Taiwan Tour Attractions and Travel Tips

Taipei Half-Day City Tour

You'll be picked up from your Taipei city hotel and guided around Taipei's best attractions. Visit the grandiose Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, in downtown Taipei to pay homage to the late President Chiang Kai-Shek. Travel to Martyrs' Shrine to see an excellent example of classical Ming Dynasty architecture dedicated to the fallen war heroes of the country and see the hourly changing of the guard ceremony.

The three-hour Taipei tour continues to the National Palace Museum, which houses the world's largest and most valuable collection of Chinese art treasures. There are permanent displays of ceramics, bronzes, oracle bones, porcelain, paintings, calligraphy, enamelware, jade, Ching dynasty costume, carvings, and cabinets, as well as temporary exhibitions of other items.

Travel to one of the many traditional Chinese temples that surround Taipei city. Then it's time for some shopping at the Handicraft Center, the center offers Taiwanese craftsmanship including jewelry, art and furniture.

Tour Highlights

• Drive past Presidential Building


• Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall


• Martyrs' Shrine (War Memorial)


• National Palace Museum


• Chinese Temple


• Handicraft Center

Register for the Taipei Half-Day City Tour

Taipei Night Tour including Mongolian BBQ Dinner

You'll be picked up from Taipei city hotel at 6:00pm and taken to a local restaurant where you'll enjoy a delicious Mongolian barbeque dinner, with many choices of meats, vegetables and spices that will tantalize your tastebuds. After dinner continue to the exotic Hwahsi Street night markets and Snake Alley, lined with food stalls and small shops. Pick up a bargain!

The night tour of Taipei conitnues to the ancient Lungshan Temple, often crowded with worshippers. The Lungshan Temple is one of Taiwan's finest examples of temple architecture. Ancient Buddhist rituals are still practiced at the Lungshan Temple. The last stop on this night tour is at famous 101 Building, the world's 2nd tallest building. The 101 Building (admission to be payable direct) is a must-do attration while in Taipei, 508 meters tall and completed in 1999, Taipei 101 contains a 5-storey shopping center.

Tour Highlights

• Mongolian Barbeque dinner


• Lungshan Temple


• Hwahsi Street Night Market


• Taipei 101 Building

Register for the Taipei Night Tour including Mongolian BBQ Dinner

Chiufen Village and Northeast Coast Half-Day Tour from Taipei

You'll be picked up from your Taipei city hotel at 1:00pm, drive along the northeast coast of Taiwan to the National Scenic Area, popular location with the locals. The northeast coast scenic area is noted for its numerous capes and bays backed by green mountains. Visit Pitou Cape, tall abrasion caves and platforms and other eroded landforms which can be clearly seen on the cape's hanging cliff.

The tour continues to Nanya, a coastline filled with amazing rock formations, a sea-eroded coral shore. The patterned stone is unique in Taiwan and formed through the weathering of the sandstone that lines the shore. The oxidation of iron ore within the stone gives it a beautiful striped pattern.

Travel to the quaint little village of Chiufen Village (Jiufen), once the gold mining center of Taiwan. The gold is gone, but Chiufen (Jiufen) built of closely-packed houses clinging to steep mountainsides, continue to offer enchanting scenery, unique teahouses and fascinating glimpses into the lifestyles of the past.

Tour Highlights

• Chiufen Village (Jiufen)


• Pass by Chinkuashin Village


• Pitou Cape


• Nanya Rock Formations


• Bay of Two Colors

Register for the Chiufen Village and Northeast Coast Half-Day Tour from Taipei

Taroko (Marble) Gorge Full-Day Tour from Taipei

You'll be picked up from your Taipei city hotel at 6:00am to travel by plane to Hualien, a 25-minute flight. This full-day guided tour will take you to the Taroko Gorge. A 20-kilometer section of the highway that runs from Taroko to Tiansiang.

The stunning gorge is known for its sheer marble cliffs, deep, winding tunnels, and the Liwu River, which flows through its craggy landscape. Travel through Swallows Grotto, where the section of the highway runs through tunnels carved into the marble vertical sides of the gorge.

Travel through 38 tunnels including the Tunnel of Nine Turns, with it's endless series of turns, this is a stunning part of the gorge and where numerous hiking trails begin.

See the Eternal Spring Shrine, one of the most photographed scenes around the gorge. These little temples were built to memorise those that have lost their lives in the construction of the central cross-island highway.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to the Chi Hsing Beach and Hualien Stone Sculptural Park and visit a marble factory before returning to Taipei by train.

Tour Highlights

• Hualien and Hualien Stone Sculptural Park


• Taroko Gorge Gateway


• Eternal Spring Shrine


• Swallow Caves


• Tunnel of Nine Turns


• Tienhsiang Lodge


• Marble Factory


• Chi Hsing Beach

Register for the Taroko (Marble) Gorge Full-Day Tour from Taipei

Culture of Taiwan

Taiwan's original occupants were a number of Aboriginal tribes. For the most part, their history is forgotten. Much can be inferred by the relics that have been left behind by them and subsequently found.

The next people to settle the island were the Dutch in 1623. Why the Dutch? They found Taiwan to be the ideal spot to establish a base where they could conduct trade with Japan and Mainland China.

Next to seize control of the island were the Ming loyalists. After a time, the Qing Dynasty took power and retained it until 1592, when Japan overpowered the ruling occupants. In 1945, China once again occupied the seat of power after much negotiating.

Today, the Taiwanese are Chinese that enjoy a modern lifestyle, an entrepreneurial spirit, and much more freedom than their Mainland counterparts.

The Local Climate

The weather in Taiwan varies with its geography. The north is considered to be a subtropical climate which enjoys a winter season with moderate. The southern areas, on the other hand, are known for slightly higher temperatures with sunshine almost every day. There is no winter season in the southern areas. Keep in mind that the typhoon season begins in June and runs through October. If you've experienced a hurricane you know what this means.

Taiwan's Holidays

The Taiwanese distinguish between holidays and festivals. Holidays are followed based on the western calendar while festivals are celebrated based on the lunar calendar.

Festivals commemorate China's past, both cultural and Chinese-based wisdom.. The one most visitors are familiar with is the Chinese New Year Festival. The Lantern Festival is included at this time and symbolizes shedding the old and ushering in all things new. The Mid-Autumn Festival links the symbolism of the full with the unity of mankind.

Holidays are more official in nature. For example, Founding Day of the Republic of China is one of the most important. Some others are Women's Day, Teachers' Day, Youth Day, Tomb Sweeping Day, Children's Day, and Armed Forces Day.

What Currency will You be Using in Taiwan?

You will be buying souvenirs with Taiwan Dollars while on vacation. The conversion rate fluctuates daily, of course, but you might expect a ballpark figure of 1 Taiwan Dollar to $ 0.03 in U.S. Dollars.

Up until the year 2000, the official currency was the Yen so you might expect to see this referenced in older reading material.

Taiwanese Cuisine

The Taiwanese love their eating! The island is very diverse with respect to culture and accordingly, they have divided their food into eight distinct categories. If you are visiting an agricultural region, such as Changhua, you will find more pork dishes than beef. One popular dish is rice with stewed pork. And don't miss ba-wan, which is meatballs with mushrooms and bamboo shoots wrapped in a large dumpling.

When at the coast, sample the oyster omelet, which is considered to be a specialty. If you're not fond of shellfish, check out the steamed grouper. For poultry, the duck - either roasted or salted and boiled. Any of these dishes can be accompanied with millet wine, which is a hold-over from the Aboriginal culture.

And of course, plenty of rice and noodles!

Typical Dress

Due to the economic and industrial influence in Taiwan, most of the people wear typical western clothing; imagine what you would encounter either in America or Europe.

But that being said, traditional clothing is worn for ceremonies or special events. These garments include headdresses, kimonos, tunics, and sashes.

Travel Documents and Transportation

You'll need a passport for entry. A visa to Taiwan is not required for stays less than thirty days unless you are arriving in an official or diplomatic capacity. Another requirement is a paid-for return ticket.

For traversing the island, the Taiwan High Speed Rail will take you from Taipei in northeast to Kaohsiung City in the southwest. There are a total of eighteen airports so arrival, departure, and traveling from one destination to another is a snap.

Visit Fast-Paced Taipei

Taipei is the capital of Taiwan; this is where most visitors choose to begin their adventure. The "Taipei Basin" was originally inhabited by the Ketagelan tribe, one of the Aboriginal tribes noted above.

In the late 19th century, the Han Chinese occupied Taipei and used it predominately for trade purposes. The main trade item passing through the port was tea. Taipei's status at this time was as a provincial capital. However, in 1894 it became the capital of the entire island.

No vacation in Taiwan is complete without seeing Taipei 101, the world's tallest building. Competition for this status has always been fierce because of the way "tallest" is defined, but most people concede this mantle to Taipei

The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is also located in Taipei. You might hear it called the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall. Whatever you choose to call it, it's most definitely worth spending some time at.

Hualien Town: Easy Access to Nature, Shrines, and Bridges

Toroko Gorge is most easily reached from the town of Hualien. The gorge itself is a majestic canyon composed entirely of natural white marble. There are red bridges spanning it which makes the scene even more engaging. Make time to visit the temples that have been built in the area, especially the Eternal Spring Shrine. It's actually constructed over a waterfall. It's a memorial to the 450 unlucky workers who lost their lives working on the construction of the Cross-Island Highway. This highway parallels the gorge.

Visit Tienshang to Relax in the Hot Springs

Tienshang is located not far from the Taroko Gorge so it makes sense to make this your next stop on your Taiwan vacation. If you've spent all day at the Gorge and exploring the temples, why not stay the night at The Tienshang Catholic Hostel?

Plan on spending some time indulging yourself in the Wen Shan Hot Springs! The springs there feed natural pools that conveniently come in three flavors: hot, hotter, and skin-peeling-hot. The springs are located East of Tienshang, just off the main road of Taroko Gorge.

Explore Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan's largest lake and home of the Thao Aboriginal tribe. Because of this, the Aboriginal Cultural Village has been built near here. In it, you can see how the ancient tribes lived as well as perusing a museum which showcases aboriginal artifacts.

In Conclusion

These are some of the most popular destinations in Taiwan. Take the time to explore them and any others that you stumble upon!

Here is a map of Taiwan I found at the World Factbook.



Here is a travel map that may be handy if you travel to Taiwan.

The Taiwan and Tapei Travel Reference Map by ITMB is an all-in-one travel resource, and perfect for todays travelers This Taiwan and Tapei map is double-sided, fully indexed, and printed on paper. This Map of Taiwan and Tapei includes useful information such as Major transportation routes Archaeological, Historical and Recreational sites ruins National Parks, Wildlife Parks Reserves International Provincial borders All roads, highways, trails and road distances Elevation info Hydrography Extensive labeling of physical features such as mountain ranges, valleys and peaks Tourist Information Points of Interest Detailed Scale of 1 386,000.


Taiwan and Tapei Travel Map

The island of Taiwan is generally thought of as a relatively free society existing under the threat of annexation by communist Red China. This is true, but the fascinating fact is that the history of Taiwan goes back thousands of years and been under the control of many other countries and cultures. This just makes a visit there all the more interesting and increases the number of popular destinations in Taiwan.

It's an interesting fact that the island's first inhabitants were Aboriginal tribes. Not much is known about them other than what can be inferred by the relics they left behind. Next, in 1623, the Dutch established themselves on the island to facilitate trade with Japan.

Next, control of the island went to Ming loyalists, followed by the Qing Dynasty. In 1592, control transferred to the Japanese. Finally, in 1945, the Japanese ceded control back to China.

Beginning Your Tour in Taipei

While you're in Taipei, it would be a big mistake not to include a visit to Taipei 101, which isn't a college course but actually the world's tallest building. (Some reports dispute this, citing various factors such as counting spires, have/doesn't have observation decks, etc.) The Taiwanese are understandably proud of the fact that this edifice includes the world's fastest elevator, which takes passengers from the ground level to the observation deck.

Also in Taipei, the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is a must-see. It's also called the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall. Which term you use depends on who you talk to. Legislators were in two different camps regarding which name to use - in the end they agreed to disagree.

The Memorial Hall was completed and opened to the public in 1980, but the site is more than that. It's more of a complex, flanked on one side by the National Concert Hall and the National Theater on the other. There is also a square which stays busy with events, and there are parks and ponds that enhance the beauty of the complex and serve as a background for hosting foreign dignitaries.

Toroko Gorge - A Spectacular View

Toroko Gorge, located close to the town of Hualien, is an incredible natural white marble canyon. The red bridges spanning it provide a striking visual contrast. In addition to the temples scattered throughout the area, make time to visit the Eternal Spring Shrine. This Shrine was constructed over a waterfall. It was built as a dedication to the 450 workers who died during the construction of the Cross-Island Highway which parallels the gorge.

Wen Shan Hot Springs

Ready for some relaxation after all that walking? Try the Wen Shan Hot Springs! The pools fed by the springs are completely natural and they come in three flavors: hot, very hot, and fry-yourself-hot. The springs are located East of Tienshang, just off the main road of Taroko Gorge.

Delve into Taiwan's Aboriginal Culture

Given that Taiwan's original inhabitants were Aboriginal, it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to learn more about these interesting people. The Aboriginal Cultural Village is situated near Sun Moon Lake so access is easy and the entry fee is only about $10.

The site is actually made up of several villages, each one representing a particular tribe. There is also a museum which showcases aboriginal artifacts. Plan on spending the day here as there's plenty of walking to see it all.