Editor’s Note: This post is sponsored by Taiwan Tourism Bureau. We learned this information from Taiwan Tourism Bureau at the 2020 New York Times Travel Show.
Header image credit: Taiwan Tourism Bureau
Taiwan is a collection of islands in East Asia and its main island, where Taipei, Taichung and other large cities and attractions are located, is just around 14,000 square miles.
Two of Taiwan’s multi-award winning airlines, China Airlines and EVA Air will get you there directly from New York City’s JFK airport to Taipei in around 15.5 hours. Once you’re off the plane and ready to start exploring, you’ll be greeted by rich landscapes. Though Taiwan is relatively small, it has eight national parks, 13 national scenic areas and 18 national forest recreation areas. It’s not only a nature lover and outdoor adventurer’s dream. Combine outdoor activities on a trip to Taiwan with tasting traditional food, attending cultural festivals, checking out the shopping scene and interacting with friendly locals.
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Taiwan Tourism Bureau at the 2020 New York Times Travel Show
We got a little taste of Taiwan in New York City at the 2020 New York Times Travel Show. Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s booth featured two Taiwanese destinations. The booth was modeled after Taichung’s Rainbow Village and also featured floral imagery from Hehuan Mountain to showcase Taiwan’s beautiful mountain landscapes.
The booth was opened by Ambassador Lily L.W. Hsu of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in New York (left) and Claire Wen, Director of Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s New York office (right).
Visitors who stopped by could participate in a range of activities, including watching aboriginal dance performances, tasting Taiwanese snacks, playing traditional games, entering for a chance to win Taiwan-themed prizes and a return ticket to Taiwan thanks to China Airlines and EVA Air and meeting OhBear (a Formosan Black Bear native to Taiwan and Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s mascot.)
What to Do in Taiwan in 2020 and Beyond
This is an exciting year to visit Taiwan. The tourism bureau’s theme for 2020 is Year of Mountain Tourism, highlighting five of Taiwan’s mountain ranges and 24 mountain-related package tours.
And because of Taiwan’s mix and richness of culture (most Taiwanese are ethnically Han Chinese, but there’s also a strong presence of the Hakka culture and 16 aboriginal tribes), you can expect many festivals, including Taiwan’s annual Lantern Festival. This year, the 2020 Taiwan Lantern Festival will take place in Taichung, Taiwan’s second largest city.
Visitors can get to know more of Taiwan’s mountains and culture through these activities:
1. Food
You don’t have to spend a fortune for delicious food in Taiwan. Don’t miss trying Taiwan’s popular snacks like oyster omelet made of oysters, eggs and sweet potato flour topped with a sauce. Or be adventurous and try stinky tofu made from tofu fermented in brine, which gives it a unique odor, and then fried to give it a crispy shell. There’s also pig’s blood rice cake made with glutinous rice and pig’s blood, fried chicken cutlets, lots of seafood and pearl milk tea (bubble tea), which originated in Taiwan. Try these snacks at a night market often located near local temples so you can sightsee then grab a snack.
These snack foods are just the beginning of Taiwan’s dining scene. Have a bowl of stewed or braised beef noodle soup and check out Michelin Guide’s Taipei annual edition for things to eat and where to eat it.
2. Cycling
Whether you’re a leisure cyclist, professional, or want to cycle with the whole family, Taiwan is a cycling paradise. The island has a network of cycling paths and there are numerous combinations of paths and things to see. Cycle around Sun Moon Lake to see beautiful scenery by starting at Xiangshan Visitor Center and cycle to Wunwu Temple, a Confucius temple, the Peacock Garden, Zhaowu Wharf and Shuishe Pier and end back at the visitor center.
Or if your itinerary allows, take a multiple day cycling tour. One for experienced cyclists is a three-day tour to the highest road point in north east Asia at 3,275 meters. Start day one at Qixingtan Scenic Area for views of the Pacific Ocean and Taroko National Park, then head to Tianxiang, a large river terrace on day two and finally to Qingjing Farm on day 3.
3. Hiking
If you enjoy hiking, there are plenty of routes to take in Taiwan. Two to four hour half-day tours are possible around the suburbs of Taipei. Embark on one-day hikes in the mountains or two or more days at Yushan (Jade Mountain), the highest mountain in Taiwan with its main peak at 3.952 meters for a total of 45.6 kilometers from the Tataka entrance to the top. Note, you will need a permit to do this hike.
4. Other Outdoor Activities
Cycling and hiking are just the beginning of outdoor activities in Taiwan. It is also possible to go diving in Longdong Bay, surfing at Honeymoon Bay, windsurfing on the northeast coast, bird watching at Guandu Nature Park, rock climbing and whale watching. There’s an outdoor activity for everyone in Taiwan.
5. Visit a National Park
Enjoy Taiwan’s beauty at one of its many national parks. Some to visit:
- Yangmingshan National Park: home to 20 volcanoes
- Shei-Pa National Park: home of the second highest mountain range in Taiwan, Xue Mountain
- Yushan National Park: home to Jade Mountain, the tallest in northeast Asia
- Taijian National Park: to see wetland ecology of Taiwan
- Kenting National Park: home to 1,000 types of fish and 250 species of coral
- Taroko National Park: see canyon vistas and marble cliffs
- Kinmen National Park: a war history memorial national park
- Dongsha Atoll National Park: not on the main island, situated on a coral reef
See the beauty through a video by Taiwan Tourism Bureau:
6. Tea Tours
Taiwan’s mountainous region allows for tea leaves to be grown. Take a tea tour and be sure to sample or take some of Taiwan’s teas back home like Pouchong, Oriental Beauty tea (an oolong only produced in summer) and Alishan high mountain tea (awarded Taiwan’s number one tea.)
7. Shopping and City Exploring in Taipei
Taipei has several commercial districts filled with retailers. You could visit the Xinyi commercial district for shopping and to see the iconic Taipei 101 tower. Or purchase products from local artists. In Taipei’s Dadaocheng area, check out Dihua Street to find items for Chinese New Year, see the cloth market or locally made pottery and cloth bags.
Have you been to/want to visit Taiwan? Leave a comment below!