Taipei
Taiwan’s capital, an ugly-duckling sprawl turned stylish metropolis, wears its singular fusion of Chinese, Japanese and Western influences lightly. In neighbourhoods modern and timeworn, far from the glamour of Taipei 101, outsiders find this city so embraceable they quickly grasp why people from around the world opt to live here. More »
Taroko Gorge
Taiwan’s most spectacular natural attraction is a symphony of marble within a breathtakingly vertiginous national park. Solid rock cleaved in slow motion by the most immaculate of rivers, the gorge is unequalled. The park’s fauna, flora and hiking trails are unforgettable. The hospitality of the native Truku people is unmatched. More »
Alishan
Famed throughout Greater China for its sublime mountain vistas and alluring ‘sea of clouds’, Alishan is also a tea-growing region known to tea connoisseurs throughout the world as well as home to the Tsou people, one of Taiwan’s 16 Austronesian tribes. The road up offers engrossing views; the train journey down is even better. More »
East Taiwan
Steep mountains plunge straight into the Pacific, where fishermen harpoon black marlin when not leading tourists out to see dolphins and whales. Between the peaks that watch over the ocean and the even loftier Central Mountain Range, indigenous communities celebrate bountiful harvests with stunning songs and raucous dances. More »
Tainan
Taiwan’s former capital is a treasure house of tangible relics and intangible culture. Leave the main road and be transported to the past in warren-like alleyways filled with shrines and quaint abodes. See where Dutch soldiers fought Ming Dynasty loyalists fleeing China, in a siege which changed the course of Taiwan’s history. More »
Sun Moon Lake
A glittering body of water surrounded by verdant mountains, Sun Moon Lake delivers romance to romantics, fresh air to outdoorsmen & gorgeous scenery to those who venture no further than their hotel room’s balcony. But boat and cable-car excursions tempt even the minimally ambitious to gaze upon the lake from dramatic new angles. More »
Kenting & Kaohsiung
For individuals who seek dimensions beyond sand and sea, Taiwan’s foremost beach resort delivers much more than sun-drenched frolics. Kenting National Park’s world-class birdwatching is matched by its marine life, while nearby Kaohsiung is the city to which holidaymakers retreat to shop and rest before heading north or east. More »
Hsinchu & The Hakka Heartland
One of Taiwan’s most prosperous cities, Hsinchu is a beacon of modernity which backs onto a region dominated by the country’s Hakka minority. Life in the hills was tough, but the clans who settled there can now enjoy the area’s enthralling natural beauty. More »
Taichung
There are two Taichungs. One is the bang up-to-date metropolis with excellent museums and eating options; the other is a traditional and mostly rural hinterland. In the latter you’ll find landmark shrines and some of Taiwan’s most alluring mountain vistas. More »
Lukang
Lukang has had its day, and that’s why we love it so much. The wealth generated here in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the town was a busy harbour, lingers in hidden mansions and fabulously ornate temples. Nowhere is better for a walking tour! More »
Mount Jade & Snow Mountain
Northeast Asia’s highest mountains are found among the 250-plus peaks in Taiwan which top 3,000 m (9,843 feet). At 3,952 m, Mount Jade draws hikers from all over, but the very slightly lower Snow Mountain provides an equally breathtaking experience. More »
Pingtung County
Far from Taipei in terms both of distance and ambiance, Pingtung packs great variety between its gorgeous beaches and stunning mountains. In an hour, it’s possible to drive from a Hoklo town through a Hakka village and into an indigenous community. More »
Penghu County
An unspoiled archipelago just 40 minutes’ flight time from Taiwan’s big cities, Penghu is superb for watersports fans, geology enthusiasts, history buffs… and anyone who loves to relax by the ocean. Come for two days, and you’ll likely want to retire here. More »
Kinmen & Matsu
On the frontline with China, these characterful island groups were shelled and fought over as recently as the 1970s. Now the two sides peacefully co-exist, they’ve become stepping stones to the mainland as well as attractions in their own right. More »
Green Island & Orchid Island
Once a place where dissidents were exiled, holidaymakers nowadays can’t get to Green Island fast enough. Orchid Island is even more remote, and thanks to its unique ecology and vibrant indigenous culture, utterly different to the rest of the country. More »