Taiwan is undoubtedly Asia’s best-kept secret. While most outsiders perceive the nation to be an endless sprawl of manufacturing plants and overcrowded cities, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Visitors are typically astonished to discover a fascinating and eclectic combination of cosmopolitan cities, a rich heritage and cutting-edge popular culture. What is perhaps most surprising of all are the vast areas of magnificent wilderness brimming with glorious beaches, breathtaking waterfalls, towering mountains, eight extensive national parks and a selection of alluring offshore islands. With its wonderful hot spring resorts, its innumerable temples, a remarkably varied culinary scene, and a night market culture that has become a central tenet of their national identity, this small island packs in a continent-sized list of fascinating attractions into one small, green and extraordinarily diverse little island.
Taiwan’s dynamic and bustling capital city is modern and highly cosmopolitan while retaining much of its native Taiwanese, Chinese, and Japanese cultural elements. This intriguing combination of old-world, Asian charm and contemporary sophistication, pleasantly surprises the majority of its visitors. With its excellent public transport, its reasonable prices, and its remarkably friendly locals, Taipei is a pleasure to explore. Popular sights include the impressive National Palace Museum, home to more than 696,000 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks; the large, vibrant Shilin Night Market where you can sample some outstanding Taiwanese food, and of course the iconic Taipei 101 building which, as the world's second-tallest building, offers remarkable panoramic views of this glorious city and its lush surrounding mountains. A quick train ride to the areas surrounding the city will reveal some breathtaking waterfalls, relaxing hot springs, lovely river parks, and quaint little rural villages backed by an impressive mountainous national park.
Conveniently situated just 15km from the city of Hualien, the Taroko National Park is Taiwan's premier tourist destination. The park's primary attraction is its namesake, the Taroko Gorge. This astonishing natural phenomenon consists of remarkable marble walls tower above the lovely Liwu River; at 9km long and several hundred metres high, the gorge is truly a spectacle to behold. The area is home to some breathtaking waterfalls, verdant vegetation and impressive mountainous landscapes, which provide a haven for over half of the country's plant and animal species, including numerous species of birds, butterflies, reptiles, deer, boars and bears. With its diverse landscapes ranging from rugged coastal cliffs and subtropical forested canyons to high-elevation subalpine coniferous forests, the park certainly lives up to its name, which means "magnificent and splendid" in the language of Truku, the traditional aboriginal tribe who continue to call this park home.
Situated in Yuchi, Nantou, in the centre of Taiwan, the emerald green Sun Moon Lake is not only the largest body of water in Taiwan but also one of its most visited tourist attractions. The east side of this remarkably picturesque lake is round like the sun and the western side is shaped like a crescent moon, hence the name! The area surrounding the lake is historically home to the Thao, or Shao, aboriginal tribe. Visitors can explore a working aboriginal village, buy aboriginal souvenirs or sample some delicious local cuisine. While swimming in the lake is not permitted, there are some wonderful hiking and biking trails where you can explore the area’s numerous cultural and historical sites, visit its impressive sacred temples, and marvel at the unbelievably romantic views of the spectacular surrounding landscape.
