Taiwan, a little known island in the Pacific Ocean, is full of inspiring places to explore. The Portuguese originally named Taiwan Ihla Formosa, meaning ‘beautiful island’ – and a beautiful island it is. Once you escape the cities, Taiwan’s mountainous middle, famous limestone gorge, and azure coastline make its natural beauty endless.
For anyone who likes a little adventure, here are the top 5 most inspiring places to explore in Taiwan.
Juifen
The
winding old streets of Jiufen are full of hanging red lanterns and little
stalls selling freshly cooked taro balls. In a past life, Jiufen was such a
prosperous gold-mining settlement that it became known as ‘Little Shanghai.’
When the mining industry declined, Jiufen was forgotten – but not for long.
Jiufen is famed for being the inspiration behind Miyazaki’s anime film Spirited
Away,
and is now a popular place to visit.
Teapot Mountain
Not
too far from Jiufen is Teapot Mountain, an ideal place for hikers to explore.
Once you climb the stairs next to the giant gold statue and follow the rubble
path into the green mountains, you’ll reach some long ropes. Pull yourself
uphill and you can climb into the stony teapot shaped rock that gives this
small mountain its name. Climbing inside a teapot sounds just like something
out of Alice in Wonderland to me. Of course, Teapot Mountain is quite
different to the hallucinogenic landscapes of Lewis Carroll’s world but it’s
just as enchanting.
Chongde Beach
Feeling
uninspired by too many golden sand beaches? Well, me too. Chongde beach, on
Taiwan’s east coast, is a different kind of beach altogether: it’s a black shingle
beach. Though Taiwan has a few black beaches, like Waiao,
Chongde is different. It’s far more isolated and isn’t particularly close to
any towns. Visit on stormy days, because that’s when the atmosphere is at its
peak.
Taroko Gorge
Taroko
Gorge National Park is an awesome place to explore for all travellers, hikers,
and weekend breakers. This 19km-long marble canyon boasts mountain treks,
emerald forests and blue waters all around. The tourist crowds at the visitor
center and trail heads can be really uninspiring, so grab a map and get walking
immediately. There are various trails to explore all over the park, the first
of which is the Shakadang trail (also known as the ‘Mysterious Valley Trail’).
Taroko Gorge
Jia Jiu Liao River Not inspired by those other four places? Why not get off the beaten path and explore Taiwan’s rivers instead? River tracing is a popular activity for walkers who want a bit more adventure on their weekends. At Jia Jiu Liao, river tracing is both tranquil and perilous. Hiking up stream is no easy task, it takes determination. Be prepared to be entirely submerged in river water, scramble over wet rocks and climb waterfalls. The route is scenic too. There are isolated pools to cool off in all along the river and flat rocks if you need to take a break.
