Taiwan

Destination Guide

How to use my destination guides

My destination guides are organised in two main sections:

Overview
This will help you to decide if this is a location for you, and if so, where you may want to spend your time. For larger countries, I also provide additional overviews of different regions, states and territories.

Specific Recommendations
Here I list specific things to see and do. For each, I provide star ratings so that you can easily see how good, unique and adventurous each place is. This means that you can easily pick out where sounds right for you!

Photos note: All of the photos you see on my website are taken by me or of me!

Overview

Taiwan is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated places in the world and one which is often overlooked by travellers. This amazing island is located east of the Chinese mainland, is a perfect place to travel: it is developed, has lovely people, great history, tasty food and fascinating culture. The capital city of Taipei is one of my favourite cities in the world and Taiwan’s national parks are breathtaking and rarely visited by foreigners. Being an island, you will also be treated to stunning coastline views. Taiwan is incredibly safe and I found the locals the most open-hearted and genuine towards foreigners of all the places which I have been to.

Taipei is located on the northern tip of the island with its name translating literally to ‘north of Taiwan’. The west of the island is flat and urbanised with many modern cities and developed areas. Mountains run down the central spine of Taiwan from north to south with beautiful national parks and soaring mountain peaks. The east coast is where these mountains reach the sea, often with dramatic views of these cliffs as the waves crash onto them. Beautiful roads and railways run north-south down the east coast, making for an excellent means to explore these stunning areas.

Hiking is great fun in Taiwan. It’s warm by the coast, but as you gain elevation into the mountains, you will feel the temperature drop, so you can find a climate which is right for you. My favourite places in Taiwan are Taipei and Taroko National Park, which I discuss in more detail during my specific recommendations.

The Language
The majority of people are ethnically Chinese, with the official language being Mandarin Chinese. Other Chinese dialects are also spoken in Taiwan due to varying waves of immigrants from the Chinese Mainland arriving in Taiwan over time. There are also native tribes in Taiwan who speak their own languages. It is believed that many Pacific Island peoples and the Maori of New Zealand are all descended from the natives of Taiwan.

Economy and Safety
Taiwan has an advanced economy and it is well-known as being where many of the world’s microchips are made. It is incredibly safe to travel and all the locals I met were lovely and happy to help.

Travel Ease
Travel in Taiwan is incredibly easy. When arriving from abroad, you will likely land in Taipei, on the island’s northern tip. Public transport is cheap and easy to get around Taiwan, including from the airport to the city and across wider Taiwan. You can easily walk around much of Taiwan’s centre. Public transport was very affordable and well-run wherever I went.

I hitchhiked in Taiwan at times and I found it one of the easiest places in the world to do so. A good example of this is how my friends ‘thumbed’ for a ride in the wrong direction to where we were going. A car stopped, I apologised and the driver left before returning 5 minutes later. He had dropped his wife at home and then insisted on driving us 15 minutes to our destination (adding an extra half hour to his day) to drop us off safely. We tried to offer food and money, but both were refused. Scenarios like this happened several times and the open-heartedness of Taiwanese people was heartwarming to behold.

I have also had friends cycle through Taiwan. It is a great place for this due to its small size, well-maintained roads, safe drivers and beautiful views, which can make for a great adventure.

The Beaches
Taiwan does have a number of nice beaches around its coast. You also have places like the islands of Liuqiu, just off the west coast, where a friend told me he swam with 50 sea turtles. Although there are beaches here, if you are looking for a ‘beach holiday’ where you spend a lot of time at the coast, swimming and sunbathing, then you may prefer other destinations like Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, etc.

The Wildlife
Taiwan does have some great wildlife, including some unique species such as the Formosan Black Bear. There are lots of National Parks and mountains and huge coastlines, giving opportunities to see both land and sea life. You can also swim with sea turtles off the coast of Liuqiu – a small island just off Taiwan’s west coast.

The Cities
Taiwan has a lot of cities and urban areas in its west, where the land is flatter. Taipei, the nation’s capital, is one of my favourite cities and is a great place to spend a few days. I found it to have a great mix of old and new. You have modern public transport and, of course, the awesome skyscraper of Taipei 101! This was the world’s tallest building until the Burj Khalifa in Dubai overtook it in 2007. I also found plenty of older temples and night markets. What I love about Taipei is that it fits in a nice middle ground for a modern city, whereby it has enough hustle, bustle and character to have an interesting and exciting life of its own while still having enough cleanliness and order to be a nice place to spend time. I found Taiwanese cities easy to navigate with cheap, clean and easy-to-use public transport and the food at the night markets in Taipei was great too!

The People
Taiwanese people are easily some of my favourite in the world! They are incredibly friendly, polite and helpful towards strangers. I found hitchhiking easy and fun with locals going well out of their way to see my safety to my destination.

Most people have ethnic and cultural Chinese origins. Unfortunately, I didn’t meet any of the indigenous tribal people of the island; however, I am aware that they are also present and have their own distinct culture and language.

History
Taiwan used to be populated by Indigenous Austronesian peoples whose descendants bravely sailed the seas to colonise many Pacific islands and New Zealand. Descendants of these people still live on the island; however, they are a minority with most of Taiwan’s modern-day population being of ethnic and cultural Chinese descent.

Both the Dutch and Spanish colonised parts of the island at times before widespread Chinese immigration and control began. More recently, the Japanese ruled the island too, with many roads being originally constructed during the time of Japanese rule.

The Chinese civil war was fought between communist and democratic factions for the control of all Chinese territory. At the time, this included the Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan. The communist regime prevailed in the war on the mainland with republicans retaining control of Taiwan. A stalemate ensued, whereby the US backed the pro-democracy government in Taiwan and prevented the communist party from landing on and capturing the island of Taiwan. In some ways, there are some parallels between this situation and that of the Korean Peninsula. China’s communist party has retained control of the Chinese mainland, while the democratic government retains control over Taiwan. Unlike the divisions between North and South Korea, however, the landmasses are not similar in size, with the Chinese mainland having a vastly greater size and population than Taiwan. China still asserts its claim to the sovereignty of Taiwan.

Taiwan is self-governing; however, the United Nations does not recognise Taiwan as a country, and therefore it is often not labelled as such on maps, etc. For this reason, you will also find that there are no official embassies there. Should you need assistance in Taiwan, many major nations have government offices in Taipei which can provide assistance, although they are typically not referred to as embassies, given Taiwan’s unrecognised status.

Overview Summary

I love Taiwan! It has lovely people, beautiful modern and historic buildings, a fascinating culture, it’s safe, has great value and has some of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen – Taroko National Park in particular being one of my favourite places in the world! The drive into the mountains from the coast through there feels like you are in the opening of a James Bond film!

I was shocked by how few tourists were in Taiwan, especially given how fun it is there and how affordable it is despite being developed. I can only guess that many people have never heard of Taiwan because it is not a recognised country by the United Nations (UN) and that it is therefore overlooked.

Taiwan is a hidden gem for travellers and a place I strongly suggest you consider visiting!

Specific Recommendations

How to interpret my specific recommendations

My specific recommendations are listed below. Firstly, you will find: its name, a quick link to locate and save it to your Google Maps, and for some, a photo. The photos, if present, like all those on this page, have either been taken by me or feature me in them. If you save the location to your Google Maps, I suggest that you add a note on there too, to remind you that you heard about it here. A good way to do this is by copying my website link into the location description. This way, you can check back here nearer the time of your visit to jog your memory as to what is there. I use Google Maps to plan all of my trips and, when used to its full potential, it is incredible! If you haven’t already, check out my blog post on how I use Google Maps to revolutionise my travels!

Google Maps Blog

I provide a description of each location, as well as a duration estimate for how long you may want to spend at that location, to help with your planning.

I also provide star ratings for three categories.

Andy Argo

My overall rating

Worth seeing if you’re passing

Worth a detour if you have time

A must see!

Adventure

The level of exertion and danger involved

Easy to access, low risk and no strenuous exercise required

Some exercise is required, such as hiking. Some risks, such as bad weather, uneven ground, steep edges, etc.

Involves more exercise, greater danger or both. Examples include diving or scrambling up mountains, where experience is required.

Uniqueness

How well known and unique a destination is

A well-known destination or one that is not overly unique. I have listed restaurants in this category as food is everywhere.

Somewhat unknown or unique

Very unique

Some other points to note are:

I like a bit of danger and history, so you may find that my ‘Andy Argo’ star ratings are sometimes (but not always) a little biased in favour of these types of locations.
On my ‘Andy Argo’ stars, if I have given something one star, it’s good and worth doing. Having one star doesn’t mean it’s bad; it’s still high praise, as I only include the crème de la crème on this list!
My duration recommendations are based on what I think is the minimum amount of time you would want to spend there. I always recommend being spontaneous when travelling and changing plans depending on your circumstances, how you feel, and following advice from locals. Remember you’re there to enjoy it, so don’t feel rushed and stressed, you’re on holiday!
In a small handful of instances, I have included somewhere I have been with zero Andy Argo stars. I have done this a handful of times for very touristy places. These are locations which I have been to and which are sufficiently famous that I think people would wonder why they aren’t on the list, but which, in my opinion, don’t make the cut and are overrated (sorry).
I have been to the vast majority of these recommendations; however, sometimes I include several locations which I haven’t been to for the following reasons:
- - A friend of mine has been there and has highly recommended it to me.
  - Internet searches suggest it sounds noteworthy enough to include.

Disclaimer – I am not responsible for your safety or enjoyment at any of these locations. Everything I have recommended here is based on my experience and opinion. I may have recommended places I visited years ago or, as mentioned previously, a handful which I have had recommended to me. Do your own research before visiting any attractions to ensure that you think you will enjoy them and that they are sufficiently safe. My recommended duration times are also estimates based on my opinion; do your own further research and plan accordingly. I have recommended places which I think people will like, but it is all based on my opinion; I may love something that you hate. Be sure to have sufficient travel insurance and make your own judgments. Check weather forecasts and consult reputable local guidance before visiting anywhere you seek to visit. For more adventurous activities, ensure that you are physically and mentally prepared and that you have the right supervision, equipment, and training for the activity. Long story short, use some common sense and don’t sue me, I’m broke enough already. Happy travels, Andy

Specific Recommendations

For your ease of planning, I have organised my recommendations for places to visit in Taiwan into the following categories: Taipei area, Hualien & Taroko National Park, Elsewhere in Taiwan.

Taiwan

Destination Guide

How to use my destination guides

Overview

Overview Summary

Specific Recommendations

How to interpret my specific recommendations

Specific Recommendations

Taipei Area

Taipei 101

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall & Liberty Square

Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan Trail)

Lungshan Temple, Taiwan

National Taiwan Museum

Night Markets

Dalongdong Baoan Temple

Taipei Zoo

Maokong Gondola

Zhinan Temple

Yinhe Cave

Crocodile Island viewing platform

Yehliu Geopark

Hualien & Taroko National Park

Hualien

Qixingtan Beach

Taroko National Park

Dali-Datong Trail & Shakadang Trail Loop Trail

Changuang Temple

Brawan Lookout

Unnamed Viewpoint

Qingjing Skywalk

Elsewhere in Taiwan

Yushan National Park

Alishan National Forest Recreation Area

Nanan Falls

Chishang

Kenting National Park

Liuqiu (Lambai Island)