Eiji Mitooka, known as the father of specialty trains in Japan, once said: “Riding the train can itself be the purpose of a journey.” In recent years, a number of special tourist trains have been launched in Taiwan, with stylish carriage interiors, exquisite meals, and cordial, professional staff. The itineraries are meticulously planned, so that trains are no longer just a means of transportation, but are themselves worth coming a long way for.
Get up early in the morning to scuba dive in Kenting’s tropical seas on Taiwan’s southern coast. Then in the afternoon, cross the Tropic of Cancer and don a down jacket to release a sky lantern in the mountain village of Pingxi. This kind of day trip, covering almost 400 kilometers, doesn’t require ruby slippers like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz or Sun Wukong’s magical cloud. All it takes is the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) to make this kind of adventure possible in a single day.
Human beings seem naturally attracted to enormous machines that can move. Trains, which carry people and goods across long distances, are regarded as a defining trait of modern civilization. In important ways, rail transport is emblematic of how modern people live.
To preserve memories and bear witness to history, Taiwan’s National Railway Museum opened its doors for the first time this year.
The demolition of the Beimen Overpass in downtown Taipei City in 2016 gave visual access to the Railway Department Park opposite the iconic building of the Beimen Post Office.
With its characteristic red brick walls and white faux stonework, the European-looking main edifice of the park used to be the headquarters of the Japanese precursor to the Taiwan Railway Corporation.
“The only true voyage, the only fountain of Youth, would not be to visit strange lands, but to possess other eyes, to see the universe with the eyes of another....” —Marcel Proust
Known as Sandiaowan (Sandiao Bay), the rugged coastline between Cape Bitou and Cape Santiago in Northeastern Taiwan features distinctive rocky headlands.
Though you may never have set foot on Yushan, you have almost certainly seen it. Pull out a NT$1,000 note, and on its back you will see an image of Yushan’s majestic, snow-capped Main Peak.
You may wonder: Where was the original photograph of this 3,952-meter peak, Taiwan’s highest, taken from? The answer: the weather station on Yushan’s North Peak.
So you’ve visited Taipei 101, strolled through historic streets, and consumed a lot of great food. But would you like to experience a different side of Taiwan?
Then why not try out an alternative travel plan? Enter mist-shrouded forests, climb rock faces, and go down into river valleys. Search for paths through lush vegetation and feel the suspense of pushing ahead, sweating and wheezing, into places that are wild and adventurous.
In the 21st year of the Keelung Squid Festival, local fishing villages are extending nighttime activities related to neritic squid, while by day they are promoting a series of experiential activities including fishing village “academies,” DIY squid processing, and cloth-dyeing using pigments from yam plants (Dioscorea). There are also the unique at-sea “inspection tours” (religious processions) by icons of the deity Wangye. Come to Keelung and enjoy Taiwan’s maritime culture!
The neritic squid caught in the seas off Northeastern Taiwan account for more than 70% of Taiwan’s total catch. The Keelung Squid Festival, now in its 21st year, has become a well-known brand among summertime fishing-related events. Fishing at night amid cool ocean breezes, eating fresh seafood, and exploring the scenery in more than ten fishing harbors, one can really enjoy the richness of this part of Taiwan.
It’s always busy at the National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, located on the coast at Badouzi in Keelung. The NMMST was the first stop made by renowned conservationist Jane Goodall on her most recent visit to Taiwan, and the venue for the premiere of Shipwrecks Taiwan, a documentary directed by Tim Lee.
