Taiwan Travel Guide

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.