The topic in this section gives you a brief description of the popular places of Taiwan and its major attractions.

Taipei - National Palace

The largest of Taiwan’s cities is its capital, Taipei. Taipei is very typically South Asian- - crowded, noisy, a mix of the traditional and the modern, and very definitely on the move. It has its little oases of peace and tranquillity - temples, gardens and parks- but it’s also the heart of Taiwan’s economy, administration and social life- a bright, vibrant city. Taipei’s National Palace

Museum is really worth a visit, especially if you’re fond of Oriental art. The museum is open daily from 9am to 5pm, and houses the world’s largest collection of Chinese art- 5,000 years of the most exquisite exhibits you’re likely to see anywhere. Among the items on display are fabulous treasures from the ancient imperial collection- jade, porcelain, bronzes, paintings and more. The displays change regularly, and if you’re interested, there are guided tours in English daily at 10AM and 3PM. The museum has a tearoom, a gift shop, gardens and pavilions attached, to complete the ambience.

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Alishan - Chushan

The mountain peak of Chushan is considered to be one of Taiwan’s most beautiful, and invariably there’s a long queue of avid climbers attempting the trek to the top to see the sun rise. The town nearest to Chushan is Alishan, a lovely mountain resort with clean, crisp air and none of the crowds you’re always surrounded by in Taipei and other large cities. Alishan itself lies in the very centre of the island of Taiwan, and you can get to it by bus from nearly all the other large cities on the island or by train from Peimen. You can get dormitory accommodation in Alishan, and stay overnight, just long enough to do the climb up Chushan, take your photographs, and trek down. There’s also a steam train from Alishan to Monkey Rock (9 km from the town), which can be a fairly enjoyable experience.

Tainan

Very different from noisy, exuberant Taipei is the temple town of Tainan, a provincial capital at one time, and still chockfull of Buddhist temples; it’s easily one of the best places to be in at the time of any of the important Buddhist festivals, and the amazingly beautiful mountain resort of Alishan. The town of Tainan is generally acknowledged as Taiwan’s temple town- at one time a provincial capital; the town still boasts a staggering number of shrines and temples. Among the more interesting temples are Chuhsi - the largest in the country, and supposedly the most beautiful too; Kaiyuan - a complex of pagodas and gardens surrounding a classical Buddhist temple), Mito (with a spectacular statue of the 1000-armed Goddess Kwanyin, and East Mountain, which is usually visited by Taoists wanting to exorcise spirits or communicate with the dead. Tainan, thanks to all its temples, is also one of the best places to be in when it’s festival time- you’ll get to see celebrations at close quarters, and at their best. Other than temples, Tainan is known for its Chinese food, its nightlife and amusement park, the memorial to the national hero Koxinga, and the Great South Gate, all that remains of the ancient city walls. You can get to Tainan (it’s on the south east coast of the island) by bus, or by plane or train from Taipei.

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Yangmingshan National Park

Taipei may be a crowded and busy city, but it has its green pockets- and Yangmingshan National Park is one of them. The national park sits on the outskirts of the capital city, amidst mountains, and is an area of volcanic cones, waterfalls, mountain springs, and some of the prettiest landscapes you’ll see near Taipei. It’s also got a fair amount of wildlife, as an added attraction. If you’re in Taipei during the spring, make it a point to visit Yangmingshah just for the sight of its azaleas and cherry trees in full bloom; if you’re going there in summer, the national park’s a blessed relief from the heat, dust and crowds of Taipei. Taipei’s city buses go to Yangmingshan, and within the park, there are a number of hiking trails and recreational facilities to keep you occupied.

Tienhsiang

There are other towns too: Tienhsiang, with the breathtakingly lovely Taroko Gorge in close proximity; and Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s main gateway to the rest of the world (other than Taipei, of course). Both are among Taiwan’s more important urban areas, and both figure on most itineraries. Tienhsiang is the gateway to what is regarded by many as the most picturesque spot in Taiwan- the Taroko Gorge, 19 km long, and with fabulous views of cliffs and white water. The town of

Tienhsiang is small, and fairly dull, but it’s pretty, and a nice place for a relaxing holiday. If you’re athletically inclined, there are some good walks around Tienhsiang- the Taroko Gorge itself is topped by the Eternal Spring Shrine commemorating the 450 workers who died while building the Taroko Highway; still further out is the Paiyang Waterfall, to get to which you cross a tunnel. If you’re willing to venture out a bit, there are the Wenshan Hot Springs, nice enough for a trek. Tienhsiang sits on the east coast of Taiwan, and there are regular buses to it from Taipei.

Other Attractions

Other than these, there are a number of interesting temples and museums in Taipei (notable among which are the Taiwan Fine Arts Museum, the National Museum of History, and the Lung Shan Temple). There are also memorials- Sun Yat-sen’s is the most popular, but there’s also the Martyr’s Shrine, an excellent example of Ming-style architecture.

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