Introducing Southern Taiwan
In the south, people’s ties to rural folk culture are strongest. Local gods are more fervently worshipped, traditions more respected, and a clannish regard for kith and kin more obvious. And in a land of hospitable people, southerners shine as the most hospitable of all.
Outside of Taipei, the only cities really worth visiting are in the south: ie Tainan and Kaohsiung. Tainan has a temple heritage second to none, and a great array of local foods to sample. Kaohsiung is a harbour city on a mad drive to make up for decades of lost development time. Ten years ago we could hardly stand to drive past it. But these days you can feel the buzz (much like Taipei a decade ago) and couple of days here soaking it in would be well spent.
For some of the best mountain scenery in the country head to the South Cross-Island Hwy. This route literally crosses the island, and can be used as a walking path, with side trips up to 3000m-plus mountains and down to beautiful natural hot springs in the river valleys.
In fact, the south pretty much has it wrapped up for the nature-lover. There are two butterfly valleys – one of which (in Maolin) has recently been put on equal footing with the Monarch Butterfly Valley in Mexico – and a winter resting ground for the rare black-faced spoonbill. The southern landscape also varies from coastal mud flats, to grassy headlands, to majestic cypress forests.
Weatherwise, the south is hot and sticky in summer and warm and dry in winter. If you want to swim in January, head south.
Activities in Southern Taiwan
Around Kaohsiung
It’s the end of the road down here, but there’s nothing remote or isolated at all about Kenting National Park (Kěndīng Guójiā Gōngyuán).
Tainan City
Tainan is the oldest city in the country, and the fourth largest.
Southern Taiwan destination guides
Kaohsiung City
If you were ever asked to define 'bustling harbour city', you could always point to the southern city of Kaohsiung (Gāoxióng).
Hotels in Southern Taiwan
Budget Hotels & Hostels in Southern Taiwan
Guesthouses and B&Bs in Southern Taiwan
Meinong
In 1736 the intrepid Lin brothers led the first Hakka immigrants to settle the plains of Meinong (Měinóng).
Need to know
Entertainment in Southern Taiwan
Guanziling (Kuanziling)
Aficionado alert! Only three places in the world can lay claim to having mud hot springs, and this little northern Tainan mountain village (Guānzǐlǐng) is one of them.
Shopping in Southern Taiwan