The Ultimate Beitou Hot Spring Guide (2024 info!)

Beitou Hot Spring Taipei

Beitou Hot Spring area is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Taipei City – 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! While hot springs are the focus, meaning you’ll definitely want to visit Beitou if you’re …

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Should You Bother Visiting Cingjing Farm in Nantou, Taiwan?

A shepherd and sheep top face a herd of sheep on a grassy hill

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 …

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The 20 Best Hot Springs in Taiwan for a Blissful Winter Soak

20 of the best hot springs in Taiwan

The island of Taiwan sits on a collision zone between two tectonic plates. As a result, it has one of the highest concentrations of thermal hot springs in the world. In fact, there are at least 100 major hot springs in Taiwan and many smaller ones! While Taiwanese aboriginals had been aware of the springs, …

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Alishan High Mountain Tea: The Champagne of Taiwan Oolongs

A worker on a field where Alishan tea is grown

Taiwan’s oolong teas are so good that they have been described as the “champagne of tea.” In recent decades, Alishan High Mountain tea has stood out from the crowd as the most sought after of Taiwan’s impressive array of teas. In fact, my (Taiwanese) father-in-law, an avid tea drinker, turns his nose up at anything …

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66 Unmissable Things to Do in Taiwan in 2024

Hot air ballooning, one of the best things to do in in Taiwan!

Welcome to the ultimate Taiwan bucket list! Taiwan is a small country that packs in a seemingly unlimited number of awe-inspiring attractions, from the towering skyscrapers of Taipei to isolated aboriginal tribes on offshore islands. Here I’ve compiled my favorite things to do in Taiwan, all things I’ve personally done (most of them several times) …

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Summer in Taiwan: Everything You Need to Know

A guide to spending summer in Taipei and summer in Taiwan

Summer in Taiwan is a season that I deeply loathe yet still look forward to every year when living in Taiwan. The summer weather in Taiwan is at its most extreme, with crushing heat, humidity, and a sprinkling of typhoons that wreak death and destruction on the island nation. Yet enduring a summer in Taiwan, …

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60+ Unmissable Landmarks in Taiwan

The most famous landmarks in Taiwan by category

When doing a Google search for Taiwan’s most famous landmarks, I was rather disappointed to find articles mentioning things like fireflies and hot springs. Clearly, the authors don’t know what the word “landmark” means. By definition, a landmark should be something very large, monumental, and visible from afar (that must be a very large firefly!) …

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25 Taipei Indoor Activities for a Rainy Day

Indoor activities for rainy days in Taipei, Taiwan

Did you know that Taipei receives more than twice as much rain per year than Seattle, considered one of the rainiest cities in the United States? Rain is a part of life in the capital of Taiwan. When the rains come down, pedestrians pop open their umbrellas, scooter riders throw on their ponchos, and life …

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A Guide to Taiwan’s Quarantine Hotels and COVID Travel Restrictions

Taiwan COVID restrictions and guidelines

Quick Summary – As of October 13, 2022, Taiwan is totally open to all international tourists. Some can enter visa-free, while others need to apply for a visa (see the full list here). – There is no longer any testing, tracing, quarantine, health forms, special rules, or vaccine (this was never required) to enter Taiwan. …

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