The Stunning Products of Taiwan

One of the buyers of Pixar Image Computers was Disney Studios, whose corporate parent would ultimately become its most important partner. Another club member, Steve Jobs, helped to sell 50 orders of the machine for $500 each to a local computer store. The success of the sales made the pair over $50,000 for and encouraged them to get to work on the Apple II. When he started experimenting with plastic toys in 1947, most department stores weren’t interested. Fortunately for future generations of LEGO builders, that didn’t discourage him, and plastic bricks eventually became the focus of the company.
The Taroko Eternal Spring Changchun Shrine is one of the most popular sites in the park. The stunning temple sits atop a natural spring and was built in honour of the many who lost their lives building the highway through Taroko National Park. Accommodation in Kenting is a mix of resort-style beachside hotels and smaller, boutique-style options. Take the 剝皮辣椒鹹蛋黃蝦餅 bus from Alishan to Chiayi Station and, from there, take the train to Kaohsiung, a further 2 hours 10 minutes. From the chaotic Taipei to the magnificent sunrises in Alishan, the peaceful Taroko Gorge and the colourful Taichung there’s a lot to squeeze into a Taiwan itinerary. We recommend budgeting around 14 nights to explore Taiwan at a leisurely pace.

Catch the shuttle bus from Sun Moon Lake to Taichung High Speed Rail station for connecting to the airport or Taipei. From either one, return to Fangliao, then take the train to Chiayi. If you ride Fangliao to Kaohsiung, and then Kaohsiung to Chiayi, there will be more trains to choose from.
In the course of this display a man wearing nothing more than a pair of shorts and a face mask stands upon a sedan chair while onlookers lob strings of lit firecrackers at him. Two buildings really, one houses the tourism center and library. The other has exhibition spaces, one of which houses the Aboriginal Artifacts Exhibition. By plane, Taitung is served by a local airport with flights to Taipei, Lanyu and Lyudao. This might be a good first stop in finding information on any local aboriginal or temple events that are going on, maps and general information. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and the waters of Australia.
“Xiao Ding Dang” (which they incorrectly spelled as “Ding-Dong”) is actually the Mandarin name for Doraemon, the Japanese robotic cat, but you won’t see him there; don’t ask me. Besides the themed areas, Leofoo also has a decent waterpark. The above are the main sights in Taroko Gorge that you should include on the first day of your Hualien itinerary. Read my guide to traveling in Taiwan and 55 favorite places in Taiwan. Please note we be closed for all public holidays for Easter and ANZAC day. Following the success of the first park, the Southern Taiwan Science Park , consisting of the Tainan Science Park and the Kaohsiung Science Park, was established in 1996.

Most Taroko Gorge day tours, such as this one, include a stop at the cliffs at the end of the day. The Qingshui Cliffs are a series of landmark coastal bluffs on the Suhua Highway, which  connects Yilan and Hualien counties. They are located a 10-minue drive north of the entrance to Taroko Gorge. Book your train from Taipei to Hualien up to 28 days in advance.
It’s commonly referred to as the “Capital City” because of its 200-year history as Taiwan’s capital under Koxinga and Qing Dynasty rule. It’s the oldest urban area in the country and home to some of the city’s most popular attractions like Anping Tree House, Anping Old Street, and Fort Zeelandia. Compared to more contemporary destinations like Taipei or Taichung, it didn’t seem as much fun. Most of its attractions are historical in nature and people who’ve toured Taiwan didn’t make it sound like a top priority. But in spite of that, there was something about it that made me want to go. It’s the oldest city in the country and historically one of its most important.

Up in the hills of Tamsui , the Yuan Dao Guanyin Temple is a beautiful, expansive, and very peaceful Buddhist temple complex devoted to the goddess Guanyin. Unfortunately, there is no public transportation going up there, but if you happen to have a scooter, car, or are willing to hire a private driver, this temple is really worth the trip. The Seashell Temple doesn’t look like much more than an old barn when you first arrive at the parking lot. But what those corrugated metal walls protect is something that stunningly beautiful and unique within.
At the same time, due to the special geographical and climatic conditions, the coastal plants here are rich in species, such as Lintou, Baishuimu, etc. It is an important base for the study of coastal plant ecology. Zhengqi Road in Taitung City is famous for Fruit Street during the day, and the night market begins to spread out in the evening. In addition to all kinds of  delicious special snacks, there will also be interesting facilities on the streets. It is a must-see food gathering area and night time attraction in Taitung. Taiwanese hotels range in quality from seedy to very luxurious.
Luye is famous for the International Taitung Hot Air Balloon Festival, one of the most visually impressive festivals in Taiwan. The festival takes place there every summer in Taiwan, but I think it’s a fabulously scenic and laid-back place to stay any time of year, especially if you are looking to get a taste of  rural Taiwan. Zushi Temple is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful temples in Taiwan.

You’ll find lots of teashops, cheap street food and restaurants that serve everything from Sushi to Kimchi and from burgers to dumplings. Air pollution in Taiwan is significantly created both domestically as well as blown over from China (People's Republic of China). Taiwan's topography has been noted to be a contributing factor to its air pollution problem. Taipei, Taiwan's capital and largest city for example, is surrounded by mountains, and other industrial centers along the northern and western coasts of Taiwan are surrounded by high mountains. You can check air quality real time monitoring on this page.
So instead, go back to Taipei by HSR then express train to Hualien . If you have time in your schedule, it’s better to spend a night in Hualien, but if your schedule is tight, then a day trip from taipei works too. It’s very easy to do Jiufen and Keelung as a day trip from taipei. Many people do Shifen Waterfall, Jiufen, then finish at Keelung Night Market for dinner and train back to Taipei.

The festival, which is celebrating its 13th year in 2023, usually runs for around two months starting at the end of June or beginning of July. Most visitors come to Luye for the Taiwan Hot Air Balloon Festival, officially the “Taitung Taiwan International Balloon Festival” . Luye is also one of the best places to go paragliding in Taiwan . We noticed people both landing on the Luye Highland while we were there, and taking off from it to land further below near Luye town. I was so impressed by the area and festival that I’ve written this whole post to introduce Luye and the Taiwan Hot Air Balloon Festival. Luye is now one of my favorite places in Taiwan and makes it onto my list of top Taiwan experiences.