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One Week in Taiwan

Arrived in Taipei, Taiwan's capital.

On our first full day, we checked the main attractions in Taipei.

Starting with Elephant Mountain. It's a popular hiking trail with walking paths and stairs. At the end of the short hike, it's a super nice panoramic view of Taipei from the peak.

Then we checked another famous spot on the city, Taipei 101. It's the fastest elevator in the world and it takes you to Taipei 101 Observatory - incredible views of Taipei, but totally different from the one from Elephant Mountain.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is the city’s most impressive historical landmark. It was built in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China.

Checked Liberty Square, public plaza, and the view from the Liberty Square Arch.

At the end of the day, we went to Beitou Hot Spring Museum. The museum is housed in public hot spring bath built during the Japanese colonial era.

Today we checked Taipei's cool neighborhoods and experiences.

Starting from Longshan Temple, Taipei’s most famous temple.

North Gate Square is a historic gate to Taipei City. Still looks like it did in the Qing Dynasty.

Then we took the Dihua Street, which is known as the oldest street in Taipei.

Ximen is a cool neighbourhood of Taipei, it's pedestrian-only and has a high concentration of hip, funky and weird things going on. It's a popular place to hangout for young people living in Taipei.

Taipei is known for its night markets with local food. Shilin Night Market is the biggest, but Raohe Night Market is more manageable.

Time to leave the city.

Took the train to Shifen Waterfall. It'a a wonderful waterfall on Keelung River.

Took the bus to Jiufen. It's a beautiful mountain town. It's known for its former gold mining transformed into popular market street now.

Not far from Jiufen, Jinguashi is the site of one of the original gold mines in Japanese era. You can visit Museum of Gold here and Golden Waterfall, but beware that the water in the waterfall still carries remnants of harmful minerals.

Keelung Night Market is one of the best night markets in all of Taiwan.

We left Taipei for a rural feel.

Arrived at the beautiful Sun Moon Lake. There's a cable car that takes tourists up on the mountain, where you can witnessed beautiful view over the lake.

We visited Wenwu Temple, on the north part of the lake. It's a Chinese-style Taoist temple.

Then went to Ita Thao Village, a village on the east part of the lake, home to the Thao aboriginal tribe.

Our final destination in Taiwan and most beautiful one was Alishan National Scenic Area. It's the country’s top mountain resort. It's here you can enjoy the cherry blosson at its best, beautiful cypress trees and admire the cloud-ringed peaks of Alishan Mountains.

a highlight of this region in Taiwan is a ride on Alishan Forest Railway

Back to Taipei and then back home.