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Taiwan may be a smallish island surrounded by other smaller islands. But just because it's small, it doesn't mean you'll quickly run out of exciting things to do on your visit there. There's so much to Taiwan than meets the eye. Here's a roundup of the ten awesome things you absolutely must do on your visit to this country.
Taiwan's street food scene is like nothing you've seen elsewhere. Wander far enough and you'll find streets and lanes lined with food stalls and kiosks, all of them inviting you stay awhile and pick something to nibble on. Whether you'll go for safer eats like fried spring rolls or beef noodles, or more daring offerings like snake meat or stinky tofu, you'll find something to challenge your taste buds when you try out Taiwan's street food.
Taste the original bubble tea
Dish at Modern Toilet Restaurant.
Got a strong stomach for gross toilet humor? Test your limits by eating at a Modern Toilet restaurant, where your food will be served in miniature toilet bowls and bidets, and some food items will be shaped like poop.
Fresh fruits at night market.
Most of Taiwan's urbanized areas have their own night markets, and these night markets are venues where you can score quality products at low prices. You can find nearly anything there. But more than that, the night markets are places for awesome food finds and simply for watching the crowd. Haggling is very much encouraged here.
South view from Taipei 101's observation deck.
You won't miss Taipei 101 whenever you wander about the capital city's downtown. Once the tallest building on the planet and with a distinct pagoda design, Taipei 101 offers some spectacular views of the capital city below. Once you're done viewing the city from the building's observation deck, you can browse through the high-end luxury shops and boutiques at the lower levels.
National Palace Museum, Taipei City.
The National Palace Museum in Taipei is home to hundreds of thousands of artifacts from China's long history. These treasures used to be housed in Beijing's Forbidden City. However, in order to protect these treasures from the invading Japanese army during World War II and from Mao Zedong's faction during the Chinese civil war, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek moved them from Beijing to Taipei, where they now remain.
Taiwan was once a Japanese colony. Among the effects of Japanese colonization in Taiwan is the development of gold mines in the towns of Jinguashi and Jiufen. Jinguashi is said to contain one of the largest gold deposits in the world. Though gold isn't mined there anymore, Jinguashi commemorates its gold rush heritage with Gold Ecological Park, where you can visit actual gold mines and see how they were processed.
Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan. While other Taiwanese cities have quickly embraced modernity, Tainan is like a time capsule where you can step into Taiwan's past. There you can see well-preserved temples and historical buildings, and the locals still practice much of their ancient traditions and way of living.
The Yehliu Geopark, located north of Taipei, is a natural seaside park containing numerous sedimentary rock formations. With names like "Ginger Rock," "Queen's Head," and "Sea Candles," these rock formations are fascinating and can make you feel like you've been transported to an alien planet.
Ludao or Green Island used to serve as a penal colony for Taiwan. These days, it is more known as a diving site, with tourists going there to see marvelous coral formations and vibrant marine life.
You won't lack for things to do on your visit to Taiwan. So make your plans and book your trip to Taiwan today.
