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. […]
Nature
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, […]
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 […]
Hehuanshan Taiwan Hiking Guide for 2021
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
Bike or Hike to Baguashan from Sun Moon Farm
This easy 16km round-trip walk follows a quiet country road just outside Taichung City. This hike to Baguashan is a great alternative to the trails in Dakeng! It takes about the same amount of time to get there from downtown Taichung and it’s surely not as crowded. The Hike to Baguashan – In Brief… The trail starts […]
Hike Eagle Mountain in Taiwan
Eagle Mountain (2180m) is one of the most exhilarating hikes / climbs I’ve done in Taiwan. The views from the top are stunning, the vegetation is varied, and the trail is always well-maintained. It is without a doubt the nicest day-hike in Taichung’s vicinity. Eagle Mountain is located in the central part of Taiwan, in […]
Hike Hehuan West Peak, 3145m
Tips for Climbing Hehuanshan West Peak: Most people require around 8 hours to complete this hike. No permit is needed to climb Hehuan West peak. Bring plenty of water or carry a water filter. Bring warm clothes and rain gear, as the weather can change at any time on this hike. Hiking boots are highly […]
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 […]
Hike Mt. Guanshan, 3668m
Hike beautiful Mt. Guanshan and witness some of Taiwan’s most dramatic mountain views! Introduction Located along Taiwan’s South-Cross Island Highway and standing at 3668m, Mt. Guanshan is the area’s tallest peak. The trail offers a highly pleasant overnight trip through lush woods and alpine terrain. At A Glance Length: 9.2km round trip Height gain: 1288m Type: out and back Difficulty: moderate […]