Taiwan is often overlooked as a holiday destination—in fact, most people think it’s someplace in China, or mistakenly say “Oh, I hear Thailand is beautiful!”
However, this little island nation I’ve called home for the past year and a half has much to offer aside from the high-tech gadgets it’s famous for producing.
Ten wonderful reasons to visit Taiwan:
The people. Taiwanese people go out of their way to show their hospitality.
Hualien-home to Cingshui Cliffs and Taroko Gorge. The views and atmosphere are captivating. For those into hiking and nature, Taroko Gorge is a great place to get your fix.
The hot springs. Forget the nightlife (though that’s fun too!)—and instead heat things up at one of Taiwan’s numerous geothermal springs. One of the more famous is Lushan hot springs where visitors can boil eggs in the water for a tasty treat!
The food. Night markets are extremely popular and found in every city. Street vendors line up in the evenings, the scent of stinky tofu mingling with delicious barbecue as it wafts into the evening air, luring customers. From the bizarre (chicken ovaries, snake blood, goose heads) to the amazingly delicious (the many varieties of tofu, fresh vegetables, great seafood) Taiwan has a lot to offer those with adventurous taste buds.
Sun Moon Lake -located in Central Taiwan, the lake reveals inspiring views and is steeped in aboriginal history. Enjoy a dinner of aboriginal cuisine at one of the lakefront restaurants.
Hehuanshan Mountain, also called the “Switzerland of Taiwan” is far removed from the crowded cities of the country. On the ascent, stop at Cingjing farm for picturesque views of cows and sheep grazing against a backdrop of magnificent mountains. It’s also one of the only places in Taiwan that snows in winter.
Aboriginal history: The country has 9 recognized indigenous tribes and I find learning about them fascinating. A visit to one of their villages is something I highly recommend.
Taipei 101-the 2nd tallest high-rise building in the world, the view from the top gives a panoramic glimpse of the city of Taipei.
The tea! Tea is quite popular in Taiwan and of superb quality. Visit one of the many tea-houses strewn around the country or bravely ride the gondola up to Maokong for an otherworldly tea-time retreat in the quiet of the mountainside.
Kenting National Park-located in Southern Taiwan. For all the beach lovers out there!
