Taiwan Attractions
12 Places You Must See

Taiwan's iconic skyscraper, standing 508 metres tall. The observation deck on the 89th floor is reached by one of the world's fastest elevators, offering a 360-degree panorama of the city below. The base houses luxury shops and a popular food court.

A grand plaza in the heart of the city, flanked by the National Concert Hall and National Theatre. The main hall is built from white marble topped with an octagonal blue-tile roof. The highlight is the hourly changing-of-the-guard ceremony performed by the honour guard.

One of Taipei's oldest temples, founded in 1738. The intricate wood carvings and dragon-and-tiger stone pillars are a masterclass in traditional Chinese architecture. The temple is both an active place of worship and a cultural landmark; the surrounding Wanhua neighbourhood is perfect for a slow wander.

The beating heart of Taiwanese food culture. Shilin is the biggest; Raohe is more compact and easy to tackle in an evening. Must-try bites include giant fried chicken, stinky tofu, shaved-ice desserts and bubble tea — all at wallet-friendly prices.

A former gold-mining village clinging to a hillside, its narrow lanes draped in red paper lanterns. Wooden teahouses perch over the sea with sweeping views. The atmosphere is at its most magical at dusk, once the lanterns glow against the darkening sky.

A village straddling an active railway line in the Pingxi valley, where visitors write wishes on paper lanterns and release them into the sky. Nearby Shifen Waterfall — nicknamed "Taiwan's Niagara" — is wide enough to be one of the island's most dramatic natural sights.

A coastal headland where wind and waves have eroded the sandstone into fantastically odd shapes. The star of the show is the "Queen's Head" rock, which bears an uncanny resemblance to a regal female profile. The whole park can be explored comfortably in about an hour.

A breathtaking marble gorge carved over millions of years by the Liwu River. Sheer cliffs flank emerald-green water, with cliffside hiking trails and rock tunnels threading through the canyon. Widely considered one of the most spectacular landscapes in all of Asia.

Taiwan's largest freshwater lake, ringed by green mountains. Options include a boat tour to temple islands, a lakeside cycling route ranked among the world's most scenic, and a gondola ride for bird's-eye views of the misty water below.

A former veterans' settlement transformed into an outdoor gallery. Retired soldier Huang Yung-fu hand-painted every wall, floor and alley with vivid folk-art murals, saving the village from demolition. It's now one of Taichung's most-photographed spots. The site is small; allow 30–45 minutes.

A highland mountain area famed for ancient cedar forests, a vintage narrow-gauge forest railway, rolling seas of clouds and spectacular sunrises above the peaks. Cool and refreshing year-round, it also produces some of Taiwan's finest high-mountain oolong tea.

A scenic lake on the edge of Kaohsiung ringed by temples and shrines. The Dragon Tiger Pagodas are the centrepiece: enter through the dragon's mouth and exit through the tiger's, which according to local belief brings good fortune. A quintessentially Taiwanese experience.