Located to the southeast of the Chinese mainland opposite Fujian Province, the island of Taiwan is flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Taiwan Straits to the west. The place features splendid mountains, tranquil lakes, beautiful beaches, sapphire seas, delicious snacks and fantastic downtown sceneries.
Don't know where to go or what to do when traveling to the area?
Here is the list of the most attractive destinations that you simply won't want to miss.
Number 10: Taroko National Park (太鲁阁国家公园)
Located along the eastern coast of Taiwan, Taroko National Park covers parts of Taichung City, Nantou County and Hualien County.
Named after Taroko Gorge, the park features soaring peaks, steep cliffs, amazing valleys, babbling streams and wonderful waterfalls. The most famous bit of the Taroko Gorge is called the Tunnel of Nine Turns. It is a walking-only path that runs parallel to the main road, and features some of the most dramatic scenery in the entire valley.
When the whole island is sweltering in the summer heat, Taroko Park is an ideal place to take a deep, cool breath and enjoy the season at its best.
Admission: free
Best time to visit: July and August
Number 9: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (台北国父纪念馆)
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, situated in downtown Taipei, is a memorial dedicated to Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the forerunner to the Chinese revolution. The hall covers 29,464 square meters building areas, and contains displays telling of Sun's life and the revolution he led.
The building's architecture was inspired by the structure of a traditional Chinese palace and completed in 1972.
Now, the place has become a multi-purpose social, educational and cultural center for the public, as well as a grand and beautiful park.
Admission: free
Best time to visit: All year round
Number 8: Penghu Islands (澎湖列岛)
Penghu Islands, also known as the Pescadores, are an archipelago in the Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. Consisting of hundreds of small islands and islets, the archipelago covers an area of 141 square kilometers.
With its blue waters, clear skies, soft white beaches and abundant cultural scenic spots, the archipelago is a popular place with travelers. In spring and summer, the islands host several brilliant firework festivals; whilst in autumn and winter, visitors can enjoy some fresh delicious seafood at a series of seafood carnivals.
When leaving the area, don't forget to visit some local shops to get some souvenirs made of the local colorful and exquisite coral.
Admission: free
Best time to visit: all year round
Number 7: Yangming Mountain (阳明山)
Yangming Mountain, standing high in the north of Taiwan, is very close to downtown Taipei. Boasting volcanic sights, tranquil valleys, various plants and hot springs, the mountain is the largest and most beautiful natural area on the whole island.
The mountain can be divided into two parts: the Front Mountain Park, also known as Zhongzheng Park, features exquisitely designed bridges, elegant pavilions and beautiful flowers; the Back Mountain Park, also called Yangming Mountain Park, is well known for its volcanoes, crater lakes and hot springs.
Admission: free
Best time to visit: Spring and Autumn
Number 6: Kenting National Park (垦丁公园)
Founded on January 1st, 1984 and located on the Hengchun Peninsula of Pingtung County, the park is also the southernmost park and the only tropical one in all of Taiwan. It covers an area of 333 square kilometers, including 181 square kilometers of land and 152 square kilometers of sea. Featuring scenic mountains, tropical forest, breathtaking beaches and coral reefs, the park attracts thousands of travelers both from home and abroad every season.
Admission: NT$150 (32 yuan) for adults; NT$75 (16 yuan) for students
Best time to visit: all year round
Number 5: Ximending (西门町)
Ximending, situated in the west of downtown Taipei, is one of the most popular touristic places among travelers. It is famed for its diversity in entertainment and activity that appeal to large numbers of young people.
Wandering along the Ximending Walking Street, you will find anything you like among the wide selection of fashionable clothing and accessory shops in Chinese, Japanese and Western styles.
In addition, local snacks are what you don't want to miss. The most famous ones include oyster omelet, braised pork rice, beef noodle, pan-fried bun and bubble tea.
Admission: free
Best time to visit: all year round
Number 4: Alishan National Scenic Area (阿里山风景区)
Alishan National Scenic Area, standing in the middle east of Taiwan, stretches out across four townships: Fanlu, Zhuqi, Meishan and Alishan. Covering a total area of 41,520 hectares, the scenery consists of 18 hills, with its highest peak –Tower Hill—about 2,663 meters.
The area features five significant views, including a splendid sunrise, a massive sea of clouds, sacred trees, fragrant cherry blossoms and unique Z-shaped forest railways. In addition, visiting one of the local Tsou aborigines will provide you an unforgettable experience to feel the exotic culture.
Admission: Alishan National Forest Recreational Area: NT$200 (43 yuan) for adults; NT$100 (22 yuan) for students.
Best time to visit: all year round
Number 3: The Palace Museum of Taipei (台北故宫博物院)
In order to protect numerous invaluable cultural relics from World War II, a large collection of valuable memorabilia from the Palace Museum in Beijing was packed up and shipped off to Shanghai, Nanjing, Sichuan and Taiwan during 1933 to 1965. In 1962, the Taipei Palace Museum was constructed so as to fit and house the large royal collection of ancient art treasures.
Now, the museum has become the biggest and most precious museums of Taiwan, with a collection that includes over 700,000 pieces, including bronze, jade and porcelain works, calligraphy and paintings, coins and carvings.
Admission: NT$160 (34 yuan) for adults; NT$80 (17 yuan) for students
Best time to visit: all year round
Number 2: Sun Moon Lake (日月潭)
As the only natural lake on the island of Taiwan, Sun Moon Lake is situated in Nantou County. It is divided by the tiny island of Lalu; the eastern part of the lake is round like the sun and the western side is shaped like a crescent moon.
The beautiful alpine lake is revered as the heart of Taiwan, not only because of its central geographic location, but also for its role as home to five major hydropower plants which provide electricity to the rest of the island- just like the blood sent from a person's heart to their organs.
Admission: 20 yuan for adults; 10 yuan for students
Best time to visit: May, June and October
Number 1: Taipei 101 (台北101)
Taipei 101, also known as the Taipei Financial Center, is a 509-m, 101-story landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District of Taipei. Upon completion in 2004, the mega building had been the tallest building in the world until Dubai's 828m-tall Burj Khalifa overtook it in January, 2010.
There are two high-speed elevators located in the tower, which move at a top speed of 16.83m/s (55.22 ft/s), shooting visitors up from the 5th floor to the 89th floor observation deck in only 37 seconds.
After a busy day trip in Taipei, flying high into the sky and having a bird's eye view of the entire neon light covered city will certainly make for the perfect ending to your trip.
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