3 Incredible Things to Do in Taitung

This being Taitung, there are several large-scale works on art along the coast here. These include the Taitung Tree of Life (台東生命之樹) by Wang Wen Zhi (王文志), a Chiayi artist famous for his monumental bamboo structures on display across Taiwan. South of Highway 11 , the park stretches all the way to the sea.
First, the 15 km Guanshan Bike Loop 關山環鎮自行車道 is the earliest and most integral bicycle path in Taiwan. The route though the rural town takes cyclists along Guanshan canal, Hongshih river, neat paths flanked by betel nut trees and paddy fields. In the East Rift Valley, Luye Longtian Bike Trail 鹿野龍田自行車道 traverses tea plantations, pineapple 臺東旅遊帶什麼伴手禮 fields, Japanese style architecture and even a green tunnel. For cyclists who do not want to venture too far, the Taitung City Loop is great for a half day cycling trip. This 21 km path is also known as Taitung Shanhai trail, which means mountain and ocean trail as mesmerising scenery of mountains and the sea unfold during the ride.

Taitung is the epitome of “slow travel” – you can forget  about rushing around like in Taipei as the sparse transportation network forces you to take your time to explore what Taitung has to offer. I had the luxury to visit this hidden but bewitching region of Taiwan not once but twice! If you plan to venture to Taitung  soon, here’s my Top 10 travel experiences to inspire your Taitung escapades. Today, with the establishment of Taiwan High Speed Railways , you may now simply take a 90min HSR ride to Zuoying Station and then take a 3hr train ride to Taitung area. Then, head to Guanshan, reputed as Taiwan's Rice County to visit Rice County School and experience DIY Chihshang rice session. Other factors – such as delivery company delays or placing an order on weekend/bank holiday – may push the arrival of your item beyond this date.
You can hire a local taxi for a day at a set price to follow your itinerary. Many taxi drivers offer a full-day tour and usually know where to take you. This option comes in handy when you don’t have any specific itinerary.
taitung travel guideJialulan Recreation Area is one of the “must-go” places in Taitung. This place used to be a waste land when the Air Force built the Jhihhang base airport, then it was developed into an eco-zone by the National Scenic Administration Department.

With its prime location, Hoya Taitung Hotel offers guests access to local attractions. Guests can enjoy mountain or city views from their room windows. This 4-star property has a restaurant and full service to make your stay more relaxing and memorable. Guangfu Sugar Factory was built in 1920, also known as “Yilian garden”. The factory currently mainly produce cane sugar and derivative products. Visitors here can not only experience the old-fashioned sugar production culture, but also enjoy delicious ice creams.
You can also explore the city on this guided Taitung city attractions tour or this electric bicycle guided tour. Taitung county is vast and personal transportation is the most convenient and efficient method to explore as many spots as possible. Car rentals are significantly more pricey than light motorbikes. Public buses and trains can be used to reach popular destinations but sometimes frequency of rides may be low. For more far flung places off the well trodden route, relying on private car is the only solution. For outer islands like Green and Orchid islands, motorbikes are the best way to circumvent the islands.

On the 15th of the first lunar month is the Festival which in Taitung is played out with a unique and spectacular display known as the Bombing of Master Han Dan. In the course of this display a man wearing nothing more than a pair of shorts and a face mask stands upon a sedan chair while onlookers lob strings of lit firecrackers at him. From the north, the journey from Taipei takes 5½-7½ hr depending on the type of trains you take. From the south, from Kaohsiung to Taitung on the Southern route, the trip takes from just over 2 hr to a little over 3 hr depending on the type of train. It looks down over bluffs to the floor of the Beinan River, which flows out to sea at Taitung City, and looks across at the Luye Highland, venue for the annual Taiwan International Balloon Festival. This is yet another great lookout spot for taking pictures when driving along the East coast of Taiwan.
Visitors in search of typical fare will find literally hundreds of options at Shilin Night Market. Ever Rich has collaborated with a famous pastry shop in Taitung and some local farmers; together come up with a brand-new one-of-a-kind, made-in-Taitung snack, rice pineapple cake. This 4-star property has a restaurant and full service for guestsYou can check rates, reviews and book on Agoda.com or Booking.com. Despite being among Taiwan’s smallest cities, with a population of just over 100,000, you’ll still find plenty of nice, well-priced hotels in Taitung. Sanxiantai is a special tourist area formed by coral reefs and some small islands of Taiwan. The red eight-arch bridge connecting the island to the mainland is as majestic as a dragon playing in the ocean waves.
Those staying at the property can also enjoy complimentary wireless internet. Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. All sales require full payment upon purchase to reserve booking. This is a hot deal promotion; the lowest prices are quickly sold out & subject to change. All prices are in AUD, sales are final, non-refundable & non-transferable. Taiwan is a “glittering secret isle” which “seduces travellers with its diverse temptations”, declares Traveller.

The adventure starts with scaling the steep steps of the bridge that leads to a network of footpaths, seaside caves, potholes and rich fauna and flora. It takes about two hours to explore the islands so make sure you have sufficient time and check the weather before venturing to Sanxiantai. Tiehua Music Village and Taitung Railway Art Village are both a 15-minute drive away. Featuring a balcony with mountain views, each air-conditioned room here will provide a TV, refrigerator and tea/coffee facilities.
After the harvest, the needle flowers will be dried by farmers everywhere, from the garden to the roof. As the largest grassland in Taiwan, Chu Lu Ranch not only has endless green grasslands, but also has many lovely cows roaming around the grassland. When you come here, you will feel like you are lost in a field of Europe. Visitors can also feed the cows and sample dairy products, the most famous of which is the milk cake. Just keep in mind that his taste is more than specific and for an amateur, and is somewhat reminiscent of cough syrup. You can try it beforehand in any fast food cafe in a vending machine, but Root 節日伴手禮 Beer is non-alcoholic there.
Most knick-knacks and things to take home can be found in local markets and shopping malls. Travelers can keep an eye out for what to buy in Taitung by keeping a few items on this list in mind. Watching the Muay Thai fight is now becoming a popular thing to do in Thailand. Next on my top 10 souvenirs to bring back from Thailand is a packet of instant noodles and snacks.