Travel in Taiwan

A Toast to Taiwan

Travel in Taiwan — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:13:43 +0000

The US has its bars, and the UK has its pubs. In Taiwan, one of the most popular ways to spend a night out is at a “beerhouse,” a bistro-like place that offers good food alongside an extensive drink menu that often includes far more than beer. Similar to Japanese izakaya culture, in Taipei these establishments frequently offer Taiwanese food as well as local plum wine, sake, or millet wine. Many have connections to the local community and take cues from the Taiwanese aesthetic in their decor.

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Where the Mountains Meet the Sea

Travel in Taiwan — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:12:07 +0000

One of Taiwan’s best-known fishing harbors, Chenggong lies just south of Taitung County’s famous tourist spot Sanxiantai. A bustling town of 25,000 in the 1970s, today its population of indigenous Amis people and Taiwanese is roughly half of that. Recently improved transport links and tourism have driven a minor renaissance, with people from around the island seeking the quiet life in this remote slice of paradise tucked between mountains and ocean.

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While You’re Waiting

Travel in Taiwan — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:09:02 +0000

Most travelers transiting through Fugang on their way to Green Island and Lanyu (Orchid Island) experience the small Fugang Fishing Harbor, located on the outskirts of Taitung City, as little more than the point of embarkation. Still, with a brand-new passenger terminal opening this summer, some scenic seaside to stroll along, and restaurants serving up fresh catch of the day every day, it has more than enough pleasant diversions to fill a couple of hours.

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Green Island, Blue Seas

Travel in Taiwan — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:07:35 +0000

A volcanic outcrop surrounded by the Philippine Sea’s clear blue waters, Green Island is a short 40-minute sailing or 20-minute flight away from the Taiwan mainland. Extensive coral reefs lie beneath the surface of the surrounding waters, while above the waterline, life is laid-back — if you like your weekend getaways to be sun-kissed and saltwater-scented, this will be right up your alley.

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62 Kilometers and a World Away

Travel in Taiwan — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:21:37 +0000

Before arriving on Lanyu (aka Orchid Island, Ponso no Tao, or Island of the People), I’d heard consistently glowing tales of this volcanic outpost from those whose opinions on such matters I trust. As it transpires, they were wholly accurate. Framed by wave-weathered coastal scenery and jungle greenery, life on this island, drifting 62 kilometers east of the Taiwan mainland’s Pingtung County (but being part of Taitung County), still follows the seasons of the sea – it’s truly a place like no other.

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Taipei’s Tempting Noodles

Travel in Taiwan — Wed, 13 May 2026 07:03:53 +0000

For foodies, Taipei can be called a “city of noodles,” where heritage, industry, and artisanal craft meet to create a panoply of noodle choices. From boutique beef noodles in Nangang’s old industrial district to home-style noodle bars downtown serving everything from nostalgic qiezai (shaken) noodles to mung bean or rice vermicelli, Taipei offers endless noodle-slurping variety.

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All Aboard for Fugang, Taoyuan!

Travel in Taiwan — Fri, 08 May 2026 07:54:20 +0000

For the international traveler, except for its Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan’s main gateway, the city of Taoyuan is largely terra incognita. Right beside Taipei/New Taipei City, most bypass it on the way to bigger-name attractions in the island’s center and south. Expats in the know, however, are well aware of its myriad worthy allures – here we explore charismatic Fugang, a time-capsule old market town.

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East Rift Valley Bikeways

Travel in Taiwan — Fri, 08 May 2026 06:51:11 +0000

Locals and in-the-know travelers use the inexpensive, high-quality Hualien City-to-Taitung City train service through eastern Taiwan’s gorgeous East Rift Valley like an “in-town” bus service, hopping on and hopping off at local stops. Tour cycling is popular in the flat-bottomed valley, which is carpeted with neat farms, especially rice paddies, and framed by the Coastal Mountain Range on the east and the Central Mountain Range on the west.

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When the Journey Is the Destination

Travel in Taiwan — Fri, 08 May 2026 06:00:04 +0000

Tourist trains are a relatively new phenomenon in Taiwan. It wasn’t until 1991, when the South Link Line was completed, that rail circumnavigation of Taiwan’s main island even became possible. It’s taken a while for the concept to build up a full head of steam, but with several new options coming on board in recent years, the country is now well on track to become a new hub for leisure train adventures.

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Three Routes, Countless Reasons to Ride

Travel in Taiwan — Tue, 05 May 2026 07:51:53 +0000

With understated efficiency, metro systems in Taiwan’s largest cities shift more than three million passengers a day, the high-speed rail system links north and south with a swift under-two-hour journey, and the round-island railway offers an easy, punctual, low-carbon way to explore at your own pace. In short, Taiwan takes train travel seriously.

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