Below is the MUST VISIT places when you are in Taiwan.
- Sun Moon Lake
First location after landed in TAIWAN was Sun Moon Lake, is a lake in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan. It is the largest body of water in Taiwan. The area around the lake is home to the Thao tribe, one of aboriginal tribes of Taiwan. Sun Moon Lake surrounds a tiny island called Lalu. The east side of the lake resembles a sun while the west side resembles a moon, hence the name. Sun Moon Lake is located 748 m (2,454 ft) above sea level. While swimming in Sun Moon Lake is usually not permitted, there is an annual 3-km race called the Swimming Carnival of Sun Moon Lake held around the Mid-Autumn Festival each year. The Sun Moon Lake Swimming Carnival was launched in 1983.
In legend, Thao hunters discovered Sun Moon Lake while chasing a white deer through the surrounding mountains. The deer eventually led them to the lake, which they found to be not only beautiful, but abundant with fish. Today, the white deer of legends is immortalized as a marble statue on Lalu Island (taken from Sun Moon Lake - Wikipedia).
Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan 2013
- From the Lake to Temple (using Ferry Cruise ^^____)
According to Sun Moon Lake Wen Wu Temple - Wikipedia, The lake and its surrounding countryside have been designated one of thirteen national scenic areas in Taiwan. Wen Wu Temple was built after rising water levels from building a dam forced several smaller temples to be removed. Tzu-En Pagoda was ordered constructed by late President Chiang Kai-shek in 1971 in memory of his mother. Other temples of note include Jianjing Temple, Syuentzang Temple, and Syuanguang Temple.
Wenwu Temple
- From the Temple to Alishan Scenic Area
Then we stay overnight at Alishan Kaofeng Hotel (old but comfortable). From the room window, you can see the sun rising, close to the forest, so there are a lot of tree branches that line up to the window.
My Beautiful Mom at Alishan
- Alishan Forest Recreation
According to Alishan National Scenic Area - Wikipedia, The Alishan National Scenic Area is a mountain resort and nature reserve located in Alishan township, Chiayi County, Taiwan. Alishan is 415 square kilometers in area. Notable characteristics include mountain wilderness, four villages, waterfalls, high altitude tea plantations, the Alishan Forest Railway, and several hiking trails. The area is popular with tourists and mountain climbers. Alishan, itself has become one of the major landmarks associated with Taiwan. The area is famous for its production of high mountain tea.
Alishan is well known for its sunrises, sunset, sea of clouds in the area between Alishan and Yüshan, railway station, and sacred trees. Alishan Sisters Pond; it is said that they were three sisters, but they love the same man, and because they don’t want to hurt each other’s feelings, they end up by jumping into the pool. The size of the pool is also different, the largest is the eldest sister, the medium is the second sister, and the smallest pool belongs to the youngest.
Alishan Sisters Pond
Three Generation Tree (top) and Sacred Tree (down)
- From the Forest to the Train Station
From Chiayi Station, we are using Taiwan High Speed rail (for the first time) to Kaoshiung.
To Kaoshiung using Taiwan High Speed rail
- Spring and Autumn Pavilions
According to Spring and Autumn Pavilions - Wikipedia, The Spring and Autumn Pavilions are a Taoist temple complex located on Lotus Lake in Zuoying District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Like the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, the temple is special and unique. It was built in 1953 by Chi Ming palace, were two Chinese palace-style pavilions. The complex can be seen from the top of the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. The dragon’s mouth is the entrance, while the tiger’s mouth is the exit.
Don’t forget the photos in the lotus pond are great after coming out…
My Mom at Dragon and Tiger Pagodas
Me at Lotus Pond
- Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum
According to Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum - Wikipedia, The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum (Chinese: 佛光山), formerly known as the Buddha Memorial Center, is a Mahāyāna Buddhist cultural, religious, and educational museum located in Dashu District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The museum is affiliated with Fo Guang Shan, one of Taiwan’s largest Buddhist organizations. The museum is located next to the Fo Guang Shan Monastery, the headquarters of the order. The museum houses one of the tooth relics of Sakyamuni Buddha, the founder of the Buddhist faith. The museum was accepted as the youngest member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) in 2014.
There is a large Buddha statue in the back garden.
Fo Guang Shan Temple
- From the temple, we go to Taroko National Park
According to Taroko National Park - Wikipedia, Taroko National Park is one of the nine national parks in Taiwan and was named after the Taroko Gorge, the landmark gorge of the park carved by the Liwu River. The park spans Taichung Municipality, Nantou County, and Hualien County and located in Xiulin Township, Hualien County, Taiwan. The name “Taroko” derives from the Truku tribe, an indigenous group formally recognized by the Taiwanese government as of 2004. The Truku tribe originally resided in the upper region of the Zhuoshi river before migrating eastward towards Hualien County through Mt. Qilai to the Liwu River. The Truku tribe continues to reside in Hualien County, including within the designated National Park area.
So, this place is not always open for the public, if a big storm or typhoon hits Taiwan, this place will be closed for the public until the conditions subside. My Mom friend already been to Taiwan two times, but She always fail to come to this place, because She always meet a typhoon that hits Taiwan. So, me and Mom feel so grateful and lucky to be here, since we don’t have the high expectation to go this place.
“If you want something happen, no need to be too eager, just let it be. The thing is we already tried, if it is not happened, we are not disappointed”- quotes by DI.
The stunning Eternal Spring Shrine, two words to describe this place is stunning and beautiful.
- Ximending Shopping Street
It’s not complete if you’ve been in Taiwan but haven’t visited Taiwan most famous shopping street such as Ximending Shopping Street and Shilling Night Market. This duo is the most incredible night market with hundreds of food stall (the heaven of street food), clothes, souvenirs, and so on.
Ximending (top) and Shilin Night market (down)
The legendary Oyster Omelets at Shilin Night Market
As a culinary lover & souvenir hunter, you must come here. After going around and tired, you may go to the basement floor using the elevator, and you will find ‘heaven on earth’.
There’s so much food, I was drooling right away because of the smell! So, I ordered OYSTER OMELETTE ^^, and the taste of which can still be imagined until today and can’t be replaced with other Oyster omelets in this world T_T.
- Taipei 101
Don’t forget to get to the famous skyscraper with shops, dining & observation deck on the 89th floor.
Taipei 101
- Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
According to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall - Wikipedia, The National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is a national monument, landmark and tourist attraction erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, former President of the Republic of China. It is located in Taipei. The monument, surrounded by a park, stands at the east end of Memorial Hall Square.
The Memorial Hall is white with four sides. The roof is blue and octagonal, a shape that picks up the symbolism of the number eight, a number traditionally associated in China with abundance and good fortune. Two sets of white stairs, each with 89 steps to represent Chiang’s age at the time of his death, lead to the main entrance.
The ground level of the memorial houses a library and a museum documenting Chiang Kai-Shek’s life and career, with exhibits detailing Taiwan’s history and development. The upper level contains the main hall, in which a large statue of Chiang Kai-Shek is located, and where a guard mounting ceremony takes place at regular intervals.
Chiang Kai-shek statue
- Jiu Fen Old Street
According to Jiufen - Wikipedia, Jiufen it’s known for the narrow alleyways of its old town, packed with teahouses, street-food snacks, and souvenir shops. Jiufen used to be the center of gold mining. It is located within the hills in northeast of Taiwan. The village is next to the mountain and facing the sea. Why is it called Jiufen? It is said that long time ago there were only nine families in Jiufen (Jiu meaning ‘nine’ in Chinese). Before the roads on land were built, all materials were transported via ships. Thus, a habit was formed that nine pieces of same object were purchased at one time for reservation. Hence, the place was called Jiufen.
Feel so HAPPY that I had the opportunity to visit the Jiufen old street as my last tour in Taiwan before I flight back to Jakarta.
If you go to Jiufen Old Street, please don’t forget to order a hot bowl of fish balls that can warm your heart…
Jiufen Old Street
I’m so blessed and grateful that I have been to Taiwan, Taiwan is a beautiful island hence its name ‘Formosa Island’ ©©, stunning and amazing country yet a country that has many legends live in.
Well, that’s the stunning places from Taiwan. Hopefully next time I can go there again.
Thank you for reading ^^