In 2024, I finally saved enough money to travel to Taiwan. It was an ad-hoc plan—I decided to go because my friend’s flight was rescheduled and his original travel mate couldn’t make it.
We spent our first day in Taipei, exploring famous tourist spots like Taipei 101 and Ximending. On the second day, we took the high-speed rail to Zuoying, then caught a bus to Kending to enjoy the scenic mountains and beaches. We rented an e-bike and rode it in the evening, soaking in the mesmerizing views. (One anecdote: we tried to ride the bike to Pingtung at night, hoping to visit a night market, but the battery was running low and the route was extremely dark—so we decided to turn back. xD)
On the third day, we headed to Tainan, where we visited historic streets and temples, admiring the charm of old buildings and alleyways. Our BnB in Tainan was quite special—we stayed in a room above a cozy coffee shop.
On the fifth day, we went to Taichung and visited Gaomei Wetlands, which features a scenic boardwalk framed by wind turbines. We were surprised by how well the wildlife was preserved there—we saw countless crabs crawling across the muddy wetland. Night markets (pasar malam) are a must-visit in Taiwan, so we made sure to explore the Fengjia Night Market in the evening.
Our favorite spot had to be Jiufen Old Street, which we visited on the sixth day. Jiufen was once a gold mining hub during the Japanese gold rush and is now famous for its narrow alleyways that resemble scenes from Spirited Away (if you’re a Studio Ghibli fan!). That afternoon, we also visited Shifen Train Station, where the tracks run directly through shops. Tourists often buy and release sky lanterns at the station—it was a magical sight to witness.
On our final day, we returned to New Taipei City and visited the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, where we learned about the history of Chiang Kai-shek and Taiwan’s journey toward democracy and freedom of speech.
Taiwan holds a special place in my heart for its culture, people, food, and breathtaking scenery. There’s a popular saying: “台湾最美的风景是人,” which translates to “The most beautiful view in Taiwan is its people.” After spending six days exploring the country, I can wholeheartedly say this quote is true.
To end this post, I’d like to share some lyrics (which I first mistook for a poem) displayed in the corridor of the Taoyuan Airport departure hall:
在旅行的路上，有些事我們慢慢講。
有個熱情的地方名字叫台灣。
我們將腳步放慢，聊著天，在路上。
你行李裝滿，遠赴他鄉的夢想。
我用思念再醞釀，牢記你的模樣，揮揮手、再見。
祝你！旅途平安。
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