Our Trip

First, we landed in Taipei! The efficient MRT Airport Express took us to our hotel, the Midtown Richardson. After settling in, we immediately explored the energetic Ximending district. This area is full of life, with shops, street food, and performers. We also saw the historic Red House, a beautiful brick building with a creative market. It was a fantastic first taste of the city.

We began our day with a spiritual visit to Longshan Temple. The atmosphere was serene and peaceful. Next, we took the MRT to the grand Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. There, we watched the impressive Changing of the Guard ceremony. Afterwards, we headed to the modern icon, Taipei 101. For a special treat, we enjoyed coffee with a view from the 88th-floor Simple Kaffa shop. Finally, we ended our day with delicious food at the famous Raohe Night Market.

Today, we took a train to Rueifang. From there, we caught a bus to the stunning Golden Waterfall. It was amazing to see the water flow over gold-colored rocks. Then, we continued to the mountain town of Jiufen. We walked its narrow streets and visited the famous A-Mei Tea House. We made sure to stay until evening to see the hundreds of red lanterns light up. It was a truly magical sight.

After breakfast, we took a train to Taitung. Our journey continued to Fugang Harbor, where we caught a ferry to Green Island. This island is a beautiful paradise. We checked into the unique Tube 18 Resort for a one-night stay. The peaceful atmosphere was the perfect start to our island adventure.

We traveled by train to Fangliao. Then, a bus took us to the sunny beach town of Kenting. We checked into the Amanda Hotel. First, we explored the local area. In the evening, we dove into the vibrant Kenting Night Market. The next day, we relaxed on the beach and swam in the turquoise water. We also explored the natural beauty of Kenting National Park. Of course, we returned to the night market for more tasty food.

We traveled by train and bus to the stunning Sun Moon Lake. We checked into the Leisure Sun Moon Lake hotel. That afternoon, we hired bikes for the next day’s adventure. We started our bike ride early the next morning to avoid the heat. Specifically, we cycled the 30-kilometer loop around the lake. The clockwise route felt easier with many gentle downhills. Along the way, we saw wild monkeys and visited beautiful sites like the Ci’en Pagoda and Wenwu Temple.

We took a scenic bus ride from Sun Moon Lake up to Alishan. We stayed at the Dafong Hotel for two nights. The next day, we woke up very early to catch the 5:00 am sunrise train. We went to the Zhushan viewing deck. While we didn’t see a sea of clouds, the sunrise was still beautiful. Afterwards, we hiked the forest trails. We saw the Sister Ponds and the giant ancient trees.

We said goodbye to Alishan by riding the famous narrow-gauge forest railway down to Chiayi. The train ride through the mountains was a fantastic experience. From Chiayi, we caught a train to the vibrant city of Taichung.

We took a bus to the Taichung HSR station. Then, the high-speed train whisked us back to Taipei in no time. This gave us a few more days to enjoy the capital city.

We visited the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park. Then, we returned to Taipei 101 for some shopping. In the evening, we hiked up Elephant Mountain. It was rainy, but the view of the lit-up Taipei 101 in the mist was dramatic and special. On our final full day, we immersed ourselves in art at the National Palace Museum. We saw incredible treasures, including the famous Jadeite Cabbage.