Yilan is a gem on Taiwan's northeast coast. It has rugged mountains, waterfalls, a flat coastal plain, a volcanic island, hot springs, and some of the best beaches in Taiwan. In addition you can find night markets, seafood markets, museums, and much more to explore here. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taiwan.
Historical Background of Yilan: Before Chinese settlers came, the area around Yilan was inhabited by the Ketagalan Aboriginal tribe, whose language is now extinct. The name Yilan comes from this language. The town Toucheng literally means "first town" in Chinese, because it was the first settlement in Yilan, settled in the late 1700s. With the nearby Wushih and Touwei Harbors around the same time, it became the economic focal point of Yilan. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s Wushih Harbor and Touwei Harbor silted in, reducing their function. With the advent of the Japanese-built Yilan railway line in the mid-1900's, as well as constant floods and continual silting of the harbors, Toucheng Old Street quickly lost its importance economically and fell into decay. The Japanese also built logging railways up to Taipingshan to harvest lumber. The first path between Yilan and Hualien was a trail built in the Qing Dynasty that was completed in 1876, in order for the Qing to better control aboriginal peoples on the east coast. Later after Japan took control of Taiwan, they widened the path and built 9 bridges and 14 tunnels along the way, making it drivable for cars (one way only) by 1932. Because much of the road was next to cliffs that underwent constant landslides, it was considered one of the most dangerous roads in the world at the time. In the 1980s the ROC government further widened the road, and the two-lane highway was completed in 1990. In 2020, the section of road between Su'ao and Dong'ao was bypassed by a tunnel. Currently Yilan has a population of over 450,000. An High-Speed Rail extension is planned for Yilan, and is expected to be completed by 2036. When to go? The best weather in Yilan lasts from about March-November. During winter months there is constant rain due to the northeasterly winds. How get to Yilan? You can book tickets to travel to Yilan via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Yialn 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 Yilan? As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. However, you can also a great deal of Yilan by taking the TRA train, 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 Yilan? You can search Klook here or KKday here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. Car Rental: If you are looking for car rentals in Yilan, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide 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 Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. Tours and Activities: You can purchase tours and tickets for many activities in Yilan such as Su'ao Crayon Castle, Taipingshan, Turtle Island, International Children's Festival, Lanyang Museum, Toucheng Leisure Farm, Zhang Mei Ama Capybura Farm, Bambi Land, Yinong Ranch, National Center for Traditional Arts, Taxi Museum, Glamping, Camping, ATV / 4-wheeling experience, SUP / paddle boarding, Ximeng Forest Theater, Surfing, Kayaking, Horse Riding, River Tracing, River Rafting, River Tubing, Pack Rafting, Water Biking, Snorkeling, Canoeing, Shrimping and many others through Klook here or KKday here. Accommodation: 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). We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the islands. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. 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 find a map of places we will cover in this blog below:
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Taipei is home to some of Taiwan's most magnificent waterfalls, and most of them are just a short trip away. Here we have compiled a list of the most easily accessible waterfalls around Taipei.
Please note this is not an exhaustive list. There are many more waterfalls in Taipei than are listed in this blog. Get out there and discover Taipei's waterfalls for yourself! Safety Tips When Visiting Waterfalls:
Basic Taipei Travel Tips:
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 also recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Agoda here, or Kayak 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, Agoda here, or Kayak 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, 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. 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 and many more attractions on Klook here or KKday here. Activities in Taipei: You can also 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. 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: 
Hsinchu is not only Taiwan's technological hub, but is also rich with historical sights, Hakka culture, and natural beauty. It has numerous old streets, preserved Japanese-era and Qing-era buildings, zoos, mountains, lakes, rivers, beaches, and much more to explore. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taiwan.
History of Hsinchu: After the settlement of the area by Han Chinese farmers in about 1711, what was then known as Zhuqianshe became the most important economic area in northern Taiwan. By 1723, a walled city was built here out of bamboo, because brick walls were forbidden for fear of a revolt against the Qing authorities. The name Zhuqiancheng (竹塹城) literally means bamboo moat city. The bamboo-walled city had four gates and its perimeter was about 1.4 KM long. In 1806, the city was upgraded with earthen walls. In 1828, the city walls and gates were finally made into brick, with the perimeter covering 2.7 KM, and walls 5 meters high, the center of the city being the Chenghuang City God Temple. In 1901, the Japanese government decided to redesign the City of Hsinchu and destroyed all the gates and walls except the existing East Gate. In the ROC era, the Hsinchu Science Park was established in 1980 under President Chiang Jingkuo, and was made to model silicon valley. TSMC, Taiwan's most important corporation, was formed in 1987 with its headquarters in the park and created a technological hub, making Hsinchu indispensable to Taiwan's economy. When to visit: It is best to visit from April to November when the weather is warm and less windy. There is a constant, cold northeasterly wind from December to March especially along the coast. However, the winter in general is more dry. Where to stay: Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you will only visit downtown, you can consider a day trip from Taipei. We have stayed at and recommend the Golden Motel a high quality motel near Green Grass Lake (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia here, or Trip.com here), and CD Motel, another high quality motel in downtown Hsinchu (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, or Trip.com here). Unfortunately I cannot recommend any further hotels that I have stayed at in Hsinchu because usually we stay at my wife's uncle's house. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. How get to Hsinchu? You can book tickets to travel to Hsinchu via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Hsinchu 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 Hsinchu: As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. However, you can also a great deal of Hsinchu by taking the train, 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 Hsinchu? You can search Klook here or KKday here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. Car Rental: If you are looking for car rentals in Hsinchu, 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 search on KKday here and Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Hsinchu such as You can find more tours and activities in Hsinchu such as river tracing, wild hot springs, white water kayaking, backpack rafting, Little Ding Dong Theme Park, Leofoo Village Theme Park, Window on China Theme Park, glamping, camping, stone spa, horse riding, Yukids Island, Tom and Bei Bei Parent Child Paradise, bee keeping experience, cycling, dried persimmons experience, Jump Wave Trampoline Park 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. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. Map: See below for a map of places we will cover in this blog: 
Yangmingshan National Park is a mountainous area in Taipei and New Taipei, known for its volcanic activity, hiking trails, wildlife, waterfalls, hot springs, and sulfur vents. It is definitely worth a stop on your trip to Taipei.
Historical Background: The area known as Yangmingshan now was formed by volcanoes about 700,000 years ago, forming many mountains about 1000 meters or less in northwestern Taiwan. The park still features active volcanoes, vents, and hot springs. The original name of the area was Caoshan (grass mountain 草山). During the Qing Dynasty, the area was used to harvest sulfur, and many of the hills were burned to help catch sulfur thieves, Qingtiangang likely being one of these areas. Sulfur mining was started in the Qing Dynasty by a British mining company that first obtained the rights to mine here in 1897. In 1927 during the Japanese era, Yangmingshan was made as the first national park in Taiwan, then known as Datunshan National Park Association. The area around Qingtiangang to Lengshuikeng was made into a ranch for water buffalo, and grass from Japan was planted here for them to graze. In 1950 after the ROC took Taiwan, Chiang Kai-shek renamed the park after the philosopher Wang Yangming, and called the area Yangmingshan. The KMT kept the ranch at Qingtiangang and continued to maintain it. They also built bunkers here and kept a garrison of troops. In 1985, after resolving many land disputes, Yangmingshan National Park was officially designated as a national park in the ROC era. Due to its easy accessibility from Taipei and many natural attractions, it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Taipei City. Most visitors come on weekends, and it has parking lots and visitor's centers throughout the park. Hours: The visitor's centers are open from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. However you can visit the park 24/7. Price: Free entrance into the park (car parking 30-50 NT， scooter parking 20 NT) You can book tours to Yangmingshan on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here or here. Tours: You can check out tours to Yangmingshan such as a One-day Yangmingshan NP Beitou Hot Spring Park and Tamsui Tour Package, Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour from Taipei, One Day Hike around Yangmingshan, or Private Yangmingshan Volcano Tour and more on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. When to Go: Silver Grass Season: Mang Grass season goes from September to November. During this time you will be able to see silvery grass all over the mountain tops around the park. Cherry Blossom Season: Cherry blossoms can be seen in the park from February to late March. Snowfall: Once every few years it can snow here from December to February. The snow usually only lasts a day or two and melts away quickly. Best Weather: In my opinion, the best weather is in the summer when constant rain makes the air cleaner, and summer mornings are usually clear. Be sure to start hiking in the morning for the best views and sunshine, as afternoon thundershowers are common. 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. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From Taipei, take provincial highway 2A north to the park, where you can see the main attractions such as Zhuzihu, Qixingshan, Datunshan, Qingtiangang, etc. There are many parking lots, but car parking is limited on weekends and the number of cars allowed up the mountain is also limited. There is also paid scooter parking. On weekends this place can be packed, and cars can be backed up for up to an hour or more, so consider taking a scooter or bus. Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? Check out Qeeq here, 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: From Beitou MRT Station, Take Little Bus 19 (小19), or another bus to the park. You can book tickets to travel to Taipei via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Taipei via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or 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. Map: See below for a map of places mentioned in this blog: 
The Matsu Archipelago is a group of small islands off the coast of China that belong to Taiwan. Acting for a long time as military outposts for Taiwan, the islands have recently opened to tourists. Here you can find traditional stone house villages, magical "blue tear" bioluminescent phenomena, wild sika deer, military museums, a Mazu memorial park including the largest Mazu statue in the world, a variety of local food, and much more to explore.
Background: Thousands of years ago, stone aged peoples once inhabited the Matsu Islands. These stone aged people later disappeared. The Matsu islands were inhabited again around the Song Dynasty (990 - 1200 AD) by Chinese fisherman, the descendants of whom still inhabit the islands today. Because the Goddess Mazu's corpse washed ashore on this island, Nangan is also known as Matsu Island. During the Chinese Civil War, Matsu was used as a military outpost for the retreating ROC. During the years that followed, it withheld shelling and threats of invasion from China, helping to keep Taiwan free of communist control. In 1992 after cross-strait relations had warmed up, martial law was lifted on the islands and tourists were allowed to visit. In the year 2000, a ferry link with Fuzhou started to provide constant China Mainland visitors to the island, as part of the three links with China. In 1994 Beigan Airport was opened and was the only airport in Matsu for 9 years. In 2003, the Nangan Airport was opened, which significantly lowered the number of travelers to Beigan. However fast and convenient boat travel has made it so that most tourists travel to both islands. Matsu (or officially Lienchiang County of Fujian Province 連江縣) consists of 36 islands or islets, with 5 major islands: Nangan, Beigan, Xiju, Dongju, and Dongyin, and minor islands including Daqiu, Xiaoqiu, Gaodeng, and Liangdao. Nangan has a population of 4,000 people and is the largest island in Matsu in terms of population and geographical size. Beigan Island is the second largest island in Matsu (behind Nangan), and has a population of about 2,500. Xiju and Dongju Islands sit next to each other and have a combined population of 1,500 people. Dongyin is the third largest island in terms of size and population, with about 1,300 people. Daqiu is a small island near Beigan with a population of 1 human and about 300 wild sika deer. Xiaoqiu is another small uninhabited rocky islet next to Daqiu. Gaodeng Island and Liangdao Islands are also sizable islands in the chain but are military islands that are currently closed off to tourists. How to get there: The easiest way to get around the islands is to take a plane from Songshan Airport or by boat from Taipei or Keelung Nangan and then go island hopping from there. Nangan is the main transportation hub for all the islands. You can book flights to Matsu on Trip.com or CheapO Air. You can also search for cheap flights in Taiwan on Kiwi here. You can book ferry tickets to Matsu on KKday here. Dongyin Island: By Boat: There are daily ferries from Keelung Harbor that usually take an overnight trip to Nangan, passing through Dongyin Island. The price for a one-way ride is 400-2000 NT depending on the type of accommodation you want on the boat. Boats from Nangan leave twice a day and take 2 hours. The price for a one-way ride is 350 NT. Beigan Island: By Boat: There are boats from Nangan Fu'Ao Harbor (南竿福奧港) to Beigan Baisha Harbor (北竿白沙港) every hour from 7 AM to 5 PM. There are no daily routes to Beigan from other islands (except Daqiu). You can book tickets between Nangan and Beigan Islands on KKday here. By Plane: There are flights to and from Taipei Songshan Airport three times a day via Uni Air. You can book flights on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here. Daiqu Island: Public Ferry from Nangan Fu'Ao Harbor (福澳港) (April to October): 350 NT round trip per person （Stops at Baisha Harbor in Nangan) Nangan departure times: 9:50 AM, 1:30 PM, Daqiu departure times: 12:10 Noon, 3:40 PM Trip takes about 20 minutes. You can book a ferry to Daqiu Island on KKday here. Public Ferry from Beigan Qiaozi Harbor (橋仔港) (May to October): 300 NT round trip per person Beigan departure times: 8:30 AM, 2:30 PM, Daqiu departure times: 10:30 AM, 4:30 PM https://hotels.matsu.idv.tw/ferry.php Trip takes about 10 minutes. Chartered ferries: Around 300 NT per round trip. You can book tickets between Nangan and Beigan Islands on KKday here. Nangan Island: By Boat: There are daily ferries from Taipei or Keelung that usually take an overnight trip to Nangan, passing through Dongyin Island. There are boats from Beigan Baisha Harbor (北竿白沙港) to Nangan Fu'Ao Harbor (南竿福奧港) every hour from 7 AM to 5 PM. You can book tickets between Nangan and Beigan Islands on KKday here. By Plane: There are flights to and from Taipei Songshan Airport three times a day via Uni Air. You can book flights on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here. Dongju and Xiju Islands: By Boat: Ferries from Nangan leave every 3 hours, with three trips per day. The trip takes about an hour. Price is 200 NT one way. Price (to Nangan): By Boat: 500-2000 NT per person (one way from Taipei or Keelung) 160 NT per person (one way from Beigan) By Plane: About 2000 NT (one way from Taipei). There are flights to and from Taipei Songshan Airport three times a day via Uni Air. You can book flights on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here. How to get around the islands: Matsu has large, hilly islands and it would be very hard to get around on foot or bicycle. We recommend one of the following. By Ferries: The only way to get to smaller islands without airports is by ferry. You can check KKday here for ferry tickets or buy them at the harbor. By Scooter: We recommend riding a scooter as your #1 choice. It's fast, convenient, and there isn't much traffic on the island. A scooter will cost about 500 NT per day to rent. You can rent a scooter on Klook here or KKday here. When braking on hills, use both brakes, otherwise, you could lose traction on one tire and skid. Don't stop or park on a slope. Also, some hills that are too steep are closed off for scooters. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. By Car/Taxi: You can rent a car or hire a taxi for 200O NT per day. 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: There are buses that go around the islands, but wait times can be 30 minutes or more. 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. Hotels: We have stayed at and recommend Fu Hwa Homestay on Nangan (you can book on Agoda here, Booking,com here, or Trip.com here), and B&B of Blueshine on Beigan (you can book on Agoda here, Booking,com here, or Trip.com here). Both places were excellent, and provided us a car ride to and from the airport for free. You can also check out our Taiwan hotels guide here. Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the island. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. When to go: We recommend going between April and June when the "blue tear" phosphorescent microbes in the water will be the most visible at night. Also, winters can be cold and windy, and summers very hot, and there could also be typhoons in the summer and fall. Tours and Activities: Beihai Tunnel Rocking Boat: about 150 NT Blue Tears Museum: about 300 NT SUP/Paddle experience: about 2300 NT You can search for other tours and activities on KKday here or Klook 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: 
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:
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: 
Nantou lies at the heart of Taiwan and is it's only landlocked county. It is known for its rugged natural landscapes and mountains, and includes the highest mountain in East Asia. If you come to Taiwan you should definitely pass through this place and stop by at some of the sights we will mention below.
How to get around Nantou: As always, we recommend renting a scooter as the best way to see Taiwan. However, you can also a great deal of Miaoli by taking the train to Taichung then switching to 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 Nantou? Search 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, KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: You can book tickets to travel to Nantou via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can book tickets to Taichung via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here, or book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here, then switch to a bus to Nantou. 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 Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide 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. Tours: There are many tours and activities available in Nantou such as river Tracing, paragliding, Shanlinxi Forest Recreation Area 杉林溪, Cona's Chocolate Castle, Shuiyuan Suspension Bridge, JOJOZOO Park, and Aowanda Forest Recreation Area. You can find more tours of Nantou on Klook here or KKday here. Accommodation: We have stayed at and recommend Jenq Yang Hotspring Hotel (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Trip.com here, or Klook here), a hot spring hotel near the mystical Lushan hot spring, and Maple Leaf Holiday Villa (you can book on Agoda here, Booking.com here, Hotels.com here, Expedia.com here, Trip.com here, or Klook here), a lodge with a great view and within walking distance of Cingjing Farm. I also have stayed at and recommend Kirin Villa (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here), a mountain resort in Puli near Sun Moon Lake. 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 on the islands. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Map: Below is a map of these sites: 
Sixty Stone mountain (aka Liushidan Mountain) is a beautiful flower and mountain landscape on the eastern flank of the eastern rift valley in Hualien County. The annual Daylily flower blooms and amazing views of the Eastern Rift Valley attract thousands of tourists each summer. Some of the picturesque and beautiful views anywhere in Taiwan can be seen from this mountain.
Background: The main crop on Sixty Stone Mountain is the Orange Daylily (aka tawny dayliliy, hemerocallis, golden needle flower, etc.). Orange Daylily is a nutrient and iron-rich plant, and is traditionally used as a garnish, spice, and preservative. In addition it is also added as raw materiel for rice paper and Chines medicine. You can buy dried bags of the stuff all over the mountain and surrounding areas. According to some of the locals, Sixty Stone Mountain gets its name from the fact that instead of producing 50 stones (or dan, measure of flowers) per field, the fields on this mountain can produce 60 stones. Other people say that it is because during the Japanese Era, all the trees were cut down and there were 60 large boulders left on the mountain. Nowadays the Mountain is a major tourist attraction, and has been highly marketed by the Taiwan tourism bureau. You can find pictures from this mountain on almost any Taiwan tourism brochure. Hours: Technically open 24/7. When to go: We suggest going during the Orange Daylily flowering season, which is from about July to September. If you go from 3-5 PM you should see an awesome view of the sunset if the weather is good. How to get there: BY Car/Scooter: Take highway 9 south from Hualien. When you reach Dongzhu, there will be a sign to Sixty Stone Mountain just after the police station. The road up the mountain is small and closes after 6:00 PM. Only cars, small vans, and scooters are allowed up the road. There are many tour groups such as KKday here and Klook here that offer van rides up the mountain. Looking for a scooter rental in Hualien? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Hualien, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit Hualien City and Taroko Gorge, you can consider booking a hotel near downtown, walking or cycling around the city, and taking a bus to Taroko Gorge. We have stayed at and recommend Dream Taiwan Homestay (Agoda / Booking.com), a high quality hostel for the money in downtown Hualien, Farglory Hotel (Agoda / Booking.com), right next to Farglory Ocean Park with amazing views of Hualien, and Goldenflower B&B (Agoda / Booking.com) in Yuli right next to Sixty Stone Mountain. We have also stayed at and recommend the Papago International Resort in Chishang (you can book on Agoda here / Booking.com here), which is a five star hotel with private villas with pools for each room, and Mountain and Ocean B & B in Taimali (you can book on Agoda here / Booking.com here), which is a quiet and affordable B&B right next to the beach. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Tours: You can find more tours and activities in Hualien such as Surfing, Paragliding, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Canoeing, River Tracing, and much more on Klook here or KKday here. Map: Please see below: 
This month marks the 10th anniversary of this blog, so to celebrate I am making a blog tracing back our first round-island trip lasting 14 days and 13 nights made in 2014. During this journey we rented a car in Taipei, and circled Taiwan clockwise, visiting Taroko Gorge, Kenting, Xiaoliuqiu, Alishan, Sun Moon Lake, and many more places along the way. I am the kind of guy who likes to bask in nostalgia, but also I hope that laying out this experience in the open as well as the lessons we learned about travel in Taiwan along the way (and what I know now in 2024) will be helpful to other foreigners coming to Taiwan.
Some background on why this trip happened: This was not our first trip to Taiwan. Scott and I had been Latter-day Saint missionaries in Taiwan from 2011 to 2012 in the Taichung Mission, which covers Taichung to Pingtung but nothing north or east of that. We still had a lot of friends in Taiwan that we missed, we missed Taiwanese food, and there were the entire north and east parts of the island for us to explore. We decided it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tour Taiwan now because later on in our lives we would likely have work and family obligations that would not allow us to take a 14-day trip around Taiwan. Being poor college students at the time, we had a very limited budget (for reference, I was making 700 USD a month as a janitor and I could only save about half of that after rent and food). Originally another friend planned to come with us, but he backed out because he got married. Scott's brother Matt decided to come along too. Just so you know, Scott and I know Chinese, but Matt doesn't. It makes traveling easier to know the language but you can still get by in Taiwan without it. The Plane Ride: We took the cheapest flight available on Shenzhen Airlines, which had many flights for cheap to the US at the time. For 700 USD we bought a round trip from LA to Beijing to Taipei and back. Renting a car in Taiwan: Before we began our trip, we planned on rounding the island by Scooter. This can be a fun way to explore Taiwan. As a side note, you can book a Motorcycling experience on Klook here, or a half-day Motorbike Tour on KKday here. If you are looking for a multi-day, in-depth tour of Taiwan via motorbike, we recommend contacting [email protected] who schedules regular 10-day motorbike tours of Taiwan. The tour guide is a long-term expat in Taiwan who has been giving riding tours of Taiwan for 16 years now. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. After crunching the numbers, we figured that we could rent a car for just as cheap as three scooters, and we wouldn't have to worry about rain or luggage. A scooter would be 300 NT per day, and for three people 900 NT per day, but we found a car rental place that would rent us a small Nissan March for 700 NT a day (that car company was called Good Cars 固得汽車 in Zhonghe, you can find their information in our Taiwan Car Rental Guide here). After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport, we took a bus to Taipei and made our way to Zhonghe at a friend's house and picked up the rental car. At the end of the trip, we found the price was a few thousand NT more than we expected because of highway tolls (about 1.5 NT per kilometer). SIM Card: I bought a pre-paid SIM card from Taiwan Mobile for 500 TWD that lasted the whole trip. I think it was only a few GB of data, but I had a crappy phone and was not using much data. Map: Check out a map of places we visited on this trip below: 
Rugu Mountain in Taoyuan is popular for its amazing night views as well as panoramic views of the Taoyuan Plain. Here you can also find many tea and coffee shops on top of the mountain where you can enjoy the views. It is a great place to enjoy the landscape and natural scenery in Taoyuan.
Historical Background: The name Rugu means a woman's breast, and the mountain was named this because of its unique shape. Rugu is also the name of Mrs. Tang, from the Tang Dynasty, who breastfed her mother-in-law who had lost all her teeth due to old age, and is a symbol of filial piety in Chinese culture. The area around Rugu Mountain was settled by Hakka farmers from China, and many of the coffee shops and restaurants nearby serve Hakka food. There are also many tea plantations on the mountain due to abundant rainfall in the area. Rugu Mountain is 390 meters high. From the top of the mountain, you can enjoy views of the Dahan River Plain, Zhongli, Yangmei Qingpu, and Linkou, and on clear days you can even see Taipei City and the Taipei 101 fireworks. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free Where to stay: Looking for a hotel in Taoyuan? We recommend the Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport which has great service and is conveniently located right next to Taoyuan Airport, the MRT, and HSR station (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here). We also recommend the Fullon Hotel Taoyuan which also has great service and is located in downtown Taoyuan City (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.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. Activities in Taoyuan: Ice Skating, Rock Climbing, Mountain Climbing, Cycling, High Ropes, Ziplining, Archery, Vietnamese BBQ, Batting Cages, Glamping, Van Camping, Photo Shoot, Turkish Mosaic DIY, Thai Massage, Painting, Baking, Go Karting, Imax Theater, Japanese Style Buffet, Tourist Factory Experience, peach and fruit picking, Ring-making DIY, handmade popsicle DIY, and more on on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. How to get there: By Car: Take National Freeway 3 to Longtan. Then take Highway 67 up the mountain. There is lots of free parking on the side of the road. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. By Scooter: From Longtan, take Highway 67 up the mountain. There is lots of free parking on the side of the road. Looking for scooter rental in Taoyuan? Search Klook here or KKday here to look for options. By Bus: The nearest bus stop is Nansheqi南蛇崎. It is about a 1 KM walk up the mountain from there. You can book tickets to travel to Taoyuan via inter-city bus on Klook here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) 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: See below: 
Every time I see a stock photo of Taipei shot from Elephant mountain, a little part of me dies inside because Taipei has so many other beautiful viewpoints and vistas. If you are looking for stock photos of Taipei, consider going to one of the following locations to take a less cliché photo.
The following blog is a list of places I have been with the best views of Taipei. When I say Taipei, it means the Taipei 101 is somewhere in the photo, so you could say these are the best views of the Taipei 101 or something like that. There are literally infinite views of Taipei for you to discover, this is only a list of some. I am also sure that I will add to this list in the future. 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 Geopark, 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. 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 or Agoda here), Marriot (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Sheraton (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), Shangri-la (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here), and Regent (book on Booking.com here or Agoda 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 or Agoda 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 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 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 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. ​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 a map of most of the places in this blog below: 
Zhuilu Old Trail (aka Jhueilu/Zhuilu Old Road) is known as "the best day hike in Taiwan" and has a trail on "the No. 1 cliff in east Asia." It is for sure one of the most beautiful and exciting hiking trails in Taiwan. It features a vertical cliff section with amazing views 500 meters above the world's deepest marble gorge (Taroko Gorge).
History: The Zhuilu Old Trail was created hundreds of years ago by the Truku indigenous people to connect their villages in Taroko Gorge and the central mountain range. Originally the cliff sections of the trail were just 30 cm wide! These indigenous people remained basically autonomous and undisturbed until the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. However after conflicts such as the Xincheng incident in 1896 and the Weili Incident in 1906, where combined more than 50 Japanese people were killed by indigenous warriors, the Japanese decided to tighten control of the mountain aborigines and natural resources in the area, and started the Truku War. The war lasted from May-August 1914, and in the process the Japanese forced indigenous men to widen the Zhuilu Trail to 1.5 meters so that they could transport artillery through the mountainous terrain. 37 people died during this widening process during and after the war, which included using dynamite to blast open the rock while only using ropes. The Truku lost the war, which included 3,000-5,000 indigenous warriors with modern weapons pitted against a Japanese fighting force of over 10,000. The Japanese lost over 300 men in the fight. After the war, the Japanese tried to dismantle their culture by scattering the people, preventing them from hunting, and forcing the children to attend Japanese schools. The Japanese then built the Old Cross-Hehuan Mountain Road which stretched 145 KM from Taroko Gorge to Wushe in Nantou from 1914 to 1933, with the Zhuilu Old Trail as part of it. They set up police stations/outposts along the trail as well, including Badagang Village which had a school, hospital, and inns for travelers. After the ROC took control of Taiwan, the trail was disused except for some expert hikers, and the Japanese police outposts were abandoned. After the 921 earthquake in 1999, the trail was closed for nine years until 2008. At around 2016 (probably after a typhoon), the 7KM after the Zhuilu Cliffs were closed off, so now the only walk-able part of the trail is 3.1 KM long from Swallow Grotto to the Zhuilu Cliff Outpost. It doesn't seem like this part of the trail will reopen soon. The cliff section of the trail is 750 meters above sea level, and nearly 500 meters above the valley floor. The distance between these cliffs and the cliffs on the opposite side of the gorge is only about 200 meters. The mountain that the cliffs are part of rises 1600 meters above sea level, and over 1000 meters above the valley floor, and is made completely of marble. Hours: Currently the trail is closed due to damage from the April 3rd, 2024 earthquake. Must enter between 7 AM and 10 AM the day of the permit (unless the gorge is closed due to typhoon/natural disaster) Permits Required: Only a park access permit is required. You can apply for a permit in English here. Only 96 people are allowed on weekdays and 156 people on weekends and holidays. Police permits are no longer required for this trail. Drones: Please note that if you want to fly a drone in Taroko National Park, you need to apply for a permit at least seven days in advance. You can apply to fly a drone (Chinese only) here. Price: 200 NT per person Duration: 6.2 Km round trip 500 meter elevation gain About 6 hours The trail is 3.1 KM one way to the Zhuilu Cliff Outpost, and gains 500 meters in elevation. It took me (one person with only one 30 minute break to fly a drone) three hours there and back (I was told this is a very fast pace). Some people say that it takes an average of six hours there and back. If you are taking people that are not in shape, expect to take most of the day hiking. When to go: On a sunny dry day. The rocks can get slippery and a fall on some of the trails could kill you. But if you are careful and bring proper hiking boots and gear, hiking on a wet day should be fine. Avoid typhoons and heavy rains at all costs. There gorge will close during typhoons anyway. Typhoon season lasts from May to October. Other than that, this hike is great year round. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. Where to stay? Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you only want to visit Hualien City and Taroko Gorge, you can consider booking a hotel near downtown, walking or cycling around the city, and taking a bus to Taroko Gorge. We have stayed at and recommend Dream Taiwan Homestay (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), a high quality hostel for the money in downtown Hualien, Farglory Hotel (Agoda / Booking.com / Expedia / Hotels.com), right next to Farglory Ocean Park with amazing views of Hualien, and Goldenflower B&B (Agoda / Booking.com) in Yuli right next to Sixty Stone Mountain. You can find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. How to get there: By Train/Bus: Take the TRA to Hualien Station, and then switch to the Hualien Bus 1133A. Get off at Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou 燕子口). Also you can take the TRA to Xincheng Station and take Taroko Bus 302. You can book tickets to travel to Hualien via inter-city bus on Klook here. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. By Car/Scooter: Go west on the Central Cross Island Highway until you reach swallow grotto after Xipan Tunnel. There is only parking near Jinheng Park (靳珩公園) 500 meters down the road from the trail entrance. Looking for a scooter rental in Hualien? You can search KKday here or Klook here to look for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals in Hualien, you can also search Klook here or KKDay here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. Tours: You can book a tour of Zhuilu Old Trail on Klook here or KKday here. Map: For the location of the start of the trail, please see below: 
Lesser Mt. Nangang (aka Xiaonangangshan, Little Nangang Hill, or Hengke Mountain 橫科山) is a beautiful hike with amazing views of East Taipei. Getting here is easy, it's literally a 5-minute walk from Nangang Exhibition Center MRT Station. The views here are perhaps some of the best of Nangang (even though technically the mountain is in Xizhi District of New Taipei) and there are usually very few people here.
Background:Lesser Mount Nangang lies 90 meters above sea level, and 95 Peak, the highest peak on the trail, is 375 meters above sea level. This mountain lies near the Nangang Mountain Chain (南港山脈), which starts in Nangang District and goes through Xinyi District, Da'an District, and Wenshan District of Taipei. The rock formations that form the Nangang Mountain Chain formed as sediment under the ocean millions of years ago and were then uplifted thanks to the collision of the Eurasian and Philippine plates. The rocks are mainly sedimentary and are part of the same formation that forms the special rock formations on the northern coast and in Pingxi. The area also has some coal deposits, and there are a few abandoned coal mines on the mountain. Even with quick access to the MRT, not many people know about this trail and you can usually have the trail all to yourself. Hours: 24/7 (there are even lights on the trail at night) Price: Free Length: 45 minutes, 2.1 KM one way Total of about 55 meters in elevation gain Difficulty: Easy, although there are many steep steps at the beginning. Where to stay: High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Nangang Marriott (book on Booking.com here or Agoda 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 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: Take Zhongxiao East Road to Nangang Exhibition Center MRT station. There is paid parking nearby. Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus/MRT: From Nangang Road at Nangang Exhibition Center MRT station, walk east until you reach the elevated highway, and the trailhead is on the east side of the highway. 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: 
As one of the most secret and unknown tourist attractions in Taipei City, Nangang Tea Mountain is a large mountain area that offers pleasant hikes, great views, historical buildings, no crowds, and most of all tea. It is one of only two mountain tea-growing areas in Taipei City, the other being Maokong. Hopefully, this blog will help you understand how much natural beauty and intact history this is in Nangang District.
Background: Nangang 南港means “South Port” in Chinese. This south port once rested on the southern banks of the Keelung River near what is now the Neihu MRT depot in Nangang District, Taipei. There was a "North Port" on the Keelung River in what is now Xizhi. Nangang was once part of Neihu District before it split in the ROC era. In the earliest times, Nangang was known as an industry hub for coal, brick-making, and tea farming. In order to ship goods from Neihu to Nangang rail station, at least two suspension bridges were made across the Keelung River. Hours: Trails: 24/7 Tea Processing Demonstration Center: Tuesday-Sunday 9 AM to 5 PM Price: Free Where to stay: High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Nangang Marriott (book on Booking.com here or Agoda 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 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 Nangang Road at Nangang Exhibition Center MRT station, turn south toward the mountains and keep going straight on Academia Sinica Road until it turns into Jiuzhuang Street. Keep going all the way up the mountain and you have reached the tea district. Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus/MRT: Take the Southeast Little 5 bus from Nangang Exhibition Center MRT station. It takes about half an hour to get to the Tea Processing Center from there. 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: 
Wutan Waterfall (武潭瀑布) in Taiwu Township of Pingtung County is an easily accessible waterfall that is usually free of people. This area of mountains in southern Taiwan has almost unlimited swimmable waterfalls that are devoid of people. It is definitely a fun trip in the mountains that will not take too much time, and a great place to enjoy nature.
Background: Wutan Waterfall is about 20 meters high and features a large and deep swimming pool. It is named after Taiwu Village, which is an aboriginal village within walking distance down the hill. The holes in the rocks have been carved out of the rocks after thousands of years of erosion. There are stone steps along the side of the waterfall as well as ropes. The waterfall can get busy during holidays and weekends. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free Difficulty: Easy: 20 meters in length (one way) and 10 meters in elevation gain. The whole hike should take about two minutes from the road. Where to stay: 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 Pingtung, 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, or Booking.com here), or Kenting Dajianshan Hotel (book on Agoda here or Booking.com 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, or Klook here for those) but they are in my opinion the above have the best value for the money. Tours: You can go book a river trace in Pingtung on Klook here or KKday here. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From Pingtung, take Provincial Highway 1 souththeast until you reach Neipu and then turn southeast until you hit the 185. Drive until you reach Taiwu Village and turn up the mountain past the village to the waterfall. The waterfall is easy to find along the side of the road and there is some parking along the side of the road. Looking for scooter rental in Kenting? Click here or here to search for options. You can also check out our Taiwan 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: You can take bus 8212 to Wutan, then it is about a 30 minute walk to the waterfall. You can book tickets to Pingtung via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here, or book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. You can book tickets to travel to Pingtung via inter-city bus 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 search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. Map: Please see below: 
Koushe Waterfall (口社瀑布) near Koushe Village in Gaoshu Township of Pingtung is an easily accessible, swimmable waterfall right next to the side of the road. This area of mountains in southern Taiwan has almost unlimited swimmable waterfalls that are devoid of people. It is definitely a fun trip in the mountains that will not take too much time, and a great place to enjoy nature.
Background: Koushe Waterfall is about 12 meters high and features a large swimming pool. It is named for Koushe Village, which is an aboriginal village within walking distance down the hill. The holes in the rocks have been carved out of the rocks after thousands of years of erosion, and there is a rope climb and trail along the side of the waterfalls, which can be climbed in just a few minutes. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free Difficulty: Easy: 20 meters in length (one way) and 10 meters in elevation gain. The whole hike should take about two minutes from the road. 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 Pingtung, 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 Pingtung 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. Tours: You can go book a river trace in Pingtung on Klook here or KKday here. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From Pingtung, take Provincial Highway 27 northeast until you reach Gaoshu and then turn southeast until you hit the 185. Drive until you reach Koushe Village and turn up the mountain just before the village. The waterfall is easy to find along the side of the road. Looking for scooter rental in Kenting? Click here or here to search for options. You can also check out our Taiwan 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 Bus: There is no public transportation to this area. Consider taking a taxi or renting a vehicle. You can book tickets to Pingtung via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here, or book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. You can book tickets to travel to Pingtung via inter-city bus 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 search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. Map: Please see below: 
Shanshuilu Eco Park (aka Shanshui Green Eco Park) in Nangang District of Taipei is a large grassy park with one of the best views in Taipei City, built over a former landfill. Here you can find beautiful mountain scenery, a large playground, ziplines, a sand pit, a reading room, and lots of large grassy areas. It is one of the most popular parks in Taipei City.
Background: Shanshuilu Eco Park was built over the Shanzhuku Landfill and opened to the public in 2013. The park is 21 hectares and it is the largest park in Nangang. The Shanzhuku Valley once had steep terrain, and used to be used for orchards and farmland. However, since about 1970, the valley was slowly filled in with landfill and a recycling plant, acting as Taipei City's main landfill site. Garbage stopped being collected after the site was filled to capacity in 2004, and the site was used as a recycling site until 2010. After 2010, it was decided to turn the site into a park. Behind the park, part of the landfill is still in use and has renewed its permit until 2030 or until the site fills. The park features a small library and classroom, bathrooms, slides, two sand pits, ponds, bike paths, large grassy areas, an amphitheater, swings, trampolines, and zip-lines. Because of its large size and fun equipment, it is especially popular for families with small children and parking will usually get totally full on weekends with good weather. Dogs are allowed at the park. Hours: 6 AM to 8 PM Tuesday to Sunday Price: Free Tours: You can book a tour of Taipei on Tripadvisor here, KKday here or Klook here. Where to stay: High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Nangang Marriott (book on Booking.com here or Agoda 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 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: The park is just off Nanshen Road between Nangang and Shenkeng. There is plenty of free parking within the park. The parking spots may get full on weekends but you can still park next to the curb on the east side of the parking lot. 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 Nangang Exhibition Center MRT station you can take bus 679 to the park. There is limited parking near the side of the road. 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: 
Dajin Waterfall is a large waterfall in Gaoshu township of Pingtung County. The hike here is relatively easy along a paved path, and there are great views of Pingtung along the way. It is definitely a fun trip in the mountains that will not take too much time, and a great place to enjoy nature.
Background: Dajin Waterfall is about 20 meters high, and falls at about 90 degrees. and its name comes from the roughly seven holes in the rocks between waterfalls. The holes in the rocks have been carved out of the rocks after thousands of years of erosion, and there is a rope climb and trail along the side of the waterfalls, which can be climbed in less than an hour. Currently the nearest parking lot lies on private property and the property owner collects parking fees in cash. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free Difficulty: Easy: 1 KM in length (one way) and 100 meters in elevation gain. The whole hike should take about an hour. Where to stay: 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 Pingtung, 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, or Booking.com here), or Kenting Dajianshan Hotel (book on Agoda here or Booking.com 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, or Klook here for those) but they are in my opinion the above have the best value for the money. Tours: You can go book a river trace in Pingtung on Klook here or KKday here. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From Pingtung, take Provincial Highway 27 northeast until you reach Xinfeng Village in Gaoshu and then turn southeast until you hit the mountains. Drive to the end of the road and that is where the trailhead starts. Looking for scooter rental in Kenting? Click here or here to search for options. You can also check out our Taiwan scooter rental guide here. Looking for scooter rental in Pingtung? Click here or here to search for options. 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: You can take bus 8218 bus to Weiliao Station, but then it is a 30 minute walk to the trailhead. You can book tickets to Pingtung via high speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here, or book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. You can book tickets to travel to Pingtung via inter-city bus 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 search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. Map: Please see below: 
Treasure Hill is a former military dependents village in Taipei, which has been converted into an art village. In addition to understanding more about Taiwan's wartime history here, you can also appreciate the many art spaces and coffee shops in the village. This place is a hipster's paradise.
Background: Treasure Hill was originally an anti-aircraft location for the Japanese military during WWII. The barracks and dormitories leftover by the Japanese were later taken over by KMT army veterans after the KMT retreated to Taiwan in the late 1940's. There were also a few illegal structures added to the village made from cement and sand from the Xindian River. After 1960, the area was converted into a military dependents village for the families of army veterans. After years of no illegal renovations and add-ons. the Taipei City government planned to demolish the village in 1980, and some were destroyed. However, because the city could not find a place for the poor families that still lived there, the demolition was halted. In 2006 demolition of houses near the riverside was completed, and over 100 residents were moved out of the village. Later on, the remaining legal houses were converted into the international arts village, and a few residents were allowed to remain. Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 11 AM to 10 PM Price: Free Hotels in Taipei: High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Taipei Marriot (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Activities in Taipei: You can look for more activities in Taipei such as Rock Climbing, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, Diving, Snorkeling, Cooking Class, Glamping, Motorcycling, and more on Klook here or KKday here. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: From Roosevelt Road, turn right toward Tingzhou Road Section 3. There is paid parking on the north entrance. Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus/MRT: Take the MRT to Gonguan Station. The village is about a 10 minute walk away. 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: 
Xuhai Village is a place with amazing coastline in Mudan Township of Pingtung County. Due to its remote location, there are not many people and the landscape is mostly pristine. It may be the most beautiful stretch of coast on the main island of Taiwan.
Background: The area around Xuahi Village was originally named "Mudan Bay" because it is the site of the Mudan Incident in which nearly 100 shipwrecked Japanese sailors were massacred by local Paiwan tribespeople. The first settlers in the area arrived in the early 1900s during the Japanese era, and were mainly aboriginal people and Hakka people from other parts of Taiwan. In 1980 Xuhai Harbor was built to help the local economy and protect ships on the east coast during Typhoons. The population in the area is about half what it was in the 1980s as younger people have moved to big cities for better work opportunities. Even though there are over 450 registered households, only about 120 people regularly live here. Xuhai Village is also the start point of the Alangyi Trail 阿塱壹古道, which connects the east coast here from Pingtung to Taitung. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free Hotels: 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, or Booking.com here), or Kenting Dajianshan Hotel (book on Agoda here or Booking.com 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 or Booking.com) but they are in my opinion the above have the best value for the money. 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. Tours and Activities in Pingtung: There are many activities available in Kenting, such as snorkeling, diving, SUPing, surfing, submarine riding, and river tracing. You can find more tours of Kenting on Klook here or KKday here. How to get there: By Bus: You can take bus 304 or 304A to Gangzai Nei station, and the sand dunes are about a half hour walk away. You can book tickets to travel to Pingtung via inter-city bus on Klook here. By Car/Scooter: Take County Highway 200 to Jiupeng in Pingtung. The sand dunes are very big and obvious along the coast. Looking for scooter rental in Pingtung? Click here or here to search for options. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search 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. Map: See below: 
Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with any camp ground or camping products in Taiwan. The following FAQ is only based on our opinion after years of camping in Taiwan, and should not be considered absolute fact. If in doubt, make sure you check with the local police station or other government office to make sure you are following local regulations while camping in Taiwan.
With two thirds of the island covered in mountains, Taiwan has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. One of the best ways to experience the natural beauty of Taiwan is via camping. Below is a very basic level FAQ on camping in Taiwan for foreigners that have never experienced it.
How do I book a campsite in Taiwan? Please be sure to check out camping options in Taiwan on Klook here or KKday here. 
Gaomei Wetlands in Taichung is one of the best places to see wildlife in Taiwan. Here you can find thousands of intertidal creatures, including crabs, birds, and amphibious fish. The mud flats extend for miles during low tide, creating an intertidal wonderland. There is also a long boardwalk for those who don't want to get their feet wet. It is a must-stop on your next vacation to Taichung.
Background: The Gaomei Wetlands nature preserve was established in 2005 and covers over 300 hectares, but only covers 1/10th the area of the wetlands in the Dadu River Delta. In 2015, 6 wind turbines were destroyed here during Typhoon Soudelor. The wetlands are a popular tourist destination and are very busy on weekends and holidays. Hours: 24/7 Tours: You can book a tour to Gaomei Wetlands on Klook here or KKday here. Hotels in Taichung: Most of the accommodation you will find is near the city center. If you will only visit downtown, you can consider a day trip from Taipei. We have stayed at and recommend the Norway Forest Travel Hotel, a convenient hotel right in front of Taichung Station (you can book on Booking.com here, Agoda here, or compare prices on Kayak here), and Sin Fu Business Hotel which is also a great value for the money and great quality in downtown Taichung (you can book on Agoda here or compare prices on 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 Bus: From Qingshui TRA station, you can take bus 179 to the wetlands. You can also book a Taichung sightseeing bus on KKday here. By Car/ Scooter: From Central Taichung, follow National Highway 4 west toward Qingshui, and turn underneath Expressway 61 until you reach Gaomei Road, and keep following it until you reach the wetlands on the coast. Looking for scooter rental in Taichung? Check out Klook here or KKday here to search for options. 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. You can also book a Market Biking Tour in Taichung on Klook here. For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. Map: Please see below: 
Lover's Tower, which is about a ten hike through the woods from Lover's Lake. It is one of the best spots to enjoy the scenery on Taiwan's Northern Coast. It is definitely a must-visit on your next trip to Keelung.
This blog is about the Lover's Tower in Keelung. For more information about Lover's Tower at Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf, click here. Background: The name "Lovers Lake" comes from the fact that there are actually two lakes, one larger and one smaller, so they are like a couple in love. The sandstone that forms the area was created between 10 and 20 million years ago and was pushed out of the sea along with northern Taiwan thousands of years ago. In the past, the area was run by a private company, which went out of business. Recently the Keelung City government has taken over control and has installed a trail that circles the lake. There is also a suspension bridge, windmill, and stone tower overlooking the lake. Nearby you can hike to Dawulun Fort or Eagle Rock which provides great views of the north coast. Currently, the lake is popular with hikers and Instagrammers, as well as wedding photographers. On the weekends it can get quite busy and parking can be hard to find. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free Tours: You can book a tour to Lover's Tower on KKday here. Activities: Don't forget that there are many activities available along Taiwan's Northern Coast such as Yachting, Fishing, Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking, River Tracing / Canyoneering, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Shen'ao Rail Bike, Night Fishing, Instagram Tour, Metaverse VR experience, Seaside Picnic, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. Hotels in Keelung: We recommend Just Live Inn-Keelung and Yung Feng Hotel, which are two great quality hotels for a reasonable price in Keelung's City Center. You can book Just Live Inn-Keelung on Booking.com here, Agoda here, Klook here, Hotels.com here, Trip.com here, or Kayak here. You can book Yung Feng Hotel on Booking.com here, Agoda here, Hotels.com here, Trip.com here, Klook here, or Kayak here, How to get there: By car/scooter: Take Provincial highway northwest out of Keelung, and take a right on Jijin First Road toward Keelung Chang Kung Hospital. The Lover's Lake parking lot is at the top of the hill before the road turns into one lane. There is limited parking, and you may have to park further away. The trail is not wheelchair or stroller friendly. However, there is always plenty of scooter parking. 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: Unfortunately, there are no buses that directly get there, so you will have to walk from Provincial Highway 2, or take a taxi. 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: 
Buyanting is a viewing pavilion in Ruifang District of New Taipei, which offers amazing views of Shangxi and Ruifang Districts of New Taipei as well as Keelung City. Lately it has become a popular spot for Instagrammers to come and take dangerous photos of them standing in the middle of the road.
Background: Buyanting was built along the New Taipei City Highway 102 in 1966 (aka Ruishuang Road 瑞雙公路), at the border between Ruifang and Shuangxi. At the time, the road was the main route that connected Jiufen to Yilan, and thus connecting greater Taipei to Yilan. Later this road to Yilan was replaced by provincial highway 2, and 2A. The name Buyan Pavilion means that the views here are “not loathsome” (不厭 Buyan) so you can sit here and enjoy the views all day. The words "Buyan" are taken from a poems of the famous Tang Dynasty poet Libai. From the pavilion, you can see the ocean and Keelung Harbor, as well as the Mudan Valley, and surrounding mountains. It is a popular spot on the weekends, with many people stopping here for photos. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free Activities in Taipei: You can also 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. 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 Jiufen, take highway 102 south and the pavilion will be on the way to Mudan. You can also go the other way from Mudan. There is plenty of free parking on the side of the road. 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: Sadly no bus service is available here! Unless you want a really long walk. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. Map: Please see below: 
Wuliaojian in Sanxia District is one of the most popular hikes in greater Taipei. It features rope climbs, rock scrambling, and rock climbing, and has some amazing views of southern Taipei. Wuliaojian is everything but wuliao.
Background: Wuliao Jian stands at 639 meters above sea level, and the top features five peaks in the shape of a clenched fist. The climb requires ropes for some parts, and one peak called Qiaobi Xong Peak requires a 30 meter rock climb up a near sheer vertical cliff face. From the top you can enjoy views of Taipei such as Sanxia and Shulin Districts of New Taipei. Currently the hike is very popular for local people especially on the weekends. Distance: 5.5 km, Elevation gain: 530 meters Time needed: 3-5 hours When to go: Go on a sunny day when the rocks are dry, because some rock climbing is involved. Also consider going early in the morning or on a weekday, because the trails can get really clogged with crowds of people during the day on weekends. Equipment needed: Gloves because you will need to slide down lots of ropes and you do not want to get rope burn. Also bring good hiking shoes and lots of water. 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. Activities in Taipei: You can also 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. 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 Sanxia Old Street, travel south on provincial highway three, and then keep left at the fork with provincial highway 7乙. The trail head is right in front of a small shop called Yuli Store (玉里商店). 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: From downtown Sanxia, take bus F627 40 minutes south to Hezuo Bridge Station, which is the start of the trailhead. 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: |
Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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