Taoyuan is a large, bustling city in northern Taiwan, known for having Taiwan's largest airport. But Taoyuan also has hidden treasures such as one of the best historical old streets in Taiwan, interesting cultural sites, amazing seafood markets, and mountain areas to explore.
Brief Historical Background of Taoyuan: The name Taoyuan literally means "peach garden" in Chinese because the area used to have many peach orchards. Since prehistoric times, Taoyuan was home to indigenous Taiwanese plains aborigines, who had a large settlement in modern-day Nankan. There was no large-scale Dutch or Chinese settlement in the area during the Dutch rule of Taiwan. During the Qing Dynasty, Chinese settlers began to settle the area and start farming, and many of them planted peach trees, which is how Taoyuan got its name. During the Japanese Era, Taoyuan City was planned and developed. Under the ROC, Taoyuan County was established in 1950, and later Taoyuan City was made the county seat. In 2014, Taoyuan City and Taoyuan County were combined into the special municipality of Taoyuan City. Taoyuan International Airport was completed in 1979 and is Taiwan's largest airport. Toayuan has a population of over 2.2 million and is one of the fastest-growing populations in Taiwan due to the low cost of living and proximity to Taipei. Basic Taoyuan Travel Tips:
When should you go to Taoyuan? In my opinion, the best weather in Taoyuan 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 Taoyuan. You will have a great time here at any time of year. 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. Tours near Taoyuan: There are many tour itineraries that you can enjoy in Taoyuan that will take you to multiple destinations and arrange transportation. For more information, you can check out Tripadvisor here, KKday here or Klook here, which are both great tour websites that can connect you with the right tour and tour guide for you. Here are some of the most popular tours of Taipei on Tripadvisor:
Attractions in Taoyuan: There are many attractions that you can enjoy in Taoyuan such as Daxi Old Street, Hakka Tea Culture Center, Lala Mountain, Treemore Garden, MV Resort, Shimen Reservior, Dongyanshan, Tomita Garden Farm, Simbalion Art Studio, Taoyuan Jurassic Museum, Saw Seen Edo Style Theme Park, Yangmei Eco Farm, Jinge Tourist Factory, Mountain Foot Deer Farm, Yukids Island, Youth Experience Park, Xpark Aquarium, Window on World Theme Park, Capybara Ranch, Chiao Hu Wonderland, Blu Night Aquarium Hotel, Xinwu Green Tunnel, Xinxikou Suspension Bridge, Xiaowulai, Jiaobanshan, Sanmin Bat Cave, Caota Sand Dunes, Taiwu New Village and more on on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday 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: The only way to get to Taiwan is via airplane. Planes leave daily from Taoyuan 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. How to get around in Taoyuan: Taoyuan'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: 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. You can book an 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. You can charter a car on Klook here or KKday here. 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? Check out 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 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: You can also check out our drone footage of Taoyuan below: Places and food we will cover in this blog:
Let's get this list started! Daxi Old Street 大溪老街 
Daxi Old Street is one of the largest and busiest old streets in Taiwan, known for its dried tofu delicacies, and old Taiwan feel. Here one can enjoy delicious food, beautiful scenery, and buy nostalgic Taiwan related souvenirs. This may be the biggest and best old street in Taiwan, so you should definitely stop by here on your next trip to northern Taiwan...(read more)
Shimen Dam 石門水庫 
Shimen Dam and Reservoir are popular destinations in Taoyuan City of Taiwan. The dam is open to the public, and around the dam are many parks and trails to enjoy, as well as great scenery of the surrounding mountains and plains...(read more)
Cihu 慈湖 
Cihu Lake (aka Cihu Mausoleum 慈湖陵寝, or Mausoleum of Late President Chiang) in Daxi District of Taoyuan is one of the most interesting parks in Taiwan. Much of the park is full of statues of a former dictator, Chiang Kai-shek. Also, Chiang Kai-shek's former residence and his mausoleum are on the site. It is definitely a unique place worth visiting...(read more)
Chiang Ching-kuo Memorial Building 蔣經國紀念館 
Nearby one can also see the memorial for Chiang Kai-shek's son Chiang Jing-kuo, who was also president of the ROC. You can read more about this place here.
Jiaobanshan 角板山 
Jiaobanshan is a scenic area in the mountainous Fuxing District of Taoyuan. Here you can enjoy majestic views of Xikou Suspension Bridge and the Dahan River. You can also enjoy a local shopping area and the aboriginal culture of the area nearby...(read more)
You can book a tour to Jiaobanshan here, or to Lala Mountain on Klook here or KKday here. You can book a ticket to Lala Mountain Forest Recreation Area on Klook here or KKday here.
Peaches 水蜜桃 (Shuǐmì táo)
Peaches in Taiwan are grown mainly in mountain areas such as Lalashan, and are not very common and usually not cheap. However, they taste just as good as peaches back home in the US.
How do you eat peaches? First, wash the outside off with tap water to get rid of any pesticides. You can then eat them whole or cut them into slices. When is peach season in Taiwan? June to September. What are normal peach prices? Usually 50-100 NT per catty. Super cheap ones are less than 50 NT per catty. Where are peaches grown? Mostly in high mountain areas, such as Lalashan or Wuling Farm. Zhuwei Fishing Harbor 竹圍漁港 
Zhuwei Fishing Harbor is a recreational tourist harbor in Taoyuan, Taiwan. It includes a large seafood market and a long rainbow arch bridge across the harbor. If you love fresh seafood for a good price, you definitely need to come here...(read more)
Squid and Rice Noodle Soup 魚羹麵線 
One great dish you can try at Zhuwei Harbor is fish and rice noodle soup, which is a local delicacy. For more food options in Taiwan, you can check out our Taiwan food guide here.
Guanyin Caota Sand Dunes 觀音草漯沙丘 
Despite Taiwan being a tropical island, it also has a surprising amount of sand dunes. The Guanyin Caota Sand Dunes in Taoyuan are Taiwan's longest stretch of sand dunes, over 8 KM in length. They have become a major Instagram selfie location due to being such a unique geological feature so close to Taipei...(read more)
You can book a tour to the Caota Sand Dunes on KKday here. This blog is a work in progress. For further blogs, please check out our category tab for Taoyuan here. Taoyuan Airport 桃園機場 
You may have been to the Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan's largest airport, but do you know about the two plane-spotting balconies in Terminal 2, Lego area, mock old street eating area, or dumpling-shaped benches? In this blog, we will reveal some of the secrets to Taiwan's Taoyuan Airport...(read more)
Taoyuan Airplane Alley 大園埔心里飛機巷 
Taoyuan's Airport Alley (aka Lane 234, Chunghua Road, Dayuan District, Taoyuan City 桃園市大園區中華路234巷, or Dayuan Puxin Village Airplane Alley 大園埔心里飛機巷）is a small road along the south side of Taoyuan Airport that is a popular place for plane spotters, aviation enthusiasts, and photographers. It is one of the best views of airplanes at Taiwan's largest and busiest airport...(read more)
Xinmin Old Street 新民老街 
Xinmin Old Street is a historical area in Taoyuan City near Jingfu Temple, dating back to the Qing Dynasty. It is a great area to explore in Taoyuan where you can learn more about the history and culture of Taiwan. There are also many shops and restaurants on the old street...(read more)
Taoyuan Confucius Temple 桃園孔子廟 
Taoyuan Confucius Temple is Taiwan's newest Confucius Temple, built in 1989. Besides being a ceremonial and worship area for local students and teachers, it also has beautiful gardens and great views of Taoyuan City. There is also a large children's park right next to it. It is a great place to relax if you are in Taoyuan...(read more)
Taoyuan Shinto Shrine 桃園神社 
Taoyuan Shinto Shrine (also known as the Taoyuan Martyrs' Shrine, or Taoyuan Martyrs' Shrine and Cultural Park 桃園忠烈暨神社文化園區) is a former Japanese Shinto Shrine that has recently been renovated and refurbished in Taoyuan. It is said to be the best-kept Shinto Shrine outside of Japan. It is like getting a taste of Japan without having to leave the country...(read more)
Bianzhou Park 汴洲公園 
Bianzhou Park is a large grassy park in Taoyuan District of Taoyuan City. Here you can enjoy three circular "pump track" bike paths, slides, walking paths, and more. You can also check out the nearby Hexian Temple...(read more)
Taoyuan Night Market 桃園觀光夜市 
Taoyuan Tourist Night Market is a large night market in the center of downtown Taoyuan. Popular foods here include lamb soup, squid soup, fried chicken, and more. Even though it is a tourist night market, you will usually only find locals here. It is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Taoyuan...(read more)
Lamb Soup 羊肉湯 
A local delicacy at Taoyuan Night Market is Lamp Soup (pictured above). This is a unique dish in Taiwan that really hits the spot. For more food options in Taiwan, you can check out our Taiwan food guide here.
TaiMall Park 台茂公園 
TaiMall Park is a fun playground and park in front of TaiMall in Luzhu District of Taoyuan, built in 2020. Here you can enjoy a large jungle gym area, climbing areas, slides, swings, a skating rink, basketball courts, and more. You can also check out the nearby TaiMall shopping area...(read more)
Baishajia Lighthouse 白沙岬燈塔 
Baishajia Lighthouse located in Guanyin District of Taoyuan is a prominent historical monument in the area. Built in 1901 during the Japanese era, it survived allied bombings and still operates for nearby ships to this day. The area around the lighthouse is also open for the public to enjoy...(read more)
Shuizhiqiu Park 水之丘主題公園 
Shuizhiqiu Park is a large park in Guanyin District of Taoyuan. Here you can enjoy a large slide tower with three slides, a maze, swings, and more. It is one of the best parks in northern Taiwan...(read more)
Yongan Fishing Harbor 永安漁港 
Yongan Fishing Harbor in Xinwu Township of Taoyuan is popular for its tourist seafood market, beautiful pedestrian bridge, as well as the newly created Yongan Conch Cultural Park (永安海螺文化體驗園區), which is a cultural and artistic center for the area. There are also great seaside bike paths nearby. Here you can enjoy the landscape, shop for freshly caught seafood, and also understand more about Hakka culture and the history of fishing in Taiwan. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Taoyuan...(read more)
Stir-Fried Oysters 炒牡蠣 (Chǎo Mǔlì) 
A local delicacy at Yongan Fishing Harbor is Stir-fired oysters (pictured above). There are also many stir-fried and seafood options at this market. For more food options in Taiwan, you can check out our Taiwan food guide here.
Xinwu Green Tunnel 新屋綠色隧道 
Xinwu Green Tunnel (aka Xinwu Green Corridor 新屋綠色走廊) is a popular cycling path along the west coast of Taoyuan through a belt of trees that resembles a green tunnel. Here you can enjoy the landscape, find roadside food options, and also understand more about the culture and history of the area. It is one of the most popular cycling destinations in northern Taiwan...(read more)
Bogonggang Park 伯公岡公園 
Bogonggang Park is a fun grassy park in Yangmei District of Taoyuan. Here you can enjoy a large covered performance area, playground equipment, and lots of bike paths, including paths that link up to and encircle nearby ponds. You can also check out the nearby Fugang Old Street...(read more)
Fugang Old Street 富岡老街 
Fugang Old Street in Yangmei District of Taoyuan was once a vibrant market in front of the newly built Fugang Train Station. Here you can enjoy well preserved historical residences and shops in the area, that have remained virtually unchanged for 100 years. It is definitely worth checking out if you are interested in the history of the area...(read more)
Taoyuan Sanlian Pond 桃園三連陂 
Sanlian Pond is a group of three ponds known for its large white egret statue and views of passing trains in Yangmei District of Taoyuan County. Nearby are lots of bike paths, including paths that link up to and encircle other nearby ponds. You can also check out the nearby Fugang Old Street...(read more)
Yangmei Old Street 楊梅老街 
Yangmei is a relatively developed and affluent town within Taoyuan. Hidden in the town is the not well known Yangmei Old Street, with a few historical buildings scattered here and there. If you didn't know it, you might mistake it for just an ordinary Taiwan street...(read more)
Rugu Mountain 乳姑山 
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...(read more)
Longtan Lake 龍潭大池 
Longtan Lake is a beautiful scenic lake in the middle of Longtan District of Taoyuan. Here you can find majestic scenery, stroll across five bridges around the lake, enjoy local cuisine, and marvel at the Longtan temple which sits on an island in the middle of the lake. It is also the location of boat races during the Dragon Boast Festival. It is a great place to spend an afternoon with the whole family...(read more)
Leo Foo Village 六福村 
Another popular theme park in the area is Leo Foo Village. You can tell the place is a rip off of Disneyland. Because Disney has not built a park in Taiwan, it's the next best thing we have.
You can book discounted tickets to Leo Foo Village on KKday here or Klook here. Window on China 小人國 
Another popular theme park in the area is Window on China (in Chinese it's just little people world), you can tell they were not thinking about foreign visitors when they thought of the name. Here are a bunch of miniatures of Taiwan and the world, and a water park and roller coasters.
You can book discounted tickets to Window on China on Klook here. Costco Gas Station 好事多加油站 
Last but not least, Costco's only gas station in Taiwan is in Zhongli, Taoyuan, and it happens to sell the cheapest gas on the island despite Zhongli being the armpit of Taiwan. This is lucky if you live close, but it is really not worth the trip if you live further away. You will usually see lines of cars here on any given day.
Places and activities in Taoyuan that we missed:
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more of our guides to Taiwan to come. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
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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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