Contributed by traveller Kelly, who loves binge-watching shows, having picnics, and running. She is always up for an adventure, as long as she has had her daily cup of matcha. The top destination on her travel wishlist is to spend Christmas in Switzerland with a warm cup of hot chocolate. The ‘5 best places to visit in Taiwan’ article is her first contribution to Travel Wanderlust.
I was 7 when I first travelled to Taiwan. The picturesque views, deeply umami flavours permeated in the local food, friendly people and bustling streets with the in-your-face flashing lights, larger-than-life feeling along the streets made my family and I fall in love with the country. I have been back to the country at least 8 more times and have never gotten bored. I get hit by a wave of euphoria every time I step foot in Taiwan.
READ MORE: A city in Taiwan made our list of best places to live in the world
The last time I was there was in December 2019, right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I miss travelling and especially Taiwan, so I thought, why not reminisce, and share the 5 best places to visit in Taiwan?
Wufenpu (五分埔 Wǔfēnpǔ̄) Shopping District
By translating Wufenpu, it means Five Parcels of Open Land. In the early days, a group of five Fujianese families bought a plot of land in Taipei’s Songshan District. The land was used for farming after World War II when the land was used to relocate people affected by a typhoon that flooded Taipei. Today, Wufenpu is home for many.
Just a stone’s throw away from Songshan 松山 metro station at Taipei, Taiwan, is Wufenpu Shopping District. On a hunt for retail therapy? The undisputed best place in Taipei for crazy bargain shopping is right here at Wufenpu. This shopping district is filled with a maze of lanes and alleys full of racks of clothes and accessories. It is no joke when I say you can spend a full day here and walk out with an entirely new closet for yourself. Most of the prices there are extremely affordable. If you feel the prices are too high, it is not unusual to negotiate. I even managed to snatch a new maroon parka for only USD 3.5!
The opening hours of Wufenpu are from afternoon to nighttime, or until there are no customers around the vicinity. However, refrain from visiting on Mondays as that is when most shops are restocking their garments. The best day might be Sundays as that is when these vendors are trying to sell unsold garments. Put your bargaining skills to the test and you might snatch the best deals!
Jiufen Old Street (九份老街 Jiǔfèn lǎojiē)
Have you watched the Japanese film “Spirited Away,” arguably Hayao Miyazaki’s most popular film? Many parts of Jiufen have a similar resemblance to the village in this film! If you have no idea what I am talking about, do yourself a favour and catch this film ASAP.
Jiufen is a small village in the mountains, located within the hills in Northeast Taiwan. This place encapsulates the best of Taiwan in one small package – the rich history, atmospheric lanes, teahouses, breathtaking views, and Taiwanese snacks at every turn. There is also a breathtaking view of the Keelung outer sea. If you are planning a trip to Taiwan, do not leave this place out of your travel itinerary! This is why is one of the best places to visit in Taiwan.
If you are taking public transport to Jiufen, it will take you 1.5-2 hours. Take the blue line at the metro station to Zhongxiao Fuxing Station Exit 1 and take bus 1062 (bound for Jinguashi) to Jiufen Old Street Station. (Do remember to check the bus schedule! You do not want to miss it and be stranded there overnight)
The old street begins near the 7-Eleven, close to the Jiufen Old Street bus stop which meanders uphill with numerous lanes and staircases where you can walk. Wall to wall with shophouses, restaurants, souvenir stores and teahouses, Jiufen is delightful to say the least. I am not going to lie, if you are expecting an idyllic, tranquil, or calm experience, you will not find it in Jiufen. The alley is always packed but just go with the flow and explore this gem!
The most popular food you cannot miss while you are at Jiufen is taro and sweet potato balls. The ones in Jiufen are the best even though you can find them everywhere in Taiwan. The balls are extremely chewy, served hot or cold, in a sweet syrup paired with a variety of beans. Never miss out on the peanut ice cream roll too! It is a wrap with ice cream, peanut brittle shavings, and cilantro. At this point, I know what you are thinking. These 3 do not even sound good together and sound like an odd combination. Trust me, they are worth your money.
Remember to bring your cameras and get that perfect photo for your Instagram feed at Jiufen! Keep an open mind when you visit this place, and you never know what you will catch.
Ximending (西門町 Xīméndīng)
Transport yourself to Japan while you are in Ximending as Ximending is what people refer to as the “Shinjuku of Taipei”. Ximending is the cultural heart and soul of the North-Eastern Wanhua District in Taipei, and it is without a doubt Taipei’s most hip and funky neighbourhood and a regular hangout spot for many. It is home to endless streets, perfect for an entire day of shopping, eating, and entertainment. With the sheer number of stores in Ximending, I will not be surprised if you spend an entire day here!
It is extremely convenient to get to Ximending. Simply take the metro to Ximen Station along the Songshan-Xindian and Bannan lines, take Exit 6 and head to the Ximending Pedestrian Zone.
At Ximending, street entertainment is extremely popular. I was enthralled by the local street performers from tight-rope walkers to singers (a lot of them). You are in for a treat with a dazzling array of talent. You are also spoilt for choices for eating and drinking at Ximending with a plethora of street food stalls, restaurants, and fast-food joints. The most famous Ah Zong Mian Xian (阿宗麵線) can be found here! There are no tables and chairs for you to eat here, so you have to hang around while eating.
The best part? It is only ~USD1.5 for a small bowl. The only downside? Expect to queue more than 15 minutes but I promise it will be so worth it. Not kidding, I ate about 2-3 bowls in one sitting – it is that good! This is one of the main reasons that I rank it as one of the best places to visit in Taiwan.
Ximending is also retail heaven. Although there are many malls in Taiwan, the independent stalls at Ximending caught my eye. Most of our cartoon socks can be bought at an affordable price here. Shinjuku Plaza is in the heart of Ximending, which is six storeys tall. This shopping complex is filled with an incessant supply of sneakers, bags, and apparel. You can even do your nails at budget-friendly nail salons as well. Finally, as a booklover, Eslite Spectrum Ximen Store is my favourite as I can spend a few hours here just browsing the extensive selection of books. You will be spoilt for choice!
Sun Moon Lake (日月潭 Rìyuètán)
Sun Moon Lake is Taiwan’s largest lake, located in the mountains of Nantou right in the middle of Taiwan. It is famous for many things, from the scenic views, bike baths, culture, and a whole lot of things to do if you love nature! The lake is incredibly beautiful, it is like a gem between Taiwan’s mountainous crowns. It contains pockets of history and culture all waiting for you to explore.
Getting to Sun Moon Lake by public transport might take a bit more time. The main gateway is at Taichung, located ~1.5 hours away by bus. The fastest way to get to Taichung is by high-speed rail (HSR). Once you are at Taichung HSR, take the Nantou Bus 6670 to Sun Moon Lake and you will be at your destination in no time.
Near Sun Moon Lake is the Wenwu temple. Its architecture resembles the palace style of Northern China. There is a long flight of steps to reach the temple, and it is 366 steps exactly. I found out that 366 symbolises a birthday and is carved with the names of celebrities who were born on that day. You can find out who you share a birthday with while climbing up to the temple. Along with the steps, there are many wind chimes where visitors can ask for blessings. With the intricate details of the temple’s interior and architecture, expect to spend around 2 hours here!
Apart from Wenwu Temple, do not miss out on Ci’En Pagoda. It is a 47m high structure and is extremely popular among photographers. However, it is quite an intense hike to get to this attraction and you are almost guaranteed to break a sweat. It will all be worth it with the unparalleled views over the lake and surrounding mountains once you get to the top!
Shenkeng Old Street (深坑老街 Shēn kēng Lǎojiē)
Saving the best for last, this might be my favourite place I have ever been to in Taiwan. Shenkeng Old Street is a small area, packed with Taiwan’s indigenous history and is also well-known for its food, especially the stinky tofu. It is not as bad as it sounds, I promise. Stinky tofu has a strong, pungent odour but it has a salty flavour with a sweet and tangy undertone. It does not taste how it smells, and the stores at Shenkeng Old Street do it best. If you are feeling adventurous, go ahead and try the stinky tofu-flavoured ice cream. Please do it on my behalf as I still do not have the guts to try that.
Shenkeng Old Street is a 10 minutes drive from Taipei. If you are travelling by public transport, take the metro to Muzha MRT Station and board Taipei Bus 15, or Zhihnan Bus 660 or 666 to get to Shenkeng Old Street. It takes about 15 minutes to get to your destination.
There are two temples there, one named “JiShen,” located in the centre of Shenkeng Old Street, while the other is the “Shenkeng Earth God Temple”. There are many shops where you can get your shopping done such as apparel, umbrellas, and shoes! Speaking of shoes, the shoes from the shops here at Shenkeng Old Street are extremely durable.
My mum bought her favourite pair of shoes from Shenkeng Old Street for only USD 6, and she is still wearing them today! The shoes are undoubtedly still in pristine condition and have been worn for no less than 10 years.
If you are unable to get your taro and sweet potato balls in Jiufen, Shenkeng Old Street has a store that offers a similar alternative. Look for A-ju Taro Balls (阿珠芋園), some even say this store is better than the one in Jiufen. You can get your quick fix of taro and sweet potato balls for ~USD1.5 here!
How to choose your top places to visit in Taiwan
Taiwan may not be everyone’s top destination, but it is big on heart, guaranteed to fill your tummies with delight and this country will surprise you each time you visit. While it might be a small destination to visit, Taiwan is special for many reasons because of the never-ending variety of things to do here.
To this day, after visiting Taiwan a bunch of times, I still believe Taiwan is one of Asia’s best-kept travel destinations! I do hope the COVID-19 restrictions will ease soon and Taiwan will definitely be the first destination I visit.
