Natural Scenery - Taiwan Travel Blog

Maolin Travel Guide 茂林旅游懶人包, Our Favorite Place in Taiwan

Byforeignersintw October 26, 2026October 27, 2026

Maolin District of Kaohsiung City is an amazing outdoor paradise and my favorite place in Taiwan. In this mountainous district of Kaohsiung, you can find waterfalls, streams, hot springs, butterflies, aboriginal culture, and great views, all by the roadside! Popular activities include swimming, hot spring bathing, river tracing, camping, and hiking. Please note I have also finished…

Little Great Wall Boardwalk Trail (Dragon Head Mountain) 茂林小長城木棧步道 (龍頭山)

Byforeignersintw October 26, 2026October 27, 2026

Dragon’s Head Mountain is a sloping ridge that goes around Duona Bridge and looks like a sleeping dragon. This trail is also known as “The Small Great Wall” (小長城) because of its resemblance to hiking the Great Wall of China, as the trail is built along the top of a mountain ridge. Don’t miss out…

Maolin Lovers’ Valley Waterfall 茂林情人谷瀑布

Byforeignersintw October 26, 2026October 26, 2026

Lovers’ Valley Waterfall (aka Qingren Valley Waterfall) is a huge waterfall and the main attraction in Lovers’ Valley in Maolin. You can drive right up to the lower falls; no hiking required. There is a cement retention pond at the bottom of it, which makes it great for swimming. It is definitely worth a stop…

Ghost Axe Canyon 鬼斧神宮

Byforeignersintw October 23, 2026October 23, 2026

Ghost Axe Canyon (aka Duona Line of Sky 多納一線天) is a beautiful slot canyon in Maolin District of Kaohsiung, near Duona Village. Here you can find a beautiful carved canyon, pristine pools, and amazing waterfalls. Overall, it is an amazing canyoneering/river tracing experience. 🏖️ Planning your trip to Kaohsiung? 🐒 Here are some top travel…

Meiyagu Waterfall 美雅谷瀑布

Byforeignersintw October 23, 2026October 23, 2026

Meiyagu Waterfall in Maolin District of Kaohsiung is an impressive waterfall over 70 meters high. There used to be an easy trail to the falls that was wiped out during Typhoon Marokot. Now it requires a gnarly hike up this ravine, but it is still a relatively quick hike. 🏖️ Planning your trip to Kaohsiung?…

Old Maolin Village Site (Teredeka) 舊茂林遺址區 (得樂的卡)

Byforeignersintw October 23, 2026October 23, 2026

Old Maolin （舊茂林 aka 得樂的卡 (Teredeka) aka Mangzai Village 「芒仔社」、aka Maya Village 瑪雅社）is was one of the original three villages of the Rukai Tribe in Maolin. Later, they abandoned it in the wake of an attack by Japanese police officers. Later, Maolin Village was relocated to its current location further down the Zhuokou River. The…

Xizhi Kezilin Natural Swimming Pool 柯子林游泳池

Byforeignersintw August 1, 2026August 20, 2026

Xizhi’s Kezilin Natural Swimming Pool is a scenic and beautiful swimming hole New Taipei City, offering a relaxing place to cool off from Taipei’s scorching summer heat that is close to nature. The swimming pool is a simple concrete dam on a small mountain stream. It has become a very popular place for locals to…

Green Island 綠島, The Best Place for Diving in Taiwan

Byforeignersintw June 20, 2026June 20, 2026

Green Island is a paradise off the southeastern coast of Taiwan. Once a prison for political enemies of the KMT, it is now a tourist hot spot. It is one of the best places to snorkel and dive in Taiwan, one of only three saltwater hot springs in the world, and it also includes amazing volcanic…

Red-roofed gazebo on a grassy hill overlooking a dense forest with a distant city skyline and power lines in the foreground.

Tuku Peak 土庫岳

Byforeignersintw June 19, 2026August 1, 2026

Tuku Peak is a scenic and beautiful hike in Taipei City, offering a panoramic view of East Taipei as part of the Gengliao Historic Trail. It is one of Taiwan’s lesser 100 peaks, and at 389 meters, it is the highest point in the Nangang District of Taipei City. Usually, the grass at the top…

The Ultimate Taiwan Car Rental Guide: Save Money on Your Next Trip 臺灣租汽車指南

Byforeignersintw June 18, 2026June 18, 2026

Taiwan is a place that should be explored not just with public transportation (as convenient as it is). If you only take public transportation everywhere you go, you are missing out on a huge part of Taiwan. You could take taxis everywhere to see these sights, like a rich Chinese person, or you can take…

Xizhi Dajianshan 汐止大尖山

Byforeignersintw June 18, 2026August 1, 2026

Xizhi’s Dajianshan is a scenic and beautiful hike in New Taipei City, offering a panoramic view of East Taipei and Keelung. The hike is relatively easy, and there are many scenic spots along the trail to soak in some amazing views. You can also check out nearby temples and Xiufeng Waterfall. 🏯 Planning your trip…

Tianmu Historic Trail 天母古道

Byforeignersintw June 17, 2026June 17, 2026

Tianmu Historic Trail (aka water pipe road trail 水管路步道) is a short, fun hike with great views of the surrounding area. The trail was originally built by the Japanese to provide fresh water to residents below, and still includes a large Japanese-era water pipe and water station. Now it is a popular hike for locals…

Tianmu Park 天母公園

Byforeignersintw June 16, 2026June 16, 2026

Tianmu Park in Shilin District of Taipei is a fun park for the whole family. Here you can find amazing mountain views, swings, slides, tennis courts, and access to a hot spring river. You can also check out the nearby Tianmu Historic Trail. 🏯 Planning your trip to Taipei? 🏮 Here are some top travel…

Coastal overlook showing a sandy beach, calm blue water, and distant two sea stacks with green cliffs on the left; foreground bushes and a railing frame the scene.

Guide to Jinshan and Wanli 金山萬里旅遊指南

Byforeignersintw June 16, 2026August 1, 2026

Jinshan and Wanli are hidden gems for tourism in northern Taiwan. Here you can find beaches, hot springs, delicious food, amazing geological formations, and much more. There is something to do here every time of the year. Don’t skip this area of Taiwan during your next trip. 🏯 Planning your trip to Jinshan and Wanli?…

Buddhism | Jinshan | Natural Scenery | New Taipei

Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education 法鼓山世界佛教教育園區

Byforeignersintw June 15, 2026June 16, 2026

Dharma Drum Mountain World Center for Buddhist Education (aka Dharma Drum Mountain 法鼓山) is a religious education center in Jinshan District of New Taipei City. Here you can learn to relax, meditate, and enjoy the surrounding natural scenery. The center also has guided tours and classes for those interested in learning more about Buddhism. 🏯…

Twin Candlestick Islets 燭臺雙嶼

Byforeignersintw June 12, 2026August 1, 2026

The Twin Candlestick Islets (aka Candlestick Islet 燭臺嶼) are a beautiful natural wonder off the coast of Jinshan in New Taipei. There is a scenic trail (Shitoushan Hiking Trail 獅頭山步道) that lets you soak in the beautiful views of the islets from the coast. It is definitely worth a trip for lovers of Earth’s natural…

Huanggang Community Public Hot Spring 磺港公共浴室

Byforeignersintw June 11, 2026August 1, 2026

Huanggang Community Public Hot Springs (aka Golden Baths 黃金之湯) are a free outdoor public hot spring near Jinshan’s Huanggang Harbor in New Taipei City. The iron content in the water is quite high, and you can tell by the yellow, opaque color of the water. It is definitely worth a stop for anyone in the…

Longmen Campground 龍門露營場

Byforeignersintw June 3, 2026June 3, 2026

Longmen Campground is a large camping area just north of Fulong Beach on Taiwan’s Northeast Coast. The campground is well-operated and includes showers, fridges, and a small store. There are also cycling, kayaking, and other water activities nearby. It is definitely worth checking out on your next trip to northern Taiwan. 🏯 Planning your trip…

The Ultimate Travel Guide to Pingxi and Shifen 平溪懶人包

Byforeignersintw April 20, 2026April 21, 2026

Pingxi District of New Taipei has some of the most popular attractions in Northern Taiwan. With a total of 7 stations along the Pingxi Railway Line (plus 2 if you count Ruifang and Houtong), there are endless places to explore, eat, hike, and enjoy Taiwan’s history, culture, and natural beauty all in one place. 🏯…

Shifen Waterfall and Old Street Travel Guide, Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Byforeignersintw April 20, 2026April 21, 2026

Shifen Waterfall, Taiwan’s widest waterfall, is a must-visit scenic spot near Shifen Train Station. Surrounded by restaurants and gardens, it offers stunning views. Shifen Old Street is renowned for sky lanterns and local cuisine, but the practice poses environmental concerns. The area’s history and rich tourism have evolved from its coal mining past.

Battleship Rock 軍艦岩

Byforeignersintw April 17, 2026April 17, 2026

Battleship Rock is a small hike in Beitou with a rock shaped like its name on top. From here, you can enjoy great views of Taipei and Beitou. This trail has also become popular with mountain bikers. It is definitely worth checking out the next time you are in the area. 🏯 Planning your trip…

Jiantanshan 劍潭山

Byforeignersintw April 16, 2026April 17, 2026

Jiantanshan is perhaps the most scenic and beautiful hike in Taipei City, offering a panoramic view of the entire city from Shilin and Zhongshan Districts of Taipei. Here you can see Songshan Airport, downtown Xinyi, the 101, the Yuanshan Hotel, and north along the Tamsui River. The hike is relatively easy, and there are many…

Ultimate Taroko National Park Travel Guide, Explore the Deepest Marble Gorge on Earth 太魯閣國家公園懶人包

Byforeignersintw April 15, 2026April 15, 2026

If you only have a few days in Taiwan and you want to go somewhere outside of Taipei, you should definitely go to Taroko National Park. On an island full of mountains, rainforests, beaches, and abounding natural beauty, Taroko might just take the top spot as the most beautiful scenic area in Taiwan. Taroko National…

Taroko Gorge Travel Guide (太魯閣), Taiwan’s Most Breathtaking Geological Feature

Byforeignersintw April 15, 2026April 15, 2026

If you only have a few days in Taiwan and you want to go somewhere outside of Taipei, you should definitely go to Taroko Gorge. On an island full of mountains, rainforests, beaches, and abounding natural beauty, Taroko Gorge might just take the top spot as the most beautiful scenic area in Taiwan. Taroko National…

Taroko Gorge 2026 Current Status (Post-Earthquake) 太魯閣地震後的狀況

Byforeignersintw April 15, 2026April 15, 2026

Sadly, due to a recent earthquake, much of Taroko Gorge, Hualien’s most famous landmark, is no longer accessible to the public. However, the visitor’s center is still open, and the road through Taroko is still open three times a day if you have your own vehicle. In this blog, we will take you on a…