Taipei - Yehliu - Juifen - Pingxi - Taroko National Park
November 29 - December 6, 2025
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| Flag of Taiwan |
Post-Trip Summary
- 2-1/2 days touring the Taiwan capital city of Taipei
- 1 day touring the northern coast of Taiwan in Yehliu, Juifen and Pingxi
- 1 day touring Taroka National Park
- 2-1/2 days traveling to and from Taiwan, crossing the International Date Line and losing an entire day, which was made up for on the way home
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| Air Travel Map - 19,300 Miles |
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| Ground Travel Map - 400 Miles |
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| Taipei Accommodations - Muzik Hotel - Ximen Station Branch |
Taiwan uses Type A and Type B power plugs and outlets, just like in the United States. The voltage is also the same—110V at 60Hz—so U.S. electronics can be used without a voltage converter or plug adapter.
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| Taiwan Electric Plugs & Outlets - 110V/60Hz |
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| Taiwan Weather in December - Mild |
What Clothing Did You Pack? I packed very light—about four days’ worth of clothes—mainly shorts and T-shirts, plus a swimsuit, light jacket, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and insect repellent. I also brought two pairs of long pants and a few longs shirt. As usual, my shirts, socks, and base layers were all quick-dry “Dri-Fit” material, which I could be washed out in the hotel sink every few days.
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| Taiwan Dollar - $1 = 31 TWDs |
- Safety. Taiwan is very safe. Petty theft is the most common issue you might encounter, but terrorism and kidnapping, though less frequent, are also concerns. In addition, certain travelers, namely women, may need to take certain precautions during their travels. You can get the latest safety and health information at the US Dept of State Travel Advisories website here.
- Air Quality. Air quality was generally quite good everywhere. There was no need for a protective mask like in some large cities where pollution can burn your throat and cause respiratory issues.
- Physical Condition. We traversed a lot of steps, uneven surfaces, and steep grades absent high temperatures and humidity. If you have mobility or heat issues, this is probably not the tour for you.
Following is a day-by-day account of my trip. Each day starts with an overview of what we did, followed by my daily journal. I stopped giving history lessons in my posts but added links you can click on to read more about the places I visited. You can just read on from here or go back up to the Table of Contents and jump to a specific day.
Enjoy!
Day 1 - Saturday, November 29 - Depart USA for Taiwan
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We sat around most of the day in Houston just downloading boarding passes, filling out our Taiwan immigration cards on line, and repacking suitcases.
By 645 pm, we were on our way to Houston international airport (IAH) to catch our 11:30 pm EVA Airlines Boeing 777-300ER flight to Taipei, Taiwan 16 hours and 55 minutes away nonstop. This is an interesting flight because you fly over the Pacific Ocean and the International Dateline losing an entire day in route. So we left on Saturday, November 29 and arrived Monday, December 1. No Sunday. On the way home, we flew the same route back in Houston and arrived at an hour than we had left Taipei, gaining back the day we lost on the way over.
We arrived at the airport at 730 pm and walked the terminal buildings, had something to eat and then wandered to Gate D11 to wait for boarding at 10:50 pm.
We left the gate a little late around 11:55 pm. By 12:15 am, we were airborne on the 16 hour and 55 minute flight to Taipei, Taiwan.
I managed to sleep on an off during the flight. There was a full 34" of legroom so it was a very comfortable flight. We had a full meal just 30 minutes into the flight and then later some snacks, and then breakfast about 2 hours before landing. The free Wi-Fi was a huge plus. Kudos to EVA Airlines.
The few times I woke up were memorable. The first time was as we were cruising past the Aleutian Islands. The second time was when we were off the Russian coast north of Japan.
Day 2 - Sunday, November 30, 2025 - Continue Flight to Taipei, Taiwan
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Day 3 - Monday, December 1, 2025 - Arrive in Taipei, Taiwan
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I woke up somewhere over the Pacific Ocean just south of the Emperor Trough east of the Russian coast and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy, north of Japan.
We were still 6-1/2 hours to our destination, Taipei. It didn't feel like we had been flying for almost 10 hours. We had already crossed the International Dateline so lost a day's time on paper.
With 3 hours to go, we cruised south along the Western coast of Japan and got a nice view in Tokyo on the East coast at night 160 miles away.
We got a light snack about 2 hours before arrival in Taipei. Sun was already starting to come up and had a beautiful view.
We had some clear air turbulence. A couple big bumps caused a big uproar but it was a fleeting moment.
On arrival, we cleared customs and made our way to the express train to Taipei's main train station. We missed the first train by a minute but another was along 10 minutes later.
From the main station we boarded the subway known as the MRT and took it one stop west on the blue line to our hotel in Ximending District. You have to buy a multi-day pass from one of the information desks not from a machine. So we wandered around the train station trying to find the information desk.
Eventually finding it and getting our passes. We then got on the Metro one stop to our hotel. There's a couple blocks up and along the way we could look down the side streets at all the crazy Market in our area.
Ximending is the mother of all districts because it contains some of the most famous landmarks, as well as night markets, restaurants, nightlife, and great shopping.
We checked into the hotel, the Muzik Hotel on the sixth floor and they had complimentary beverages but we had to check our bags till 3:00 pm. Everything else seems in order though.
At 10 am we were out wandering the market headed to a couple temples and historic streets. However, we had to find a bank ATM to change money, which was problematic because not all were linked to networks from the US. Eventually we found the big bank, Bank of Taiwan, and got the local currency we needed. You can generally use a credit card but the night markets are cash only.
Red House. Former theater now the creative and cultural hub of Taipei in the heart of the bustling Ximending District, the mother of all districts in Taipei.
Baipilao Old Street, a historic alleyway full of restored Qing Dynasty buildings housing cultural exhibits, galleries and recreated scenes from Taipei's past.
Longshan Temple, the mother of all temples in Taipei. Taoist. Beautifully carved wood and stone buildings and ornamentation, fountains and reflecting ponds.
Bangka Qingahan Temple. Tucked in between the buildings and streets of the bustling shopping and street food establishments repleat with carved woodwork and altars, incense, and a quiet peacefulness.
Went shopping by the hotel.
After checking into the room, showering and taking a nap, we ventured into the chaos and carnival that is the Ximending night market. It was lit up like the Las Vegas strip and was filled with people. We watched a few street performers, browsed the shops and feasted on oyster pancakes at one of the hundreds of food stalls.
We stopped at one of the bars along the perimeter of the Red House for a cocktail before retiring for the night.
Day 4 - Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - Taipei City Touring
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Beautiful day for sightseeing. I fell asleep early last night and ended up waking up around 4:00 am.
Sites: Chiang Kai-shek Memorial, Taipei 101 Skyscraper Observation Platform, 1914 Creative Street, Dihua Old Street, Xia Hai (City God) Temple, Fachukung Temple. In between, we stopped for traditional Taiwanese coffee and pepper buns at the street market. The metro is wonderful here for getting around. Made excellent use of my 3-day pass. But we also did a ton of walking, which was nice for seeing how the locals live.
Chang Kai-shek: Chiang Kai-shek was the longtime leader of the Republic of China who fought the Chinese Communists, led China during WWII, and later moved his government to Taiwan after losing the civil war. He ruled Taiwan under martial law, overseeing major economic development but also a period of political repression known as the White Terror.
Taipei 101: Taipei 101 is a 1670' skyscraper in Taipei that was once the tallest building in the world and is known for its bamboo-inspired design. It features a massive tuned mass damper to withstand earthquakes and typhoons, and offers one of the world's highest observatories with panoramic city views.
Creative Street 1914: Huashan 1914 Creative Park is a former winery turned cultural hub filled with art exhibitions, indie shops, cafés, and event spaces. It's one of Taipei's best spots for creative events, blending historic industrial architecture with modern design.
Dihua Street: Dihua Street is one of Taipei's oldest commercial streets, known for its traditional shophouses, Chinese medicine stores, tea shops, and fabric merchants. It becomes especially lively during Lunar New Year, when vendors fill the street with holiday foods, decorations, and market stalls.
Xia Hai (City God) Temple: The Taipei City God Temple is a historic neighborhood temple dedicated to Chenghuang, the deity believed to protect the city and oversee justice. It's known for its ornate carvings, active local worship, and lively festivals that reflect traditional Taiwanese religious culture.
Fachukung Temple: Fachukung Temple is a historic Taoist temple in Taipei dedicated to local deities, known for its intricate carvings and vibrant religious ceremonies. It serves as a cultural hub where worshippers gather for festivals and traditional rituals.
Traditional Taiwan coffee: San Formosan Dark Blend both iced and hot, made with brown sugar, musk, red wine, dark chocolate, toffee, raisin, peanut, and nuts.
After a rest break at the hotel, we went to the Red House to browse the shops and then wandered through the Ximending night market until the long day of walking caught up with it us. Then it was straight to bed.
Day 5 - Wednesday, December 3, 2025 - Day Trip to Yehlui, Juifen & Shifen
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Beautiful day for sightseeing. I fell asleep early last night and ended up waking up around 1 am before falling back to sleep until 6:00 am.
We got up early and headed over to a metro stop near our hotel to meet up with our tour group. The group was comprised of about 18 people from North America and Europe.
We drove about an hour to the north coast and arrived at Yehliu Geopark, one of the premier attractions in New Taipei City’s Wanli District. This scenic coastal area is famous for its striking rock formations shaped by wind and waves, including the iconic “Queen’s Head,” a mushroom rock that resembles the profile of Queen Elizabeth. The park features a wide variety of unique geological sculptures such as mushroom rocks, chessboard rock, trace fossils, and other remarkable formations like the Sea Candles, the Fairy Shoe, the Ginger Rocks, the Elephant Rock, the Ice Cream Rock, the Kissing Rock, and the Princess’ Head. Each year, the popular “Yehliu Night Tour” showcases the Queen’s Head with light shows and water projections, drawing tens of thousands of visitors who come to see the formations illuminated at night. Admission included; typical visit time is about 35 minutes.
We then journeyed to Jiufen, a historic hillside village in Ruifang District known for its narrow lantern-lit streets, traditional teahouses, and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Once a booming gold-mining town in the 1940s before falling into decline, Jiufen has since regained fame thanks in part to the award-winning film A City of Sadness, which highlighted its nostalgic, melancholic atmosphere and brought global attention to its old-street charm. Today, Jiufen is one of northeastern Taiwan’s most beloved destinations, inviting visitors to sip tea in clifftop teahouses, wander its story-filled alleys, sample local snacks, pick up souvenirs, and try the famous handmade taro-ball dessert.
Our last stop was Shifen, a small mountain town known for waterfall, its old railway line and traditional sky-lantern releases. It offers a nostalgic village atmosphere with charming streets, bridges, and views along the tracks. The highlight was writing wishes on large paper lanterns and them releasing them into the sky, powered by the upward draft created by burning paper at the base of the lantern. We stopped at the waterfall first before venturing into the town itself, which was quite charming.
My Tour Review: Great stops, nicely paced, comfortable coach, and most importantly, Kevin Cu was the most excellent and entertaining guide. It was all great but I especially enjoyed the lantern release in Shifen. Thanks for a memorable experience.
After the late afternoon return to Taipei, we hopped on the subway and went back to our hotel for an hour. In the evening we ventured out into the Ximending Night Market and enjoyed a dumpling dinner. Although our server did not speak English, hand gestures went a long way.
After dinner we wandered back through the night market and watched a street performer juggling spindles on a string between two wands.
Day 6 - Thursday, December 4, 2025 - Day Trip to Taroko National Park
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Weather: 65F and sunny
Today we escaped Taipei once again taking a day trip to Taroka National Park for a little bit of country living.
For the first time this trip, I finally got a full night of sleep. Looks like I adjusted to the 14-hour time difference from home.
07:00 Hotel pick-up.
Driver Steven from YOLO Tours picked us up on time at our hotel. Drive to Hualien 2-1/2 hours away.
The Hsuehshan Tunnel (Xueshan Tunnel), which is approximately 12.9 km (8 miles) long and located on Taiwan's Freeway No. 5.
Crayola Crayon factory.
10:00-10:15 Shakadang Trail (photo stop)
10:20-10:25 Eternal Spring Shrine (photo stop): Eternal Spring Shrine is built to commemorates the 226 personnel (military veterans) who died during the construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway
10:40:10:45 Swallow Grotto & Buluowan Suspension Bridge (photo stop)
10:55-11:05 Liufang Bridge
11:15-11:20 Cimu Bridge: Along the Central Cross-Island Highway, after passing Jiuqudong (Tunnel of Nine Turns), you'll reach Cimu Bridge (Motherly Devotion Bridge). This H-shaped hanging bridge features marble stone lions at each end and marble lotus stones on two sides. Beneath the bridge, a rock resembles a frog, formed from a black schist layer on top and white marble at the bottom. A pavilion built on this frog-shaped rock serves as a crown, constructed by late President Chiang Jing-guo in memory of his mother during the highway's construction. The Cimu pavilion area, located on the east side of the bridge and built by late President Chiang Kai-shek, also commemorates his mother, Mrs. Wang. 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
12:00-12:40 Tianxiang Scenic Area & XianDe Temple: Tianxiang is located along the eastern part of the Central Cross‑Island Highway, about 19 km from Taroko Gorge. Here, the Dasha and Tacijili Rivers merge to form the Liwu River, whose long history of sedimentation and erosion has shaped striking multi‑terraced riverbanks. This spacious valley once bustled with restaurants, shops, and hotels, but after the 2024 earthquake, visitor numbers declined, and many businesses moved away—leaving behind a peaceful, almost untouched atmosphere. Keep an eye out for Formosan macaques roaming the area; their presence adds a charming wild touch to this tranquil mountain retreat.
12:20-12:25 Tunnel of Nine Turns (photo stop)
12:50-12:55 East Entry Gate of Central Cross Island Highway: This large archway, inspired by traditional Chinese palace architecture, is located at the south end of Jinwen Bridge where it meets the Central Cross‑Island Highway. Its six-character inscription, written by the famous modern calligrapher Mr. Wang Chuang‑Wei, has become the highway's emblem since it opened. Today, it also functions as the entrance to Taroko Gorge, acting as both a landmark and a popular photo opportunity.
13:20-14:10 Lunch at Xincheng Old Street (Jiaxing Ice Fruit Shop). We are at an indigenous peoples restaurant. 2.5 % of population. Xincheng is a village at the base of Taroko Gorge, known for its local Hualien snack stalls and restaurants. Its vintage-style photo studio makes an ideal mid-trip rest spot. If you have any dietary preferences, feel free to ask your driver-guide for local suggestions on the day.
14:30-15:10 Qixingtan Beach me. Adjacent to an air force bade in Hualien. Nice beach. Blue water. Qixingtan Beach is a picturesque pebble beach located on Hualien’s Pacific coast, just north of the city. Its crescent-shaped shoreline, deep blue waters, and mountain backdrop make it an ideal spot for watching the sunrise and capturing photos. Visitors can enjoy cycling along the coastal trail, relaxing in pavilions, or strolling past vibrant houses and art installations. At night, the beach is tranquil—perfect for stargazing and waves watching. Note: Swimming is not allowed due to strong currents. Qixingtan is a must-see for those wanting to enjoy nature and serenity during a trip to Hualien. Before ending your visit, listen to the waves crashing on the rocks and take in the breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean.
15:40-15:50 Qingshui Cliff (photo stop). Quick stop at overlook to see cliffs.
Controlled traffic stop. Saw many. You sit for 30 minutes. For construction areas.
15:50-19:00 Back to Taipei
Day 7 - Friday. December 5, 2025 - Taipei Temple Touring
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We got up at the usual time of 6:00 am, had coffee down in the hotel reception area, then walked over to the metro station for the short trip crosstown to Elephant Mountain.
Elephant Mountain offers one of Taipei’s most iconic skyline views, especially at sunset when Taipei 101 lights up the city. The short but steep hike gives you panoramic photo spots along the way.
My feet had been a little sore for a few days. But the anticipation of getting to the top of the mountain kept me going. It's a rather steep climb of 400 steps to the very top.
Once reaching the top, we were rewarded with a phenomenal view including the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper.
After hiking down Elephant Mountain, we walked through beautiful Xiangshan Park and hopped back on the Metro and rode over to Ciyou Temple, along with nearby Raohe Night Market and the Rainbow Bridge.
Ciyou Temple is a colorful Taoist temple guarding the entrance to Raohe Night Market. It’s dedicated to Mazu and filled with ornate carvings and lively festival energy.
After visiting the temple, we walked next door to the Rainbow Bridge along the river for a photo stop then back over to Raohe Night Market for a short stroll. Of course it was only mid-morning and the market was closed, but one could sense how energetic the area becomes. When the night market opens. It offers mostly food but is considered to be one of the best markets in town.
We then got on the Metro to visit the last two temples. The first was Confucius Temple and the second one across the street, Dalongdong Baoan Temple. Both are stunning and UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Taipei’s Confucius Temple is an elegant Minnan-style complex focused on culture, learning, and ceremony rather than worship. It’s one of the best places in the city to experience quiet, traditional architecture.
Dalongdong Baoan Temple is a meticulously restored heritage temple famous for its woodwork, stone carvings, and annual cultural festivals. It’s dedicated to Baosheng Dadi, the god of medicine.
The touring of Taipei has officially come to a close and we ducked into the nearby pedestrian zone where we found a magnificent bakery featuring sandwiches and sweets. It was great lunch stop.
After lunch we returned to the hotel to rest. I rested so much I slept through the dinner hour. By the time I got up I did not feel like doing anything. My feet thanked me. I just gathered my dirty clothes for morning washing and went back to bed.]
Day 8 - Saturday, December 6, 2025 - Depart Taiwan
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