Hiking has always been one of my favorite ways to access Mother Nature and her sacred landscapes. I’m more of a leisurely stroller than serious mountain climber. Below you’ll find articles that are based on or include some form of hiking.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest in the world – hiking it was an absolute must on my Yunnan itinerary. After spending three days in Shanghai, then flying to Lijiang, where I spent another three days, I did the Tiger Leaping Gorge trek on the way to Shangri-La and Yubeng. Because China is …
Jiufen (九份 or Jioufen), a mountaintop former gold mining town in New Taipei City on the northeast coast of Taiwan, is the single most popular day trip from Taipei. Visitors and people who live in Taipei flock to Jiufen Old Street because it encapsulates the best of Taiwan in one small package: rich history, atmospheric …
In the past, visitors to Machu Picchu were allowed to freely explore the site. However, if you visit Machu Picchu today, whether visiting on your own (yes, it’s allowed!), on a tour like this one, or as part of the Inca Trail hike, you’ll have to walk along one of its circuits, or set routes. …
Alishan (阿里山 or Mt. Ali) in Chiayi county is one of Taiwan’s top attractions and most famous mountain resort. Many visitors try to include Alishan on their Taiwan itinerary, but it usually turns out to be the most complicated part of their trip, especially getting there. That’s why I’ve also written these separate guides to …
Yubeng is a remote mountain village in the far north of Yunnan province in Southwestern China. Surrounded by sacred mountain peaks, including the towering Meili Snow Mountain, Yubeng is just a stone’s throw from Tibet. On my recent visit to Yunnan province, after visiting Lijiang, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Shangri-La, Yubeng was as far as …
The Inca Bridge (Puente Inka) at Machu Picchu is a one-of-a-kind attraction. It is one of the few remaining Inca-built bridges in existence. The bridge spans a gap in a narrow stone trail, a secret entrance to Machu Picchu, that runs along a towering cliff. Comparatively few tourists hike the short (30-minute return) trail to …
One of Taiwan’s hidden gems is Taroko Gorge‘s Wenshan Hot Spring (文山溫泉, also sometimes spelled Wunshan Hot Spring or Taroko National Park Hot Springs), located in Xiulin township of visually stunning Hualien County. The awe-inspiring scenery, hidden location within a famous national park, and relative inaccessibility of this Hualien hot spring make it, in my …
Taroko Gorge, named after the Truku or Taroko Indigenous 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 …
Taichung is located on the central west coast of Taiwan and is the country’s second largest city. Most travelers used to give it a miss, but nowadays it is an increasingly popular stop on everyone’s Taiwan travel itinerary. While I was compiling my list of top things to do in Taichung, my article quickly became …
Miaoli is a county in northern central Taiwan, between Hsinchu and Taichung. Not many tourists include it on their travel itinerary for Taiwan because it lacks the big-name attractions of other areas (although I put three Miaoli attractions on my list of best things to do in Taiwan!) The Taiwanese are certainly aware of Miaoli’s …
