The best destinations in Taiwan recommended by the locals

Taiwan is a small island to the east of China that has become a huge travel destination. With the scenic mountains, beautiful bodies of water, and tasty food, there is no wonder why more and more people are traveling there on vacation.

Although the island might be small, there are plenty of interesting attractions in Taipei, the nation's capital, and all over the island. With forests, beaches, hot springs, museums, and other amazing attractions it might be hard to narrow down your list of things to explore and see during your trip to Taiwan.

Danshui

Just to the north of Taipei City lies the district of Danshui. This one-time busy port town is now a tourist-oriented seaside area complete with a wharf and promenade where visitors can enjoy fresh seafood while watching the sunset.

Danshui is also home to a number of historical tourist attractions and Danshui Old Street, which is lined with traditional shops and street vendors. This is perhaps one of the most popular day-trip destinations in the country due to its proximity to the city and the fact that it is served by an MRT line.

Kenting

While Fulong is probably the best known beach to the north, the beaches of Kenting are more popular for extended beach holidays. Here, the beaches are beautiful and clean, and you will find that the weather is quite temperate even during the supposedly cold months of winter.
But Kenting is not just all beaches. As one of the most beautiful national parks in Taiwan, it is also home to some stunning hiking trails some of which offer incredible views of the ocean.

Read more: Visit Kenting, the southernmost of Taiwan

Fulong

It is one of the most popular beaches in Northern Taiwan and with good reason. Easily accessible from Taipei City, Fulong is a pristine beach with golden sands and wooden pathways that weave their way through the dunes. It is also considered a good spot for surfing.

The beach is only a short walk from the train station at the center of the village, which also happens to be home to quite a few local restaurants. It is a great day trip especially if you come out during the Sand Sculpting Festival in early summer.

Sun Moon Lake

Taiwan’s largest body of landlocked water lies in Nantou County, and its scenic pathways along with yacht cruises across the lake make it one of the island’s most popular holiday destinations.
The lake is surrounded by guesthouses and hotels, while there is also the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village theme park to keep visitors entertained. The theme park is accessible by gondola, which in itself is lots of fun.

Wuling Farm

Cherry blossom and tea garden in Wuling Farm was created in 1963 as a place where retired servicemen could find employment. Now it is a beautiful farm that offers camping grounds for people to stay on during their visit.

Take the trails to view the scenic gardens filled with flowers, a vegetable plantations, fruit, and fish farming. This is a great way to see another aspect of Taiwanese life while still experiencing breathtaking views and a little history.

Source CultureTrip

Where to see cherry blossom in Asia

Spring is nearly coming, that means time to enjoy the cherry blossom in the air. In Asia, you can easily catch the scent of cherry blossom falling in the land. Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea are the best places to enjoy the beautiful cherry blossom in the upcoming springtime.

TAIWAN

Alishan National Scenic Area 

Alishan is popular throughout the year as people take a trip up the mountain railway to witness the sunrise over the sea of clouds. However, cherry blossom season from January to April is the absolute best time to visit. The area is awash with color, and it’s simply breathtaking. If you’re heading to the scenic area, make sure to take the old train up part of the mountain. The scenery is spectacular, and it’s quite the experience.

Wuling Farm

Home to several fruit farms and set in the spectacular mountainous countryside of Taichung, it really is the perfect setting to unwind. And during the early months of the year, the area is transformed into a veritable sea of pink flowers.

See more: A quick guide to see cherry blossom in Taiwan

SOUTH KOREA

Jinhae

Jinhae, located near Busan, hosts the oldest and biggest cherry blossom festival in Korea. The city has one of the biggest concentration of cherry blossom trees in the world and the blooming flowers on hundreds of thousands of cherry trees turn the scenery into a pastel dream. Jinhae Gunhangjae Festival is definitely worth visiting even from Seoul.

Yeouido Park

Check out the Yeouido Flower Festival which is famous for its celebration of 1,886 Korean cherry trees. Get ready to feast your eyes at all the delicate sakura blooms during the cherry blossom season. Yeouido Park, located alongside the Han River, is one of the best and most popular spots to celebrate the beginning of spring! The Spring Flower Festival is the biggest spring festival in Seoul and the Yunjunro Street is lined up with blooming cherry trees for up to 6 km, so there are plenty of spots for admiring the scenery.

JAPAN

Hanamiyama Park (Fukushima)

Hanamiyama Park was opened to the public in 1959 to give the local community the opportunity to see the mountain’s beautiful array of flowers. In spring, the mountain comes to life with plum, cherry, and forsythia blossoms, as well as a wide range of other flowers. In full bloom the flowers paint the mountain in a gentle shade of pink, creating a surreal, fantastic atmosphere.

Mount Fuji

The only thing better than one Japanese national icon is two Japanese national icons – and for a couple of months each year you can get two for the price of one as Mount Fuji is surrounded by cherry blossom. There are numerous places from which to view Mount Fuji, but our favorites are Hakone and the Fuji Five Lakes region. Fuji Five Lakes is perhaps better than Hakone when it comes to Sakura, and two of the best spots are the northern shores of Lake Kawaguchiko and the Chureito Pagdo, built in the hills of Fujiyoshida City.

Shinjuku Gyoen (Tokyo)

Tokyo is famous the world over as a hyper-modern metropolis packed with high-rise buildings and flashing neon lights, and whilst this is true – there is also a surprising wealth of green spaces where you can take time out from the hustle and bustle of the city to relax. One of the best places to see cherry blossom in Tokyo is undoubtedly Shinjuku Gyoen, which is home to over one thousand cherry trees of both early- and late-blooming varieties, meaning that the sakura season here lasts longer than elsewhere in the city.

Source Internet