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 […]
Outdoor
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 […]
Rock Climbing in Long Dong, Taiwan
Welcome to Taiwan’s rock climbing mecca! I first came to Taiwan in 2000, for one main purpose: to rock climb at Long Dong! At the age of 20, I had already climbed extensively at some of the biggest crags in North America, namely Squamish, Yosemite, Red Rocks, and Joshua Tree… I had never heard about […]
Hiking in Taiwan Travel Guide
Discover some of the best hiking trails and climbing peaks on the island! This Hiking in Taiwan Travel Guide will show you that Taiwan isn’t just cities and factories. The island is home to Northeast Asia’s tallest summit and to more than 240 peaks over 3000m! One day, Taiwan will inevitably become a world class hiking destination […]
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, […]
Taroko Gorge Campgrounds
Camping in Taroko is an experience you shouldn’t miss if you have camping gear and plan to visit the area. The three main Taroko Gorge campgrounds are within few minutes of Tianxiang, the main village in the gorge. If you do not have your own car or scooter, you should camp at Baiyang camping spot, […]
Hike at Xuhai Grassland -旭海大草原
The Xuhai Grassland offers some of the most breathtaking coastal views along all of Taiwan’s rugged east coast. I love this place so much, there are very few tourists (even on weekends) and it’s just 20 minutes away from my house! 🙂 I think it’s one of the coolest spot on the island, and you […]
Chufengbi Trail in Kenting National Park
If you are planning on hiking the Chufengbi Trail between Nanrenlu (南仁路) and Jialeshui (佳樂水), in Kenting National Park, think twice. At first, I thought my biggest problem was going to be hitching a ride back home at the end of the trek. Turns out you can’t even legally hike the Chufengbi path! It’s a real […]
A Detailed Travel Guide to Pinglin in Northern Taiwan
Pinglin Travel Information In Taiwan, nearly every city is famous for something. Yilan has onions, Yingge has pottery, and Sanyi has wood. In Pinglin, the claim to fame is tea, particularly that of the acidic, rich, green Bao Zhong variety. The tea is harvested in the Spring, so if you get a chance, try to […]
17 Best Motorcycle Rides and Road Trips in Taiwan
Travelers to Taiwan often ask me: “What’s the ONE thing I absolutely must do while in Taiwan?” You’d probably expect my answer to include temples, food, night markets, or hot springs. Nope. My clear and definite answer has always been the same: Rent a scooter or motorcycle and go for a ride! With hundreds of […]
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 […]
Discover Wulai in Northern Taiwan
Wulai Travel Information Facts about Wulai Wulai District has gone the route of many indigenous towns throughout history – humble local culture, followed by exploitation of natural resources by colonizers, followed by modernization and a tourist economy. Here, aboriginal culture, particularly that of the Atayal people, is rich and on display for all. Book your […]
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 […]
Orchid Island – Complete 2021 Travel Guide
Welcome to the wild side of Taiwan! Point straight southeast from Taitung, travel for 50 miles or so and you’ll find yourself on Orchid Island (Lanyu 蘭嶼 in Chinese), a popular tourist spot to get as far away from mainland China as possible. The island of 3,000 or so people is rich in aboriginal culture […]
Yangmingshan National Park in Taipei, Taiwan
Hot Springs, hiking, relaxation… Yangmingshan is Chinese for something like “Bright Sun Mountain”, and it’s deserving of the name; catching a sunset here is breathtaking. There are a ton of hiking trails throughout the National Park’s area; if you are looking to hike be sure to check out the high-resolution area map that is provided on the official website. […]
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 […]
Nantou County Travel Guide
Information About Nantou, Taiwan Like Miaoli, Nantou is both a city and a county. Also like Miaoli, the city itself doesn’t have much to offer. However, the county is quite famous in Asia as it is the home of Sun Moon Lake, a highly popular tourist attraction for Taiwanese travelers, visitors from mainland China, and westerners […]
Maolin Recreation Area
Hike in unspoiled mountain landscapes, meet friendly Rukai and bath in hidden hot springs. Maolin? Never heard of it. Where is it? That’s the usual answer I get from Taiwanese people and expats when I talk about this most incredible scenic area in Kaohsiung County. What’s ironic with this answer is that I often hear […]
Visit Maokong in Taipei
Maokong is a region southeast of Taipei City, and is famous mostly for high-quality tea farming. A trip to Maokong is perfect if you’re looking to kick back and experiment with some unique flavors and varieties of the drink that put Chinese culture on the global map in the 17th century. Find the best Taipei hotel […]
My Crazy Adventure on Lanyu, Taiwan
Why would anyone go to Orchid Island during a typhoon!? Last year, I had one hell of a crazy (read stupid) adventure on Lanyu (Orchid Island) with my friend Ben… We were sitting at my restaurant, in Taichung, it was around 5 or 6 o’clock in the evening, we were sipping beers and chatting, then the […]