Best of Taiwan: Sun Moon Lake, Taroko Gorge, Kaohsiung, Taitung

This morning you will depart from central Taipei and head for the heart of the island, Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area. Sun Moon Lake is the biggest freshwater lake on the island. Divided by Lalu Island, the lake got its name from the unique terrains that look like sun on one side and crescent moon on the other side. The area around the lake is also the home to the Thao people, a group of Taiwanese aborigines. After lunch, tour around the lake by bus and visit the most well-known attractions in this area: Ita Thao Indigenous Village, Ci’en Pagoda, Xuanzang Temple and Wenwu Temple. Tonight, enjoy a charming stay.

After breakfast, enjoy a pleasant walk around Xiangshang Visitor Center, a unique building that allows people to enjoy the beautiful views of Sun Moon Lake from the top. After that, depart for Kaohsiung, the most populated city in South Taiwan, also a romantic harbor city. Your first stop is Fo Guang Shan, a large monastery founded by Master Hsing Yun in 1967. The signature of the temple is the huge statue of Buddha Amitabha in gold color that can be seen from miles away. After the monastery visit, move down the hill to the center of the city. It’s time to fulfil your appetite with some local delicacies at Liuhe Night Market, the oldest and most typical night market in Kaohsiung. Here you have a chance to taste the city’s signature street foods like the seafood congee, steamed salted shrimps, papaya milk drink, rice cake, Stinky Tofu… Today you will stay overnight in a centrally located 5-star hotel with department store, convenient stores and drug store nearby to get supplies for the trip.

After breakfast, head for the south of the border, also where Taiwan’s first national park is situated. Kenting National Park is well-known for its coastal geographical features and marine biodiversity due to crustal deformation and tropical climate. Kenting is also a paradise for surfers and divers. Today you will stop at Maopitou, Chuanfan Rock, Eluanpi Park & light house and Longpan Park. Maopitou (literally meaning cat’s nose), is a unique natural rock formation. From distance, it looks just like a giant crouching cat. Chuanfan Rock (actually meaning sail), is another unique natural rock formation. It looks just like the sail of a ship or a portrait of US former president Richard Nixon. Eluanpi Lighthouse was built during the Qing Dynasty. It was listed as one of the Eight Views of Taiwan during the period under Japanese rule. Longpan Park is a coral limestone tableland eroded by rainwater. It keeps the original features of the landscape with wide grassland and faces the Pacific Ocean. After that, head for Taitung via South-Link Highway, and enjoy the scenery along the way. Tonight you will stay in a 5-star hot spring resort in Chihpen, Taitung. Chihpen is a hot spring spot that is famous for carbonate hot springs therapy. The hot spring water is effective for improving blood circulation and fatigue relief.

After a good night sleep and a rich breakfast, you will travel along the east coast, the last unspoiled place of the island. Wherever you go, there are picturesque places of natural and human features. Today you will stop at the most famous scenic spots: Xiaoyeliu, Sanxientai, Shitiping and Fanshuliao. Each stop features unique geographic characteristics. The first stop is Xiaoyehliu(literally meaning little Yehliu). The natural rock formations in this area look similar to those found in Yehliu in the northern coast of Taiwan, hence the name. Here you can have an up-close look at those unique landforms of erosional coasts. Then you will visit Sanxientai(literally meaning terrace of the three immortals), which is composed of offshore islands and coral reefs. The most famous landmark is the cross-sea bridge, connects the mainland and the island. The next stop is Shitiping(truly meaning stone steps). Situated at the 65-kilometer point on the coastal highway, it was formed when volcanic rock worn smooth by sea erosion was uplifted in layers that resemble stone steps, which is just what the Shitiping of the name means. Before the marble factory visit, stop by Fanshuliao, a unique canyon also regarded as a small version of Taroko Gorge. Marble mining and processing was an important industry in Hualien, that helped boost prosperity of the city. You will have an overview of the major industry in Hualien in the marble factory and its exhibition hall. Enjoy a peaceful night stay in a resort hotel, tomorrow you will be marvelled at the world-famous nature wonder – Taroko Gorge.

After breakfast, you will visit the most spectacular place in Taiwan, also the largest marble canyon in the world – Taroko National Park. Situated in the eastern part of Taiwan, Taroko National Park was established in the year of 1986. This park features high mountains and sheer gorges with a diverse range of wildlife and geological characteristics. The most well-known parts of this park are the marble cliffs, which can soar up to 1,100 meters high. Today we will stop at the most popular attractions: Shakadang Trail/Lushui Trail, Eternal Spring Shrine (Changchun Temple), Swallow Grotto and Cihmu Bridge. Before returning to Taipei after lunch, you will stop by a spectacular attraction on the section of the Suao-Hualien Highway - Qingshui Cliff. First, take a walk along Shakadang Trail or Lushui Trail, where the crystal clear blue water of Liwu River is running beside you. This river has cut through the marble over millions of years, and created the deep, narrow gorge. Next, stop by Eternal Spring Shrine, which commemorates the 226 personnel (military veterans) who died during the construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway. If the weather permits, you may take a walk through the tunnel below the shrine. Before lunch, walk through the tunnel of Swallow Grotto, where you will enjoy a stunning view of the cliffs reaching up to the sky. The potholes on the cliff surface were created by the ground water and the rapid stream of the river. In the past, they were the natural nesting location of swallows; hence it got the name Swallow Grotto. After lunch, stroll around Tianxiang, where Cihmu Bridge (Motherly Devotion Bridge) is located, an H-Shape hanging bridge built of marble by late President Chiang Jing-guo, for a heart-touching story about a loving mother. After a breathtaking tour of Taroko Gorge, you will stop by Qingshui Cliff and admire the scenery of the cliffed coastline. You will then head back to Taipei and arrive in the hotel later this afternoon.