six of the best 67 TREASURES of TAIWAN 1


From its dynamic capital, Taipei, to stunning gorges, beaches, reefs, forests and tea plantations, Taiwan is Asia’s surprise packet says Ben Lerwill


dynamic, hill-ringed capital city is almost certainly where your client will arrive, and it serves as an enjoyable gateway to the rest of the country. For an Asian metropolis, in fact, it’s a surprisingly manageable place. Its skyline is utterly dominated by Taipei 101, the tower that until 2010 was the tallest in the world, while ground-level highlights include the remarkable National Palace Museum, which showcases imperial treasures brought across from mainland China. Elsewhere, take an evening stroll among the fashion stores and food stalls of Shilin Night Market, stop by at the enormous Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall – a tribute to the man who ruled Taiwan for three decades – or step into the incense-scented swirl of Longshan Temple, originally built almost 300 years ago. SELL IT: Wendy Wu Tours has a four-day Taiwan Short Stay programme from £460, excluding flights. The itinerary is mainly focused on exploring Taipei – where the city tour includes Taipei 101 and the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall – but also includes nearby Yangmingshan National Park. wendywutours.co.uk


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Taroko Gorge regularly gets touted as one of the most impressive natural sights in East Asia. The good news is that it matches the hype. Huge marble cliffs flank a canyon that’s more than 12 miles long, forming a dramatic passage for the Liwu River to thunder its way out towards the Philippine Sea. It’s much more than just somewhere to stop for a photo – the area still has a close association with the Truku people, one of Taiwan’s many indigenous groups, and the best of the local resorts give the opportunity to find out more about this cultural heritage. For active travellers, meanwhile, there’s a network of walking tracks along the sides of the gorge.


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TAROKO GORGE Located only a couple of hours south of Taipei,


TAIPEI Taiwan’s


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SELL IT: Cox & Kings offers a 15-day, 13-night ‘Beautiful Island’ itinerary from £2595pp, including time in Taipei, Taroko Gorge, Chihpen, Kenting National Park, the Buddhist monastery at Fo Guang Shan, Tainan, Alishan and Sun Moon Lake. The price includes flights via Hong Kong. coxandkings.co.uk


SUN MOON LAKE Surrounded by typically dreamy Far East scenery, Sun Moon Lake is both the largest body of fresh water in Taiwan and one of its


most visited tourist attractions. It takes its name from the fact that one side of the lake once resembled a sun and the other a crescent moon, but while the tides of time have made these shapes almost unrecognisable today, it remains a beautifully serene spot. A boat trip is the obvious way of taking in the mountain-framed surroundings, sailing past the lakeside Wen Wu Temple as well as getting up close to the tiny, sacred island of Lalu. SELL IT: Bamboo Travel offers a guided two-week Treasures of Taiwan itinerary, with Eva Air flights and time in Taipei, Yangmingshan, Jiufen, Taroko Gorge, Taitung, Kenting, Kaohsiung, Fo Guang Shan, Tainan, Alishan and Sun Moon Lake. The price is from £2,995pp. bambootravel.co.uk


mind when Taiwan’s mentioned, but the island’s plentiful countryside and a concerted government effort to create scenic cycle paths have made it an excellent destination for two wheels. Serious cyclists can embark on set long- distance routes spanning the length of the country (there’s even a Tour de Taiwan), while those visitors more interested in a relaxing pleasure-ride can hire bikes from numerous urban and rural spots by the hour or day. SELL IT: Travel Local’s eight-day Taiwan taster takes in Taipei, Taroko Gorge and Sun Moon Lake, where it recommends a cycling option. Cost is from £1,795 pp, excl. international flights. 01865 242 709 travellocal.com


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CYCLING Cycling might not be the first thing that jumps to


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KENTING NATIONAL PARK


Occupying the southern tip of the island, Kenting is Taiwan’s oldest national park – and the only one located in the tropics. It’s long been popular as a leisure spot, with its blend of beaches, reefs, forests, caves and lakes complemented by a well-honed tourism infrastructure. The fact that it draws large numbers of domestic tourists as well as international visitors says plenty about its outstanding beauty. Nature aside, its most recognisable landmark is the whitewashed Eluanbi Lighthouse, marking Taiwan’s southernmost point, since being constructed in the 1880s. SELL IT: Kenwood Travel has a three-night Central & Southern Taiwan itinerary, beginning and ending in Taipei but focusing mainly on Sun Moon Lake, Kaohsiung and Kenting National Park. The cost is from £273 per adult and excludes international flights but includes English-led tours, breakfasts and entrance tickets. 020 7749 9275; kenwoodtravel.co.uk


encompassing everything from tea plantations and indigenous villages to hulking mountains and nature trails. The principal attractions are clustered in what’s known as the Alishan Forest Recreation Area, best known for its alpine forests and scenic lookouts, made all the more beautiful if you’re there in the cherry blossom season from mid-March to mid-April. There’s superb hiking on offer, although watching the sun rise from the summit of the 2489m Mt Zhushan is seen as the classic Alishan visitor activity. The Forest Recreation Area is most memorably reached by the 86km long Alishan Forest Railway, which winds through 50 tunnels. SELL IT: Regent Holidays has a 13-day ‘National Parks of Taiwan’ tour from £1915pp, beginning and ending in Taipei and incorporating Taroko Gorge, Kenting National Park, the forest train to Alishan from Chiayi, and a night at Sun Moon Lake. Flights are not included. regent-holidays.co.uk


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ALISHAN Alishan is a 420 sq km parcel of greenery


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