The Perfect Holiday "Made in Taiwan"
Growing up in the 1990s, I remember many things stamped with the words 'Made in Taiwan.' That was my only impression of the country to date, so I admit I had no idea what to expect when invited to take a tour of the island nation located off the coast of China. Would it be filled with factories and look industrial? Could it be a prime holiday spot? Even as we landed after our eight-hour flight to Taipei's capital, it soon became evident that this was no concrete jungle – the island's mountainous terrain was covered by lush greenery.
A mere 36,000 square kilometers in size, the country is an eclectic mix of coastal towns, green mountains, and metropolises bursting with top shopping and tasty food. The short drive from the airport to the hotel offers eye-catching views of mountain ranges and temples.
With just a week to explore everything, we dropped our bags at the hotel and headed straight out into the hustle and bustle of Taipei's streets.
Our first destination to recover from our flight was 'Spring City Resort,' home to natural hot springs in the mountains surrounding the capital. I had images of sitting in a rocky, exposed spa in an earthy setting, so I was surprised to walk into a beautifully manicured set of pools that access the natural springs underground.
A group of middle-aged women watched our group intently – we were a bit of a novelty here as we enjoyed the hot and cold pools, each with different therapeutic benefits. After a few hours to refresh our spirits, we were off again and back down to the city center.
Little is manufactured in Taiwan anymore. However, not surprisingly, given its proximity to China, it is a thriving shopping hub. Our next stop was the Shilin Night Market in Taipei. This is a buzzing area, with stalls selling everything from vegetables to electronics.
The prices are cheap, making it the perfect destination for picking up souvenirs and all sorts of stuff. Soaking up the Shilin vibe was a real highlight of the trip. Stuffing vegetable dumplings in my mouth, I spent ages happily traipsing through stalls, buying kitsch T-shirts and some novelty shoes, and admiring the street food carts lining the streets. The rich smells were mostly enjoyable—although some were a little sickly, and the fried duck heads were not on my must-try list.
The following day, we embarked on a train ride into the wilder side of Taiwan and a two-night stay in the Alishan National Park. Just about in the center of the island, it is home to all sorts of incredible wildlife, including a vast range of native birds in an array of breathtaking colors. The park also hosts the highest mountains in Taiwan.
We stayed at the Alishan guest house, a hotel converted from a logging house in the late 1800s. It's the only commercial property within the park, and tourists head there specifically for the amazing sunrise trip.
Taiwan shares its culture with both Chinese and Japanese customs. The Japanese occupied the island in the late 1800s, and during that time, the forest was stripped of its natural red cypress trees, and railways were erected to transport the logs to the base of the mountain (for transport to Japan).
These lines are used today to shuttle passengers up the mountain, where we found ourselves in the early morning. It was 3 a.m., and we were squeezed into a train with hundreds of other tourists, all up to catch the sun.
Though I'm no morning person, there was undoubtedly something magical about the soaring views of the mountain range, with the sun slowly peeking over the top. Despite the hundreds of tourists sharing the experience with us, it still seemed serene.
While at high altitudes, we visited a local tea plantation to learn a bit about the craft.
Alishan National Park has plenty of tea plantations and one particular coffee plantation. They are all happy to educate you in their art and, of course, give you the chance to sample their wares. Then we were back on the high-speed rail, heading to Taipei to fly home, though there was one more thing to see first.
A must-do when visiting Taiwan's capital is riding the world's fastest elevator to the country's highest public point. Called 101, thanks to its 101 floors, the expansive views from this skyscraper are best enjoyed at sunset and offer 360-degree panoramas of the city.
Afterward, we popped into the restaurant in the foyer of the 101, which is a New York Times-awarded outlet. The restaurant was overwhelmingly busy, but luckily, our guide had booked us a table.
Several dim sum later, it was the perfect end to a hectic but stimulating trip. With images of industrial factories and mass-export goods firmly gone from my mind, I bid farewell to Taiwan's tropical paradise and highly recommend it as a holiday must.