Must-see attractions in Northern Taiwan

  • Lin Family Mansion & Garden

    Northern Taiwan

    The family mansion of Lin Ying-yin boasts wood and stone carvings, traditional architectural motifs representing luck and fortune, and a beautiful…

  • Gold Ecological Park

    Northern Taiwan

    Jinguashi's big draw is this Japanese-era mining-complex-turned-tourist-park, where hillside paths connect 1930s offices, workshops and dormitories, and…

  • City God Temple

    Northern Taiwan

    First built in 1748, and masterfully restored in 1924, this Hsinchu landmark has the highest rank of all the city god temples in Taiwan, and is a splendid…

  • Quanhua Temple

    Northern Taiwan

    The only Taoist temple on the mountain, Quanhua Temple (c 1897) is dedicated to the Jade Emperor. The elaborate main hall is built into a recess in the…

  • Turtle Island

    Northern Taiwan

    This captivating volcanic islet, 10km off the coast of Yilan, is less than 3km long yet rises up to 398m. Once supporting a population of 750 people, the…

  • Tzushr Temple

    Northern Taiwan

    The centre of religious life in Sansia, the Tzushr Temple honours Qingshui Tsu-Sze, a Song-dynasty general worshipped by the people of Anxi, Fujian, for…

  • Manyueyuan Forest Recreation Area

    Northern Taiwan

    Once you get past the paved waterfall trails in this scenic park 20km southeast of Sansia, you reach natural hikes that climb for hours through sweet…

  • Wuling Farm

    Northern Taiwan

    Wuling Farm, also known as Wuling Forest Recreation Area (武陵國家森林遊樂區), is a relaxing mountain retreat popular with Taiwanese families who come for the…

  • Golden waterfall,Jiufen,Taiwan

    Golden Waterfall

    Northern Taiwan

    The cascades at this popular tourist stop have stained the rocks a honeycomb yellow due to the pyrite (fool's gold) deposits picked up by the water as it…

  • Taipingshan National Forest Area

    Northern Taiwan

    This logging-area-turned-mountain-retreat offers easy forest trails along whimsical relics of old railway tracks, and countless lookouts over the snow…

  • Cihu Memorial Sculpture Park

    Northern Taiwan

    Home to 152 unwanted Chiang Kai-shek statues, this open-air sculpture park is a hoot (surely unintentionally), with promenades of Chiang busts and clumps…

  • Fulong Beach

    Northern Taiwan

    This 3km sweep of golden sand is the most popular beach in northern Taiwan. You can rent surfboards, kayaks, umbrellas and loungers along the beachfront…

  • Fushan Temple

    Northern Taiwan

    Blending Japanese, Chinese and European decorative motifs (note the angels over the altar), 200-year-old Fushan Temple was where the region's miners would…

  • Saisiyat Folklore Museum

    Northern Taiwan

    On the shore of Xiangtian Lake, this museum is dedicated to the Saisiyat (賽夏族) and their intriguing Festival of the Short People (賽夏族矮靈祭; Sàixiàzú Ǎlíngjì…

  • Cat Village

    Northern Taiwan

    Cross the 'cat bridge' out of the train station to hang out with Houtong's feline divas, who are well used to being doted on by tourists. Similar to Japan…

  • Museum of World Religions

    Northern Taiwan

    Though founded by a Buddhist order, this museum aims not to promote Buddhism, but to build harmony by showing the communality of all religions. Highlights…

  • Baishawan Beach

    Northern Taiwan

    One of the better beaches in New Taipei City is found at this little bay sometimes called White Haven Beach. The Chinese name translates as 'white-sand…

  • Wai'ao Beach

    Northern Taiwan

    Strewn with meteorite-sized boulders and facing Turtle Island 10km offshore, Wai'ao's black sand beach is one of the best places in northern Taiwan for…

  • Lalashan Forest Reserve

    Northern Taiwan

    This 63.9 sq km expanse of mixed forest holds one of the largest stands of ancient red hinoki cypress trees left in Taiwan. The most ancient of the…

  • Minquan Old Street

    Northern Taiwan

    This block of tastefully restored merchant houses and residences dates from the end of the Qing dynasty. On weekends there's a lively market atmosphere as…

  • 18 Lords Temple

    Northern Taiwan

    Sometimes called the 'dog temple', this recently restored place of worship has a canine legend attached. After a group of 17 fisherman were lost at sea,…

  • Yehliu Geopark

    Northern Taiwan

    Stretching far out into the East China Sea, this limestone cape is a geologist's dreamland where aeons of wind and sea erosion can be observed in hundreds…

  • Remains of the 13 Levels

    Northern Taiwan

    Just across from the Golden Waterfall, on a sea-facing bluff, are the remains of a massive copper-smelting refinery (十三層; Shísāncéng) whose 13 levels…

  • Neidong Forest Recreation Area

    Northern Taiwan

    About 4km past Wulai Waterfall is this forested area popularly known as Wawagu (Valley of the Frogs). With its hiking trails through broadleaved and cedar…

  • Jiang A-sin Mansion

    Northern Taiwan

    This sumptuous mansion, built in the late 1940s, served as the home and reception hall of wealthy Beipu tea merchant and county councillor, Jiang A-sin…

  • Jishan Street

    Northern Taiwan

    Countless snack stalls and souvenir shops line the narrow 'old street' threading through Jiufen, a mining town so prosperous it became known as 'Little…

  • Nanzhuang Village

    Northern Taiwan

    The village of Nanzhuang is a low-slung time warp of clapboard houses, shops and tourist stalls that makes for a great couple of hours strolling…

  • New 18 Lords Temple

    Northern Taiwan

    A few kilometres back in the hills from the old 18 Lords Temple is a larger, newer version of the temple with a giant dog statue in the parking lot…

  • Yingge Old Street

    Northern Taiwan

    This cobbled street, Yingge's earliest ceramics hub, is lined with dozens of pottery shops selling tea sets, kitchenware, vases, ornaments and much more…

  • Zhitian Temple

    Northern Taiwan

    A charming traditional temple (c1835) dedicated to Guanyin. Notable features to look for include the carved stone pillars, both out front and especially…

  • Lanyang Museum

    Northern Taiwan

    Designed to imitate the area's cuesta rock formations, this stunning glass and aluminium-panelled structure is worth a visit for the architecture…

  • Wulai Waterfall

    Northern Taiwan

    This 80m-high waterfall is quite a beauty, and the fact that you can fly over it on a cable car is one more reason to come to Wulai. There's a log cart…

  • Juming Museum

    Northern Taiwan

    Admire the works of Taiwan's best-known contemporary sculptor, Ju Ming (1938–), at this museum and open-air sculpture park. Ju Ming has works strewn all…

  • Taoshan Waterfall

    Northern Taiwan

    Known poetically as the Sound of Mist Waterfall, this 50m high veil lies at the end of the Taoshan Trail inside Shei-pa National Park. The 4.3km trail…

  • Guqifeng Gallery

    Northern Taiwan

    If you're in Hsinchu on a weekend, don't miss this fantastic collection of treasures, which includes a four-poster bed of pure jade, dragon boats made of…

  • Luchang Village

    Northern Taiwan

    High-altitude Luchang Village is in a stunningly beautiful setting reached via a deep canyon road 15km southeast of Nanzhuang village. There is no bus…

  • Guanwu Forest Recreation Area

    Northern Taiwan

    If you're looking for a more-rugged experience compared with the tame resort atmosphere of a place like Alishan, Guanwu is one of the better forest…

  • Taiwan POW Memorial and Peace Park

    Northern Taiwan

    Only a single gatepost remains of the Kinkaseki camp where 1000 British and allied soldiers were imprisoned and forced to work in the neighbouring copper…

  • Confucius Temple

    Northern Taiwan

    First built in 1810, this is one of Taiwan's most elegant wooden structures. As with any temple, don't rush through: stand in place and tiny treasures…

  • Wulai Log Cart Museum

    Northern Taiwan

    Facing Wulai Waterfall, this snazzy little museum tells the story of Wulai's old log cart railway, which was only motorised in 1974. Prior to that,…