Lucas NeoTaiwan is a country that has something for everyone. Feeling like a glutton? Taiwan’s night markets will fill you up pretty quick. Want some photos for your Instagram? There’s plenty of places worthy of a shot. Coming to Taiwan with the kids? No problem, Taiwan has some fun for the family too! Here are a few places in Taiwan that we highly recommend visiting.
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If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to eat, shop, see and play in Taiwan, join in on this 7/8D Taiwan Happiness Family Fun tour! Discover the good food of Taiwan’s largest night market, shop at fashion district Ximending, marvel at natural sights and get hands-on and up close! Besides, WTS Travel is also offering a limited-time discount of $600 off per couple! For more exciting travel deals, drop by WTS Travel’s 30th Anniversary Roadshow between 30 Aug and 1 Sep at Our Tampines Hub! |
Places to eat your fill in Taiwan
Shenkeng Old Street
Image credit: lienyuan lee
If you are a fan of tofu, Shenkeng Old Street is the place for you. Known as the “tofu capital”, Shenkeng Old Street is located on the outskirts of Taipei City, just a bus ride away from the city centre. The street is famous for serving all kinds of tofu dishes, including the famous stinky tofu. In fact, the best stinky tofu (臭豆腐) in Taiwan can be found within Shenkeng itself!
Even if you don’t like tofu that much, there are other stalls selling different kinds of food in Shenkeng Old Street. Nevertheless, we urge you to try the tofu here — be it boiled, fried or even as ice cream! Enjoy a slew of tofu delicacies as you admire the architecture of the old buildings here.
Fengjia Night Market
Image credit: dabing626
One of the more popular night markets in Taiwan, Fengjia Night Market is a must-visit when you are in Taichung. Being the largest market in Taichung (and maybe even all of Taiwan!), Fengjia Night Market has something for everyone. You will definitely not go hungry in Fengjia — there are so many food stalls at the night market, you can find one within ten steps of another!
Image credit: KAICHEN
Besides the usual fried chicken that you can find in every Taiwanese night market, Fengjia Night Market is known for its seafood selection. Another popular dish in Fengjia Night Market is ‘small sausage in big sausage’ (大腸包小腸), a snack where Taiwanese sausage is wrapped in a glutinous rice sausage. If you find yourself thirsty from eating too much food, there are plenty of bubble tea stores to quench your thirst.
Anping Old Fort and Anping Old Street
Located at the western end of Tainan is Anping district, and its most famous attraction is the Anping Old Fort, also known as Fort Zeelandia. This place was once a Dutch military fortress in the 1600s, but is now restored as a museum. While learning about the history of the fort and Tainan, you can climb up the observatory for a bird’s eye view of Tainan.
Image credit: Cmglee
Next to the old fort is Anping Old Street, where you can get traditional Taiwanese food and souvenirs after a tour around the area. Being the first settlement in Tainan, parts of the street still maintain its traditional charm. After visiting the fort, come and enjoy coffin bread, a Tainan specialty similar to bread bowl soup.
Places to shop till you drop
Ximending Shopping Area
Image credit: Cliffano Subagio
If you only have time to visit one place in Taipei, make it Ximending. While it’s not really a night market, Ximending comes alive at night with an abundance of eating and shopping options. There are also many things to do in the day, as this pedestrian-only area is home to a bunch of cool cafes and hipster stores. Being a cultural hotspot in Taipei, Ximending has earned itself the nickname of “The Harajuku of Taiwan”.
Ximending is known for selling the trendiest clothing and accessory styles, popular among Taiwan’s fashionable youth. After a night of shopping in Ximending, try the vermicelli noodles at Ah Zong Mee Sua (阿宗麵線). Taiwan is famous for their vermicelli noodles, and Ah Zong is one of the original stalls selling this local delicacy.
MITSUI Outlet Park
Image credit: Mitsui Outlet Park
Located between Taipei and Taoyuan International Airport, MITSUI Outlet Park makes a great final stop for those who are just arriving at or leaving Taiwan. With luggage storage facilities available at the mall, you can leave your bags and shop around freely.
Being the only outlet park in Taiwan, MITSUI Outlet Park has all the popular fashion brands (ranging from Champion to Coach) in one complex. Besides clothing and accessories, the outlet park also has stores selling lifestyle and food products. If you need a break to rest your feet, the outlet park has a cinema where you can watch the latest blockbuster hits.
Places for the best views
Gaomei Wetlands
One of the most well-preserved wetlands in Taiwan, Gaomei Wetlands is located on the outskirts of Taichung City. The wetland is home to many species of migratory birds and crabs, the ideal spot for wildlife enthusiasts looking for a place to watch the animals in their natural habitats.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
For the rest of us who cannot differentiate one species from another, you can just admire the scenery that is at Gaomei Wetlands. In fact, the wetlands is one of the best places in Taiwan to watch the sunset, providing the perfect backdrop right next to the sea with a row of wind turbines rotating gently to the breeze.
Rainbow Village
Image credit: Zairon
Colours are a feast for the eyes, and Taiwan has a village full of them right in Taichung. The Rainbow Village is known for its interesting murals all over the village. It’s not just the walls that are painted: the floor and rooftops are also coloured with beautiful designs and illustrations. The whole village feels like it came right out of a children’s book.
Once at the Rainbow Village, you might even have a chance to meet Rainbow Grandpa! That’s the nickname of Huang Yong Fu, the 95-year old painter of Rainbow Village’s colourful murals. In order to save the village from demolition, he decided to paint the houses so that they would be too pretty to destroy. Come and see Rainbow Grandpa in action, and support his craft by buying some of his artwork!
Taroko Gorge National Park
Image credit: Zhan Hui Teh
As Taiwan’s number one natural wonder, Taroko Gorge National Park is known for beautiful scenery at every corner of the massive park, filled with lush, towering greenery. There are many hiking trails of varying difficulty, so do plan ahead if your are visiting Taroko Gorge.
Image credit: Zairon
For those short on time, there are a few scenic spots you should visit first, the most famous of which are the Eternal Spring Shrine, Shakadang Trail and Swallow Grotto. Each will reward you with a breathtaking view over the gorge at the end of the hiking trail.
Shifen Old Street and Shifen Waterfall
Image credit: Vernon Raineil Cenzon
For anyone interested to travel to Taiwan, you have definitely heard good things about Shifen Old Street, a charming small town with an iconic railroad formally used to transport coal during the Japanese era..
With a bustling marketplace surrounding the railway station, you’ll find everything from local food, souvenir shops, and of course — the sky lanterns. For those looking to take part in the timeless tradition, you can purchase a sky lantern for NT$200 (~S$9). Paint your wishes with a calligraphy brush before releasing the lantern into the sky, taking your wishes to the heavens where they’ll hopefully be granted!
Image credit: leechentou
20 minutes away from the railroad town, you’ll find the cascading curtains of Shifen Waterfall towering in front of you. Nicknamed Taiwan’s Niagara Falls, this scenic waterfall stands 40 metres wide and 20 metres tall, making for a spectacle that will definitely have your emotions flooding out in a rush!
Places for the family (or if you’re just a kid at heart)
Cingjing Skywalk and Cingjing Farm
Image credit: Meet Nantou
Cingjing is famous for its wonderful weather and spectacular scenery, and what way to best experience it than by trekking along the Cingjing Skywalk? Located at an altitude of almost 2,000 metres above sea level, the elevated trail allows you to take in the views of Cingjing’s mountain range (and also take some insta-worthy photos).
The Skywalk has a visitor limit each day, so do purchase your tickets early if you don’t want to miss out on this attraction. We recommend going on a tour so that you will be guaranteed entry.
Image credit: pchipstar
Besides Cingjing Skywalk, the other attraction you must visit is Cingjing Farm. At Cingjing Farm, you can watch free-ranging sheep roam on the open, verdant plains and even feed them. Being right next to the skywalk, the farm also provides spectacular views of the mountain range. If New Zealand seems too far for you, come to Taiwan’s Cingjing and frolic with sheep amidst the mountains!
Leofoo Village Theme Park and Resort
Image credit: giustina ilyusha
If the other attractions don’t get you pumped up enough, Leofoo Village Theme Park definitely will. The top highlight of the 7/8D Taiwan Happiness Family Fun tour, the theme park is actually a combination of an amusement park, a water park and a safari, all in a single compound.
For thrill-seekers, Leofoo Village Theme Park has multiple roller coasters that will have you screaming in excitement. There are also lower-intensity attractions that families with young children can enjoy together. Animal lovers can head down to the safari zone — unique to Leofoo Theme Park — where vehicles will transport visitors right into the midst of the animal habitats. With over thirty attractions, Leofoo Theme Park has something for everyone!
Image credit: Leofoo Village Guanshi
Next to Leofoo Village Theme Park is Leofoo Resort. Offering rooms that are modelled after African safaris, Leofoo Resort is the first resort in Asia that is safari-themed. The resort takes the theme to a whole new level: it’s integrated with an actual safari, so you might wake up to a giraffe staring right across you!
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Want to explore the best of Taiwan? Hop on this 7D Spectacular Round Island Taiwan trip! For just $998, you can take a whirlwind trip around Taiwan and enjoy the cuisine, culture and scenery the country has to offer, visiting places like Fengjia Night Market, Fo Guang Shan and Taroko Gorge! What’s more, you can enjoy a limited-time special discount of up to $200 off per couple, so start marking your calendar! For more exciting travel deals, drop by WTS Travel’s 30th Anniversary Roadshow between 30 Aug and 1 Sep at Our Tampines Hub! |
With so much to do in Taiwan, we guarantee that visiting once is never enough!
Brought to you by WTS Travel and Taiwan Tourism Bureau Singapore Office.
