Taiwan
We started our sabbatical of almost four months of travelling in Taiwan because it was not only a good destination for a layover to New Zealand but also because both of us hadn't been there before.
Details
Visit: Januar 23rd - 27th 2018
Season: Winter
Start / End: Taipei
Transport: Public Transport
We thought it was a great place to see without having to spent more than a couple of days. We were right! Although it was a little strange knowing that this was only the start of a huge travel itinerary and it took a bit to get into travel mode, we really enjoyed our first travel pin of our sabbatical. And we not only explored the city and the amazing food, we also went a little outside of Taipei and would have loved to see even more of the landscapes outside of the city.
Besides of strolling around the city, eating lots of good food and visiting some of the famous Taiwanese night markets (like Raohe Street Tourist Night Market and Shilin Night Market) there are some sights that you shouldn’t miss when being in Taipai.
Taipei
Some places we explored were the oldest district of Taipei, Wanhua District, where you can find historic buildings like the Lungshan Temple.
Of course we also visited the in my opinion most impressive area of Taipei, the Liberty Square. There is a beautiful front gate and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, which unfortunately was under construction at the time, accompanied by the National Concert Hall and the National Theater. If you go up to the entrance of the Memorial Hall you’ll also get a great view of the Square. It’s located in Zhongzheng District, which also houses government buildings and other cultural and educational sites.
You were probably expecting it, so here you are: Taipei 101. You can see it from almost everywhere in the city and it always makes a good photo. But you can also go up to an outside viewing platform to watch the hustle and bustle of Taipei from above, especially good when it’s getting dark and the city lights are getting turned on.
Another must visit is Elephant Mountain. A lot of people know that, too. So be aware of many tourists and 1054 steps varying in length and height, so it’s also a little challenge to get up to the top. It’s probably a little less busy during the week and Taipei 101 will probably be a little brighter as there‘s more people working than on the weekend - if you‘re there for sunset or night photos. The view is amazing, by the way, so it’s worth the effort and coping with all the other tourists.
Maokong
Maokong is a tea growing area of Taipei. It used to be the biggest one, but nowadays it’s mostly used for hiking and escaping the hustle and bustle in the city or enjoying views of Taipei. There is a gondola that brings you up to the mountain and then you can explore the area by yourself. There are also some temples to visit and of course some restaurants (I can recommend the Redwood Tea House) where you can make a break. You shouldn’t and won’t miss Zhinan Temple as this is probably the most popular sight.
Jiufen
If you‘re in Taipei for a couple of days but not long enough to explore the rest of Taiwan in detail, you can always go on a day trip. We decided to go to Jiufen, a mountain village 40 kilometers outside of Taipei located on the East China Sea.
There is basically three things to do in the area:
1: This was a former mining area. You can visit some of the old gold mines or visit the gold museum.
2: You can stroll through the streets of Jiufen, explore some shops for souvenirs and try lots of the great food.
3: The landscape. If you‘ll take the bus you get some great views on the way already, and from Jiufen there is a great mountain panorama to photograph, the ocean of course and some beautiful temples to add to your photos as well. If you‘ve got the time you can also go to the Golden Waterfalls nearby in Jinguashi.
