I'll be going to Taiwan on a solo trip this August for 3.5 weeks, is there anything I should absolutely see or be aware of? Thanks in advance!

Xiao long bao and beef noodle soup! Also try foods out at the markets.

Din Tai Fung Restaurant is where you will find xiao long bao.

This
The food is amazing!!

Do not miss this place.

Thanks

Following for a trip in November.

Me too!

Me as well

How about food for pescetarians/vegetarians?

Many Taiwanese people are vegetarians so it shouldn't be too hard to find. However menus in English and English speaking restaurant staff, especially outside of Taipei, are NOT easy to find (your pointing skills will get a workout) so you may want to take a small note in Mandarin stating your dietary restrictions. Just use Google translate and then print it out to show when you order.

Yup, what Pam said. I have lots of family in Taipei and they are all vegetarians so tons of options. I don't speak Mandarin but it's super easy to just point!

Thank you!!

You will have no problem finding yummy vegetarian foods in Taiwan for sure. I myself is one and Taiwan is a heaven for us vegetarians! Here are some restaurants in Taipei which may be a little higher priced but still affordable. Feel free to pm me for any translation or questions in general! Would love to help.
https://drive.google.com/open...
GOOGLE.COM
台北素食 - Google My Maps

Baisha beach was gorgeous and well worth a day of lounging. Taitung was a lovely city. The music village and hang gliding which takes off from the tea plantations above the city were amazing!

Thanks

A few general tips: It will be VERY hot and humid in August so be prepared for this. Bring good shoes for walking (the streets are very uneven and not clean). Bring or buy a small umbrella as there will be a torrential thunderstorm every afternoon. When you arrive buy some small packs of tissue and hand sanitizer at a convenience store because many bathrooms don't have TP or soap. It's a very safe place to travel as a single female!!

What part of Taiwan did you go to? I was in Taipei twice and I found it to be as clean as Vancouver! I've been all over China, and it's definitely the cleanest Asian city I've visited.

Tina We lived in Taipei for two years and travelled all over the Island. The main tourist areas are definitely clean and have sidewalks, but any of the neighbourhoods are not the same. I wouldn't walk around in flip flops!

Pam lol. Yes, that’s true: flip flops are a no go in any part of Asia!

Thanks!!

Tina Yeah, I found it very clean as well (but not as spotless as Singapore). I think flip-flops are a no-go anywhere you travel. One stubbed toe, or a twisted ankle, can ruin your whole trip.

Get a pre paid cell phone right at the airport for the time you are there.
Very inexpensive, they set it up for you!

There's free wifi almost everywhere in Taipei.

Kenting in the south is nice too, nice beaches.
Take the bullet train and than the bus.

Thanks!!

Been to Taipei twice. If you'll be making your way there, you must go to all the night markets and the Taipei zoo (if you're ok with going to zoos). Take the subway (the cleanest subway i've ever been on, and I've been to Japan). The subway is also super convenient and very easy to navigate (I only speak English and Cantonese - no Mandarin - and it was super easy for me). Also Taipei 101 and the entire area around Taipei 101 is very neat. Taipei is definitely one of the cleanest cities I've ever been to (even compared to Vancouver!).

Thanks!!

Agree about subway and city in general but do get out to the countryside, up into the mountains and to the east coast. Train travel was also easy.

One thing to note is you’re not allowed to eat on the subway (which is probably why it’s so clean). I forgot when I was back and was politely reminded by another passenger

I live over in Taichung with my wife which is 3.0 hours away by bus and 1.5 hours away by Taiwan High Speed Rail that covers whole island. Taichung is 2nd largest city in Taiwan. Near Taipei, you should visit end of Red Line subway to last stop of Tamsui on the water. In Nantou County, you should see Sun Moon Lake and Xitou Forest. My wife has been trying to get us to Kenting, Hualien, and Penghu Island. The veggies and fruit are to die for here and very easy to be a vegan. There are unique vegetables and fruit you never see in North America even from T&T in Vancouver. All of the Asian cuisines are excellent including Korean, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Malaysian. The seafood is very fresh and excellent here too. The healthiest way to eat vegetables is either steamed or in a hot pot soup broth which can be mild or spicy. There are great restaurants in the major department stores too like Sogo and Mitsukoshi. Not all stores or restaurants take credit and debit cards, so you will need to convert some money. My first visit was a July/August and the prior warning about hot was accurate. Taipei was at 38C and Taichung was at 36C in last day or two. This is a very safe country with friendly people and most will assist even if their English is limited. Have fun!!!

Thank you so much

If you like whiskey go check out kavalan distilling, word class whiskey and they do really cool blending workshops where you can blend your own bottle to take home

Thanks!!

Taroko NP is a must
and note your Canadian debit card will not work..teller nor atm

I'm pretty sure the ones that say "plus", which I think is most of them, will work if you just want to withdraw cash. I use it every year when I go back and run out of cash lol

Patty never worked for us even with plus designation...multiple big banks there had their tellers told us can/us bank cards are not accepted island-wide
and if you’re exchanging from cad/usd cash it has to be the latest with security strip
I would try to bring as much ntd as you can from Vancouver

That's fair, I've noticed that my Canadian credit card won't work with certain stores, but my debit card always worked for me if I needed extra cash. Definitely try and bring enough with you! You WILL shop!

I only have a debit...I'll have to look into this, that would be a predicament
thanks!

If you have any American dollars, you can bring them with you too, as only the Bank of Taiwan will (and not always) exchange Canadian dollars, whereas USD is accepted in more major banks.
Feel free to send me a PM if you have any other questions, I'm from Taiwan and always love helping others get to know my country!

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that!

Try to exchange more $$ from here. We were there in 2014 and we went to the banks in Taipei - the most they will exchange at once was about $1k or 2k and you need passport ID. They are strict with money exchange over there. Not sure if things have changed tho.

Take a day trip to Jiufen!

Keep all your receipts, you might win the lottery!

I've heard this....what does it mean

Try the Pepper Bun, they are amazing. Just look for the line-up at the Raohe Night Market, near Taipei Main Station, etc. Stay at Bouti Capsule Hostel. Dimsum at the cheapest Michelin Star restaurant you'll ever find, Din Tai Fung at Taipei 101.

Thanks

yes, must go to the Night Markets there, lots to eat!

Eight Arches bridge was pretty neat! We made a road trip around the island last year. So fun! Eat all the foods!

Ben Lee

I like ping tung city

Solo trip? Must ride the millennium falcon.

Go to all the night markets.
Taipei:
At the Shilin Night Market in Tapei, go to Funky Fresh. Very cool hole-in-the-wall type bar. If Tina is working tell her Paul sent you.
Longshan Temple
National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
National Palace Museum
Din Tai Fung - Go to the original if you really want, or the one underneath Taipei 101
Tainan - tons of great markets and streets with local food carts/restaurants. Not overly touristy, which makes it great. Great nigh markets here. Go to Fun Cafe for the best coffee.
Kaohsiung - Also great night markets. Check out the Lotus Pond / Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. Down by the water there is an artsy district with a lot of stuff to see/do.
Taiwan is a great place. Very safe and easy to get around. Definitely use the buses and subway to get around if you can, although taxis are relatively cheap and I never had an issue taking them.

Thanks so much, this is great!

The best night market in Taichung is near Feng Chia University

http://www.wistariateahouse.com/.../MySpace/index.php...
My favorite place in Taipei.
Experience a piece of history. It used to be a house hosting debates among the intellects when democracy was taking root in Taiwan.
Also learn traditional tea brewing techniques from the staff.
Or even just being a book and sit for couple hours.
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If you can, visit Hualien. It's beautiful and the place has just recovered from earthquake. Tourist means a lot to this town in recovery.
WISTARIATEAHOUSE.COM
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Thank you

I just came back from Kaohsiung where was freaking hot and I couldn't enjoy it. Be prepared the heat.

https://www.misstamchiak.com/jiu-fen-old-street/
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JiuFen Old Street (九份老街): You Need to Visit This Amazing Place!