Taitung county recognized as Star Travel Destination
All in all, it took us 50 minutes to reach the summit of Hehuanshan East Peak . Although the climb was steep and tiring, I wouldn’t say it’s difficult because the trails were nicely laid out as wooden staircases. If you can climb stairs for 50 minutes, you can conquer Hehuanshan East Peak. Did you remember how we were down on our luck the previous day and couldn’t do much in Cingjing and Hehuanshan?
The Xiang Shang and the Yizhong street markets are the best places to shop for souvenirs, clothes, and electronics. There is a good number of routes that will take you from the train station to the Beitun District. Fare typically costs NT$25 but there are a few lines you can ride for 台東名產伴手禮 free. Try Steak Akaoni or Taichung Meatballs for a more affordable and more traditional experience. An inexpensive meal should cost NT$85, while a more expensive restaurant can cost NT$500 or more. Carrefour and Agriculture Cooperative are the two biggest grocery shopping stores.
At this local cultural market (審計368新創聚落), you’ll see young locals peddling handicrafts and pretty pastries to mostly locals. Yes, it’d appeared to me that most customers weren’t tourists. See, this place doesn’t even have an English name on Google Map yet . We, being value-conscious travelers, left after admiring the interior decors. On the way back to our hotel, we passed by Zhongshan Green Bridge (中山綠橋) and admired the river that was flowing in the middle of a busy street junction. A brightly-lit bridge – Aofong Green BeltThe last itinerary for the night was at Miyahara (宮原眼科).
Lake Ashi is a great place to see the views of Mount Fuji. Afterwards, take the bus to Oshino Hakkai, another great place to see the beauty of Mt.Fuji. Then go to Bussharito Heiwa Park to appreciate the gardening featured with Japanese characteristics. The most famous spot is the peace statue, which is a treasure given by the Indian government. Later, proceed to the hot spring resort hotel in Hamamatsu.
The queue at the ice cream shop was crazily-long as many yearned to get Instagram-worthy ice cream that cost above TW$350. Unfortunately, you don’t get to sit and enjoy the ice cream despite the pricey investment. With the convenience of our own rental car, we could get to many places, even after nightfall. We walked through the LED-lit bridge, before hiking up Ao Fong Hill Observatory. It’s a nice place to catch a bird eye’s view of Taichung city from the top. By mid-afternoon, we arrived at the western coast of Taichung, intending to catch sunset at Gaomei Wetlands.
Visit SuSu Second-Hand Bookstore & Guesthouse in the city center and play with the local owners' two pet cats who call the shelves their home. These natural hot springs have been famous since the 18th century as a place of rejuvenation and relaxation in nature. This re-purposed space now hosts many permanent art exhibits and performers, as well as a tourist shop selling souvenirs for visitors.
This great hotel would serve as our base for the next few days. Check out my review of Fushin Hotel if you are looking for a great lodging experience in Taichung. With our stomach filled, we moved on to Cingjing Green Green Grassland. Today would be a perfect day to enter this presumably, most popular attraction in Cingjing. Although it’s touristy, I’ll have to say that this place deserves a visit.
After a hot soak, make your way to downtown Puli, where you could grab some snacks and a beer or two for the night. Enjoy the sublime moments under the starry sky with friends and loved ones. Taiwan Excellence and MEET TAIWAN also set up booths in Luye Highland this year. From now until August 30, head to the Taiwan Excellence and MEET TAIWAN booths in Taitung’s Luye Highland to play interactive games for a chance to win limited edition balloon souvenirs.
Climbing the wooden ladders and staircases will appeal to your adventurous side. Beitun District combines urban appeal with beautiful mountain scenery. Set on the outskirts of Taichung City, the neighbourhood is home to an excellent folk museum and one of the biggest night markets in Taiwan. Hundreds of colorful mini hot air balloons were released by guests to officially kick off the 2020 Taiwan International Balloon Festival. The moment commemorated seven consecutive years of joint efforts between Taiwan Excellence, MEET TAIWAN, and the Taitung County Government to showcase Taiwan’s attributes to the world.