The admission fee buys you a tour bus ride (and back) along a 2.5km-long stretch of coral coastline as the driver explains to you the names of the rocks that have been eroded into interesting shapes. The tour takes about half an hour. Here, actually everybody goes surfing, surfing, and surfing! So go check one surfing store out to rent…

Just so you can say you’ve been to Taiwan’s southernmost point, there’s a stone marker showing exactly that about 1.2km southeast of Eluanbi Park where Eluanbi Lighthouse is. The marker and a small viewing deck are accessible via a short, five-minute trail. There are lots of Japanese hornets here when it’s warm. Travel Info Taiwan‘s Southernmost Point(Belongs to Kenting National Park) [台灣最南點/tái wān…

Taipei’s most famous night market is hugely popular with travellers – and many locals – who come to enjoy the carnival of street-side snacking, shopping, games and people-watching. This is also the hugest night market in Taipei, you can not only enjoy various kinds of streets food, but also have a content shopping time there. Travel Info Shilin Night Market…

Despite Taiwan’s heavily urbanised landscape, the north has retained much of its frontier past, where a slower pace of life prevails in makeshift-looking villages. Such are the settlements that dot Pingxi District – a wild, wooded gorge served by the Pingxi Branch Rail Line (平溪鐵路支線; Píngxī Tiělù Zhīxiàn). Along this picturesque valley you’ll find thrilling hikes, high waterfalls, river pools,…

[新竹 / xīn zhú] The oldest city in northern Taiwan, and long a base for traditional industries such as glass- and noodle-making, this laid-back, leafy town (新竹; Xīnzhú) makes for a great day trip from Taipei. The town centre spreads back from a pretty restored canal zone, bordered by small personalised shops and restaurants. Heritage buildings pop up everywhere, and even…

Helmet-donning visitors can enter this old gold mine tunnel, part of the Gold Ecological Park, to get an idea of what life was like for the miners. There are wax figures of miners, simulation blasting, lively recorded dialogue between miners, and clear bilingual explanations of operations and taboos. Travel Info Beishan Fifth Tunnel(in Gold Ecological Park!) [本山五坑坑道 / běn shān wǔ kēng…

Just south of Jinguashi on Provincial Hwy 2 (KM81.5) is a quirky bit of eroded coastline. The most famous formation is a swirling tower that genuinely looks like a striped ice-cream cone. The odd shapes and colours were formed by the sea and wind eroding sandstone rocks that just happened to have rich iron and copper deposits in them. As…