HOT SPOTS / EVENTS / FESTIVAL
World's Top 10 breathtaking cycling routes - Sun Moon Lake
Located in the heart of Taiwan, the Sun Moon Lake has long been charming curious foreigners and local visitors alike. The route around the largest lake in Taiwan is a three-hour ride, where visitors can enjoy lake scenery, experience Thao aboriginal culture and learn about the local ecology in the Nantou County. If you arrive in early spring, you can even catch the cherry blossoms near this mirror-like lake.
World's Top 10 must-see sights - Taroko Gorge
The Taroko Gorge is a spectacular 19-kilometer long canyon in Taiwan's east coast a short drive from Hualien. The climate is usually cool and humid, but again perfect for any of the trekking options at any of the long or short trails available, biking or whitewater rafting. It's just over 60 kilometers from the coast, yet it is home to some of the highest peaks in Taiwan at over 3,400 meters. It can be easily visited by bus, car or scooter and has enough treks to keep you busy for several days, but most people usually only visit it on one.
Sicau Green Tunnel (Taijing National Park)
The gutter section in the back of Sicau Dazhong Temple was ever the very spot to grow purely Limnitzera Racemosa forests to the greatest extent, and now is the best mangrove forests area to observe. There are 3 types of mangroves existent here: Avicennia Marina with the largest quantity, Limnitzera Racemosa with the number coming in second, and only a few Rhisophora Stylosa trees. It’s better to watch the mangrove forests and the birds, fiddler crabs (up to approximately 6 kinds), mudskippers inside the forests from the mild hill behind Dazhong Temple. Also riding a sight-seeing boat to pass through the mangrove tunnel makes a different case for deep experience of nature.
Cimei Twin Hearts Stone Weir(heart to heart)
Speaking of Penghu, the romantic Cimei Twin Hearts Stone Weir can never be missed. The Twin Hearts Stone Weir is located in Dunghu village in Cimei Township, Penghu. Not only does the name “Cimei”, meaning “seven beauties”, sound beautiful itself, the two connected heart-shaped stone weir near the coast also make the place so romantic that many tourists come attracted by its reputation. There are especially many couples visiting here, and it seems that coming to the Twin Hearts Stone Weir together, they can be blessed. Cimei Twin Hearts Stone Weir consists of two heart-shaped stone weirs, connecting end to end and forming a double heart-shaped romantic picture. The two hearts respond to each other, and look like two lovers lean close together. Since the Twin Hearts Stone Weir gained its popularity, it has become the synonym of Penghu’s tourism. A Beautiful trap Though the beautiful Twin Hearts Stone Weir is associated with romance, the stone weirs are originally used as a trap to catch fish. When the tide rises, it floods the stone weir, bringing a great amount of fishes when it ebbs, the fishes are trapped in the stone weir because of the drop of water level. And it’s like catching the turtle inside the jar.
Sanxiantai
Formerly,Sanxiantai was a narrow and elongated cape into the ocean. When the neck of the cape was eroded by the tide,the rest of the cape was disconnected with the land and became an island. It is said that three gods,named Li Tieguai,Lu Dongbin and He Xiengu visited here and left three pairs of footprints. The isolated island remained unaffected by human civilization and preserves abundant seashore plant species,and was thus claimed a natural reserve later on. There is also a famous eightarch cross-ocean bridge,a great spot to watch sun rising over the Pacific Ocean.
Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area
Taipingshan is situated in the northern county of Yilan and is one of Taiwan's three major national forest recreation areas. With a moist climate and abundant rainfall, it has nurtured an environment rich in ecological resources. The forests that cover the area consist of such valuable trees as Taiwan cypress, Taiwan hemlock, and Japanese cypress. The area is also blessed with geothermal energy at the Renze Hot Springs, the largest alpine lake on the island (Cuifeng Lake), and a variety of other enchanting scenery. One of the prime tourist spots here is the Taipingshan primeval forest park, which you reach via flights of stone steps lined with purple-leafed maple trees that become especially rich in color between the months of March and November. This used to be a major logging area, and traces of the old logging equipment can still be seen here-the old forestry railroad, ruins of a cable car up the mountain, motorized carts, trestles. Visitors here can also savor the constantly changing sight of the "sea of clouds," the brilliant sunrise, forest waterfalls, and other alluring scenes. No wonder that this is a favorite vacation spot for the people of Taiwan! Entry to the Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area requires a B-class mountain permit, and an A-class permit is needed to proceed on to Cuifeng Lake. You can get your permit to the national forest recreation area by presenting your ID card or passport at the Taipingshan inspection post. Taipingshan Forest Park is located in Datong, Yilan County, 12,000 hectares in area. The park covers the Nanhu Mountain, Sanxing Mountain and Dabajian Mountain. There are abundant cypress and pine trees and it used to be one of the three major forestry centers in Taiwan. Scenery here differs with the seasons. Visitors can come here to appreciate the flowers in spring, the sunrise and clouds in autumn. Vegetation here differs with the altitude. Scenic spots here include Renze Hot Spring, Forest Park, Forest Tour Track, Wildlife Conservation area and Cuifeng Lake. The plants that change colors, such as maples, have brought Taipingshan beautiful views. Cherry blossoms, plum blossoms and apricot blossoms make the park exquisite scenery.
Zhengbin Fishing Port
Zhengbin Fishing Port, located at the south of Heping Island, is considerably more laid back. The Port is built by the Japanese in 1934, and it was the biggest fishing port in Taiwan during the Japanese era. Although it gradually diminished afterward, its down-to-earth appearance endures. The city is actively seeking to preserve it as a place for relaxation and nostalgia. There has been a boat named “Folk Art” at Zhengbin Fishing Port Nostalgia Pier. It was the first art museum on the sea. Besides, there has been also held dragon boat race and some activities, which were quite popular.
National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts(Weiwuyin)
National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) is the first national theater located in southern Taiwan. Its superb location and rich history signify its mission of bridging the past with the future, connecting local and global talents. Designed by Dutch architect Francine Houben, National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) spans 9.9 hectares and sits in the northeast corner of a vast lush park. Transformed from a military training base to an arts and culture center of the future, Weiwuying continues its heritage of talent fostering and civil service. As it becomes one of the pivotal theatre complexes in the arts. Weiwuying hopes to bring forth new experiences and life-changing moments that make the arts special to everyone.