Places to Discover in Taiwan
Updated: Aug 9
The Portuguese sailor exclaimed "Ilha Formosa" after passing Taiwan, meaning “Beautiful Island” because of its beautiful scenery. Eventually, it has been replaced by other names, but its beauty and its luxuriant view stays the same.
Unlike Mainland China and Hong Kong, Taiwan is a not-so-popular tourist location, but it guarantees you the amazing holiday getaway you want. It offers diverse culture, amazing food, cheap accommodations, accessible transportation, and friendly Taiwanese people.
As the pandemic eases, Taiwan aims to attract more tourists as it offers NT$5,000 ($165) to those visiting the country for 3 days or more from May 1, 2023, to June 2025. Cash allowance will be delivered digitally through iPass, EasyCard, or an accommodation voucher. To register, click the link.
Taiwan is the perfect place for those travelers who want to experience the vibe of Japan in a budget-friendly way. It’s home to world-class hot springs, stunning rock formations, famous night markets, historical temples and architecture, green mountains, and modern skyscrapers. Aside from its famous capital city, Taipei, there are lots of places to discover in Taiwan that you should consider visiting.
Here are the hidden gems that you wouldn’t want to miss out on:
Yehliu Geopark
If you want to experience Taiwan’s North Coast adventure, Yehliu Geopark, and Rock Formation should be on your list. It only takes 1 hour of travel by car from Taipei. It’s well-known for its peculiar rock formation caused by a series of sea erosions and earth movements such as caves, holes, candle-shaped rocks, pot rocks, and honeycomb rocks. The renowned “Queen’s Head Rock” is naturally formed by rock weathering, the reason for its magnificent resemblance to a woman’s head. Yehliu Geopark is worth visiting for its picture-perfect scenery. To book the Yehliu Geopark tour, click the link.
Entrance Ticket: NT$300 ($10)
Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00
Address: Yehliu Geopark, 港東路 Wanli District, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Shifen Old Street
Located in the Pingxi area, Shifen Old Street is one of the busiest old streets in Taiwan. Its highlight is the railway area, a setting for flying colorful sky lanterns drawn with images and wishes of the owner. Each color signifies wishes that you want to send out to the sky: red for good fortune, yellow for success, blue for hope, etc. Sky lantern costs around NTD$100-NTD$250 depending on the set of colors you will choose. One can also witness the “passing of the train” which happens every hour. It is also a place where you can buy cheap souvenirs for your friends and family. If you get hungry because of the long travel from Taipei, chicken strip (chicken stuffed with rice) is a must-try. To book the Shifen Old Street tour, click the link.
Entrance fee: not available
Opening hours: 09:00-18:00
Address: No. 81號, Shifen St, Pingxi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 226
Jiufen Old Street
Another old street adventure, Jiufen Old Street, is where you can find traditional food stalls, souvenir shops, local snacks, and a variety of the country’s favorite delights such as pineapple cake, glutinous rice cakes, mochi, bao bing (shaved ice), taro balls, and douhua (tofu pudding). For tea lovers, A-Mei Tea House is highly recommended for your authentic tea experience. Its historic Japanese-style building also gives a cool vibe not to mention the overlooking sea view of Jiufen’s north coast. It is also the inspiration for the Japanese film, Spirited Away. To book the Jiufen Old Street tour, click the link.
Entrance fee: Not available
Opening hours: 08:00-22:00
Address: Jishan St, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 224