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3-Days in Taiwan |
Ready for another 2 days worth of sights and smells? Check out our continued guide to exploring Taiwan, where we take you on a more scenic route along the outer edges of the city up into the lush mountains of the island Formosa for a 2nd and 3rd day.
Day 2
8:00 am
1. Breakfast at the Howard Plaza Hotel
Enjoy the complimentary continental breakfast at Howard Hotel before heading out for the day.
9:30 am
2. National Palace Museum
The National Palace Museum in Taiwan and the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City in Beijing share the same roots. During the Chinese Civil War around 20% of the museum collection was evacuated to Taiwan. Although the larger portion of the collection now remains in China, the pieces evacuated to Taiwan are representative of some of the very best collection.
11:30 am – Noon
3. Beitou District
Away from the hustle and busltle of the city center, Beitou is located at the northern tip of Taipei City and is known for its naturally occurring hot springs. Get here by taking the metro north to the Xinbeitou Station, which can be considered an attraction of its own.
Take your pick from the below article for a guide of things to do in Beitou:
http://tinyurl.com/q66faub
Still not sure what to do? Our suggested route of travel is to first grab lunch at Man Lai Hot Spring Ramen Shop, then walk it off by touring the Beitou Public Library and Beitou Hot Spring Museum before dropping off at one the hot springs for an hour or two. Public hot springs typically do not require reservations, just show up and pay a small 50-100 TWD fee for 1-2 hours. Several of the public hot springs are also attached to high end enclosed private springs with spa services; let us know if you need help with inquiries or reservations. Prices are around 2000-4000 TWD per adult for 50 minutes of soaking time in a private spring and another 50 minute spa/massage therapy session.
Some Hot Spring Resorts:
http://www.gvrb.com.tw/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293913-d2095241-Reviews-Grand_View_Resort_Beitou-Taipei.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293913-d612675-Reviews-Villa_32-Taipei.html
http://tinyurl.com/l2vpkav
5:30-6:00
4. Tamsui
The Tamsui district is a sea-side district in northern Taiwan, named after the Tamsui River literally meaning “fresh water.” During the Dutch occupation of the area, Fort Anthonio was built and now stands renamed as the Hongmao Cheng, or literally, the Red-haired ones Fortress. Tamsui also acted as an important fishing and trading port during the 19th century. Although the port operations had mostly moved by the 20th century, much of the infrastructure has either been preserved or renovated, making Tamsui both a tourist hot spot and a local favorite for admiring historical relics while strolling along the old streets of the pier. The wikitravel website offers an excellent outline of how to enjoy this northern sea-side area of Taiwan.
Wikitravel Guide to Tamsui:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Tamsui
Also see the below blogger's thoughts after a day in Tamshui:
http://tinyurl.com/mcs36t8
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Day 3
10:30 am
1. National Center for Traditional Arts
Hop on the train from the Taipei Main Station and head east to Yilan County. Yilan’s rich cultural background stems from a blending of the indigenous people of Taiwan (aboriginals) and the later arriving Han Chinese.
For many years, the National Center for Traditional Arts in Yilan has served as a stronghold for those interested in the collection, protection, education and promotion of the traditional arts. See the below link for detailed transportation info:
http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/e02/e020300.aspx
6:00 pm
2. Luodong Night Market
Another must-visit night market, the Luodong nightmarket is known for its signature snacks such as herbal mutton soup, frozen mochi stuffed with red beans, ox-tongue-shaped pastry, and sugar-cane smoked duck. Get here from the Traditional Arts Center via a 15 minute taxi ride back toward the Luodong train station (the night market is located nearby).
Tripadvisor Reviews:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g608526-d2461213-Reviews-Luodong_Night_Market-Yilan.html
8:30-9:00 pm
3. Bed and Breakfast or back to Howard Hotel
At this point, you can either choose to take the train back to Taipei, or come prepared and make reservations for a night at one of the many bed and breakfasts or lodgings in Yilan. Staying at a bed and breakfasts in Yilan while moderately priced, can be a highlight in itself. Lodgings with different themes ranging from European to traditional aboriginal style housing can be found on the prairie or next to the beach.
Tripadvisor List of Lodgings:
http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g608526-d4609094-Reviews-Atayal_Xiang_Gen_Home_Stay-Yilan.html |
