Treasure Island: Discover the Many Treasures of Taiwan
This Taiwan travel guide shows you the island’s best: Taipei’s landmarks and night markets, day trips to Yangmingshan and Beitou, lakes and highlands around Taichung, the forest peaks of Alishan, and the beaches of Kenting. Use it to plan routes, time your visits, and build a smooth 7-day itinerary.
Getting In and Around
Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport receives frequent flights. The MRT, TRA (regular rail), and HSR (high‑speed rail) connect major cities. Buy an EasyCard for buses and MRT lines. Intercity coaches fill the gaps.
Taipei: First Stop, Endless Choices
Taipei is lively and easy to navigate. New travellers find it friendly and efficient. The city rewards food lovers, shoppers, and culture fans alike.
Eat Your Way Through the Capital
Food anchors daily life. Influences include Japanese, regional Chinese, and Indigenous cuisines. You can eat well at any budget.
Street‑food shortlist
- Xiao long bao
- Lu rou fan (braised pork rice)
- Oyster mee sua
- Stinky tofu
- Beef noodles
- Grilled Taiwanese sausages
- Herbal pork ribs
- Giant fried chicken fillet
Night Markets You Should Not Miss
Shilin Night Market (near Jiantan Station, Red Line) draws big crowds. Try Hot‑Star Large Fried Chicken. Look for Michelin‑listed stalls such as Ah Hui Mee Sua, Hao Peng You Cold Noodles, Zhong Jia Yuan Shanghai Fried Buns, Hai You Herbal Pork Ribs, and Zhong Cheng Hao Oyster Omelette.
Raohe Night Market (near Songshan Station, Green Line, Exit 5) lines a lantern‑lit street beside Ci You Temple. Join queues for Ah Guo Lu Wei. Seek the unnamed Beef Noodles and Offal Soup stall with a cow logo. Try Chen Dong Herbal Pork Ribs and Fu Zhou Shi Zu Black Pepper Bun.
Other options include Linjiang, Nanjichang, Ningxia, Yansan, Gongguan, and Huaxi. Some sit close to MRT stops. Others need a longer walk.
Taipei Icons and Skyline Views
Taipei 101 offers fast lifts and sweeping views. Buy tickets at Level 5. Ride to Level 89 in about 37 seconds. Step up to Level 91 for an outdoor deck when weather allows. A premium ticket grants access to Level 101’s top outdoor platform. The mall spans from B1 to Level 4 and mixes luxury with casual dining.
History and Culture
Chiang Kai‑shek Memorial Hall (Red/Green lines) blends white marble, blue tiles, and broad plazas. Inside, a bronze statue towers over the main hall. Galleries cover Taiwan’s political and cultural past. The gardens invite a slow walk after your visit. Nearby, Jin Feng Lu Rou Fan serves a classic bowl of braised pork rice.
Longshan Temple (Blue Line) dates to 1738. The temple honours Guanyin and other deities. Expect incense, chants, and vivid carvings. Film crews often use it as a backdrop.
Shopping Districts and Bookstores
Xinyi District houses Taipei 101, Bellavita, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A11/A13, and ATT 4 Fun. Find bargains in the lower floors and splurge upstairs. End the night at the 24‑hour Eslite Bookstore for books and gifts.
Budget hunters should try Wufenpu for apparel, Guanghua Digital Plaza for electronics, the Taipei Main Station Underground Mall for curios, and Yongkang Street for snacks and souvenirs.
Nature Near Taipei
Beitou Hot Springs
Ride the MRT to Xinbeitou Station. The hot‑spring valley sits amid green hills. Choose public baths for value or private resorts for privacy. Popular picks include Grand View Resort, Spring City Resort, and Villa 32. Trails and small parks offer quiet walks.
Yangmingshan National Park
Yangmingshan delivers volcanic scenery, floral seasons, and cool air. Expect sulphur vents, grasslands, and sweeping ridgelines.
Trails for all levels
- Mount Qixing Trail: about four hours; broad views from the peak.
- Mount Zhugao Trail: a short spur off the Qingtiangang loop; about one hour; 360‑degree vistas.
- Erziping Trail: gentle grades and ponds; good for families.
Don’t miss Lengshuikeng Hot Springs, a crater lake with misty ridges. Cultural stops include the Zhongxing Guest House and the floral Yangmingshan Flower Clock.
Miaoli: Rustic Side Trips
Dahu grows a large share of Taiwan’s strawberries. Visit from December to April. January and February are peak. Start at the Dahu Strawberry Cultural Centre to learn and shop. Then head to nearby farms for picking.
Mount Shitou (Shishan) hosts 11 temples linked by the Shishan Historical Trail. The path runs about 5 km. Expect stone steps, shrines, and forest views.
Taichung: Hub for Central Taiwan
Taichung offers parks, markets, and easy links to lakes and highlands.
Sun Moon Lake Day Trip
Take the tourist shuttle from Taichung Station or Taichung HSR. The ride takes about 90 minutes. You can also book a shared transfer. The hub village, Shuishe, houses the visitor centre, hotels, and eateries.
Climb to Wenwu Temple or Ci En Pagoda for the best views. The Sun Moon Lake Ropeway gives a high sweep over turquoise water. On the southeast shore, Ita Thao feels calmer and serves Indigenous food at its night market. Try wild boar dishes, Zhu Tong Fan (bamboo rice), and millet wine.
Cingjing Highlands
From Taichung HSR, ride the Nantou Bus. Only a few direct services run each day, so plan ahead. The air is cool and the scenery alpine.
At Cingjing Farm, meet sheep on the Green Green Grasslands. Families love the sheep‑shearing show on fixed days and the nearby Horsemanship Show. Walk the 1.68‑km Sky Bridge along Highway 14A for sweeping ridges and valleys. Short trails—Guanshan, Sunset, Sakura, and Tea Plantation—offer easy loops. End at the Small Swiss Garden for ponds and landscaped paths.
Taichung In‑Town
Stroll the Cultural Heritage Park and the Natural Way Six Arts Centre. Walk the Liuchuan Riverside at dusk. Picnic in Taichung Park. For affordable eats, try Second Market or Yizhong Street Night Market.
Alishan: Rails, Forests, and Cloud Seas
Travel to Chiayi by TRA (city centre) or HSR (outside town). Reach Alishan by bus, by the Alishan Forest Railway plus bus, a shared shuttle, or a day tour.
Start at Zhaoping Station and Zhaoping Park. Cross the Zhaoping Sky Bridge for a high view. During late March to early April, follow the Cherry Blossom Trail. Nearby, visit the Alishan Ecological Education Museum and the Pleione Formosa Story House.
The Sister Ponds sit amid tall cedars. Rest in the twin pavilions on the Elder Sister Pond. Hike the Tashan Trail (3.5 km; about two hours). Platforms on the ridge offer views of Yushan and the Central Mountain Range. Stop at Xianglin Service Area for high‑mountain oolong and souvenirs.
Near the square, Shouzhen Temple (1948) honours local history and logging roots. Along forest paths, see the Elephant Tree Trunk and the Three Generation Tree. The famed Alishan Sacred Tree—more than 3,000 years old—now lies preserved as a relic and remains a symbol of renewal.
Sunrise tip: Stay the night and ride the sunrise train. Buy tickets the day before. Check the posted departure time at 4:30 pm.
Kaohsiung: Waterfront Energy
Kaohsiung has reimagined old docks as art zones and parks. Cafés and bike paths line the harbour.
City Views and Temples
Head to 85 Sky Tower near Sanduo Shopping District Station. The lookout on Level 75 faces the sea. Sunset colours light up the harbour.
Visit Fo Guang Shan Monastery and Museum outside the city centre. The complex spans pagodas, galleries, and gardens. A 108‑metre bronze seated Buddha anchors the skyline. Inside the museum, browse sacred art and artefacts. Climb to the roof for a close view of the statue.
In town, Sanfeng Temple offers a lantern‑filled courtyard. Climb the balcony for a wide shot of the red lanterns.
Kenting: Beaches and Night Bites
From Kaohsiung HSR, take the Kenting Express Bus to the southern tip. Expect white sand, clear water, and steady winds.
Beaches to try
- Nanwan
- Little Bay
- Kenting Beach
- Sail Rock
- Baisha (a filming location for Life of Pi)
Vendors rent gear for jet skis, banana boats, and snorkelling. After dark, stroll Kenting Night Market. Stalls open around 5 pm. Crowds swell after 7 pm. Wear comfy shoes and arrive hungry.
Practical Tips
- Cash and cards: Cards work in malls and hotels; carry cash for food stalls.
- Weather: Summers are hot and wet. Spring and autumn feel mild. Pack a light rain jacket year‑round.
- Connectivity: Prepaid SIMs and portable Wi‑Fi are easy to rent at airports.
- Etiquette: Queue for food, keep noise down on trains, and return trays at food courts.
Sample 7‑Day Outline
Day 1–2: Taipei — Night markets, Taipei 101, Longshan Temple, Xinyi shopping.
Day 3: Yangmingshan / Beitou — Hike a short trail and soak in hot springs.
Day 4: Taichung — Second Market, parks, evening strolls.
Day 5: Sun Moon Lake — Ropeway views, Wenwu Temple, stay in Ita Thao.
Day 6: Cingjing — Farm visit, Sky Bridge, alpine trails.
Day 7: Kaohsiung → Kenting — 85 Sky Tower, Fo Guang Shan, then bus to beaches and the night market. PRIME
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