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.