Taiwan: peaks, pits, and travel tips
No place is perfect but we had a good time in Taiwan
Welcome to the first ever peaks and pits! If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, here’s the gist: after each place we visit, we’ll each give our separate "peak” which is the one of the things we really loved, and our “pit” which is something we really struggled with. And because we’re two independent human beings with different priorities, we’ll each give our own peak and our own pit. Also, we’re throwing in a little extra section: surprises! Basically, anything that just really shocked us, in either a good or bad way.
This week, we’re coming off our two-episode Taiwan trip! Normally, we’ll do these for each individual country, but since we started this Substack at the end of Taiwan, we’ll just do it for the whole country.
Peaks 🏔️
Geoff
It’s all about Wen Wu Temple! I really didn’t know what to expect when Alexa suggested we stop by the temple on our way out of Sun Moon Lake, but dang did it impress. From the intricate details to the way that it just keeps going, it was a really fun place to explore. I mentioned it in the video, but it really did remind of some of my favorite video games. But also, it wasn’t just the temple, I LOVED the Year of Steps leading up to the temple. Great view at the bottom and then just a really nice and peaceful hike up to the top. Couldn’t ask for more!
Alexa
My favorite part of our road trip was making it to the southern point of Taiwan. We stayed in Kenting for a few days and I loved seeing the beautiful blue water (seriously the most vibrant blue water I’ve ever seen). We hiked in the national park where we got to see monkeys, explore caves, and have lunch at the observation deck. I wish the weather was a bit warmer so we would have been able to swim in the ocean!
Pits 🕳️
Geoff
Oddly enough, even though Wen Wu Temple AT Sun Moon Lake was my peak, the entire area of Sun Moon Lake was kind of my pit. It was a nice enough lake, but it just felt a bit too manufactured for my liking. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and place for everything, but this just wasn’t what I expected. Admittedly, had we done Wen Wu Temple while we were staying at Sun Moon Lake, rather than on our way out, it might have painted the brief stay a little differently.
Alexa
I wish we would have been able to explore Taroko Gorge but due to a large earthquake and several typhoons in 2024 most the gorge is closed. We were able to make it to the visitor center but all the hikes and scenic roads were closed. I think it would be fun to visit again in a few years when things reopen!
Travel Tips 🗺️
Geoff
Go to the east side of the island! Specifically Hualien is a great little city that is really down on its luck right now with the recent earthquake and typhoons. From there you can use it as a base and explore so much of the east coast including Taroko Gorge whenever it reopens. This side of Taiwan is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been and it reminded me so much of the southern Oregon coast. If you don’t want to rent a car (which is not that hard, see Alexa’s tip below), there is a train that runs through it as well, though I’m unsure just how coastal or inland you can get with it.
Alexa
Renting a car is easy and totally worth it while in Taiwan. We used Klook to rent a car and it was an easy process. Once we got the car there was a bit of a learning curve navigating but once we got out of Taipei it was fine. Having a car made it possible to drive around the entire country and make random stops throughout the journey!
Surprises 🤯
Geoff
Tunnels. Tunnels everywhere! I’ve never been to a country with so many tunnels. I’d imagine maybe Switzerland has a similar amount. Still, the sheer number and length of these tunnels was intense. There must have been one or two where we were just driving underground for a solid 15-20 minutes. In a country as prone to earthquakes as Taiwan, that can be a little discomforting.
Alexa
I had no idea there were so many caves in Taiwan. We found the most caves to explore in Kenting. My favorite cave was the Fairy Light Cave in Kenting National Park because of how much there was to see and the fairy lights made it feel so whimsical. Many of the caves in this area have uplifted coral reef which was also so cool to see up close.
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Have you ever been to Taiwan? What was your experience like?