Taiwan is one of Asia’s most popular tourist spots because of the country’s natural beauty. This small island offers various natural tourist spots perfect for nature lovers, such as Taroko Gorge and Sun Moon Lake. You can go on a Yangmingshan day trip to explore some of the most popular natural tourist attractions in Taiwan, such as Geothermal Valley, Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area, and Lengshuikeng Recreation Area.
There are many other beautiful human-made tourist attractions that you can go during your holiday in Taiwan. One thing you should not miss is going on a Jiufen day trip to appreciate the quaint village and try various activities, and you definitely should take a visit to the most popular tourist spots in the country, such as Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei 101, and Shilin Night Market.
Going to the most famous tourist spots in Taiwan is a must especially if it’s your first time visiting the country.. However, if you are looking for unique and special destinations in Taiwan, non-traditional attractions might be the best option for you. These tourist spots are mostly only known by locals, so visiting them will help you avoid large crowds and have more opportunities to take in the view and appreciate it.
Dihua Street
Dihua Street is one of the oldest streets in Taipei. This place features a unique fusion of the old and modern Taiwan with traditional shops operating beside more contemporary-looking establishments.
The most remarkable feature of Dihua Street is its outstanding architectural design of the area. The old buildings in the area allow you to take a peek at the street’s colorful history.
Dihua Street is also known as a Lunar New Year Shopping area. The shops operating here offer everything from traditional Chinese medicines and herbs, hand-carved kitchen equipment, and dried foods.
Bopiliao Historical Block
Another historical area in Taiwan that you should visit is the Bopiliao Historical Block. This area features several shops, some of which were built over 200 years ago during the Qing dynasty and the imperial Japanese era. These shops were recently renovated to make them more presentable and attractive to tourists.
Bopiliao Historical Block, being a part of Wanhua District, is also near Longshan Temple. This temple is popularly known among tourists who are interested in the religious culture of Taiwan.
The area is also situated near Xichang street. Here, you can buy different fresh and dried Chinese traditional herbs that you can bring home for your friends and family.
Chifeng Street
Are you planning how to spend a weekend afternoon with friends and family? Chifeng Street is a great choice for a hangout and gathering! It is located between the metro stations of Shuanglian and Zhongshan, covering the entire Zhongshan business district. It now houses cafes, restaurants, vintage shops, and thrift shops, making the area a popular spot for young locals.
The alleys are full of buildings with preserved historic styles while fitting into a contemporary and artistic atmosphere. Here, you can walk around with friends, shop for trendy clothes and accessories, take stylish photographs and chill with a cup of delicious coffee.
You can also visit various popular areas near Chifeng Street including, “SPOT Taipei” which is known as the most romantic art cinema in Taipei, and the most beautiful scenery on Zhongshan North Road, “Tiaotong business district” which has the best Japanese restaurants and bars in town and “Chaoyang clothing and materials business district”.
Shenji New Village
Shenji New Village is a new local attraction that is located in West District, Taichung. Providing a glimpse of creative handcraft stores and restaurants, Shenji New Village becomes one of the most-visited places in Taichung.
Before, it was only old buildings with two stories. The locals turned the architecture into a creative spot that young people will love. Yup, you got it right. Instagramable attractions.
Shenji New Village was not as popular as it is now when it first opened. However, with bright and flashing color walls, many people took pictures of the sites and posted them on their social media. Besides, they also hold events, such as weekend bazaars that attract more visitors to the village. Now it has become more engaging to tourists from other cities, even countries.
Taipei Botanical Garden
If you are looking for a small oasis in the middle of Taipei City, you should visit Taipei Botanical Gardens. This place offers a display of different indigenous plants and trees of the country. You can also spend your time looking at the lotus ponds in the area and spotting several species of native birds, insects, and animals.
Taipei Botanical Gardens is also an archeological tourist spot. This place is where one of the initial sites of human habitation in the Taiwan Basin has been found.
Treasure Hill Artist Village
A destination that is located just around the area of Gongguan Night Market, Treasure Hill Artist Village, once was a place of historical village that is now redesigned by Taipei Government into an area of modern art space.
This tourist spot is full of many art exhibitions, performances, and art galleries. In there, you might also enjoy the fine art by the wrecked buildings and houses around you. Hence, it is a great place for taking some artsy photos.
The best you can do in that area is just simply explore the area randomly, find the best spot for photoshoot on your own and discover many great sites of art galleries that the local artists provide.
Miniatures Museum of Taiwan
Another museum you should visit is the Miniatures Museum of Taiwan. This museum is the only one of its kind in Asia and is known for its displays of incredibly detailed miniature models of various tourist destinations around the world. Some displays also feature popular historical scenes and fairy tales.
The museum is designed to be enjoyed by every kind of tourist, regardless of age. Every display is laid out with low benches to ensure that even small children can see it well. Adults can also enjoy the intricate details of each miniature figure, which was handcrafted by skilled craftsmen in the country.
Hamasen – Museum of Taiwan Railway
Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway brings you a new experience to your journey in the Southern part of Taiwan. It is located at Pier-2 Art, previously the abandoned warehouses placed in the Port of Kaohsiung, now the site is restored and has become one of the most popular tourist spots in Kaohsiung.
The museum is focusing on the history of Hamasen. It is originally a Japanese word for “shoreline”, which presented a long history about the transportation system in Taiwan, especially railways that operated nearby the southern shoreline of Taiwan.
It displays the model of rail and trains that were ever transported in the past century holistically. The museum gives you the vibe of visiting the miniature museum in Germany and the United States.
Moon World
If you visit Kaohsiung, don’t forget to visit the world-famous landform called Moon World. The name explained everything. When you go there, you will see big mudstones in your surroundings, giving a vibe that you are landing on the moon.
According to Professor Chyi Shyh-jeng of the Department of Geography, National Kaohsiung Normal University, the area’s extraordinary mudstone is actually ocean-floor sediment that was raised by tectonic uplift.
This landscape is a popular movie shooting site, too. Over 20 Taiwanese movies took place in this natural and unique wonder.
Besides ecological tours, you may also try their local specialty, mud-baked chicken, before leaving.
Heping Island Park
Discover the amazing power of erosion by taking the Heping Bridge to Heping Island. This natural tourist attraction is known for its jagged cliffs, weathered coastlines, and marvelous geographically patterned surface.
The best time to visit this island is in the afternoon, especially during the sunset. Heping Island offers a romantic view, which is best enjoyed with your loved ones.
Xiaoliuqiu Island
Another natural tourist spot that you should visit is Xiaoliuqiu Island, an island located in the southern part of Taiwan. The most prominent attraction in this place is Flower Vase Rock, a large rock formation that resembles the shape of a flower vase.
While in the area, you can also visit Black Dwarf Cave. This tourist attraction features beautiful geological formations made from limestone.
Visit These Tourist Sites With a Knowledgeable Guide
It’s best to visit these spots with a tour guide from a reputable travel agency in Taiwan to learn more about each place’s history and background. However, these tourist attractions are very seldomly offered in tour packages.
In order to visit all the non-traditional tourist attractions listed above, you need to work with a travel agency that offers custom private tours, like Edison Tours. A custom private tour package allows you to personalize your trip and add non-traditional tourist spots to your itinerary. This way, you can still travel in the country like a local while being assisted by a knowledgeable tour guide.
