Welcome to one of Asia's most exciting up-and-coming places. The town of Hualien features mountain trails, marble gorges and Pacific Ocean panoramas directly on its doorstep, while Yilan is a wonderland of creative farms and hot springs. On the way, get behind-the-scenes glimpses of local industries, enjoy hands-on food activities, and experience an older, slower Taiwan - from Lukang's Longshan Temple to the marvellous wood sculptures of Miaoli. Breathtaking coastline, lush green scenery and tranquil temples are just the start of this eclectic experience. Kick off in Taipei, where traditional charm meets cosmopolitan buzz, and make your way to the idyllic Sun Moon Lake, a hiking and cycling paradise.
Day 1 - Arrival into Taipei
Arrive at Taoyuan Airport (TPE).
To be transferred to hotel by car/van (without guide)
Free at your own leisure for the day
*The clients may use One-day Taipei Metro Pass for unlimited rides to the MRT (metro) accessing to the attractions they want to visit on their free day
Taipei's oddness is one of its charms, from the wooden boards of Japanese-era mansions creak under the feet of visitors; and one of the top souvenir items of the city is a larger-than-life cock-shaped pineapple sponge cake. and a clean and free public toilet is never far away. Taipei is a tough little city whose beauty lies in its blend of Chinese culture with a curious fusion of Japanese, Southeast Asian and American influences. From the heirlooms of a tea merchant to the memories of a cemetery for the victims of the White Terror, Taipei is a city that takes great pride in celebrating its history - the triumphant and the tragic. the MRT has courtesy umbrellas free for rainy days; and the pilfered treasures in the National Palace Museum date back 5000 years. It may be inspired by the kawaii (cutesy) culture of Japan, but there's a lot of home-grown humour in there too. Great care has been taken to make it a truly liveable place for people: public transport grids the city well and is fast and cheap; every few blocks there's a park with a generous supply of benches, shelters and flowers. In many ways this 300-year-old city is like a living museum.
With its lanes of blackened walk-ups and countless shopfronts, the city may look like it was thrown together in a hurry, but look again. good (and sometimes great) coffee is everywhere; Yes, that is an invitation to try stinky tofu. Indeed going out to eat is the best way to understand the Taiwanese. Whether you're getting your fingers greasy sampling snacks at among the night markets or sharing Chinese dishes at a Taiwanese rèchǎo (stir-fried) joint, the defining characteristic is the element of fun. While you're at it, you might as well have some Taiwan Beer too! Merchant villas to military barracks have been restored, reworked and now live again as a museum or a shopfront. The Taoist temples buzz with the prayers of the hopeful; themed restaurants transport you to a world where you eat hotpot from a toilet bowl or in a hospital ward for dinner;
Dining out is so popular that many studio apartments in Taipei don't have kitchens: eating is cheap, casual and tasty. the idea of chocolate sauce on a steak is accepted; In the puppet museum you will find a strip-tease marionette oozing knock-kneed naughtiness; Overnight Landis Taipei
Day 2 - Taipei (B)
- 08:30 After breakfast, pick-up by English-speaking guide for Taipei city half-day tour, to visit: National Palace Museum, Martyr’s Shrine, Chinese temple, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, Handicraft Center, and Presidential building (pass by).
Overnight Landis Taipei
Day 3 - Taipei to Taroka (B)
- 08:30 To be picked up by English speaking driving guide and proceed to Taroko gorge via Suhua Highway. Photo stop at Chinshui Cliff.
- 13:30 Arrive Taroko National Park, visit: Taroko Gorge Gateway an, Eternal Spring Shrine, Swallow Grotto
Taroko Gorge - The park puts out an excellent guide in the Trails of Taroko Gorge and Su-Hua Areas. This 18km marble-walled gorge has been a popular walking and hiking destination since the 1930s. Useful trail maps are included with clear information on length, times, conditions and things to observe along the way. Pick up a copy at the National Park Headquarters.
Five million years ago, as Taiwan was lifted from the sea by the collision of the Philippine and Eurasian plates, the gorge began to be formed. In essence, the upward thrust of hard rock, combined with the erosion of the soft layers from water and landslides, left towering canyon walls that are so narrow in places that you could play catch with someone on the other side. Taroko Gorge began as coral deposits deep under the sea. Under pressure from geological forces, the coral was transformed into limestone and then marble, schists and gneiss. Overnight Silks Place
Day 4 - Taroko via the Scenic Mountain Road to Sun Moon Lake- 08:30 After breakfast, onward to East/West cross island scenic mountain road.
- 10:30 Stop at Mt.Hehuan visitor center with good view(elevation 3,002m).
- 15:00 Continue to Sun Moon Lake, driving along the lake and visit Wen Wu Temple with beautiful lake view.
About Sun NoonLake - Make sure you have your comfortable walking shoes or boots on today - as you will be strolling the Ci En Pagoda Trail at Sun Moon Lake. This gorgeous body of water may be the only natural lake in the country, and it's also the biggest. Its southern part is shaped just like a new moon, and the northern part is a sun, {hence the name). After your invigorating hike, jump on a bike and explore the lake's lush surrounds on two wheels. You're in for a treat, as this cycling route is among the most scenic in the world, because of the idyllic lakeside features. Overnight The Lalu
Day 5 - Sun Moon Lake to Tainan- 08:30 Visit Holy Monk Shrine , Tehua Village, and Tse En Pagoda.
- 11:30 Drive to Tainan, the ancient capital.
- 14:00 Arrive Tainan. Take a walking tour around Anping Fort, and old street area, which is one of the most historical streets.
Tainan - is best visited in winter: it’s warm (in the high 20s) and dry, but there are few tourists. Outside, young Tainanese show off their art and make coffee in former canal-side houses. Inside temples, bwah bwey (moon blocks; The name 'Taiwan' was once used to refer to Dayuan, Anping's former name. Traditional festival days are, of course , a great time to come, as are the local birthdays of temple gods. Traditional culture continues to thrive in Tainan, the oldest city in Taiwan. Tainanese are fastidious about their food, and a number of dishes are exclusive to the region (but renowned all over the island). You’ll almost certainly receive looks of jealousy from any Taiwanese person if you mention you’re going to Tainan, and it’s not hard to see why, are cast to determine the best course of action, as it was done hundreds of years ago. Overnight Evergreen
Day 6 - Tainan to Kaohsiung (B)- 08:30 Visit Chikan Tower, Confucius Temple. And walk around this area.
- 13:30 Continue to Kaohsiung. Visit the biggest monastery in Taiwan, Foguanshan Monastery. Visit the Main Shrine, and Buddhist Museum. Clients will have a light vegetarian lunch at the monastery.
- 17:00 Drive to Kaohsiung City, the biggest city in the Southern Taiwan. Check in the hotel in the late afternoon. Clients can enjoy the beautiful night view when taking a stroll on their own. OR visit the famous Liuho Night Market.
Kaohsiung - like any sophisticated modern city, Kaohsiung has tons of charms stashed away to reward the curious and patient. Many popular sights are clustered in areas that are within walking distance or a short bus ride (or cycle) from a Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit (KMRT) station, like the harbour and lower Love River area (in the Yancheng, Gushan and Sizihwan districts); and Cijin Island. But do not limit yourself to these areas. Gaoxióng) is Taiwan's largest port, its second-largest city and centre of the country's heavy and petrochemical industries. Despite this, today's Kaohsiung is a modern urban landscape of airy cafes, wide streets, waterside parks, public transport, bicycle lanes and cultural venues that have embraced and re-imagined the city's manufacturing past. There are also two swimming beaches within the city area, and 1000 hectares of almost-pristine forest right on its doorstep. Overnight Howard Kaohsiung or similar
Day 7 - Kaohsiung / Lukang / Taipei (B)
- 08:30 Visit Dragon & Tiger Pagoda; Spring & Autumn Pavilion.
- End of program for clients who have booked the extension program “Beach escape -Kenting”. All other clients continue the round trip back to Taipei with their guide.
- 10:00 1.5 hour free time, so that the clients can walk around and have some coffee or refreshment at a café
- 11:30 Drive north to Lukang, visit Lungshan temple and market.
- 17:00 Photo stop at Sanyi, woodcarving village.
- 19:00 Arrival at Taoyuan International. Airport of Taipei.
About Lukang - Comprising some of the most gorgeous temples in the country, and featuring curiously curved streets, heritage buildings and dusty old shops, it is this small part of Lukang - can be covered on foot within one long day - that justifiably brings in the crowds. People call Lukang a 'living museum' and this is true as much for the food as it is for the buildings and streets. Look for the enticingly named phoenix-eye cake, dragon whiskers and shrimp monkeys, among many other dishes. Traditional dishes are cheap and readily available near all major sights. Lùgang) is as nondescript as most small towns in Taiwan…but then there is that other 10%. Ninety percent of Lukang.
Clients who have booked an extension-hotel will be transferred to their city-hotel.
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