Taiwan my permanent home for ten years, and Thailand is my favorite vacation spot in Asia which I have visited multiple times (you can check out our blog on Thailand here). Therefore I feel I am qualified to voice my opinion on this issue.
To put it simply, Taiwan and Thailand are both great. Unfortunately, Thailand is much more popular as a tourist destination than Taiwan which is often overshadowed. That is why I have made this blog to show how Taiwan is better than Thailand, to try to convince someone to come to Taiwan instead of Thailand.
​
Table of Contents

• Location
• Size
• Shape
• Religion
• Economy
• Taxation
  • Personal Income Tax
  • Corporate Tax
• Immigration
  • Visitor Visas
  • Resident Visas
  • Digital Nomad Visas
  • Permanent Residency
  • Retirement Visas
• Geography
  • Taiwan's Geography
  • Thailand's Geography
• Climate
  • Air Pollution
• Travel and Tourism
  • What's the Difference Between Taiwan and Thailand for Traveling?
  • What are Thailand and Taiwan famous for?
• Thai vs. Taiwanese Cuisine
  • Thai Cuisine
  • Taiwanese Cuisine
• Hotels and Accommodation
• Car and Scooter Rentals
• Public Transportation
• Hiking
• Cycling
• Beaches
• Politics
• Gay marriage
• Marijuana
• Capital Cities: Taipei & Bangkok
• Conclusion:

Katz (or Kazi) Popsmile Popcorn Tourist Factory 卡滋爆米花觀光工廠 is the only tourist popcorn factory in Asia, and offers DIY tours in Bali District of New Taipei. Visitors are invited to try out many different popcorn flavors, make their own popcorn and DIY treats, and learn more about the history of popcorn making in Taiwan. Overall it is a fun adventure for the whole family.

Table of Contents

• Historical Background:
• Hours:
• Price:
• Tour Schedule:
  • Weekdays:
  • Holidays:
• Where to stay:
• Activities in Taipei:
• How to get there:
• Map:
• Our Journey
• Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology 十三行博物館

Historical Background:
Kazi/Katz “Popsmile” Popcorn was established in November 2006 in a Taipei Cinema. The name “Kazi” comes from the sound of the delightful crunch of popcorn when chewed, and over the years, they’ve crafted dozens of flavors, expanding popcorn sales beyond just cinemas. Kazi has become Taiwan’s pioneering brand for multi-flavored popcorn, particularly popular through online group purchases.
Kazzi has developed over 200 flavors, ranging from sweet to sour, spicy to salty, and now sells in over 40 countries worldwide. Their goal is to continue delivering surprising experiences to customers everywhere.
The factory opened to tourists in about 2020 and can be busy on weekends and holidays.

Hours:
Roughly 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Closed Tuesdays.

Price:
250 NT per person
You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here.
The entrance ticket includes a voucher to purchase popcorn.

Tour Schedule:
Weekdays:

• 11:00 AM
• 1:00 PM
• 2:00 PM
• 3:00 PM
• 4:00 PM

Holidays:

• 10:30 AM
• 11:00 AM
• 1:00 PM
• 1:30 PM
• 2:00 PM
• 2:30 PM
• 3:00 PM
• 3:30 PM
• 4:00 PM
• 4:30 PM

Where to stay:
We recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach.
We have stayed at and recommend ​Gold Mountain Ranch, which is a horse ranch and glamping destination in Jinshan. ​You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here.  You can also check out our full blog on the ranch here. 
We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach. 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality accommodation selection 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:
There are many other activities available to enjoy nearby in Taipei such as 
– kayaking
– canoeing
– snorkeling
– SUP / paddle boarding
– water biking
and more activities which you can book on Klook here or KKday here. 

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take Provincial Highway 15 to Bali, then take a right on Guanhai Road. There is limited paid parking on the side of the road. Looking for scooter rental in Tamsui? 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: Take the Shuttle bus Red No. 13 from Bali Old Street or Guandu MRT station (about 20 minutes). The bus stop is called Reiron Park 雷朗園區. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here. 
By Bicycle: Take the MRT to Tamsui, the take the ferry to Bali Old Street. From there you can rent a bicycle and ride 2KM over to the museum. 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. 

Map:
​Please see below to see:

Orchid Island (not to be confused with the Fijian Island of the same name), known in the local Tao language as Ponso No Tao (Island of the people), and in Chinese as Lanyu (蘭嶼) is a secret indigenous people's paradise off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. It is different than any other place in Taiwan, and has the best preserved indigenous culture anywhere in the country. If Taiwan's best tourist activity is experiencing the culture of Taiwan's indigenous peoples, then Lanyu has the best tourist experience anywhere in Taiwan.

Background:
History:
Orchid Island became inhabited about 800 years ago by the Tao indigenous people (達悟族) (aka Yami people 雅美族, which is a name coined by the Japanese, but the native people prefer Tao), which are thought to have traveled from the Batanes Islands in the Philippines, which are a little less than 200 KM away, cut off by the Bashi Channel. However, Orchid Island is very different than the Philippines.
Beginning in1644, some Dutch Sailors were sent to investigate the island, and some settled there among the natives. Because of this, the Island was known as Red Head Island (紅頭嶼) by the Chinese and the Japanese.
After the Dutch were defeated in Taiwan, Lanyu was claimed but not controlled by the Qing Dynasty.
The Japanese claimed the Island shortly after the Sino-Japanese War in 1895, but protected it as an "ethnological research site" and forbid outsiders from entering.
After the Republic of China took over Taiwan following the end of WWII, they continued to ban visitors to the island until 1967, after which tourists were allowed to enter and public schools were built there.
​Christian missionaries began preaching and living on the island starting in the 1950s, and now basically all native people on the island are Christian (mixed with traditional beliefs). However Christianity was introduced much earlier starting with the Dutch in the 1600s although to a lesser extent. 
In 1982 a nuclear waste storage plant was built on the south side of the Island without the islanders' consent, causing protests from the inhabitants. Also because of this, the Island inhabitants receive free electricity.
The island is volcanic in nature, with the last major eruption being over 5 million years ago. The highest mountain is 552 meters (1,811 feet).
Currently there are 2,400 people permanently living on the island, 90% of them being of native Tao descent. 
Tao Culture:
The Tao people number about 2,000 living on Orchid Island, with about another 2,000 living on the Taiwan mainland. The Tao people rely on the sea for survival, and much of their traditions and lifestyle are centered on fishing. 
The Tao people are mostly Christian but also still practice many of their traditional beliefs. However their ancestral religion included a pantheon of Gods. 
Traditional roles for men are fishing while roles for women include harvesting taro and sweet potato and weaving. The men usually fish at night or early morning and rest on traditional wooden platforms during the day.
Boats are made from planks of wood and are painted red, white, and black. The boat usually has human figures, waves, and the traditional sun image (red and black circles and sun rays) which is said to warn off evil spirits. Boats are considered sacred and the ultimate human creation. There is also a launching ceremony for new boats in which traditional clothes and headgear (such as silver helmets for men and wooden hats for women) are worn, pigs are slaughtered, and the boat is lifted into the air multiple times before being set in the water. Traditional clothes include loin cloths and vests for men, and aprons and vests for women. Young people on the street usually do not wear traditional dress.
Flying Fish Festival:
There are three basic seasons on Lanyu: one is the flying fish season when flying fish can be easily caught and used and lasts from February to May. The other seasons are from May to October and October to February, when flying fish cannot be caught for ceremonial use. There are many taboos during flying fish season which are discussed below. 
The Flying Fish Festival lasts from aboutMarch to October when flying fish are caught. During this time many ceremonies take place such as for the beginning of the festival, plentiful harvest, etc. During the festival, there are multiple migrations of flying fish species near Lanyu. There are many taboos during this time, especially when it comes to catching and eating flying fish which are the main life source of the Tao people. 

Weather and Climate:
The island has a tropical rainforest climate, with average high temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees year round. The rainy months are in summer, especially due to Typhoons, but the most sunny days are also in summer (expect a lot of sun), and the most rainy days are in winter. Summer is the tourist season, but spring and fall are also popular times to visit. Winters are said to be dreary, cold, and have constant northeastern winds that can stop airplanes and ferries from departing to the island.

When to go:
The best time to go they say is around May when it is not too hot and there are no northeasterly winds or typhoons which can cancel your transportation to the island.
​Typhoon season lasts from around June to October. The busy season is during summer break from June to August, during which time it can be hard to book a hostel or airplane ticket. Winter is the less crowded season, but the water will be cold, there will be constant wind (which could cancel transportation), and it will rain more often. 

Taboos:
General Taboos:

• Do not take pictures of or enter any of the underground houses without permission.
• Do not use any of the resting pavilions without permission, and if you are given permission take off your shoes before entering.
• Do not visit schools when they are in session.
• Do not speak loudly or shout while inside the villages.
• When villagers are performing traditional rituals, watch from a distance and keep quiet.
• Do not touch or enter into traditional canoes
• Do not disturb the ecology or habitat when snorkeling, hiking, etc.
• Do not bring any plants or animal parts with you when you leave Lanyu.

Flying Fish Season Taboos (February to June):

• Do not take photos or get near the fisherman or catch when they are coming ashore
• Do not touch or get into canoes to take photos.
• Women should keep away from canoes due to traditional beliefs.
• Do not bring oranges to beaches or harbors or give oranges as gifts, as this is believed to be a curse.
• Do not ask the fisherman what they are doing, this is thought to bring them bad luck for their catch.
• Do not try to fish without asking locals the proper time and place to do so.
• Avoid swimming and snorkeling in or near traditional fishing harbors. Always ask your hostel owner or other locals where it is okay to swim and snorkel.
• Do not fish for flying fish especially using nets or motorboats
• Do not harm or remove coral

Basic Courtesy:

• Know the taboos above before coming to Lanyu.
• Do not photograph local people or things without permission.
• Come to Lanyu with an open mind, and try to understand and sympathize with the people’s culture and way of life.

How to get there:
By Plane:
You can book discount air tickets from Taipei to Taitung on KKday here. 
The only planes to and from Orchid Island come from Taitung.
Flight times: As of the time of this blog, there were six flights per day byDaily Air Corporation from about8 AM to 4 PM (Please note their website is only in Chinese). The flight from Taitung to Lanyu takes about 25 minutes. Please note that the aircraft are small and flights can be  cancelled due to high winds or unfavorable weather. 
Costs: NT 1428 to Lanyu and NT 1360 from Lanyu.
You can purchase plane tickets through a tour agency such as Klook or a similar website.
 
By Boat:
There are two places that offer ferry rides to Lanyu: Houbihu Harbor (恆春後壁湖漁港） in Pingtung and Fugang Harbor in Taitung (臺東富岡漁港). There are also two ferry companies that operate at both harbors. Both companies leave from both harbors at the same time and arrive at the same time for the same price (2300 NT per person round trip/1150 NT per single trip).
Ferry Boat costs:
2300 NT per person round trip (1150 NT per single trip)from both Taitung and Pingtung. Both ferry companies have the same price.
Ferry Boat Times:
7:30/7:00 AM departure, 9:30 AM arrival to Lanyu.
12:00/12:30 PM departure, 3:00 PM arrival to Lanyu.
9:30 AM departure from Lanyu, 11:30 arrival to Taitung or Pingtung.
3:00 PM  departure from Lanyu, 5:00 PM arrival to Taitung or Pingtung.
Both ferry companies depart and arrive at the same time to both locations. 
You can purchase ferryboat tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here. 
​

Getting around the island:
Rent a scooter! The island is small so you should not need to rent a car. You can rent bicycles but you will not be able to travel as fast. You can also hire a driver to take you on tours.
Ask your hostel for more rental information. They can help you book a rental in advance.

Tours:
You can book multiple tours and activities such as a Tribal Tour, Underground House Tour, day hiking, night hiking, snorkeling, scuba Diving, SUPing / Paddle Boarding, and Freediving. You can search for more tours through Klook here or KKday here. 

Scooter Rental:
Price: expect 500 NT per day.
​You can book a scooter through Klook here or KKday here. ​
Be sure to book your rental in advance, especially during summer weekends. Ask for help from your hostel owner if needed.
I am 100% percent certain you do not need a Taiwan local license to rent scooters here, however they may ask for an international license (but I'm fairly sure they will let you rent without one).
Helmet wearing is not enforced at all as you will quickly find, but it's still the law.
Also be careful to not hit any goats because they wander as they please.
There is only one gas station next to Kaiyuan Fishing Harbor.

Car Rental:
Price: expect 2000 NT per day.
You can rent a car for Lanyu on KKday here. 

Bicycle Rental:
Price: Bike rental is about 400 NT per day.
You can rent a bike for Lanyu on KKday here. 

Accommodation:
Booking accommodation on the island can be difficult in summer months and on weekends, when rooms can be fully booked for months in advance.
There is a nice selection of rooms on Agoda.
Here is a list of every registered hostel on the island, but it is in Chinese.
​My hostel required that I pay for my room in advance via bank wire transfer (this may not be an option if you are a foreign traveler, so make sure they accept credit cards if you do not have a Taiwan bank account).
Expect to pay 2000 - 4000 NT per night for a standard double room on Lanyu. 

You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here.  

Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

Map:
​Please see below:

Nanjichang Night Market (南機場夜市) is a large night market area in Zhongzheng District of Taipei known for its variety of food stalls and local crowds. The night market sits far away from the MRT station, meaning that usually only locals will snack here and prices are generally cheaper. Popular foods here include meatballs, sesame flatbread, stinky tofu, and more. It is definitely an authentic Taipei night market experience. 

Table of Contents

• Historical Background:
• Hours:
• Price:
• Where to stay:
• Activities in Taipei:
• How to get there:
• Map:
• Full List of Stalls at the Night Market:
• Our Journey:
• Fubin Teppanyaki and Steak 福賓牛排鐵板燒
• Aliang Dumplings 阿亮餃
• 072 Unnamed Clay Oven Rolls 無名推車燒餅

Historical Background:
Nanjichang Night Market Market was first established on February 3, 1986. Its name originates from the fact that before the construction of Taipei Songshan Airport, this area was used as an airport during the Japanese era, hence the name “Nanjichang” (literally meaning Southern Airport).
Later on during the ROC era, several public housing communities here for the families of the Republic of China military personnel were constructed over the former airstrip. Over time, due to the large number of people frequenting the area, a variety of food stalls gathered here, gradually developing into the bustling Nanjichang Night Market.
Known for its affordable and reasonably priced food, Nanjichang Night Market mainly serves local residents instead of tourists. Most of the stalls here are independently operated, and most of the vendors sell food.
Notable foods here include “ba-wan” (Taiwanese meatballs) which were featured on CNN, as well as the Michelin Guide recommendations for sesame flatbread, stinky tofu, spring rolls, and sesame oil chicken.
Although it is called a “night market,” some vendors operate throughout the morning, afternoon, and evening.
The night market is usually not too crowded even on weekends and holidays.

Hours:
Roughly 5 PM to 12 PM.

Price:
Free

Where to stay:
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: The night Market is between Xizang Road and Nanhao Road in Zhongzheng District. There is limited 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: From Taipei Main Station, you can take bus 249 right to the night market. The trip takes about 15 minutes. 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 to see:

Willie’s Deli is an American-style deli and grocery store in Tianmu, Beitou District, Taipei City. The deli sells American-style beef and pork sandwiches, and the store often sells imported products from the USA and Europe that are much sought-after by foreigners in Taiwan. If you are missing products from the USA or Europe, then this store is definitely worth a stop.

Table of Contents

• Historical Background:
• Hours:
• Activities:
• Tours:
• Where to Stay:
• How to get there:
• Map:
• Our Journey:

Historical Background:
Willie’s Deli has been in business since 1979 and has specialized in providing products for the expat community in Taipei.

Hours:
11 AM to 9 PM
Closed Tuesdays

Activities:
Besides soaking in hot springs, there are many activities available in Beitou such as Rock Climbing, Water Skiing, Kani Kimono Rental, Escape Experience, Beitou Museum, and more on Klook here or KKday here. 
Tours:You can check out tours to Beitou such as a Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour, Beitou and Yeliu Day Tour, Beitou and Tamsui Day Tour, Beitou and National Palace Museum Tour, Beitou Muslim Friendly Tour, Beitou Arts and Culture Tour, Flower Season Tour, and more on Klook here or KKday here.
You can also check out the Beitou Fun Package from KKday which includes a one-day transportation coupon, hot spring coupon, and coupon for over 8 souvenir shops in Beitou.

Where to Stay:
High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). 
We also recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Budget Hotels: We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
​
How to get there:
By MRT/Bus: 
Take the MRT to Zhishan MRT station. From there you can take the 616 bus to Sanyu Temple stop. You can book tickets to travel to Taipei via inter-city bus on Klook here. 
By Car/Scooter: 
From downtown Taipei, take Provincial Highway 2 north to Shipai Road and turn east until it turns into Tianmu Road. There is limited paid parking nearby. Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? Check out Klook here, or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Bicycle: 
Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. 

Map:
​Please see a map below:

Taiwan has some delicious sweets and desserts; even if you are a picky American like me you can find something delicious here that you will be sure to miss if you ever leave. Desserts are one of the main things that has brought me back to Taiwan time and time again. Here I will list my favorite Taiwan desserts. Try not to drool too much on your screen or keyboard. 
You may also want to check out our Taiwan food guide here.
​
Table of Contents

• My Food Journey in Taiwan:
• Taipei Food Related Tours:
• Traditional Taiwanese Desserts 傳統的台灣甜點：
  • Mango Ice 芒果冰 (Mángguǒ bīng)
  • Fruit Shaved Ice 水果冰 (Shuǐguǒ bīng)
  • Milk-based Shaved Ice 雪花冰 (Xuěhuā bīng)
  • Fruit Ice Pops 水果冰棒 (shuǐ guǒ bīng bàng)
  • Pineapple Cakes 鳳梨酥 (fèng lí sū)
  • Moon Cakes 月餅 (yuè bǐng)
  • Egg Tarts 蛋塔 (dàn tǎ)
  • Old-Fashioned Sponge Cakes 古早味蛋糕 (gǔzǎo wèi dàngāo)
  • Baked Flatbread 燒餅 (shāo bǐng)
  • Dorayaki (銅鑼燒) (Tóngluó shāo)
  • Taro Cake Roll 芋頭卷 (Yùtóu juǎn)
  • Taro Cake 芋頭餅 (Yùtóu bǐng)
  • Dirty Chocolate Bread 髒髒包 (zāng zāng bāo)
  • Pineapple Bread (菠蘿麵包 bō luó miàn bāo)
  • Longan Muffins 龍眼瑪芬 (lóngyǎn mǎfēn)
  • Taiwanese Bread in General 一般的台灣麵包 (yī bān de tái wān miàn bāo)
  • Wife Cake / Sun Cake 老婆餅 (lǎo pó bǐng) / 太陽餅 (tài yáng bǐng)
  • Other Traditional Cakes in Taiwan 其他傳統蛋糕 (qítā chuántǒng dàngāo)
  • Steamed Buns 饅頭 (mántou) / 包子 (bāozi)
  • Shaved Ice 剉冰/刨冰 (Cuò bīng / Páobīng)
  • Milk Peanut Soup 花生湯 (Huāshēng tāng)
  • Eight Treasures Congee 八寶粥 (Bābǎo zhōu)
  • Mochi / Muaji 麻糬 (Máshǔ)
  • Strawberry Red Bean Mochi / Ichigo Daifuku 草莓大福 (cǎoméi dàfú)
  • Mangoes 芒果 (máng guǒ)
  • Taiwan Fruits in General 水果 (shuǐ guǒ)
  • Water Chestnuts 菱角 (Língjiǎo)
  • Alkaline Dumplings 鹼粽 (jiǎn zòng)
  • Wheel Cake / Imagawayaki 車輪餅 (Chēlún bǐng)
  • Egg Cake / Mahulu 雞蛋糕 (Jīdàn gāo)
  • Tangyuan 湯圓 (Tāngyuán)
  • Red Bean Soup 紅豆湯
  • Taro Ball Soup 芋圓湯 (Yùyuán tāng)
  • Jellied Tofu 豆花 (Dòuhuā)
  • Taiwanese Doughnuts 台式甜甜圈 (Táishì tián tiánquān)
  • Ox Horn Bread 牛角麵包 (Niújiǎo miànbāo)
  • Fried Dough Twist / Mahuajuan 麻花捲 (Máhuā juǎn)
  • Peanut Ice Cream Burrito 花生卷 (Huāshēng juǎn)
  • Taro Smoothie 芋頭冰沙 (Yùtóu bīngshā)
  • ALWAYS Jumping Candy (跳跳糖 tiào tiào táng)
  • Taiwan Ring Pop 台灣戒指糖 (táiwān jièzhǐ táng)
• Non-traditional Desserts 非傳統的台灣甜點 (fēi chuán tǒng de tái wān tián diǎn)
  • Chocolate Dumplings from Din Tai Feng 鼎泰豐巧克力小籠包 (Dǐng Tài Fēng qiǎokèlì xiǎolóngbāo)
  • Mr. Donut 
  • Koko Krunch 可可脆片 (kě kě cuì piàn)
  • Boba Pizza 珍珠披薩 (zhēnzhū pī sà)
  • Other Weird Pizza Flavors 其他奇怪的披薩口味 (qí guài de pī sà kǒu wèi)
  • Choco Pies / Moon Pies 巧克力派 (qiǎo kè lì pài)
  • Doraemon Mini Cakes 哆啦A梦小蛋糕 (Duō lā A mèng xiǎo dàn gāo)
  • Banana Roti 香蕉薄餅 (xiāng jiāo bó bǐng)
  • Specialty Oreos
  • Pokemon Strawberry Creme Oreo
  • Pikachu Banana Chocolate Flavored Oreos
  • Lychee Orange Oreos
  • Cinnamon Roll Oreos
  • Cheesecake Oreos
  • Darlie Toothpaste Cake
  • Chocolate Fountain Fondue 巧克力噴泉 (qiǎo kè lì pēn quán)
• Sweet Beverages 含糖飲料 (hántáng yǐnliào)
  • Boba Milk Tea 珍珠奶茶
  • Fruit Milk 水果牛奶 (Shuǐguǒ niúnǎi)
  • Winter Melon Tea 冬瓜茶 (dōng guā chá)
  • Grass Jelly Tea 仙草茶 (Xiāncǎo chá)
  • Aiyu Jelly 愛玉 (ài yù)
  • Other Sweet Teas in Taiwan 台灣其他甜的茶 (Táiwān qítā tián de chá)
  • Yogurt Drink 養樂多 (Yǎnglèduō) / 多多 (duōduō)
  • Yogo Fresh 建酪 (jiàn lào)
  • Apple Sidra 蘋果西打 (Píngguǒ xī dǎ)
  • Vitali 維大力 (Wéi dàlì)
  • Heisong Yogurt Soda 活力乳酸汽水 (Huólì rǔsuān qìshuǐ)
  • Taisugar Sarsaparilla Soda 台糖加鹽沙士 (Táitáng jiā yán shāshì)
  • Heisong Saspurilla With Extra Salt 黑松沙士加鹽 (Hēisōng shāshì jiā yán)
  • Super Supau 舒跑 (Shūpǎo)
  • Pocari Sweat 寶礦力水得 (Bǎokuànglì Shuǐdé)
• Soft-Serve Ice Cream 雪淇淋 (Xuěqílín)
  • Mango Pikachu Soft-Serve Ice Cream
  • Taro Soft-Serve Ice Cream
  • Tofu Soft-Serve Ice Cream
  • Papaya Soft-Serve Ice Cream
  • Cactus Soft-Serve Ice Cream
  • Strawberry Milk Soft-Serve Ice Cream
  • Sweet Potato Soft-Serve Ice Cream
  • Peach Soft-Serve Ice Cream
  • Toilet Soft-Serve Ice Cream
  • Bamboo Soft-Serve Ice Cream
  • Calpis (可爾必思 Kě ěr bì sī) Soft-Serve Ice Cream
  • Mint Soft-Serve Ice Cream
  • Strawberry and Grape Soft-Serve Ice Cream
  • Chocolate and Milk Soft-Serve Ice Cream

​My Food Journey in Taiwan:

Beitou is one of the best day trips near Taipei and a popular tourist location. As a result, many restaurants have opened in the area, especially around Xinbeitou MRT Station. In this guide, we will tell you how to enjoy food in this area like a local and eat your way through Beitou.
Please note that this is not a comprehensive guide. For the latest prices, opening hours, and other information, you should check Google.
​
Table of Contents

• Historical Background:
• Hours:
• Activities:
• Tours:
• Where to Stay:
• How to get there:
• Map:
• Marshal Zen Garden 雙喜湯屋
• Hot Spring Ramen 溫泉拉麵
• New Enjoy 新上享
• Restaurants Often Recommended by Taiwanese Bloggers:
  • Beitou Bomb Scallion Pancake 北投炸彈蔥油餅
  • Chen Ji Fried Chicken: Most Popular Local Snack 陳季炸雞：在地最夯排隊美食
  • Feng Qing Yang Snack Shop 丰清揚小吃店
  • Wu Jia Beef Noodles 吳家牛肉麵
  • A Zai Cai Braised Pork Rice 矮仔財滷肉飯
  • Traditional Tofu Pudding Hall 傳統之最豆花堂
  • Shui Mou Small Squid Rice Noodles 水某小卷米粉
  • Royal Pool Hot Spring Feast Restaurant 皇池溫泉御膳館
  • Zhuzihu Sawmill Restaurant 竹子湖杉木林餐廳
  • Zhuzihu Guan Chen Food Court 竹子湖冠宸食館
  • Miaobang 苗榜
  • Mountain Talk 山上聊
  • Good Morning Warriors 早安勇士
  • Sheme House 拾米屋
  • Su Family Beef Noodles 粟家牛肉麵
  • No Sleep Workshop (無眠workshop)
  • Han Qi Meat Soup 漢奇肉羹
  • Yummy Vegan Home 芽米日子
• Other Restaruants Near the MRT Station:
  • McDonald's Beitou 麥當勞北投店
  • Manwei Hot Spring Ramen 滿味溫泉拉麵
  • STARBUCKS Guangming Shop 星巴克光明門市
  • Burger King 漢堡王北投光明店
  • Ootoya Xinbeitou Restaurant 大戶屋新北投店
  • Sushi Express Xinbeitou Branch 爭鮮迴轉壽司-新北投店
  • KFC Beitou Guangming 肯德基北投光明餐廳
  • Yoshinoya Beitou 吉野家北投店
  • Hu Xu Zhang 鬍鬚張魯肉飯(北投光明店)
  • MOS BURGER Beitou Guangming Shop 摩斯漢堡 北投光明店
• Conclusion:

Marshall Zen Garden (also known as Shaoshuai Zen Garden 少帥展館) was originally a Japanese era Inn and home to Zhang Xueliang, an outcast Chinese warlord who spent more than 50 years on house arrest here. Now it has been renovated and converted into a restaurant, museum, and hot spring bath. Sitting in the hills of Beitou, it has great views of the surrounding area and Mount Guanyin. It is a great place to enjoy the scenery in Beitou.
​
Table of Contents

• Historical Background:
• Hours:
• Price:
• How to get there:
• Where to stay in Beitou:
• Map:
• Our Journey:

​Historical Background:Marshall Zen Garden was originally known as Xintaka Inn 新高旅社 which was built in 1920. Later, during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, served as a comfort station for Kamikaze pilots before their suicide missions. In the 1960s, Zhang Xueliang 張學良, the “Young Marshal” (Shaoshuai 少帥 in Chinese) who was placed under house arrest by Chiang Kai-shek, and also lived here in seclusion with his wife, Zhao Yidi 趙一荻.
Zhang Xueliang, who lived through significant moments in Chinese modern history, was born in 1901 and was the son of a Chinese Warlord. After his father’s assassination by the Japanese in 1928, Zhang Xueliang took over leadership and played a critical role in the unification of China.
Zhang initiated the Xi’an Incident. The Xi’an Incident occurred in December 1936, when Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng detained Chiang Kai-shek to force him to stop the civil war against the Chinese Communist Party. They demanded that Chiang focus on uniting with the communists to resist the growing threat of Japanese invasion. As a result, Chiang harbored deep hatred for Zhang especially because of losses during the Chinese Civil War, and kept him under house arrest for more than 50 years.
Following the suggestion of Soong Mei-ling and with the approval of Chiang Ching-kuo, Zhang purchased the land with his own money and built a residence. He remained there until 1995, when he moved to Hawaii and sold the property. Xueliang passed away in Honolulu in 2001, at the age of 101, concluding a life that spanned a century and mirrored China’s turbulent history.
Marshal Zen Garden is now a popular spot for tourists and can get crowded on the weekends.

Love At First Bite was a Chicago-style pizza restaurant in Da'an District of Taipei. It was known as the best Chicago-style pizza in Taipei. After 9 years of operations, the restaurant closed after their lease with the landlord ended. Hopefully, the restaurant will open again in a new location soon. 

Background: 
Love At First Bite opened in 2014 and closed on November 12th, 2023.
The boss suggested that a new location would open soon, but no further information has been given.

Hours:
Permanently Closed

How to get there:
It's closed. No longer open. You can't get there anymore. 

Taipei City Mall, also known as Taipei Underground Street, Miki Plaza, Y District Underground Mall, Y區地下街, or Taipei Main Underground Shopping Street 台北地下街 英文介紹, is the largest underground shopping area in Taiwan roughly between and around the underground red line Zhongshan MRT, Airport MRT, and Taipei Main Station. It is like four shopping malls in one. Here one can purchase clothing, toys, electronics, handicrafts, and more. Its location underground between underground public transportation rail lines makes it a convenient and popular place for shoppers. In this blog, we will share our experience including a detailed map of the area.

Background:
Taipei City Mall opened on March 29, 2000, and is one of several underground shopping streets in Taipei. The mall provided relocation space for 810 tenants from the Zhonghua Shopping Mall which was demolished in 1992.
The Taipei Underground Mall is located beneath Section 1 of Civic Boulevard (Zhengzhou Road), stretching from Beimen Station on the Taipei Metro Songshan-Xindian Line to the Tamsui-Xinyi Line. The mall spans 825 meters and covers an area of 35,738 square meters.
The Taipei Underground Mall has a total of 28 entrances and exits, 14 on the north side and 14 on the south side. All are labeled with the letter Y. 
Taipei City Mall is even known as the “Akihabara of Taipei”. In addition, Taipei City Mall is open throughout the year and is unaffected by changes in weather. It is a great place for kids and families.
It also connects with the Zhongshan Underground Mall, Taipei Station Mall, and Station Front Mall. 
The area includes Taipei Underground Street Mall (Zone Y), MRT Zhongshan Underground Mall (Zone R), Zhongshan Underground Book Street (Zone R), Station Front Metro Mall (Zone Z), Taipei Main Station Underground Mall (Zone M), and Xinzhongshan Linear Park. There are endless toy shops, video game stores, clothing stores, bookstores, and restaurants in the area.

Price:
Free

Hours:
​About 11 AM to 9:30 PM every day.
Hours of individual shops may differ.

Tours in Taipei:
There are many tour itineraries that you can enjoy in Taipei that will take you to multiple destinations and arrange transportation. For more information, you can check out KKday here or Klook here which are both great tour websites that can connect you with the right tour and tour guide for you. 

Activities in Taipei:
Indoor Skiing, Rock Climbing, Hiking, Wakeboarding, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking,  River Tracing / Canyoneering, ATVing, Horse Riding, Cooking Class, Archery, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Tree Climbing, Urban Camping, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Dragon Boat Racing, Escape Room, Shen'ao Rail Bike, Laser Gun Experience, Batting Cages, Bowling, Paintball, Flight Simulation Experience, Taipei Tram Driving Experience, Rail Simulation Experience, Taipei 101 Observation Deck activity, Strawberry Picking, Professional Photo Shoot, Body Relaxation SPA, Night Tour, Calligraphy Workshop and more on Klook here or KKday here. ​

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

How to get there:
By MRT: You can access the underground mall via Beimen MRT Station, Taipei Main Station, Zhongshan MRT Station, or Shuanglian MRT Station. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. 
By Car/Scooter: There is paid parking nearby Taipei Main Station. 
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or  KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? Click here or here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. 
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike bike 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. ​
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. 

Map:
Please see below:

Mangoes are one of the best aspects of living in Taiwan. Taiwan mangoes are the best. They are simply the king of fruit. Also, many mango varieties can only be found in Taiwan. The only downside is Mango season only lasts for a few short months during the summer in Taiwan. In this guide, we…Read More

If you are interested in other Taiwan fruits, you can also check out our full Taiwan fruit guide here.
Table of Contents:

• History of Mangoes in Taiwan 台灣芒果的歷史
• How Mangoes are Grown and Cultivated 芒果的培育
• Where Mangoes are Grown in Taiwan 台灣的芒果故鄉在哪裡?
• Nutritional Value of Mangoes 芒果的養分
• Where Taiwan Mangoes are Sold and How to Buy Them 怎麼買台灣芒果
  • Taiwan Weights and Pricing (重量與價錢):
  • Seasonality of Mangoes (水果季節性):
  • Ceremonial Use (祭拜品)
• Common Types of Taiwan Mangoes 常見的台灣芒果
  • Irwen Mango (愛文芒果, Ài wén máng guǒ)
  • Jinhuang Mango (金煌芒果, Jīn huáng máng guǒ)
  • Summer Snow (Xiaxue) Mango (夏雪芒果, Xià xuě máng guǒ)
  • Keitt Mangoes (凱特芒果, kǎi tè máng guǒ)
  • Red Keitt Mangoes (紅凱特芒果, hóng kǎi tè máng guǒ)
  • Yuwen Mango (玉文芒果, Yù wén máng guǒ)
  • Xishi Mango (西施芒果, Xī shī máng guǒ)
  • Heixiang Mango (黑箱芒果, Hēi xiāng máng guǒ)
  • Peach Mango (水蜜桃芒果, Shuǐ mì táo máng guǒ)
  • Pipa Mango (枇杷芒果, Pí pá máng guǒ)
• Other types of Mangos in Taiwan 其他芒果品種
• Comparison Chart of Taiwan Mangoes 台灣芒果對照表
• How to Eat and Enjoy Mangoes 芒果的吃法
  • The Proper Way to Cut Mangoes 芒果正確的切法
  • Mango Ice 芒果冰
  • Mango Soft Serve 芒果雪淇淋
  • Mango Pizza 芒果披薩
  • Other Awesome Ways to Enjoy Mango 其他吃法
• Taiwan Food and Fruit-Related Tours 台灣食物之旅遊

Some people out there may confuse Taiwan with Thailand, however they are two very different countries. In fact, there are so many differences that we can’t even list them in this article. To help you differentiate between Taiwan and Thailand, we have laid out the key differences that you need to know here. I have…Read More

le of Contents

• Location
• Size
• Shape
• Population
• Language
• Religion
• Culture
  • Thai Culture:
  • Taiwanese Culture:
• Festivals
• Economy
• Currency
• Taxation
  • Personal Income Tax
  • Corporate Tax
• Immigration
  • Visitor Visas
  • Resident Visas
  • Digital Nomad Visas
  • Permanent Residency
  • Retirement Visas
• Geography
  • Taiwan's Geography
  • Thailand's Geography
• Climate
  • Air Pollution
• Travel and Tourism
  • What's the Difference Between Taiwan and Thailand for Traveling?
  • What are Thailand and Taiwan famous for?
• Thai vs. Taiwanese Cuisine
  • Thai Cuisine
  • Taiwanese Cuisine
• Hotels and Accommodation
• Car and Scooter Rentals
• Public Transportation
• Hiking
• Cycling
• Beaches
• Politics
• Gay marriage
• Marijuana
• Capital Cities: Taipei & Bangkok

​Taiwan is located in East Asia, straddling the Tropic of Cancer. It is positioned to the east of China, with Japan and Korea lying to its north, and the Philippines situated to its south. Taiwan’s strategic location in the Western Pacific makes it a significant hub in the region, offering a blend of tropical and subtropical climates.
In contrast, Thailand is situated in the heart of Southeast Asia, just below the Tropic of Cancer. It shares its borders with several countries: to the west and northwest is Myanmar, to the south lies Malaysia, and to the east are Laos and Cambodia. Thailand’s central location in Southeast Asia makes it a crossroads of diverse cultures and influences, with a fully tropical climate and rich biodiversity.

Mid-Autumn Festival (aka Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival) is one of the major festivals in Taiwan and is also an important holiday in cultures throughout Southeast Asia. In this blog, we will tell you how this festival is celebrated in Taiwan, how you can celebrate it, as well as other activities that will take place…Read More

May Hakka Snow Hakka Food (五月雪-客家私房珍釀) restaurant is a Michelin-star-rated traditional restaurant in Xinyi District of Taipei City. Popular dishes here include salt chicken, braised pork, cuttlefish, and more. It is definitely worth a trip if you are in Taipei...Read More

Hakka Kitchen (廚房客家美食) is a traditional Hakka Chinese restaurant inside a more commercial district of Zhongshan district, on an alley with many other food options near Nanjing Fuxing MRT Station on the Green Line. The defining feature of the restaurant is the giant photo of Jensen Huang, apparently the most important person to ever eat…Read More

Luodong Night Market is the largest night market in Yilan and is one of the area's top tourist destinations. The night market covers a large area and usually is packed with people. Delicacies here include mutton soup, shaved ice, duck noodles, and onion pancakes. It is definitely worth a visit on your next trip to Yilan.

Background:
Luodong Night Market was created in 1990 as part of the local government's plan. The main part of the night market was built in front of a movie theater, so moviegoers could go get food after seeing a movie. Soon a few stalls became many, and the night market soon turned into the large sprawling area that we see today. The night market covers areas along Minsheng Road, Gongyuan Road, and Minquan Road, and also sprawls onto Tianjin Road, Zhentai Street, Xingdong Street, and Zhongshan Road Section 3. 

Hours:
3 PM to 12 AM every day.

Price:
Free

Tours and Activities:
You can purchase tours and tickets for many activities in Yilan such as Lanyang Museum, Turtle Island, Yilan Children's Festival, Toucheng Leisure Farm, Daxi Fishing Port, Caoling Tunnel, and many others through KKday here or Klook here. 

Accommodation:
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands.
We have stayed at and recommend Ying Shih Guest House, a resort in Datong Township near Taipingshan and Fan Fan Hot Spring (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), and Jiaosi Hotspring Hotel, a hotel with hot springs in each room (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, or Trip.com here). We have also stayed at Toucheng Leisure Farm, a recreational farm and experience center in Toucheng (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, on Klook here, or on Trip.com here).

How to get there:
Bar Car/Scooter: From National Freeway 5, turn west on provincial highway 9 toward Luodong. There is paid parking near Zhongshan Park. Looking for scooter rental in Yilan? 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 Yilan, you can also search KKday here or Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. 
By TRA: The night market is about 200 meters away from Luodong TRA station. You can book tickets to travel to Yilan via inter-city bus on KKday here.. You can book tickets to Yialn via high speed rail (HSR)  on KKday here.  
Bicycle rental: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here, and search for tours on KKday here or Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. ​

Map:
Please see below: