Okay, I'm ready. Please provide the Chinese title you want me to translate.

[Kay Oberbrunner]

Sure, no problem! There is plenty worth seeing in Taiwan, but regarding some places that are renowned, I personally find them just okay. Let me share a few practical tips tailored especially for all the friends who may not be so familiar with the situation over here (particularly foreign friends), based on my personal opinions.

Traveling to Taiwan Independently: Some Truths You Might Want to Know #Travel Guide #How to Explore Taiwan

I notice numerous discussions online about multi-day tours of Taiwan, yet the quality is very inconsistent. Having visited several hundred sights across Taiwan, big or small, I now wish to deliver my candid thoughts. For tour agencies and their big bosses, you can take this as a light-hearted read!

• This piece might come from a Mainland Chinese traveler's perspective, but it will also apply to other Chinese-speaking friends.
• The journey to Taiwan can still be quite complicated despite its popularity; even if there's a complete relaxation of restrictions in the future, the opportunity truly feels "precious." Therefore, I feel that when visiting Taiwan, one should prioritize those unique Taiwanese attractions that you're unlikely to find elsewhere rather than only picking names that carry the most fame.

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Some Notable Places I Am Somewhat Skeptical About:

• Alishan and Sun Moon Lake:
  • Why Not Particularly Recommend? These points of interest belong to almost every group tour itinerary. They have been mentioned in our school textbooks from Mainland China and are indeed very famous. But precisely because of their fame, they feel like Mainland China’s top-tier scenic spots, i.e., "5A-level attractions."
  • Some Brief Introduction: "5A-level tourist attractions" is the designation for the highest-grade sites in Mainland China, known for well-developed facilities that cater to all ages and conditions, such as wheelchair users or those with prams. It offers convenience but comes with obvious downsides: potentially ordinary scenery and heavier commercialization. Ali Mountain and Sun Moon Lake somewhat embody these characteristics.
• Jiuzhu Cultural Village:
  • Why Not Particularly Recommend? This is simply an amusement park. Frankly speaking, the theme park sector in Taiwan cannot particularly stand out compared to others. Other parks seem unnecessary to go extra for a trip.
• Kenting, Little Liouciou Island, Yehliu (North Coast):
  • Why Not Particularly Recommend? Speaking personally, the landscape of these places might be found akin somewhere along Southeast China's coastal regions. Having made the journey all this way to Taiwan, it seems better to spend time at places that better capture the essence of Taiwan's culture.
  • Special Reminder about Kenting: Kenting gains fame due to its music festivals. If coinciding with a festival indeed, there’s nothing wrong with “going with the flow.” Otherwise, if there’s no festival happening, perhaps skip it?

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My Favorite Taiwan Sites You’ll Regret Missing:

• Landscape Focused Scenic Spots:
  • Taiwanese East Rift Valley (Taroko Gorge) and Qingshui cliff in Hualien: They are absolutely stunning and representative of Taiwan's scenic landscapes.
  • Little Crater in Yangmingshan, Taipei: A very rare sight as it closely allows one to observe a dormant volcano.
  • Nine-Feng Mountain City, New Taipei City: Situated along mountain cliffs, the town showcases a unique charm and was one of the inspirations for Studio Ghibli's 'Spirited Away'.
  • Qingjing Ranch, South-Nantou County: With a ‘mini Switzerland’ feel, this Highland pastures offer a refreshing comfort.
  • Hualien-Taitung’s East Rift Valley: A long strip of valley where you can enjoy tranquil fields beside towering mountains.
  • A Chat About Taiwan's Topography: Taiwan is a product of intense tectonic movements, hence resulting in many mountains with significant elevation changes especially with its East Coast, which, due to frequent earthquakes, boasts unique landscape formations. Not quite familiar with the Gaomei Wetland in Tainan? Similar scenes might not present along Mainland China’s coast but possibly by inland lake edges.
• Cultural Landscapes (This forms the heart of Taiwan Tourism!):
  • At the core of the culture lies Buddhism! Buddhism has what’s called ‘Four Great Mountains’, (the most influential Buddhist venues):
    • Dafu Mountain and Nongan Temple in Taipei
    • Zhongtai Chan Temple, South-Nantou County
    • Tzu Chi Foundation, Hualien County
    • Foguangshan, Kaohsiung City
    • All these Buddhist monasteries are built on a grand scale, deserving a separate visit from the travelers.
  • Taiwanese-temples uniqueness: Compared with those of Mainland China, Taiwanese temples often have volunteers (free guided tours available); believers there tend to be friendly and eager to share stories about their faith, offering a completely different ambience than what you will find on the mainland. And, Taiwanese temples have more community vitality (down-to-earth, lively) - with much of their activities being inclusive such as study groups or interactive experiences for the public.

Due to space limitations, if you want to learn more, stay tuned for the next episode!