Northern Taiwan
The family mansion of Lin Ying-yin boasts wood and stone carvings, traditional architectural motifs representing luck and fortune, and a beautiful…
Must-see attractions in Northern Taiwan
Northern Taiwan
Jinguashi's big draw is this Japanese-era mining-complex-turned-tourist-park, where hillside paths connect 1930s offices, workshops and dormitories, and…
Northern Taiwan
First built in 1748, and masterfully restored in 1924, this Hsinchu landmark has the highest rank of all the city god temples in Taiwan, and is a splendid…
Northern Taiwan
The only Taoist temple on the mountain, Quanhua Temple (c 1897) is dedicated to the Jade Emperor. The elaborate main hall is built into a recess in the…
Northern Taiwan
This captivating volcanic islet, 10km off the coast of Yilan, is less than 3km long yet rises up to 398m. Once supporting a population of 750 people, the…
Northern Taiwan
The centre of religious life in Sansia, the Tzushr Temple honours Qingshui Tsu-Sze, a Song-dynasty general worshipped by the people of Anxi, Fujian, for…
Manyueyuan Forest Recreation Area
Northern Taiwan
Once you get past the paved waterfall trails in this scenic park 20km southeast of Sansia, you reach natural hikes that climb for hours through sweet…
Northern Taiwan
Wuling Farm, also known as Wuling Forest Recreation Area (武陵國家森林遊樂區), is a relaxing mountain retreat popular with Taiwanese families who come for the…
Northern Taiwan
The cascades at this popular tourist stop have stained the rocks a honeycomb yellow due to the pyrite (fool's gold) deposits picked up by the water as it…
Taipingshan National Forest Area
Northern Taiwan
This logging-area-turned-mountain-retreat offers easy forest trails along whimsical relics of old railway tracks, and countless lookouts over the snow…
Northern Taiwan
Home to 152 unwanted Chiang Kai-shek statues, this open-air sculpture park is a hoot (surely unintentionally), with promenades of Chiang busts and clumps…
Northern Taiwan
This 3km sweep of golden sand is the most popular beach in northern Taiwan. You can rent surfboards, kayaks, umbrellas and loungers along the beachfront…
Northern Taiwan
Blending Japanese, Chinese and European decorative motifs (note the angels over the altar), 200-year-old Fushan Temple was where the region's miners would…
Northern Taiwan
On the shore of Xiangtian Lake, this museum is dedicated to the Saisiyat (賽夏族) and their intriguing Festival of the Short People (賽夏族矮靈祭; Sàixiàzú Ǎlíngjì…
Northern Taiwan
Cross the 'cat bridge' out of the train station to hang out with Houtong's feline divas, who are well used to being doted on by tourists. Similar to Japan…
Northern Taiwan
Though founded by a Buddhist order, this museum aims not to promote Buddhism, but to build harmony by showing the communality of all religions. Highlights…
Northern Taiwan
One of the better beaches in New Taipei City is found at this little bay sometimes called White Haven Beach. The Chinese name translates as 'white-sand…
Northern Taiwan
Strewn with meteorite-sized boulders and facing Turtle Island 10km offshore, Wai'ao's black sand beach is one of the best places in northern Taiwan for…
Northern Taiwan
This 63.9 sq km expanse of mixed forest holds one of the largest stands of ancient red hinoki cypress trees left in Taiwan. The most ancient of the…
Northern Taiwan
This block of tastefully restored merchant houses and residences dates from the end of the Qing dynasty. On weekends there's a lively market atmosphere as…
Northern Taiwan
Sometimes called the 'dog temple', this recently restored place of worship has a canine legend attached. After a group of 17 fisherman were lost at sea,…
Northern Taiwan
Stretching far out into the East China Sea, this limestone cape is a geologist's dreamland where aeons of wind and sea erosion can be observed in hundreds…
Northern Taiwan
Just across from the Golden Waterfall, on a sea-facing bluff, are the remains of a massive copper-smelting refinery (十三層; Shísāncéng) whose 13 levels…
Neidong Forest Recreation Area
Northern Taiwan
About 4km past Wulai Waterfall is this forested area popularly known as Wawagu (Valley of the Frogs). With its hiking trails through broadleaved and cedar…
Northern Taiwan
This sumptuous mansion, built in the late 1940s, served as the home and reception hall of wealthy Beipu tea merchant and county councillor, Jiang A-sin…
Northern Taiwan
Countless snack stalls and souvenir shops line the narrow 'old street' threading through Jiufen, a mining town so prosperous it became known as 'Little…
Northern Taiwan
The village of Nanzhuang is a low-slung time warp of clapboard houses, shops and tourist stalls that makes for a great couple of hours strolling…
Northern Taiwan
A few kilometres back in the hills from the old 18 Lords Temple is a larger, newer version of the temple with a giant dog statue in the parking lot…
Northern Taiwan
This cobbled street, Yingge's earliest ceramics hub, is lined with dozens of pottery shops selling tea sets, kitchenware, vases, ornaments and much more…
Northern Taiwan
A charming traditional temple (c1835) dedicated to Guanyin. Notable features to look for include the carved stone pillars, both out front and especially…
Northern Taiwan
Designed to imitate the area's cuesta rock formations, this stunning glass and aluminium-panelled structure is worth a visit for the architecture…
Northern Taiwan
This 80m-high waterfall is quite a beauty, and the fact that you can fly over it on a cable car is one more reason to come to Wulai. There's a log cart…
Northern Taiwan
Admire the works of Taiwan's best-known contemporary sculptor, Ju Ming (1938–), at this museum and open-air sculpture park. Ju Ming has works strewn all…
Northern Taiwan
Known poetically as the Sound of Mist Waterfall, this 50m high veil lies at the end of the Taoshan Trail inside Shei-pa National Park. The 4.3km trail…
Northern Taiwan
If you're in Hsinchu on a weekend, don't miss this fantastic collection of treasures, which includes a four-poster bed of pure jade, dragon boats made of…
Northern Taiwan
High-altitude Luchang Village is in a stunningly beautiful setting reached via a deep canyon road 15km southeast of Nanzhuang village. There is no bus…
Northern Taiwan
If you're looking for a more-rugged experience compared with the tame resort atmosphere of a place like Alishan, Guanwu is one of the better forest…
Taiwan POW Memorial and Peace Park
Northern Taiwan
Only a single gatepost remains of the Kinkaseki camp where 1000 British and allied soldiers were imprisoned and forced to work in the neighbouring copper…
Northern Taiwan
First built in 1810, this is one of Taiwan's most elegant wooden structures. As with any temple, don't rush through: stand in place and tiny treasures…
Northern Taiwan
Facing Wulai Waterfall, this snazzy little museum tells the story of Wulai's old log cart railway, which was only motorised in 1974. Prior to that,…
