Taiwan Road Trip

The hillside town that inspired the Spirited Away aesthetic (though Miyazaki denies it). Red lanterns line narrow alleys filled with tea houses and food stalls. Visit in late afternoon - the lanterns glow at dusk and the crowds thin after tour buses leave. Try taro balls and grass jelly.

The most photographed building in Jiufen, perched on the hillside with ocean views. Order a traditional tea set and sit on the terrace. The building is the one most associated with Spirited Away. Best photos from the stairway below it after dark.

Write wishes on a paper lantern and release it into the sky. The Pingxi Old Street area has vendors selling lanterns for NT$150-200 ($5-6). Weekdays are calmer. The annual Lantern Festival (February) is one of Taiwan's biggest events.

A former gold mine turned museum complex in nearby Jinguashi. Touch the world's largest gold bar (220 kg). The Crown Prince Chalet nearby is a beautiful Japanese colonial building with mountain views. Underrated and usually uncrowded.

A riverside trail carved into the marble canyon walls. The turquoise water below is impossibly clear. The trail is mostly flat and paved for the first 2 km. Start early - the trailhead is right past the entrance bridge.

A narrow walkway carved into sheer marble cliffs above the Liwu River. Helmets are provided (wear them - rockfall happens). The gorge walls tower hundreds of meters on both sides. Often closed after heavy rain.

A traditional shrine built into a cliff face with a waterfall flowing beside it. It commemorates workers who died building the Cross-Island Highway. The setting is one of the most dramatic temple locations anywhere.

Walk through hand-carved tunnels and across suspension bridges to reach a cave where water streams through cracks in the ceiling - you walk through a waterfall curtain inside a mountain. Bring a flashlight and rain jacket. The trail sometimes closes for maintenance.

Take the predawn forest railway to Zhushan viewing platform. The sunrise over a sea of clouds is Alishan's signature experience. Arrive 30 minutes early for a good spot. Dress warm - it is cold at 2,500 meters even in summer. Check if the sunrise train is running (weather dependent).

One of the world's few remaining narrow-gauge mountain railways, built during Japanese colonial rule to transport cypress logs. The Sacred Tree Line and Zhushan Line are the two tourist routes. The train climbs through bamboo forests, cedar groves, and cloud banks.

A loop trail through ancient red cypress trees, some over 2,000 years old. The forest floor is blanketed in moss. Quiet, cool, and often misty. The 'tree spirit' shrine marks a 3,000-year-old trunk.

Break the journey at Taiwan's largest lake. Rent a bike and ride the lakeside path (one of Asia's best cycling routes). Take the cable car for aerial views, then visit Wenwu Temple overlooking the water. The Thao aboriginal village on the shore has traditional craft shops.

Two colorful pagodas on Lotus Pond - enter through the dragon's mouth and exit through the tiger's mouth (tradition says this brings good luck). Free entry. Best photographed at dusk when the lights reflect off the pond. Walk the full Lotus Pond path for several more temples.

Take the 5-minute ferry (NT$40) from the harbor. Seafood restaurants line the waterfront - grilled squid and fried fish are the local picks. Climb to the Cihou Lighthouse for harbor views. The Cihou Fort is a small but well-preserved Qing-era fortification.

Taiwan's southern tip. Baisha Beach has white sand and swimmable water. Eluanbi Lighthouse marks the island's southernmost point. Kenting Night Market runs every evening along the main strip - more touristy than Taipei's markets but still fun for grilled seafood and tropical smoothies.

One of the largest Buddhist monasteries in the world, 20 minutes north of Kaohsiung. The main hall houses a tooth relic of the Buddha. The grounds are enormous - the main boulevard alone is 500 meters. Free entry. Free vegetarian lunch is offered to all visitors.

Kaohsiung's most famous night market. Smaller and more walkable than Taipei's big markets. Seafood dominates - salt-baked shrimp, grilled fish, and papaya milk are the must-tries. Open every night.