This small, sub-tropical nation packs a real punch. From Michelin-star food stalls in overflowing night markets and thriving arts scenes to bubbling thermal springs and 286 peaks above 3000 meters, Taiwan has something for everyone. The below posts are packed with information on planning a round-island trip, so come find out why I’ve made Taiwan my adopted home!
Step foot in Ximending Taipei (西門町台北) and you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve been teleported to Japan. That’s why people call Ximen, officially the “Ximending Youth Shopping District,” the “Shinjuku of Taipei.” You may also see it written as Ximen market, Shi-men Ting night market, Ximenting night market, or Xi Men Ding night market. …
Read more25 Awesome (and weird) Things to Do in Ximending Taipei
I’m navigating my way though Ximending, a shopping paradise for the young and trendy, to find Light Program Red House. Olivia Wu, an acquaintance of mine and also certified practitioner of knife massage (dao liao or刀療) and I Ching (yi jing or 易經) divination, has invited me to experience an ancient Chinese knife massage in …
Read moreThe Spiritual Art of Knife Massage in Ximen, Taipei
Wondering where to eat in Ximending, the funkiest neighborhood in Taipei? You’ve come to the right place! While researching my article on weird things to do in Ximen, I found there were so many awesome Ximending restaurants, street foods, and drinks that they deserve their own guide. Ximending is also considered one of the best …
Read moreXimending Food: Best Street Eats, Drinks and Restaurants
Sun Moon Lake, 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 …
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 …
Psychedelically colorful Rainbow Village Taichung (彩虹眷村) has in recent years worked its way up to become one of the hottest things to do on a visit to Taiwan. While the painted walls of this small collection of dilapidated houses are truly a paradise for selfie seekers, Taiwan’s Rainbow Village actually has some interesting history behind …
Read moreRainbow Village in Taichung, Taiwan: A Paradise for Instagrammers
Is spring a good time to visit Taiwan? Sure, why not? April is one of the best months of the year in terms of weather, and perhaps that is why it gets the second highest number of tourists of the year. May and June tend to get more rain due the Plum Rainy season, but …
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 right at the top of their Taiwan itinerary! …
The Beitou Hot Spring (or Xinbeitou hot spring) area is my favorite neighborhood in Taipei City, and I’ve probably been there over 20 times. In fact, my wife and I went on our first date there after we met in Taipei in 2009! And while hot springs are the focus, meaning you’ll definitely want to …
Read moreBeitou Hot Spring & Thermal Valley: A Detailed 2020 Guide
Alishan (阿里山 or Mt. Ali) is one of Taiwan’s top scenic attractions. The Alishan National Scenic Area in Chiayi County in Central Taiwan is renowned for its famed Alishan sunrise over a sea of clouds, small gauge Alishan Forest Railway, cherry blossom viewing, and Taiwan’s most sought after teas (here’s my full post on Alishan …
