Nausheen Tareen discovers Taiwan is a perfect quick getaway from India that gives you a geographical high like very few places on globe can.
Taiwan is not just about machines. You can enjoy a
mountain trek, a beach surf, harbour towns, national parks, bustling cities,
night markets, luxury shopping, exotic and fine dining, amusement parks and
crazy rides in a short, five day visit to Taiwan. The island being just a five hours flight
time away from India makes it a perfect quick getaway.
Beach Fun
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| Baishawan beach is a popular destination among locals |
Make a pit stop at Pingtung, the southernmost point
and an extremely popular beach destination of Taiwan. It boasts of happening
coastal cities such as Pingtung City or Kenting. Apart from white sandy beaches
such as Baishawan, the region also boasts of scenic Kenting national park and
bustling night markets. If you are heading to Taiwan in April, do not miss the
Spring Scream, one of Asia's biggest outdoor music festival, held at Baishawan
beach.
Harbour High
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| Kaohsiung is among the best developed and well connected cities of Taiwan |
Kaohsiung is the biggest harbour city of Taiwan and a
happening industrial hub with many cafes, bars, happening night markets, party points
and glitzy glass skyscrapers. Along with the capital city of Taipei, it is
among the best connected cities of the island. Stay around Love River to be in
the thick of things. Take a day out and dash to Yushuan National Park region.
Culture Fix
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| Taiwan has awe inspiring Buddhist and Taoists temples. |
Tainan is not just the oldest city of Taiwan but
also an amazing cultural and historical retreat outside mainland China. Narrow
roads, tiny homes and lots of ancient folk tales await you here. It has more
Buddhist and Taoist temples than any other city in Taiwan and the ancient
Confucius temple, Taoist rituals and authentic local food are the experiences
to go for here.
Mountain Mode
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| Stairway to Heaven - Mountains are dotted with such beautiful paths and stairs that promise a delightful trekking experience |
Move to the scenic setting of Alishan National
Scenic Area in the central part of island and enjoy the sights of the most popular
hill station of Taiwan. The old narrow gauge Alishan Forest Railway ride is a
unique Oriental experience. The train starts in plains and chugs along
picturesque mountains passing through foggy trails, cloud cover, long tunnels
and quaint bridges. Local markets in the mountain region selling fruits and
local produce such as wasabi and oolong tea are worth a visit. A famous
amusement park in nearby Gukeng Township of Yunlin County has Taiwan's tallest
Ferris wheel and is worth a visit.
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| The tea picking activity followed by making and brewing of the tea collected is a must do in the Alishan area. |
Sun Moon Lake - Asian Switzerland
Taiwanese proudly claim Switzerland to be the Sun
Moon Lake of Europe. And rightly so! Among the most popular honeymoon and
wedding destinations of the region, the alpine beauty, and well developed
cycling tracks, exude a typical Swiss charm. The beautiful lake of blue-green
crystal clear water and tall mountains around it covered with coniferous trees
and a beautiful Taiwanese temple by the lake make it a sight to behold.
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| Sun Moon Lake is among the most scenic settings in Asia. |
Taipei - Feel the Buzz
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| A visit to the top of Taipei 101 is a must to admire the development marvel this island is |
Taipei, the capital city is the busiest and the most
bustling city of Taiwan. It is a typical East Asian modern city steeped in
culture and history but boasting of all the modern conveniences and state of
the art infrastructure. It has the best luxury stay and shopping options in the
island, buzzing night markets, happening food scene, gadget markets and
geoparks with natural rock formations on the outskirts. Chang Kai Shek memorial
hall can be your stop to stock up on Taiwanese history. It is also the only
place in Taiwan that has ample Indian food options.
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| Taipei is a city that is always abuzz with activities. Night Markets of the city are a must visit. |
While Taipei 101 is a global icon and worth a
visit, the real deal is the dimsum place on the ground floor — Din Tai Fung. It
is like a laboratory where chefs dressed in lab coats and masks churn out a
large number of dimsums of exactly same size and weight!
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| Din Tai Fung - A dimsum lover's delight |
HoHo Tips
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- Taiwan can be easily explored by road. The best way to explore the island is to book a local travel guide as language difference can be a problem.
- High Speed Rail journey should be a must to experience speed thrills
- Vegetarian meals are not easily available. It is best advised to carry something to munch on.
- Nigh markets are any shopper's dream with amazing options and great bargains on offer.
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