After living in Taiwan for over 10 years and exploring the country inside and out, I finally decided to visit Cingjing Farm (清境農場 or Qingjing Nongchang) in the high mountains of Nantou county. It is one of the country’s most famous family-oriented tourist attractions. Honestly, my expectations were quite low. I’d already researched the hell …
Quirky Japanese theme park? Cultural-historical oddity? Full-on tourist trap? Awesomely freaky place to spend the night? It’s hard to sum up the Xitou Monster Village (aka Nantou Monster Village) in just a few words, so you’ll have to read on below to find out exactly what on Earth it is. While difficult to define, and …
When I first moved to Taiwan in 2008, the most recent edition of Lonely Planet Taiwan described Taichung as “hardly a must-see for the short-term visitor.” A lot has changed since then, and in recent years more and more travelers have been coming to Taiwan with Taichung in a top spot on their Taiwan itinerary! …
Taroko Gorge, named after the Truku or Taroko aboriginal tribe, is arguably Taiwan’s top scenic attractions. Few people visit without being blown away by its sheer magnificence and raw natural beauty. It is the star attraction of Hualien, Taiwan’s largest county (see my Hualien guide and other places to visit in Hualien), on the wild …
If you’re traveling down Highway 11 on Taiwan’s east coast from Hualien to Taitung looking for good surf, want to hang out with artists, or just seeking an antidote to nearby Kenting’s beach resort scene, Dulan is your spot. Dulan is located in a remote and very beautiful corner of Taiwan, but even from Taipei, …
If you are going to Sun Moon Lake in gorgeous Nantou county, one of the best places to visit in Taiwan, you can save a little money by getting a Sun Moon Lake Pass. The official Sun Moon Lake pass website has changed several times since I first wrote this article. The pass prices and …
Psychedelically colorful Rainbow Village Taichung (彩虹眷村) used to be one of the most popular attractions in Taichung. While the painted walls of this former KMT soldier’s house were once a paradise for selfie seekers, this is no longer the case. Less than 50% of the original murals remain or have been covered up with new …
Every year on the 15th day of the first lunar calendar month, the same day as the Lantern Festival, a sleepy town in Tainan City in southern Taiwan called Yanshui (鹽水) lights up from what has been called “the world’s most dangerous festival.” It is without a doubt the most exciting (or rather, terrifying) or …
When it comes to Taiwanese tea, oolongs like Alishan High Mountain Tea, Dong Ding, and Oriental Beauty are internationally renowned, but fewer people are aware that the country also produces some excellent black teas. While many of Taiwan’s tea growing regions do produce a limited amount of black tea, Sun Moon Lake is practically synonymous …
Sun Moon Lake in Nantou is Taiwan’s largest lake and,. With 6 million visitors a year, also one of Taiwan’s most popular scenic attractions, along with Alishan and Taroko Gorge. What is Sun Moon Lake famous for? Sun Moon Lake attractions such as the views from Wenwu Temple and Sun Moon Lake Ropeway, cherry blossom …
