Taiwan is a favourite holiday destination in Asia for many reasons. Besides indulging in endless amounts of sweet and savoury street snacks, there are also many places of interests to visit.

You can also experience a little more of the Taiwanese culture by taking a trip down to the more rural areas of the country, such as Hualien—known for their beautiful mountainous areas and landscapes.

Whether it’s your first time visiting the land of night markets, or even if you have already been there multiple times, Taiwan will always retain its charm and city life that will leave you wanting more. Here’s a condensed 6D5N itinerary of our trips, where we explored beyond Taipei and the 22 things to see, do and eat in Taiwan.

DAY ONE IN TAICHUNG

#1 GET THE FAMOUS TAIWAN MILK TEA

3.15pm: You’ve seen them sell out rapidly on Singapore’s 7-11 shelves but in Taiwan, these bottles of milk tea are constantly available in vast quantities. The drink comes in various flavours, such as Café Au Lait, Matcha Latte, Sumiyaki and more. The best part? They’re at least two times cheaper than what you’ll find here in Singapore.

Besides that, the convenience stores stock up on amazing amounts of microwaveable food, chips, pastries and more that make for great midnight snack stashes.

#2 VISIT FENGJIA NIGHT MARKET

7.30pm: The experience here was (and always will be) crazy, to say the least. The crowd—especially during dinner hour—was unbelievable. We had to squeeze through the people-packed streets, but the street food such as the huge takoyaki, sweet potato puffs and taro chips made it all worth it. You could easily spend hours walking up and down the street and trying everything!

Fengjia Road, Xitun District
Taichung City 407
Daily: 4pm – 2am

DAY TWO IN HUALIEN

#3 CHECK INTO PAPAYA RIVER B&B

This B&B is tucked away in a serene, quiet spot in Hualien. It doubles up as an alpaca farm and is also home to two dogs and a cat. These domesticated pets are friendly, so you can even pet them if you like!

The host themselves also offer guide services, and they brought us around Hualien while we were there. Plus point: the incredible landscape around the B&B makes for amazing pictures.

No. 176 Guanghua 8th Street
Hualien County 97357
Tel: +888-3-842-1122

DAY THREE IN HUALIEN

#4 FEED THE ALPACAS

9.30am: If you’re staying at the B&B, you can wake up bright and early and request to feed these alpacas—for free! Start your morning right by getting upclose and personal with these fluffy creatures!

#5 STROLL AROUND NATIONAL DONG HWA UNIVERSITY

10.45am: Just a 20-minute ride from The Papaya River B&B, the school is open to the public, and boasts beautiful scenic views that are perfect for pictures.

University Road Section1
Shoufeng Township, 974

#6 TAKE IN THE SCENIC VIEWS AT LIN TIAN SHAN FORESTRY PARK

1pm: You can’t find any mountains in Singapore, but Hualien is littered with them. The forestry park is relatively quiet, and provides you with an opportunity to trek through the trees. Entry is free!

No. 20, Linsen Road, Fenglin Township
Hualien County 975

#7 TREK AROUND LIYU LAKE

2.30pm: This lake is a must-visit when you’re in Hualien. It is quiet, peaceful, and looks over the beautiful mountainside. There’s a footpath that stretches across 2.4km leading you from one end of the lake to the other, and you can either walk that length or rent bikes.

It’s the perfect place to take in the fresh air and take in the nature surrounding you.

Huantan North Road, Shoufeng Township
Hualien County 974

#8 HAVE DINNER AT EAST GATE NIGHT MARKET

7.30pm: This night market is the most popular one in Hualien, simply because it is huge, and even has little game stores for you to try out. Some of the food we tried included cheese omelettes, grilled squid, and even a kebab wrap!

No. 50, Zhongshan Road
Hualien Country 970
Daily: 6pm – 12am

DAY FOUR IN XIMENDING, TAIPEI

#9 TAKE THE TAIWAN METRO

12pm: The Taiwan Metro is a quick and fuss-free way to get around Taipei and beyond! Similar to the trains we have here in Singapore, their cabins are also clean!

#10 VISIT SUN YAT-SEN MEMORIAL HALL

1.30pm: What is a trip to Taiwan without making a pit stop at the iconic Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall? Paying tribute to Dr Sun Yat-sen, who is affectionately named as China’s founding father, this is where you can learn more about his revolutionary career.

No. 505, Section 4
Ren’ai Road, Xinyi District
Taipei City, Taiwan
Daily: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

#11 SOAK IN A HOT SPRING AT BEI TOU

3pm: Relax your muscles and enjoy a thermal hot spring bath at Bei Tou, a popular tourist destination in Taipei. Just a stone’s throw away from Xinbeitou station, the area has a mix of both public and private baths featuring mineral-rich water. Do note that it is recommended for you to book the private baths before heading over.

Nearest Station: Xinbeitou

#12 SHOP AT XIMENDING

6.30pm: With your bellies filled, you can now shop around the vast shopping district that is Ximending. If you’re a shoe-lover, you’re in luck—the area is home to a myriad of shoe stores like Nike, Adidas, and ABC Mart (this is a multi-label store with tons of amazing shoes). Besides that, there are tons of more souvenir shops selling Taiwanese snacks that you can bring home.

108, Taipei City
Nearest Station: Ximending

DAY FIVE IN TAIPEI

#13 TAKE A WALK AT DA’AN PARK

11am: Just a 15-minute ride from Ximending Station on the metro line, Da’an Park is apparently one of the ‘richer’ parts of Taiwan, but the scenery is no less beautiful. It is located right outside Da’an Park metro station. You can even have a morning run along the park!

Section 3, Xinyi Road, Da’an District
Taipei City 106
Nearest Station: Da’an Station

#14 GO SHOPPING AT ZHONGXIAO DUNHUA SHOPPING AREA

3pm: This is the Southern region of Taipei—within walking distance from Da’an Park—and is arguably the ‘hipster-haven’ of Taipei which is popular among Taiwanese youths.

You’ll find a huge range of stores with different styles to shop from. Look out for a huge Forever 21 outlet located right outside the train station.

Section 4, Zhongxiao E. Road, Da’an District
Taipei City 106
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Zhongxiao Dunhua Station

#15 VISIT TAIPEI 101

7pm: A must-do for all Taiwan first-timers. But if you don’t fancy paying extravagant prices to go up the tower, try hanging around the vicinity around the building instead. It is equally as beautiful.

Xinyi District, Taipei City 110
Nearest Station: Taipei 101 Station

DAY SIX IN TAIPEI

#16 HAVE BREAKFAST AT AH CHUNG MIAN XIAN

10am: The store along Ximending is often populated with people standing around and eating their piping hot bowls of mian xian—which are thin flour noodles cooked in rich broth and topped off with pig intestines.

No. 8-1, Emei Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Sat to Sun: 10.30am – 11pm
Tel: +886-2-2388-8808
Nearest Station: Ximending

#17 BUY PINEAPPLE TARTS AT CHIA TE

3pm: Honestly, no Taiwan trip is complete without buying back some tasty treats from Chia Te. The only outlet in Taiwan is located in Nanjing where snaking queues outside the storefront is a common sight.

Be prepared to queue for about 20-30 minutes but fret not, for the wait will be worth it as their biscuits and pastries taste amazing. If you’re not sure what to get, try their Sun Cakes, Milk Cakes, and Pineapple Tarts.

No. 88, Section 5, Nanjing E Road, Songshan District
Taipei City 105
Daily: 8am – 9.30pm
Tel: +886-2-8787-8186
Nearest Station: Nanjing Sanmin

#18 FEAST AT RAO HE NIGHT MARKET

6pm: This night market might just be one of the better ones in Taiwan, offering a huge selection of different kinds of food such as fried squid, baked cheese potatoes, and the famous Fuzhou Pepper Buns.

Roahe Street, Songshan District
Taipei City 105
Daily: 4pm – 12am
Tel: +886-2-2763-5733
Nearest Station: Songshan

DAY SIX IN TAIPEI

#19 TAKE A DAY TRIP TO JIUFEN

9am: Bus services up to Jiufen are available from Taipei. You can either book a private bus, or go on a public one (which is cheaper). The ride takes about 3 hours.

Jiufen 224, Ruifang District, Taipei City

#20 TRY THE FAMOUS A-ZHU PEANUT ICE CREAM ROLLS

You’ve probably heard of these peanut ice cream rolls. After all, they’ve been flooding Instagram feeds for a long time now. These ice cream rolls are made of taro ice cream, topped with peanut shavings and wrapped in spring roll skin.

No. 45, Jishan Street, Ruifang District

#21 SNACK ON LAI AH PO YU YUAN

These are traditional handmade taro, sweet potato and green tea balls mixed with sweet soup, and can be eaten hot or cold. They cost just NT$40 (S$1.72) per bowl!

No. 143, Jishan Street, Ruifang District

#22 SPEND YOUR LOOSE CHANGE ON GRAB-CLAW MACHINES

Ximending has stores that house many different grab-claw machines, and they’re relatively easy to win too! If you have any extra loose change before you head home, you can try your luck at these machines and see whether you can bring home any adorable plushies or toys.

In fact, you’re likely to find shops dedicated to grab-claw machines at literally all the night markets scattered around the city.

What do you first think of when someone mentions Taiwan? For most foreigners, the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper is the first thing that comes into their minds. However, there is so much more to do and see besides marvelling at the grandeur of Taiwan’s tallest landmark!

Taiwan is one of our favourite Asian countries and the island-country is famous for its inviting hot springs, impressive mountains and bustling night markets. From Chiayi, Hualien, Taipei to Tainan, here are 7 Best Cities In Taiwan to Visit – And The Highlights You Must Not Miss.

Source: Inspiration Seek

#1 CHIAYI

Located in southwestern Taiwan and formerly known as Kagee and Kagi, Chiayi – also spelt as Jiayi – is the gateway to one of Taiwan’s most beautiful attractions i.e. Alishan National Forest Scenic Area. The provincial city is also renowned for tasty huo ji rou fan aka turkey rice.

#2 HUALIEN CITY

Hualien City is situated on Taiwan’s east coast and has a population of approximately 106,500. Most travellers drop by this serene coastal city to visit the nearby Taroko National Park and 21-km long Qing Shui Cliff. The former spans across 920 km² and boasts spectacular geological features formed 200 million years ago, while the latter is characterised by towering cliffs.

#3 NANTOU

Nantou – the only landlocked county in Taiwan – is home to Taiwan’s highest mountain, Yushan and largest body of water, Sun Moon Lake. More than half of Yushan National Park is elevated at above 2,000m, hence those suffering from altitude sickness should avoid it.

Despite being a countryside destination, Sun Moon Lake itself attracts six million annual visits for its diverse ecological system, indigenous tribes and gorgeous scenery.

#4 NEW TAIPEI CITY

No trip to New Taipei City is not complete until one has visited Jiufen and Shifen—two popular destinations amongst both locals and travellers from all walks of life. Over here, you can savour a vast variety of Taiwanese delicacies.

#5 TAICHUNG

Municipality Taichung is an industrial city located on the western coast of central Taiwan. Visitors must make a special trip to Feng Jia Night Market, a marketplace that draws over 110 million visitors on an annual basis. Do also make time to visit the 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan and National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts.

#6 TAIPEI

The capital of Taiwan has a few world-famous attractions, namely Taipei 101 and Shilin Night Market. The former is a 101-storey tall infrastructure that was once the tallest in the world, while the latter is a world-famous bazaar where you can sample the best Taiwanese street food. Do also check out the National Palace Museum which showcases more than 650,000 artefacts.

#7 TAINAN

Situated in the south of Taiwan is Tainan – the nation’s oldest city. The Taiwanese municipality is well-loved by natives and foreigners alike for its century-old historical landmarks such as Fort Provintia and Tainan Confucian Temple. Unwind over a pampering spa at Guanziling Hot Spring and stuff yourselves silly with divine street food at Tainan Flower Night Market.

Visited Taipei countless of times and beginning to find yourselves tired of the ubiquitous skyscrapers?

Then perhaps it is time to venture out of the city and explore what Taiwan’s serene rural areas have to offer. Furthermore, plenty of scientific research have also proved that the exposure to natural landscapes indeed reduces one’s stress levels significantly.

Here is our guide to 5 Must-Visit Scenic Countryside Destinations in Taiwan. These tranquil and natural Taiwanese beauties are the answers for both outdoor adventurers and worn-out city dwellers who are looking for a temporary escapade.

#1 JIUFEN

Jiufen is a mountainous attraction located at the Rui Fang District in New Taipei City. Previously an isolated village with only nine families, Jiufen flourished and grew rapidly following the discovery of gold during the Japanese Occupation. Today, it is one of the most popular destinations amongst both Taiwanese locals and travellers from all walks of life.

Other than being a popular filming spot, Jiufen is home to a vast variety of incredible street food and traditional homemade snacks where tourists can take home packaged bites at extremely affordable prices.

Fun fact: Legendary Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki was so inspired by Jiufen that he had illustrated it in his award-winning film Spirited Away.

Read our guide on the Must-Try Local Foods at Jiufen Old Street.

#2 QINGSHUI CLIFF

The 21-kilometre stretch of coastal cliffs located in Hualien County is a stunning landscape. Head to the lowest point, Qing He Beach, where you can walk along the pebbled coast and marvel at nature’s magnificence.

Looking up, we were blown away by how tiny we actually are! The height of the towering cliffs range from approximately 800 to 2400 metres.

Qingshui Cliff has been coined as one of the island’s Eight Wonders. The beautiful ocean transits from a light shade of blue to a darkish tone of blue and the pebbles lining up the coast are each unique. The beach is a wonderful place to meditate with the soothing sounds of crashing waves, but note that swimming is strictly prohibited.

#3 SUN MOON LAKE

Sun Moon Lake’s special terrains resemble the sun from one side and the crescent moon on the other end, hence gaining its apt name. Despite being a countryside destination, Sun Moon Lake itself attracts six million annual visits for its diverse ecological system, indigenous tribes and gorgeous scenery. The Taiwanese wonder is also Taiwan’s largest freshwater lake.

There are many entertainment and activities available at Sun Moon Lake, but it is best to do your research prior to arrival.

Visitors can view pretty cherry blossoms in full bloom in February, cycle on the world’s best cycling paths or celebrate the Harvest Festival with Thao aborigines on the first day of the seventh lunar month and on the second day of the eighth lunar month.

#4 TAROKO NATIONAL PARK

The 920 km² wide Taroko National Park is renowned for its iconic landmark – The Taroko Gorge.

Spanning across Hualien County, Nantou County and Taichung Municipality, it will take more than a day to fully explore Taroko National Park. The spectacular marble geological features were formed since 200 million years ago and are still morphing at a gradual rate.

Visitors can borrow helmets for free from the Visitor’s Centre to protect themselves from rockfalls. If you are travelling without a tour guide, do bring along a portable torch light as you might have to walk through a few tunnels in complete darkness. You can also expect suspension footbridges, plunging waterfalls and lush vegetation. Always check the weather before visiting Taroko!

#5 YUSHAN NATIONAL PARK

Yushan National Park boasts not just the highest point in Taiwan, but also the tallest peak in Northeast Asia. The tallest mountain – standing at 3,952 meters – boasts jaw-dropping scenery that would have you pinching yourself. We were literally walking in the clouds and were ecstatic on how surreal it felt! Till date, it remains one of our most memorable experiences.

More than half of Yushan National Park is elevated at above 2,000 meters, hence those suffering from altitude sickness should be warned that they might suffer from nausea and lightheadedness. Temperatures at Yushan National Park vary drastically due to its dramatic altitudes, but that makes the place a suitable habitat for many flora and fauna.

Jiufen is a mountainous attraction located at the Rui Fang District in New Taipei City. With the discovery of gold in the village during the Japanese Occupation, it has slowly boomed since then and is now one of the most favoured destinations among locals and tourists.

Other than being a popular filming spot, Jiufen is home to many incredible snacks and food, and traditional homemade snacks which you can bag home at really affordable prices.

Here are some of the Jiufen Must-Eats which you have to try at least once in your life!

# 1 YU WAN BO ZAI 

Located at the first food stretch of Jiufen, you can easily spot this shop with its bustling crowd. Priced at NT60, the signature set comes with a bowl of piping hot vermicelli and unique balls of fish paste that are freshly beaten daily and boast a springy texture.

#2 LAI AH PO YU YUAN 

Much like Blackball in Singapore, patrons can choose from the hot and cold selections, and every serving comes with handmade taro, sweet potato, green tea balls and kidney beans. It is sold at a very affordable NT35, and is the combat for the scorching sun.

#3 KUROBUTA SAUSAGES 

You will be able to find this snack at almost every corner of Jiufen. When bitten into, the texture of the grilled meat is slightly more tender than usual sausages and it makes the best grab-and-go snack.

#4 AH ZHU PEANUT ICE CREAM 

This stall encourages photo-taking and even has a set-up ready for you to snap your pictures. Every Instagrammer-cum-foodie should be grateful! That said, let’s focus on the goodness of this iconic snack – smooth taro ice cream is served on traditional popiah skin and sprinkled with shaved peanut bits, Ah Zhu Peanut Ice-cream is an all-time favourite and one that we think of immediately every time we reminisce good times at Jiufen!

#5 Grilled Sea Snails

For the more adventurous foodies, you might want to give this a shot! Sharing the same family tree as escargots, the sea snails are grilled freshly and then seasoned with 5-spice sauce before serving. Definitely not for the faint-hearted!

#6 CURRY FISH BALLS

The fish balls here at Jiufen are sold at NT20 per stick. Drenched in spicy curry sauce, these springy fish balls are a delight to munch on, and good for sharing. Its robust flavour is unforgettable.

#7 GRILLED MUSHROOMS

Mushroom may sound like a nightmare to many, but trust us when we say you have to try the jumbo mushrooms here at Jiu Fen. They call it the “chicken drumstick mushroom”, simply because they are huge. Grilled and coated with a sweet sauce, then cut into bite-sized pieces, this is a real treat!

#8 AH LAN HAKKA GLUTINOU RICE CAKE 

The traditional glutinous rice cakes sold at Ah Lan are lovingly handmade every day, and comes in sweet red bean or salted vegetable fillings. There are many stalls selling glutinous rice cakes actually, but you just have to spot the long queue and there you have it – the most famous stall at Jiufen – Ah Lan. It is one traditional delight that you must try when you are at Jiufen.

Other than these delectable eats, you might want to visit their Japanese-inspired traditional tea houses to indulge in the art of tea, or simply stop and take in the magnificent sea view. What impressed us most was the picturesque sight of Jiufen’s ascending mountain top.

TO GET TO JIUFEN FROM TAIPEI 

Hop on the train from Taipei Main Station to Rui Fang Station and board the Kee Lung Transit bus headed to Jiufen. It takes approximately an hour to get there.

Alternatively, you can also board Bus 1062 from Zhong Xiao Fu Xing Station. It takes slightly longer, but it will be great if you want to enjoy the scenic view of Northern Taiwan along the way.

For more recommendations, read our food & travel guides on the best things to see, do and eat in Taipei.