Taiwan

This is a highly urban and modernized country.  Taiwan features a string of conveniences, from access to 7-Elevens and shopping metropolises to cultural festivals. At the same time, it is also home to a variety of beautiful natural settings, waterfalls and rugged mountains. Yu Shan, or the 3952 metre Jade mountain, is the highest mountain in East Asia. Near Taipei is the picturesque Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan’s largest natural lake.  It is situated against mountains that change colour with the sky. On the lake is the Wenwu Temple, as well as the Tse-En Pagoda. In Central Taiwan, Tai Chung hosts a number of historical and ancestral temples. Peitou is a pretty spot where you can have a relaxing soak in the numerous mineral rich hotsprings. A must-see is the Taroko Gorge, where a raging river cuts through sheer cliffs. Nearby, numerous shrines and waterfalls - as well as a network of hiking paths - are available for exploration. Culturally, Hualien has been dubbed “The City of Marble.” As one of the largest marble producers in the world, it supplies a component that features prominently in buildings, pathways, parks, art and monuments. The opulent Temple of Eastern Purity is a temple that has been built entirely of marble. The National Palace Museum in Tapei is another must see. Housing over 650,000 pieces of Chinese bronze, jade, calligraphy and more.  These artifacts were movedfrom the Forbidden City in Beijing by the Nationalists (fleeing Communist rule).  They are considered to represent one tenth of China’s cultural treasures.

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(3 reviews)
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
(1 reviews)
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
(1 reviews)
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
(1 reviews)
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
(1 reviews)
T'ai-chung, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
Travel Tips From Our Members
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T'ai-chung, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
Ah, Taichung (pronounced Tai-jong) is supposedly a city in the country (because you can see the odd rice paddy between sky-scrapers =). The night markets are a wonderful place to look for anything from food to clothes and you can get almost anything at the 10NT stall! Keep in mind that each night market has its own time slots i.e. they are only to be found on certain days of the week. Bingshas (fruit + ice + milk) are fabulous in general, although mangua bingsha (mango) are my favourite! Traffic in Taiwan is CRAZY!!! Be sure to look both ways when crossing a one-way street. ALWAYS look both ways before crossing a green traffic light and be prepared to make way for busses, taxis, etc trying to push into the scooter lane... Mostly, as a foreigner, you will have people staring at you or running up to you and trying the only English sentence they know: "How are you?". If you are black, be prepared for extreme reactions from adults and children alike (in Taoism, ghosts are presumed to be black and seeing as they almost never see a black person, they will automatically asume you are a ghost). There are a couple of English churches in Taichung and you might find both foreigners and Chinese people, who want to practice their English. If you are going as an English teacher, you should know that the principal is most likely going to be a woman - she usually hates her authority or orders being questioned. If you know anything about teaching, you might as well chuck it out the window because you do what they say, full stop. Also, if you can speak in an American accent, you're golden (even if you're British - to the Taiwanese being American is the closest thing to perfection =).
T'ai-chung, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
A city full of nice surprises if you're prepared to walk around, especially after dark. Very safe and very easy to select a good meal without wondering what you've actually ordered (which, compared to the rest of Taiwan outside Taipei, and after a nationwide 3-week tour, was a very welcome thing indeed...)
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Din Tai Fong for the best steamed dumplings in the world!
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Crazy Drive!! A lot of Food!!!
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
买东西吃东西, 买东西吃东西.More买东西吃东西, 买东西吃东西.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Be sure to stay in the old quarter especially if you're staying on a Friday or Saturday night...it seems like everyone under the age of 30 converges on the area on the weekend giving the place a huge vibe. If you're trying to find a restaurant, many are located on the first, second or third floors of buildings with ground level reserved for retail only. Be sure to look up!
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
I LOVE TAIPEI!The night marketsClubbingShopping districtsElectronic marketsFood. Everywhere awesome.The Buzz of the city.The hair salons are amazingClothes you will never find anywhere else - for cheapJust go. You'll love it and if you are white, you'll be one of the few white people who aren't english teachers to ever see it.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
當中有一半已上的時間便是在跟團走...跟旅行團遊台灣實在是很無趣...走馬觀花霧裡探花...還是自己週圍走走的好玩...台灣的花真的很多...即使冬天也很鮮艷...在這樣的花城...真的不想離開...一切煩惱拋在腦後...古人臥薪嘗膽...十年生聚...十年生息...當年蔣介石在台灣也如是說...但看著這萬花盛開的景像... ......嘗膽???中正紀念堂...紀念蔣介石之地...當年只顧享受...現在卻連自己的地方也要改名...折墯???一切也是理所當然的吧... 打太極那兩個人其實是老爸老媽...台北的空氣其實和北京與香港的都有些不同...台北的空氣更加自由...西門町的街頭歌手...台北紅樓的交換生表演...年青人自由的展示著自己的夢想...燃燒青春...台北人也很認真...忠烈祠路上的三條紅印...國父紀念館地上的裂痕...都是那些憲兵幾十年走下來的印跡...當你像機器人那樣一步步...緩緩的行進的時候...當妳一動不動...一秒一秒等待著下次換班時...心中想著什麼呢???台北人也很熱情...說話都很靦腆...巴士和街邊的年青人熱情的指路不說...一個晚上和父母去到Mos Burgur...要一杯玉米湯...喝了一杯覺得蠻好喝...想再喝一杯...向店員問問...店員再向廚房問問...然後說..."不好意思...玉米湯不夠裝一杯...再做要等十五分鐘...""這個..."我有些遲疑..."這樣吧...我把剩下的都給你...不用錢...可以嘛???""???"是我聽錯了???免費添飲???店員再說明一次...我原來沒聽錯...和父母喝完...離開Mos Burgur..."謝謝你...Merry Christmas!!!"出門時斑竹向那個店員說...路上...爸爸說..."剛才你說謝謝的時候...那個店員面紅了..."哦???提到酒店...也Po幾張酒店的照片... 大家知道斑竹住的是什麼酒店嗎???從酒店望出去...便可以看到台灣新八景之一...101大樓...其實也不太遠的說...所以便找個下午...蹓去101大樓...101附近的國父紀念館...是照相角度最佳的地方...坐電梯上89層的觀景台...只用37秒...37秒中...電梯小姐熟練的用中英日三語...向遊客介紹這棟世界最高的大廈...上到頂...台北市還是蠻漂亮的...樓都不高...平均只有四五層...總統府...夜空中的總統府...亮著橘紅色...黯淡的燈光...孤獨的立在凱拔格蘭大道的盡頭...天和地也被這燈染上一層闇紅...偶爾駛過的一兩輛車...打破夜空的寧靜...很浪漫...也很讓人浮想翩翩...只是...鐘樓上的這幾個字...格外刺眼...街邊的公圓...國民黨正在做立委選舉的造勢晚會...現在國民黨多次在國際媒體中...顯示出對大陸的友好姿態...和民進黨的感覺很不一樣...走進去聽聽...卻越聽越不對勁..."萬惡的共產黨"..."共匪"...以為只會在電影中才會出現的...現在原來還刻在台灣人的心中...走在街上...耳邊聽的雖然也是普通話...但卻總有些不一樣...抬頭看看...街頭這一串串的招牌...不像大陸...卻反而帶些日本的氣息...台灣...妳和我...真是一家人嗎??? 不說這些...台灣還是有很多值得一去的地方...時間所限...就隨便Po些相片吧...有空的話...或許會再補些說明吧...山城"九份"...古舊的山城... 給藝術家很多靈感... 東西也很好吃... 去九份的火車...破破舊舊的車停在破破舊舊的車站... 淡水...也是個舊城...原來台灣女孩大多長得蠻漂亮的...意外收穫...在台灣做的最多的就是吃...吃在士林夜市...炸雪糕...台北還有一個袖珍博物館...放了許多1:12 的模型...看看也別有意思... 四天很快的過去...台灣是個有趣的地方呢...以後要再來玩玩...下站就去阿里山吧... 一個人的話...就不用再跟旅行團了...期待...
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Very modernized city, and multicultural as well, balancing three different Han Chinese cultures as well as the indigenous cultures of Taiwan. Excellent place for anyone who wants to improve their Chinese, as well. Don't forget to visit the Night Market!
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Great city. The 101 is spectacular. The hills to the north of the city have some excellent trails and the Palace Museum is simply the best museum of Chinese arts and treasures in the world.
Hua-lien, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
Hua-lien is a city where you can find a great variety of agricultural products. It's close to Taroko which is a place built on a manificient landscape. Don't miss it if you travel to Hua-lien.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Taipei has one of the largest bookstores in the world, well worth a visit especially for Chinese language publications.
Tan-shui, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
I really like this city =) Specially after I heard the music from a taiwanese rock band named Wu Yue Tien (that mean Mayday) that's about two lovers, a kind of romantic place to walk on the afternoon =) because of it's nice view. Tan-shui, i am not sure of what it really means, but the caracters have a lot to do with water, so its maybe reffered to the lake that has the same name. By the lake, and the people riding bikes, flying kites.. Its really nice! A good place to relax. And also enjoy some of the food of Taiwan, because there's also a street market near by. And, you can take the subway to get there quikly. But by bike its also a really good experience =)
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Awesome place to go to. A shoppers dream. You can buy anything, clothes, electronics, food etc. Great tourist destination too with lots of traditional buildings etc.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
In Taipei, you better learn a little bit of Mandarin, otherwise, people could not understand what you say.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Must visit the night markets absolutely must.Yachi ya? (nightmarkets?) getting down on one knee and saying Wa I Li will get you anything ANYTHING.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
v nice street food n lights
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Pay no attention to how street signs are spelled. When you have a map and are looking for a street, say the name of the street out loud, then check the street sign to see if it SOUNDS like the one your looking for. Thats all that matters.
T'ai-chung, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
Easy to get around especially on a scooter. The locals are very helpful and love Americans!
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
This is a great city to see the modern side of Asia. Affordable, spotless, ordered and buddhist, an interesting mixture. I can especially recommend the night market, where the sea food is excellent. Eva Air flights transitting to southeast asia make their stop here, worthwhile to skip the same-day connection just to get a look into Taiwanese life.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Beware- the summers are HOT!I'm from Arizona, so I thought I would fare well, but I was certainly wrong. Taiwan is extremely humid, so if you aren't used to extreme humidity it can be a bit unpleasant.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
In Taipei we stayed at the Riviera Hotel. It was very nice, they offer a free shuttle bus to the 101 shopping center and they have pamphlets with tour groups that will take you almost anywhere you want to go for a good price. Tours can be a day trip up to a week. Excellent for the price and they take care of everything! Also, a great way to meet other travellers.
Chiu-fen, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
This old goldmining village is a great place to enjoy a nice tea ceremony. You get charged a hot water fee and for the tea, but whatever loose tea you don't use you get to take with you. This little village is a great place to pick up cheap jewelery and pottery as well. Definately worth a trip out of Taipei for.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Looking for excellent Japanese food in Taipei. To our great surprise the Carrefour dept store in the city has a great tappenyaki bar. The food is excellent and the prices are very reasonable.
Hua-lien, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
one beautiful place to see, gives a new meaning to peacefull. A brilliant get away for the weekend. Remeber if you are english speaking you are basically on your own, very little and i mean very little english spoken in this region but still a great place to visit. A must on your list. Hua-lien is much different to that of Taipei CIty, which is not as open as it may seem. If you are into lies and beeing cheated then a must stop. You will be bombarded by millions and millions of motor scooters and funk mickey mouse hair styles [more on guys than girls] and everyone is a rock star or celeb of some sort." I speak English very little", is the catch phrase, be weary of cellphone shops you will get cheated. Not on my list of a good place to visit.
T'ai-chung, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
If you can, go hiking in the Taroko mountains... The nature is beautiful there... Try the local freeze dried mushroom chips...
Heng-ch'un, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
Heng-Chun is a place of natural wonders. Located at the southern tip of Taiwan, it has a perennially spring-like climate. In fact, that is what the name meant - perennial spring. It is home to "chu huo" which is a place where there is fire spitting out from the ground (i suspected that it is diminishing over the years), a nice waterfall, many farmland resorts and a national park.It is home to an ancient city. There are parts of the old city walls remaining. Unfortunately, most of the cultural relics were lost due to modernisation.Futher south you will find "Nan Hai" and "Kenting". Two small towns which relies heavily on cyclical tourism.It is a pity. When I was there, it pains me to see the place is neglect. Life for the people was difficult as the main economy there relied on agriculture. It has the potential to be developed into a tourist spot. However, the lack of planning resulted in uncoordinated developments which turn the place into a mess. Beaches heavily littered with cigarette butts and sewage pumped out directly into the sea via the beach (not the typical couple of km away from coast).
Hua-lien, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
Take a day trip to Toroko Gorge. You do not have to plan this in advance. Just let the hotel know you want to go and they will arrange for a small tour to include you. Get out of the hotel. I borrowed a bicycle from the hotel and rode along the beach behind the airport. Hualien is still a small town and reminds me a lot of how Taiwan used to be 20 years ago. You can get to Hualien by air, but the trian ride down from Taipei is very relaxing.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Don't forget to visit Shi-Lin market
T'ao-yuan, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
Travel to Leo Fu Village from taipei for some theme park experience...
It's abt 2 hours journey from taipei, where you can spend the whole day in the theme park....
Not a bad place to spend a day of your trip in the theme park for so childhood memories...
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Taipei, great place for shopping... shop eat... also some sightseeing place not to miss... A place where i would like to re-visit too....
Taking cab around is almost as expensive as in Singapore.
transportation in taiwan is not cheap... However if you are travelling within taipei, you can visit most places via train and buses... you can't lost you way... unless you do not have the sense of directions... haha...
you can always ask,... taiwanese are friendly lot of people...
what to bring?
not to bring alot, have more space for shopping if not, you will have to buy luggage like what i did,... haha... travel light there and bring lotsa things back....
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
eat stinky tofu twice before you say you do not like it
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Visiting the National Palace Museum is a must!
Pu-li, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
Puli is an awesome place to be in - the air there is fresh with great scenery. When you are there, can go visit Sun Moon Lake which is only a bus ride away.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
If you can handle the incredibly busy streets of cars and scooters, the funnest way to get around is by scooter yourself! Just better be sure you're good, they sure as hell are.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Longshan Temple, Wanhua, is the oldest and biggest temple in Wanhua, where many people honour their Gods.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Bellini's Italian Restaurant Very Good Food, Drinks and Service
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
In taipei,all food is really nice!even at the small restaurant by the road.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
MRT is probably the most traveler-friendly way to get around. Taxis are pretty easy to hail, but can get expansive. Buses will require some knowledge of the area and some Chinese.
Kao-hsiung, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
I lived Kaohsiung, it's a harbour city, its beautiful, welcome to Kaohsiung city!
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
just stand in front of a department store and get talked into doing lots of surveys and given free samples
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
Plane always stop their when I go home to the Philippines..
Tse-jen, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
it was a travel te refound my biological's parents...
Chi-lung, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
Must try seafood here. Also check out the national sea shores.
T'ai-pei, Northern Taiwan, Taiwan
is where I wanna be now...
T'ai-nan, Southern Taiwan, Taiwan
Tainan has the best duck noodle soup!