Even though Sun Moon Lake was originally a natural lake, its surface area has been greatly increased by the construction the the Shuishe and Toushe Dams, which were completed in 1934. The Shuishe Dam is now a popular scenic area along the lake, including a bike path and road that runs across it. It is…
Wenwu Temple at Sun Moon Lake is one of the most picturesque temples in Taiwan. It has some of the best views of Sun Moon Lake, especially from behind the temple with Sun Moon Lake in the background. This place is definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Nantou. 🛥️ Planning your trip…
Cien Pagoda is an iconic landmark at Sun Moon Lake that provides amazing views of the surrounding area. The pagoda is just a short hike from the main road. It is a must-see destination for anyone who is coming to Sun Moon Lake. 🛥️ Planning your trip to Sun Moon Lake? ⛰️ Here are some…
The Statue of Nine Frogs at Sun Moon Lake （aka Nine Frogs Stack or Nine Frog Acrobats) is a water level marker and a popular tourist destination. One can enjoy the lakeside scenery here by walking or cycling to the frogs. It is a must-see destination for anyone who is coming to Sun Moon Lake….
Checheng is the last stop along the Jiji Railway Line in Nantou, and includes a large old street and shopping area, including restored historical Japanese buildings, hearkening back to the historical importance of the town as a logging hub. Here you can find museums, snacks, and beautiful scenery. It is definitely worth a stop. 🛥️…
Sun-Link-Sea (aka Shanlinxi or Sun-Link-Sea Forest Ecological Resort (杉林溪森林生態渡假園區) is an amazing forest wonderland in the high mountains of Nantou County near Alishan. Here you can find one of Taiwan’s most beautiful waterfalls that flows over a giant cave. You can also wander through beautiful forests and gardens here and enjoy nature at a high…
Aowanda (aka Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area) was an ancient hunting ground for the Atayal Tribe and was an area for Japanese hydroelectric power development. Now it has been converted into a nature preserve with an easy hiking trail for the public to enjoy, and is now famous for its maple trees and cherry blossoms….
Maolin is one of only two overwintering butterfly valleys in the world, and has been named as Taiwan’s only three-star site mentioned by the Michelin Green Guide. In this guide, we will tell you where and when you can see butterflies here, what to expect, and a list of commonly seen butterflies. 🏯 Planning your…
Zhushan Old Street, also known as Lin Yipu Old Street (林圮埔老街), is a historical shopping area in Zhushan Township of Nantou County, with over 250 years of history. Dating back to the Kingdom of Tungning, this town has long served as the window to the central mountain range. Now this quiet street sells snacks and…
Wushe Reservoir, also known as Wanda Reservoir or Bihu, is formed by the Wushe Dam along the Wushe Creek in Ren’ai Township of Nantou County. The main function of the reservoir is to provide hydroelectric power. The area is a beautiful scenic location that is well worth a visit. 🛥️ Planning your trip to Nantou?…
The Wushe Incident (aka Mushe Incident or Wushe Rebellion) was one of the largest uprisings against the Japanese during their colonial control over Taiwan, as well as one of the last major uprisings. As part of the rebellion, 134 Japanese were killed, and 354 Seediq Indigenous people were killed in retaliation, which all took place…
Chuping Archaeological Site is the only well-preserved highland prehistoric village site on the island of Taiwan. Although the site is now just an empty field, you can still see the artifacts that are stored at the Museum of History and Philology at Academia Sinica. In this blog, we will explore the physical site as well…
Typhoon Ragasa was the 18th tropical storm system of the 2025 Pacific Typhoon Season. It made landfall in the Philippines and China before dissipating over the Chinese Mainland. Even though the Typhoon did not hit Taiwan directly, it was the deadliest typhoon in Taiwan during the last 16 years, and the strongest Typhoon of the…
Caotun Heping Old Street is a short old street with a short row of buildings reflecting wealth from a former era. It is not a touristy old street by any measure. You might not even recognize it from any other street in Taiwan. 🛥️ Planning your trip to Nantou? ⛰️ Here are some top travel…
Taiwan Times Village (Baodao Shidao Cun) was an indoor theme park with shops, antiques, performances, food, and decor from earlier eras (roughly 1940’s-50’s). Sadly, this abandoned themed landmark is now history. 🛥️ Planning your trip to Nantou? ⛰️ Here are some top travel tips for you: Best time to visit: Winter or Autumn when it…
A week ago, my Instagram @foreignersintw was hacked. Someone stole the password, changed the email, and added their own authentication app, so I was unable to log in. Luckily, I was able to contact Meta Support and resolve the issue. Here is the full story. 🏯 Planning your trip to Taiwan? 🌊 Here are some…
Xitou Monster Village is a Japanese monster-folklore-themed village in the mountains of Nantou, in front of Xitou Nature Education Area. Here you can find lots of restaurants, hotels, and Japanese monster-themed structures. It is almost like a trip to Japan without leaving Taiwan. 🛥️ Planning your trip to Nantou? ⛰️ Here are some top travel…
Bat Cave (Bianfudong) is a large cave along the northern coast in Ruifang District of New Taipei. It was once the largest breeding spot for bats in East Asia. We did not see bats or Batman here; however, it is still a cool spot to visit along the north coast. Nearby are also great spots…
Lushan was definitely one of the coolest places I have ever visited in Taiwan. It has nature, bridges, rivers, hot springs, food, an old street, aboriginal culture, an abandoned ghost town, and proof of nature’s destructive forces at work. Lushan Hot Spring Area is so interesting and awesome. Because it has officially been evacuated per…
Typhoon Podul was the 11th tropical cyclone of the 2025 Pacific Typhoon Season. It made landfall in Taiwan and China, before dissipating over the Chinese Mainland. This was a classic Taiwan Typhoon, moving from East to West very quickly, and the strongest Typhoon of the 2025 season so far. In this blog, we will share…
Typhoon Danas was the first named typhoon of the 2025 Pacific Typhoon Season. It made landfall in Taiwan and China before dissipating over southeast China. This typhoon had a rare track that impacted the west coast of Taiwan, and is the first recorded Typhoon to make landfall in Chiayi County. In this blog, we will…
From 2020 to 2022, Taiwan had a dearth of powerful Typhoons, a phenomenon some would call Taiwan’s Typhoon Iron Dome. However, the Iron dome was broken by two powerful Typhoon landfalls in 2023, and during Taiwan’s historic 2024 Typhoon Season, the iron dome was completely demolished. 2024 was historic in many ways, such as the…
Taipei is a fantastic city to explore, but carrying around heavy bags can put a damper on your trip. Whether you have time to kill before your flight, need a place to store your bags after hotel check-out, or simply want to explore without extra weight, reliable luggage storage services are available throughout the city….
Katz (or Kazi) Popsmile Popcorn Tourist Factory 卡滋爆米花觀光工廠 is the only tourist popcorn factory in Asia, and offers DIY tours in Bali District of New Taipei. Visitors are invited to try out many different popcorn flavors, make their own popcorn and DIY treats, and learn more about the history of popcorn making in Taiwan. Overall…
Typhoon Usagi was the 25th tropical cyclone of the 2024 Pacific Typhoon Season. It made landfall in the Philippines and dumped rain onto Southern Taiwan before dissipating into oblivion. For the first time in recorded history, four tropical cyclones simultaneously existed in the Western Pacific during the month of November. In this blog, we will…
