Yingge Travel Information Yingge lies in the Southwestern corner of New Taipei City (the new name for Taipei County). It’s close enough to Taipei City to make it a comfortable day trip, though it can be enjoyed on its own terms as well. Most people travel to Yingge before or after having visited the town of Sanxia and […]
Cultural Destination
A Travel Guide to Matsu Island in the Taiwan Strait
Facts About Matsu (Mazu) Island The Matsu Island archipelago contains 19 islands that, like Kinmen, are far closer to mainland China than to Taiwan. Still, they are part of Taiwan politically. The island group is named after the Fujianese goddess Matsu (alternatively spelled Mazu), who manages the seas and offers safe passage across them. Also like […]
Lugang, Taiwan Travel Guide
Old China in Modern Taiwan Lugang 鹿港 – also spelled Lukang – is where you want to go if you’re interested in ancient Chinese traditions and old Taiwanese culture. In Chinese, it is written 鹿港. Quick facts about Lugang: It’s one of Taiwan’s oldest towns, Lukang means “Deer Harbor”, it was central Taiwan’s most populous city until the 20th […]
Travel Guide to Kinmen Island in Taiwan
Facts About Kinmen (Jinmen) Kinmen, except for maybe Hong Kong or Macao, is the closest you can get to Mainland China without actually stepping foot on the landmass. In spite of being a mere 6 kilometers from Fujian Province’s Xiamen city and 187 kilometers from Taiwan, the Kuomintang (KMT) Party managed to hold on to […]
Lotus Lake in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Visit some of the best temples, pagodas and pavilions in the southern city. While touring Kaohsiung in Taiwan, you’ll have to take at least half a day to check out Lotus Lake, in Zuoying – a suburban district 5km north of the city center. And that’s the bare minimum. I spent an entire day in the area […]
Jiufen Travel Guide
Hike a volcano, eat traditional snacks, visit gold museums, drink Taiwanese tea, watch the ocean from a high mountain pass Travel information About Jiufen Jiufen is a really cool mountain town just a few kilometers away from Jinguashi, along the northeast coast of Taiwan. It’s the most popular tourist destination around Taipei City, and for that […]
Foguangshan 佛光山
Foguangshan 佛光山 is by far Taiwan’s most beautiful Buddhist monastery. It’s also the island’s largest and wealthiest meditation centre. This immense complex is located on a hill in southern Taiwan, just outside Kaohsiung City. It’s also called The Light of Buddha Mountain. Note that you need to be in good shape to visit Foguangshan as […]