The Daily Bubble Tea

Northern Taiwan

• Taipei City
  • 2-28 Memorial Park – park and museum dedicated to those who lost their lives at the hands of the incoming KMT government
  • Bopiliao – historic passage between Monga and Guting
  • Chih Shan-Yen Gate – a remnant of an armed conflict between immigrants from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou
  • Chih Shan-Yen Prehistoric Site – archaeological excavation of an advanced Austronesian population that lived in Taiwan
  • Dalunwei and Daluntou Hiking Trails – relaxing trails on Taipei’s Wuzhi Mountain Range
  • Dihua Street – Chinese New Year holiday shopping insanity
  • Fanglan Mansion and Yifang Mansion – two historic homes in Taipei’s Daan District
  • The Grand Hotel – built in 1952, this hotel is the island’s first 5-star hotel
  • Guandu Temple – the oldest temple in northern Taiwan devoted to Mazu [the Goddess of the Sea]
  • Huiji Temple – built between 1752-1764 and dedicated to the founder of Zhangzhou District
  • Junjian Rock Hiking Trail – spectacular views and intersesting rock formations along this trail
  • Taipei 101 – view Taipei from the top of the world’s second tallest building
    
  • Taipei Zoo – go wild in Taipei’s Muzha District
    
  • Tianmu Trail – originally the final section of the Yalu Ancient Trail
    
  • Tiger Mountain Trail – another of Taipei’s magnificently maintained trails, this one hosts a wonderful view of Taipei 101
  • Xianjiyan Trail – a nice trail located in Wenshan District
  • Yangmingshan National Park – take a walk around one of Taiwan’s fabulous national parks
    • Datun Falls – an extremely photogenic waterfall
    • Datun Mountain – use Erziping as a starting point for a slew of trails
    • Jinbaoli Trail – see Taiwan’s water buffalo roaming free at Cingtiangang
    • Liuhuangku Geothermal Scenic Area – sulfuric springs and unusual geological formations await
    • Pine Gardens – located in Yangmingshan’s Lengshuikeng, this is a great place to stop for a meal during the middle of a hike
    • Qixing Mountain Trail – Taipei’s tallest peak, also featured in this post is Xiaoyoukeng, which is full of sulfur fumaroles
    • Zhuzi Lake – Taiwan’s capital of Calla Lily gardens
  • Zhinan Temple Trail – an easily accessible trail via the Maokong Gondola or a bus
  • Zhishan Cultural and Ecological Garden – provides information about the history and ecology of Zhishan

• Taipei County
  • Bitan -take a peaceful walk along the Xindian River or fight the crowds depending on the day
    
  • Danshui/Bali – eat specialties of the area and enjoy a sunset along the Danshui River
    • Hongmao Castle – the fort of the red-haired Dutch occupiers in Danshui
      
  • Jinguashi – its Gold Ecological Park preserves Taiwan’s mining history
  • Jiufen – a once prosperous mining town turned tourist destination
  • Juming Museum – a giant outdoor showcase for sculptor Ju Ming’s work
    
  • Lin Family Mansion and Garden – built in 1851, this mansion in Banchiao is a beautiful example of Qing-era houses found in Taiwan
    
  • Wulai – this Atayal mountain village is an excellent escape from the city
  • Yingge Ceramics Museum – a superb museum in Taiwan’s ceramics capital
  • Yuantong Temple – built during the Japanese occupation this temple is a short bus ride from the Jingan MRT Station

• Taoyuan County
  • Cihu Presidential Mausoleum – serves as the temporary resting place of the late President Chiang Kai-shek

• Hsinchu County
  • Neiwan – a Hakka community located in Hsinchu County for anyone needing a quick break from Taipei
• Yilan County
  • Caoling Trail – this historic trail once served as an important link between Danshui and Yilan
  • Taoyuan Valley Trail – mountain views and water buffaloes on a trail that branches off the Caoling Trail

Western Taiwan

• Changhua County
  • Hejia Ranch – a popular place for cyclists on Baguashan to stop and enjoy ice cream

• Chiayi County
  • Alishan
    • Alishan Train Station – Taiwan’s largest wooden train station
    • Fenqihu – the half-way point on the way to the top of Alishan
    • Zhaoping Station and Shenmu Station – a short trail between these two stations provides lovely forest scenery
    • Zhushan Sunrise – greet a new day at 2,500 meters above sea level
  • Suantou Sugar Refinery – Lioujiao Township’s old sugar refinery

• Miaoli County
  • Sanyi – a Hakka community with a lot of tourist destinations, this post barely scratches the surface on the area’s offerings
  • Schokolake – Cherry Blossoms and DIY chocolate
  • Tongluo – a rural community that hosts an annual Chrysanthemum festival

• Taichung City
  • The Botanical Garden – the city’s 4.5-hectare garden
  • Dakeng Scenic Area – take a hike along one of the area’s many trails
  • The Old Taichung Winery – historic buildings, some of which have been renovated for exhibition use
  • The Rainbow Military Dependents’ Village -a village transformed by the paintings of Huang Yung-fu

• Taichung County
  • 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan – in memory of the devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake on September 21, 1999
  • Basianshan National Forest Recreation Area – located in Heping Township, this beautiful park offers several hiking options for visitors
  • Dong Fong Bicycle Green Way – biking in Taichung County
  • Tan Ya Shen Bike Path – more biking in Taichung County
  • Yue-mei Sugar Refinery – one of several refineries during Taiwan’s once booming sugar industry

Eastern Taiwan

• Hualian – explore the beautiful Taroko National Park: post includes the Shakadang Trail, the Eternal Spring Shrine, Tiansiang Temple, and the Tunnel of Nine Turns

Central Taiwan

• Nantou County
  • Bishan Temple – a massive temple in Nantou County
  • Checheng – the terminal station of the Jiji Branch Line
  • Dexing Waterfall – located in Lugu Township
  • The Dragon and Phoenix Waterfalls – Zhongliao’s pair of 40 meter waterfalls
  • Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village – aboriginal themed amusement park which hosts a spendid Cherry Blossom festival
  • Fengguidou – Plum Blossoms on a beautiful mountain in Nantou
  • Guangxing Paper Mill – DIY paper at one of Puli’s few surviving paper mills
  • Jhongsing Resident Artist Program – view the work of artists participating in the progam
  • Jhongsing Village Lotus Pond – like Lotus flowers?
    
  • Jiji Train Station – a historic train station on the Jiji Branch Line
    
  • Mansion of Glory – a wonderfully preserved home built in 1928, in Caotun
  • Meifeng Farm – a part of NTU’s Highland Experimental Farm
  • Nantou County Culture Park – unless you are excellent at reading Chinese, not much for you here
  • Neihu Elementary School – wooden school with a beautiful green campus
  • New Era Resort – Tung Blossoms in Nantou County
  • Puli’s Paper Dome – a church made of paper, originally built in Japan after the Kobe Earthquake and transported to Taiwan after the 921 Earthquake
  • Shuli Snake Kiln – a ceramics culture park in Shuili
  • Sun Moon Lake – the largest freshwater lake in Taiwan
    
  • Taiwan Tea Experiment Station – specializing in the cultivation of broad-leaf black tea and small-leaf Baojhong tea
  • Tzude Temple – A very unusual temple in Caotun
  • Wangyou Forest – a section of pine forest which became a marshland and created a spectacular sight
  • Wu Xiu Bamboo Charcoal Kiln Culture Park -everything you wanted to know about bamboo charcoal but were too afraid to ask
  • Zhongtai Monastery – post covers the Potted Plant Exhibition held on the monastery’s massive grounds

Southern Taiwan

• Kaohsuing – Taiwan’s second largest city: post includes the historic British Consulate at Takao, the Cihou Battery, and the Love River.  A recent trip includes posts for the Zuoying Lotus Pond, the Dome of Light, Urban Spotlight, the Ciaotou Sugar Refinery, and the Singuang Ferry Wharf/Tunix Sky Tower.
• Pingtung County
  • Bitou Fishing Port – explore what the low tides reveal
  • Hengchun’s Historic Gates – the most completely preserved city gates in Taiwan
  • Nanwan Beach – a popular beach near Kenting National Park
  • National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium – Taiwan’s beautiful marine park
    
  • Kenting National Park – Taiwan’s first and southernmost national park
    
• Tainan – Taiwan’s old capital, this massive post includes historic sites large and small: the Anping Artillery Fort, the Cianlong Seawall, the Julius Mannich Firm, the Anping Tree House, the Anping Old Fort [Fort Zeelandia], Chikan Tower [Fort Providentia], and the Eternal Golden Castle [Erkunshen Fortress]

Matsu

• Beigan
  • Biyuan and Ciaozai Village – post covers a small short trail and beautiful village on Matsu’s Beigan
    
  • Cinbi Village – the most completely persevered group of traditional buildings in Matsu
  • Houao Village – more traditional “one-stamp” buildings
    
  • The Peace Memorial Park – outdoor museum hosts tanks, jeeps, and anti-aircraft guns while the indoor museum hosts a variety of weaponry
    
• Nangan
  • Beihai Tunnel – huge tunnel that can house over 100 small landing craft
    
  • Dahan Stronghold – big guns and long tunnels
    
  • The Folk Cultural Artifacts Exhibition Hall – introduces visitors to the culture and lifestyle of the Matsu islands.
  • The Iron Fort – originally a training base for special amphibious forces
    
  • The Matsu Nangan Heavenly Empress Palace – the temple keeps the tomb containing the personal belongings of Mazu
  • The Matsu Distillery and Tunnel 88 – where Matsu Old Wine is made
    
  • Sleeping on Spears, Awaiting the Dawn – by far the largest of General Chiang Kai-shek’s inspirational messages found on the island

  This is an incomplete list and will be expanded as I visit more of Taiwan’s offerings