Taiwanese Secrets Travel Guide

Beaches

Douli Travel Guide

Very few people have heard of, or traveled to Douli 都歷, a tiny, sleepy coastal village in Taitung County, along Taiwan’s wild East Coast. Here, the mountains are steep, the jungle is thick, beaches are secluded, and the starry sky is simply mesmerizing. It’s the kind of place you’d see on a postcard from Hawaii. […]

Hengchun Travel Guide

Gateway to beautiful Kenting National Park! Hengchun use to only be an ugly, uninspiring transit point between Kenting National Park and the rest of Taiwan. Driving through this town was once seen as an annoyance and a waste of time. Not so anymore. The city has now a vibrant tourism industry thanks to hordes of […]

Kenting Snorkeling

Kenting National Park is one of the best places in Taiwan for snorkeling. On this page, I’ll show you the best spots. A few beaches and rocky shores are surrounded by pretty coral reefs and some interesting marine life. In Kenting, it’s not really necessary to rent a kayak or join an organized snorkeling trip. […]

Hualien City Travel Guide

Welcome to Hualien 花蓮, gateway to Taroko National Park, attractive beaches, majestic mountains, and a slower pace of life. Before you read on, let me just tell you one thing: Hualien is an absolute must-visit destination in Taiwan, so make sure to bookmark this page, or highlight it in your guidebook. No visit to Formosa […]

Highway 11: Taiwan East Coast Guide

If you only have time to do one road trip in Taiwan, it should be either Taroko Gorge or Highway 11. My personal favorite is the latest!  Some of the best beaches on Formosa are located along Highway 11, on the East Coast of Taiwan, between Hualien and Taitung. On this page, I’ll show you my personal […]

Snorkeling at Wanlitong Beach

Wanlitong 萬里桐, a small village (and a beach) just north of Baisha Bay, is one of the best spots for snorkeling in Kenting National Park. The reef is somewhat well-preserved and still colorful, and you can see quite a lot of sea life on most days. The easiest access to the reef is at the […]

Little Bay (Xiaowan), Kenting

I’ve heard a lot of people say that Little Bay (Xiaowan in Chinese) is the nicest beach in all of Taiwan. Considering how many beaches and bays this island has, it is quite a claim. But I have to admit that I don’t disagree – it really is a wonderful place! Little Bay is just […]

Nanwan Beach (South Bay) Kenting National Park

Nanwan (South Bay) is the most popular beach in all of Kenting National Park. Why? Here are a few reasons: It’s the first beach you’ll pass as you drive toward Kenting Town. It’s got some of the best B&Bs and guesthouses in the national park. Easy access by public transportation. Convenience (a 7-11, a beach […]

Xiao Liuqiu (Little Liuqiu) Travel Guide

Xiao Liuqiu is the small island located in the Taiwan Strait, not too far southeast of Kaohsiung City. In recent years, the island has seen an explosion in numbers of tourists (mostly young local Taiwanese) who make the short journey by fast ferry to its shores to dive, snorkel, eat seafood, or just ride a […]

Sail Rock, (Chuanfanshi) 船帆石

Sail Rock is the third most popular place where people stay in Kenting National Park after Kenting Town, and Nanwan (South Bay). It is located about 10 minutes south of Kenting Village. In Mandarin Chinese, Sail Rock is called 船帆石 (Chuan Fanshi). Why stay at Sail Rock? A lot of people, myself included, think that […]

Fengchuisha, Kenting National Park

Fengchuisha is one of the most scenic and photographed places in Taiwan. It’s very close to the southern tip of the island, next to Longpan Park, in beautiful and wild Kenting National Park. Fengchuisha is known by all Taiwanese, but few (English-speaking) people ever mention it by name. Probably because there is only a Chinese […]

Surfing in Taiwan – Yes, Formosa’s got Waves!

Welcome to the new surfing mecca in Asia – TAIWAN! Thinking about Taiwan for your next surfing adventure? Good idea. I promise you simply cannot regret it – Taiwan has it all: big waves, friendly locals, amazing food, affordable accommodation, stunning scenery, and on top of that, it still enjoys a relatively off-the-beaten-track vibe. Here, […]

Taitung Travel Guide

Taitung 台東, Chinese for “East Taiwan”, is in the Southeastern corner of Formosa. Though few people visit the city itself, it often serves as a stopover point for those on their way to Green Island and/or Orchid Island (Lanyu), which is what you will find if you draw a line directly east from Taidong. Both of these […]

Dulan Travel Guide

Dulan is a small, peaceful, coastal town located 20km north of Taitung city, along Taiwan’s east coast. It is without a doubt one of my favorite travel destinations in Taiwan. This tiny community of Ami (Taiwan’s largest aboriginal tribe) is nestled between mountains and sea along Highway 11. Dulan boasts awesome coastal scenery, one of the […]

The Penghu Islands in the Taiwan Strait

Facts About Penghu in Taiwan Ninety little islands make up the Penghu archipelago, off the Western coast of mainland Taiwan, longitudinally wedged between Taichung and Tainan. The island group may also be referred to as The Pescadores Islands of Taiwan, the name given to it by Portuguese explorers. Unlike the Taiwanese mainland, Penghu’s geography has lent itself […]

Travel Guide to Yilan (Ilan) in Northeastern Taiwan

Yilan Travel Information Facts About Yilan (Ilan) Yilan, like Taipei and many other cities in Taiwan, refers to both a city and a county (this article’s travel ideas refer to both). It is one of few cities on the mountainous eastern coast of Formosa, and is humble in size – Yilan city is home to under […]

Green Island Taiwan Travel Guide

Green Island isn’t on the to-do list of most visitors to Taiwan, but I believe it deserves more attention then it’s actually getting. The island is quite small, but it’s still one of the most spectacular places I have seen in Taiwan. Check out the best hotel on the island! Green Island is a perfect […]

Travel Guide to Fulong Beach in Northern Taiwan

Welcome to Taiwan’s most accessible beach resort! If you can only visit one beach during your stay in Taiwan, make it this one! Fulong Village has a long (3km), yellow stretch of soft sand that faces clear, turquoise water where you can swim, surf, and sail year round. The area is also home to one of Taiwan’s most scenic hiking trails, […]