Huisun Forest Recreation Area is located in Nantou County, in the central part of Taiwan. It’s not a super popular destination with international tourists, and this might just be the reason why you’d want to get there. I first visited Huisun Forest in 2010. A friend of mine who was doing his PhD in entomology […]
Central Taiwan
Yushan Taiwan Hiking Guide
At 3952 meters, Yushan 玉山 is the highest peak in Taiwan and East Asia. I’ve climbed this beast three times in the past 20 years, and I can tell you that it’s by far my favorite trek in Taiwan! If you’re into hiking, trekking, climbing, and mountains, you simply can’t visit Taiwan and miss Jade […]
Complete Travel Guide to Alishan in Taiwan
Alishan Travel Information “Shan” is Chinese for mountain, and A-Li Mountain is the centerpiece of the Alishan National Scenic Area. The area is massive and offers much more than a single hike up to the mountain’s peak. In all, the area is a natural wilderness preserve clocking in at 415 square kilometers, and produces Taiwan’s […]
Sun Moon Lake Taiwan – Complete 2022 Travel Guide
Quite simply one of the most beautiful destinations in Taiwan! Taiwan’s largest freshwater body, Sun Moon Lake sits at an altitude of 762m in the mountains of Nantou County, in central Taiwan. With good weather year-round, accessible sights and tons of outdoor activities to offer, it’s not surprising it’s one of Taiwan’s most renowned tourist destinations. All […]
Taichung Train Station Area
The Taichung Train Station area has received such a massive facelift in recent years that it is almost beyond recognition. For the better? Absolutely! This area is now one of the coolest in Taichung city, and I could not recommend it more. What’s new around the Taichung Train Station area? What is not new should […]
How to Apply for Yushan Permit
Yushan Hiking Permit DIY Application Guide That’s it, you’ve finally decided to climb Jade Mountain (玉山 yù shān), Taiwan’s tallest peak. You’ve got your days off, you have the gear, and you might even have started to train for the 2-3 day hike. But oh wait… you realize you’re missing something very important: the Yushan […]
Hike Sanding Mountain in Taiping
Sanding Mountain (三汀山 sān tīng shān) is a mountain just outside Taichung City, in Taiping District. It is one of the Little 100 Peaks of Taiwan 台灣小百岳. At 486m of altitude, the summit offers great views over the concrete jungle below. I would even say that in good weather, and when air pollution is at […]
A Walking Guide to Taichung Parks and Canals
Taichung is a place best discovered on foot. Scattered around the city, are dozens of beautiful parks, long waterways, and public squares. I’ve been walking around Taichung since the year 2000. I guess it’s been my way to stay sane all those years in this lovely concrete jungle. (I’m still sane, right…?) On this page, […]
Zhongxing New Village in Nantou
Zhongxing New Village (中興新村 Zhōngxìng xīncūn) is part of Nantou City – the nice part! I say the nice part, because Nantou City itself, the older part (downtown) is just not the most appealing place on the island. I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t go. All I’m saying is to make sure to check out Zhongxing New […]
Lin Family Mansion in Wufeng – Photo Gallery
The Lin Family Mansion and Garden in Wufeng is the best place on Taiwan island to witness classical Chinese architecture. The only other place that I can think of where you can see authentic old-Chinese, Hoklo, Fujianese buildings with such intricate brickwork and elegant swallowtail roofs is on Kinmen, one of Taiwan’s outlying islands. I […]
Taian Hot Spring
Having lived in Taichung City since 2000, Taian has always been the obvious choice for me for a quick hot spring. I know it’s not that close, but it’s not that far either. From Taichung, it only takes me about one hour to get to Taian by car, outside rush-hour period. I’ve been going to […]
Hehuanshan Taiwan Hiking Guide for 2022
Welcome to Taiwan’s Hiking Paradise! Hehuanshan is my favorite mountain destination in Taiwan! I’ve been here at least 50 times since the year 2000. On this page, you’ll find all the info you need about hiking, accommodation, food, and transportation for Mt. Hehuan, also known as Hehuanshan (合歡山 hé huān shān). Hike 5 of the […]
Hiking Mt. Manabang in Miaoli County
Mt. Manabang (1407m) is a small, round peak that’s located in Dahu Township, Miaoli County. I did this hike alone in the middle of summer 2020 and it took me about 3 hours round-trip. If you don’t stop every 5 minute to take pictures like I do, you could easily complete this hike in 2.5 […]
Renting a Scooter in Taichung
The most convenient place for renting a scooter in Taichung City is next to the High Speed Rail (HSR) station. It’s one of the only places where you can rent a scooter without an ARC (Taiwan’s resident card). Most scooter rental shops around the Taichung train station have old scooters that may not be the […]
Qingjing (Cingjing) Farm, Nantou County
Qingjing Farm (清境農場) is a picturesque village located in RenAi Township, in beautiful, mountainous Nantou County. The private farm itself (Evergreen Grasslands) is extremely popular with Asian tourists and Taiwanese, who enjoy watching the “sheep show” where the animals get trimmed, but most foreigners and expats don’t quite understand the point of paying to see […]
Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area
Some of the most beautiful places in Taiwan are quite unknown, hidden, and really off the beaten track. Aowanda National Forest is such a place. For most Taiwanese, Aowanda is just a name you see on a road sign on your way to more popular touristic destinations in Nantou County such as Chingjing Farm, Mt. […]
Puli, Taiwan
Welcome to Puli, gateway to Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range & home to one of the world’s most remarkable Zen temples! Puli is a city in Nantou County, in central Taiwan. Most people only stop here on their way to the mountains, to places like Mt. Hehuan, Taroko Gorge and Sun Moon Lake. Others come to visit […]
Taichung Shopping Guide
We’ve got the lowdown on where to go shopping in TC, whether you’re looking for dresses, books, a tent, or ginger. Whether you are in Taichung for a day or two as a traveler, or a long-term expat who’s made TC your second home, you’ll appreciate the following list of places to shop in Taichung. […]
Wushe, Nantou County
Gateway to Taiwan’s High Mountains For most people who travel in Taiwan, Wushe, is nothing more than a small, average town on the way to more rewarding destinations such as Taroko Gorge, Mt. Hehuan and Lushan. I have to admit, the buildings along the main road aren’t that charming… The village is surrounded by mountains and is located along […]
Nantou County in Central Taiwan
Welcome to Nantou – an icon of Taiwan’s majestic natural beauty! Info About Nantou Like Miaoli, Nantou is both a city and a county. Also like Miaoli, the city itself doesn’t have much to offer – it’s quite an uneventful place to be honest. However, the county is quite famous as it is the home […]