Fun things to do in Taiwan

I’ve been interested in Taiwan since I was young. When we were little and Facebook hadn’t yet been invented, our dad used to work there. He therefore consistently mails us pictures of himself. I was mesmerized by how stunning and intriguing those locations were that he had visited. I was particularly interested in the well-known National Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. I was a little child who has never gone outside the Philippines, thus the size and architecture of the enormous edifice amaze me.

Taiwan was at the top of my list when I was organizing my first trip to Asia in 2019. I went online and searched for all of my dad’s pictures. Only a handful of the pictures could be distinguished because they are quite old. Google provided several suggestions for locations to visit, which is quite helpful.

I therefore purchased a ticket to Taiwan for a 4-day stay and traveled to several locations with locals and other tourists. From the beginning, it was truly a fantastic experience. I went hiking for the first time ever, saw temples, wandered around night markets, tasted some delicious local delicacies, and on my last night, we went out for karaoke.

Here is my list of FUN things to do and BEST places to visit in Taiwan:

1. Visit the National Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a famous national monument, landmark and tourist attraction erected in memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. It is located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan.

The monument, surrounded by a park, stands at the east end of Memorial Hall Square. It is flanked on the north and south by the National Theater and National Concert Hall.

I went to National Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall with a friend through a bicycle. It was a really fun and amazing experience biking around the city.

It is an excellent national park where you can learn about the history of Chiang Kai Shek and there is no entrance fee charged.

The hall is open from 9 am until 6 pm but the guard change happens from 9 to 5 each hour in total 9 times each day.

2. Experience Night Markets

Forget the clubs and bars; experiencing and tasting genuine Taiwanese cuisine in night markets is another enjoyable activity in Taiwan. The country enjoys munching on snacks and dining out late into the night with friends.

My friends who live there claim that Shilin has the most well-known night market. Even though it is one of the city’s most well-known night markets, you can always find one close to where you are staying because there are night markets everywhere.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try one of the specialty foods found only in these markets, such as the famous stinky tofu (a must-try; despite its foul smell, it tastes delicious! ), peanut-powdered pig’s blood rice cakes. Eat oyster noodles, BBQ sausage, sponge cake, and Taiwanese-style hamburgers to satisfy your appetite.

3. Visit the 228 Peace Memorial Park

In Taipei, Taiwan, at 3 Ketagalan Boulevard in the Zhongzheng District, is the 228 Peace Memorial Park, a historical site and public park. The park contains memorials to victims of the February 28 Incident of 1947, including the Taipei 228 Memorial that stands at the center of the park and the Taipei 228 Memorial Museum, housed at the site of a former radio station that operated under Japanese and Kuomintang rule. The National Taiwan Museum stands at the park’s north entrance. The park also has a bandshell and exercise areas.

This park is open to the public and there is no entrance fee charged.

4. Hike in Yangmingshan National Park Trail

We were lucky that we met 2 locals while we were on the bus going to Yangmingshan National Park. Taiwanese nationals Sherry and Mei who are both fans of hiking invited us to join their group. We immediately agreed though I am not wearing proper clothes and shoes for hiking.

According to them, if you’re looking to do a longer hike near Taipei, Yang Ming Shan Trail is a great option. Brings you past most of the major areas of the park. The only major downside is that the last mile or two have you walking alongside the road.

It was really a great workout and we really had so much fun! Initially, a lot of steps going up and down to the peak, and then the second trail is a much nicer walk without great elevation changes. Took us about 4 hours to complete with a few breaks and a couple of short side trails to the nearby pond.

5. Shenji New Village in Taichung

The Shenji New Village is an area in West District, Taichung, Taiwan. According to locals, the place used to be an old residential area. It was then redeveloped into a cultural and creative center.

If you are a selfie lover, this place is perfect for you. This is a great place to spend some time in, its more of a flea or art market with stores and makeshift stalls. It was really fun exploring around the Shenji New Village.

Most of the items are designed by the sellers themselves and make them an interesting buy.

There are also cafes, ice cream stores and tea stalls around so it is easy to get some refreshment.

6. Taipei 101

A supertall skyscraper in Xinyi, Taipei, Taiwan, the Taipei 101 was once known as the Taipei Global Financial Center. Between its 2004 debut and the Burj Khalifa’s 2010 completion in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, this structure held the title of being the highest structure in the world.

The structure regularly appears as an icon of Taipei in international media, and the Taipei 101 fireworks displays are a regular feature of New Year’s Eve broadcasts.

Taipei 101 features an indoor observation deck on the 88th and 89th floors, and two outdoor observation decks (91st floor and 101st floor), all offering 360-degree views and attract visitors from around the world. The Indoor Observatory, which is 383.4 m (1,258 ft) above ground, offers a comfortable setting, huge windows with UV protection, voice tours that have been recorded in eight different languages, as well as educational exhibits and spectacular displays. Here, one may watch the skyscraper’s primary damper, which is the biggest and heaviest visible damper in the entire globe, as well as purchase food, beverages, and gifts. Visitors ascend to the Outdoor Observatory by two more flights of stairs. The Outdoor Observatories, which are located at heights of 391.8 m (1,285 ft) and 449.2 m (1,474 ft), respectively, are Taiwan’s highest observation platform and the second-highest observation deck ever provided in a skyscraper.

The Outdoor Observatory is accessible during the same hours as the Indoor Observatory, weather permitting, from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, seven days a week and on holidays. The Observatory’s website offers online ticket sales as well as on-site ticket sales on the fifth floor of the mall.Tickets cost NT$600 (US$19.42, updated as on 15-Feb-2020 based on their website) and allow access to the 88th through 91st floors via high-speed elevator.

7. Longshan Temple

Mengjia Longshan Temple, Taiwan’s most well-known temple, was constructed in 1738 as a meeting place for Chinese settlers by settlers from Fujian. This temple, which is situated in Taipei’s Wanhua District’s old village, has withstood the test of time and through numerous natural disasters and wars.

One of Taiwan’s biggest and oldest temples is Longshan Temple. Although there is no admission fee, donations are welcome to support the temple’s upkeep.

8. Jiufen Old Street

Jiufen is a small village in the mountains located an hour drive from Taipei. It is a busy street and they give out free snacks and drinks, but I advise you to reserve up for the old traditional tea house and restaurant at the back, which has great views and a lot to see inside.

The trip to JiuFen Old Street is full of delights. There are stores selling JiuFen’s most well-known local snacks, including grilled mushrooms, glutinous rice cakes, taro rice cakes, meatballs made from Hongzao (oxo) cubes, and cold or hot taro balls. There are many of mouthwatering appetizers on the street. Almost every tourist to JiuFen would try all of those.

9. KTV (Karaoke) experience

KTV  in Taiwan is a night out that you won’t want to miss!  Huge thanks to my friend Mei-Chin Wen for organizing this karaoke night before I leave Taiwan. It was a really fun experience and unforgettable hangout. Karaoke or Videoke is the best past time in the Philippines and having experienced it in Taipei made my trip memorable.

Taiwan has a number of large karaoke chains that offer a good selection of English songs. In large establishments such as Holiday KTV, you book a private room for you and your friends. Each room comes equipped with couches, a table, a large-screen tv, a song selection machine and microphones. You scroll through the song book provided and enter a number into the machine for your song selection. The lyrics pop up on the tv screen, usually accompanied by a very cheesy video for your viewing pleasure.

10. Hangout with locals

There is no better way to get to know a country than by talking to locals, whether you’re on a quick city break, a two-week backpacking trip, or a two-month road journey across the globe. They are familiar with all the ins and outs, dos and don’ts, where to go and where not to go. Briefly, they are the best tour guide you could ask for.

I was really lucky I met these amazing Taiwanese locals and indeed they are so respectful and kind. This is not an exaggerated comment but it was based on personal experience. To sum it up, I really had an amazing and fun time in Taiwan and looking forward to my 3rd visit soon.

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