Last week, we were invited by Taiwan’s Ministry of Tourism to experience the the hidden gems of Taiwan. Having never been to the far East, we had no idea what to expect, but boy did we get the biggest surprise of our lives.
Taiwan is an island that is surrounded and filled with a great amount of beauty just waiting to be discovered. Having a fused cultural identity from both China and Japan, the traditions and heritage are absolutely phenomenal. Forget about the parts of the far East that everyone travels to, it’s time to explore a new destination that is filled with fantastic things to discover.
And to get you even more excited, Cathay Pacific Airlines are offering incredible rates from Dubai to Taiwan from as low as AED 2555 for Economy class to AED 7965 for Business Class.
I was asked several times before I traveled: Why Taiwan? What is there to do there? So for all you people wondering where to go to next, here’s what you can do and why it’s #TimeForTaiwan:
Go on a Safari at LeoFoo Village
Leo Foo village is an amusement park and safari located about an hour away from Taipei. You’ll get to see a wide variety of animals with most of them having the freedom to roam around this gigantic jungle.
From tigers to giraffes to baboons, the animals carelessly spend their day snoozing or walking around without a care in the world.
There are two safari tours, one by train, where you can be lucky enough to have zebras or animals walk right past you, or a bus safari that take you closer into the trail of the carnivores you’re too scared to get close to, but inside the protection of the bus.
And while you’re there, you can’t miss some of the most insane rides you’ll ever get on. Not for the faint-hearted, I assure you!
Pick your own tea in a tea village
If being surrounded by this gorgeous scenery is not enough reason to go straight to any gorgeous tea village like this one, then the thrill of getting dressed up to do the hefty job of tea picking should do the trick.
It’s not only relaxing, mind-blowing and a fabulous place to get some really good pictures, you’ll also learn the entire process of how tea is made, from the start of how to pick the tea leaves, right to filling up your tea cup with the divine flavours of fresh, organic tea.
Believe me when I say, this is quite an experience! You’ll never drink a cup of tea the same way again.
Release your wish into the sky in Old Shifen Street
Besides marveling at the glorious details found in the old streets in Shifen, tourists head to Old Shifen Street where they write their wishes on a Chinese lantern and release it into the sky. It is said to roam around the skies for as long as two weeks and can reach destinations as far as Hong Kong.
Dazzle at the Taiwanese art in Ceramic Street
With Taiwanese art being the perfect fusion of Japanese and Chinese culture, the heritage yet simplicity is what characterizes this incredible street in Taiwan.
Ying-Ge Ceramic Street is filled with artists’ incredible pottery work. From tea sets to statues, whatever your style is, you’ll find something spectacular.
Be prepared to have enough luggage space for these beauties, because the prices they offer them for are just insanely cheap. They make perfect souvenirs and gifts for those back home, too.
And if you have enough time, you can book in advance to make your own pottery in one of the many workshops they have located inside the stores.
Meditate in the hot springs
You can’t miss the natural healing spa of the hot springs, especially when they havea view like this! Hot springs are a spring of naturally hot water, filled with rich minerals that have a natural healing power.
From meditating to soaking your skin in natural minerals to make it glow, there’s nothing quite soothing as spending your time in one of these incredible gifts of nature.
We were lucky to stay in a hotel that has their very own hot springs, Hotel Royal Chiaohsi, but you can also find many other spots to experience the gifts nature has to offer us.
Get a taste of Taiwan at Shilin Night Market
Markets have always been a favourite of mine because you get to understand so much about any culture from their handmade crafts, their souvenirs and the street food delicacies they have to offer. And where can you find all these as well as a lot more things to fascinate you? A market, of course!
Shilin Market is one of the most popular markets in Taipei, Taiwan. You’ll meet locals and get to see how friendly, lovely and just pure they are.
It is also the perfect place to buy all the souvenirs, Made in Taiwan products and pretty much your entire shopping list! Keep in mind, it is a pretty big market and needs quite a lot of time to go through it all. Also, don’t forget to bargain!
See the pandas at Taipei Zoo
Yes, we’ve probably been to many zoos in our lives, but have we ever seen a panda?! That is the main reason why you just have to pay a visit to this incredible zoo.
And once you see the cuteness of these incredible creatures, you’ll be aww-ing for the rest of the day! Aren’t they just too cute?
Celebrate a Taiwanese festival
The Taiwanese celebrate six important festivals during the year and during those times, you’ll get a taste of what the Taiwanese culture is all about! From lighting lanterns to ward off evil spirits to barbecuing and eating moon cakes to remember a legend, there’s a whole lot of traditions behind each festival that make them quite an experience.
And don’t forget to eat their traditional moon cakes, which are made to celebrate The Moon Cake Festival coming up in just a couple of weeks.
Have a traditional Taiwanese meal
Taiwan being an island is very famous for its seafood. Covered in sensational herbs, the flavour of Taiwanese food is just something you can’t miss. And if you’re wondering why they’re so skinny, it’s because they barely eat any carbs!
But the one meal you seriously can’t miss is their beef noodle soup. With marinated beef in a mixture of spices and herbs, this dish is something everyone can pretty much find delicious — it can be made quite spicy, too, for those of you who are into that!
Meet the Taiwanese Cupid at the Taipei XiaHai City God Temple
The century-old Xiahai Chenghuang Temple is host to statues of the City God, his wife, the Chinese Cupid, and many other deities, making it have the highest statue density in Taiwan.
Tradition has it that if the statue of Chinese Cupid is standing, he is eagerer to find a good marriage for people. Be sure to visit this temple if you’re looking for a significant other.
Shifen Waterfall
Located in Pingxi district in Tapei, Taiwan, the Shifen waterfalls are a breathtaking sight that you just can’t miss.
We were lucky enough to get a bit of rain while we were at the waterfall, and the rain drops falling on to the waterfall made it even more incredible than it already is.
Walking through the entire area will take you on an expedition surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenic views.
Have a romantic dinner at the Formoso Pearl in Yilan
Located about an hour away from the city is this magnificent restaurant stranded in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nature’s beauty.
The interior, view and ambiance of the restaurant will leave you mesmerized. The menu is written on the tables in Chinese, marking it with the artistic touch of the Chinese calligraphy.
But all that is absolutely nothing compared to the exquisite quality, flavours and presentation of the meals. You’ll be pampered with a nine-course meal with seafood being the specialty, but like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.
The name of the restaurant in Chinese translates to “pearl in my palm” and you’ll feel the royalty with every meal presented. This place is one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in our lives.
Have tea in a Miyazaki film setting
If you’re a fan of Hayao Miyazaki‘s magical animated movies, you’ll find that the Amei Tea House looks pretty familiar. Used as an inspiration for the setting in his most popular movie, Spirited Away, the Amei Tea House is a very popular destination.
Whether you’re going for the real-life version of the movie or to have a cup of tea brewed in front of you while over-looking an incredible view, the Amei Tea House will not disappoint.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes as there are a lot of steps you need to climb to get to the top of this splendid area.
And just in case you were wondering, yes, they have a shattafa!
And not just any shattfa, it’s an electronic one, too!
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