8 Days Taipei Sun Moon Lake Alishan Tainan Kaohsiung Group Tour

Today we set out from the hotel and arrived at 野柳地質公園Yehliu Geopark Our first stop is Yehliu Geopark, a significant international attraction in northern Taiwan, once acclaimed by CNN as the most Mars-like place on Earth. Famous for its naturally sculpted rocks and unique geological formations, Yehliu is a must-visit spot for anyone traveling to Taiwan. Located on the North Coast and within the Guanyinshan National Scenic Area, this cape, an extension of the Datun Mountains into the sea, showcases an array of natural artistic creations formed by geological forces, sea erosion, and crustal movements. Stroll around and witness nature’s meticulous artwork, including iconic formations like the "Fairy's Shoe", mushroom rocks, erosion pillars, candle-shaped rocks, and fossil traces. Yehliu is also known as a natural geological classroom, with the world-famous "Queen's Head" being its most renowned feature.

九份老街Jiufen Village ：Travel back to the 1940s to Jiufen, a mountain village that flourished during the gold rush era. Though its golden days have passed with the closure of the gold mines, Jiufen still has many stories to tell. It gained renewed attention after being featured in the internationally acclaimed film 'A City of Sadness' directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien. Its unique old-style architecture and ambiance attracted visitors from all over the world, revitalizing it as a famous spot in Northern Taiwan. In Jiufen, besides enjoying a cup of tea and the breathtaking views, the village's old street is quite distinctive compared to others, offering various local delicacies and souvenirs. Don’t miss out on Jiufen's traditional dessert, 'Taro Balls', especially if you have a sweet tooth! At night, the narrow alleys of Jiufen Old Street are lit with lanterns, creating a romantic and enchanting atmosphere. The sunset view, with the sun dipping behind the mountains, is especially mesmerizing.

十分瀑布 Shifen Waterfall Famed as the 'Niagara Falls of Taiwan', Shifen Waterfall is renowned for its spectacular cascade and powerful spray. The mist created by the waterfall, when lit by sunlight, often forms a rainbow-like glow, making it one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Taiwan.

十分老街 (含放天燈體驗) Shifen Old Street (Sky Lantern release) Next to Shifen Station lies Shifen Old Street, uniquely built along the railway tracks, offering a rare sight of trains passing right in front of the shops. Here, you'll experience the joy of releasing sky lanterns. Write your wishes and blessings on the lantern, and with assistance from staff, watch it gently ascend, sending your hopes to the heavens.

Meals： Breakfast   

Accommodation： Taipei Hotel.

故宮博物院 National Palace Museum The next stop on your Taipei day tour is the world-famous National Palace Museum, which is also one of the world’s largest museums.With a collection of nearly 700,000 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks, the museum showcases 8,000 years of Chinese art history spanning multiple dynasties. Two of the most famous artworks on display are “the Jadeite Cabbage” and “the Meat-Shaped Stone”, which are the must-sees in National Palace Museum.

大稻埕 Dadaocheng /迪化街 Dihua Street After National Palace Museum, you will visit Dadaocheng, a nostalgic area where tradition and modernity meets. The retro cafes and stores in the streets and alleys enhance the nostalgic atmosphere, making this place become a popular destination for hipsters.

The heart of Dadaocheng is Dihua Street, once the most prosperous place in Taipei more than a hundred years ago. Even now, it is still a popular spot to shop for dried goods and herbal medicines. Every year, the Chinese New Year Street Bazaar takes place in Dihua Street, and is always crowed with people getting ready for the coming new year.

Today, the streets and alleys are lined with traditional shops, alongside with chic cafés and mini art galleries housed in the in well-preserved historical buildings, giving off a vintage vibe.

中正紀念堂Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Next, you will head off to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, an impressive monument in memory of the late President Chiang Kai-shek. Here the changing of the guard ceremony takes place every hour on the hour from 09:00 in the main hall.

In addition to the majestic main hall of the memorial, the exquisite Chinese garden around the building and the vast plaza are also worth taking a look. If you come here in the early morning, you can see some people doing Qigong there.

台北101大樓 (不含觀景台) Taipei 101

The last stop of your tour is Taipei 101 Mall, the fashion lovers’ paradise. The mall houses hundreds of fashionable stores and restaurants, along with a food court and a supermarket. From luxury brands to fast fashion retailers, from Michelin star restaurants to cheap eats, you can always find something for your there.

The famous skyscraper, Taipei 101, stands right next to the mall. It was once the tallest building in the world that reaches a height of 508 meters, towering over the skyline of Taipei. The building has 101 stories, with an observatory deck on the 89th floor, where the visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Taipei City. Not only that, it has one of the top 3 fastest elevators in the world; from the 5th to the 89th floor, it only takes 37 seconds.

You can go to the observation deck on the 89th floor at your own expense to enjoy the magnificent view of Taipei from high above and embrace the all-round excellent viewing angle.

Meals： Breakfast   

Accommodation： Taipei Hotel

北投溫泉博物館 Beitou Hot Spring Museum

Beitou Hot Spring Museum, a building from the Japanese colonial era, originally served as the Beitou Public Bathhouse. Here, you can learn about the development and history of Beitou's hot springs. This Tudor-style (British-like) two-story building mixes Western and Eastern architectural elements, with a brick-built first floor, wooden second floor, and black tiled roof. The first floor houses the brick-built large and small bath pools, including an 800-kilogram Beitou stone on display; the second floor is a wooden relaxation area with a large tatami-matted hall and a balcony, mainly exhibiting early Taiwanese film materials.

地熱谷 Geothermal Valley

Visit Geothermal Valley, one of the sources of Beitou's hot springs. The water here is clear, classified as 'Green Sulfur Springs'. The spring water is extremely hot, producing steam and sulfur vapors, creating a misty, ethereal atmosphere.

陽明山國家公園 ─ 竹子湖 (午餐自理) Zhuzihu (lunch on own arrangement)

Home to Yangmingshan’s calla lily and hydrangea, Zhuzihu is a farming area hidden away in the mountains. It was originally a lava-dammed lake created by volcanic eruptions; the geological factors and fertile soil making Zhuzihu a suitable place for farming.

Besides the seasonal flowers, Zhuzihu is also well-known for the mountain vegetable cuisine. Since you are here in Zhuzihu, don’t miss the chance to try the local specialties.

陽明山國家公園 ─ 小油坑遊憩區 Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area

After that, you will visit the most popular attraction in Yangmingshan National Park —Xiaoyoukeng (literally “little oil pit”), a post-volcanic geological landscape area.

The scenic trail around Xiaoyoukeng offers close-up views of the pit from different angles, where you can see and smell the steam coming out of the cracks, and the sulfur crystals around the fumaroles, as if you can feel the breath of a dormant volcano.

陽明山國家公園 ─ 擎天崗 Qingtiangang

Then you will visit Qingtiangang, a vast lava terrace formed when the lava flowed north after the eruption. The terrace was once a ranch for water buffaloes grazing during Japanese colonization; even today you can still see the naturally bred water buffaloes there.

Meals： Breakfast   

Accommodation： Taipei Hotel

日月潭Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake： is a beautiful high-altitude lake and the largest freshwater lake in Taiwan, situated at an elevation of 748 meters and covering an area of 116 square kilometers. The beauty of Sun Moon Lake is a harmonious blend of mountains and water, creating picturesque landscapes. The misty waters and the clear, layered mountain scenery give it a poetic and picturesque quality, earning it a reputation as one of Taiwan's top eight scenic wonders. The Sun Moon Lake Cycling Road has been recognized by CNNGO, a lifestyle and travel website under CNN, as one of the top ten most beautiful cycling routes in the world. If time allows, you can also experience the approximately 400-meter-long "Water Bicycle Path" here, offering a sensation akin to cycling on water. For quick travel around the lake, the best option is to take a lake cruise. While on the boat, you can enjoy the lakeside scenery and listen to interesting narrations by the captain, who offers insights into the local sights and history. The boats travel in a counterclockwise direction. There are three major piers at Sun Moon Lake: Shuishe Pier, Xuanguang Temple Pier, and Ita Thao Pier, with boats traveling counterclockwise (Shuishe Pier → Xuanguang Temple Pier → Ita Thao Pier → Shuishe Pier). The boat ticket is a day pass, allowing unlimited rides within a day.

Meals： Breakfast   Lunch  

Accommodation： Sun Moon Lake

阿里山森林遊樂園區 The Alishan National Forest Recreation Area: boasts five unique attractions: the Forest Railway, Divine Trees, Sea of Clouds, Sunrise, and Cherry Blossoms. It is Taiwan's most renowned and beloved forest recreation area, a shimmering emerald gem on the Alishan mountain range radiating with dazzling brilliance. Depending on individual physical strength and preferences, you can choose a different route.

Route A: Zhaoping Train Station, Sisters Pond, Four Sisters, Happiness from Golden Pig, Eternal Love, Mulan Garden, Shouzheng Temple

（You can purchase tickets on your own to take the park train or shuttle bus to Zhaoping Station. From there, you can stroll downhill to the Shouzhen Temple. After visiting, you have the option to take the park shuttle bus back to the Visitor Center or continue on to the B line.）

Route B: Shouzheng Temple, Three Generations Tree, Alishan Museum, Xiang-lin Elementary School, Ci-yun Temple, Alishan Sacred Tree

（You can buy tickets on your own to take the park shuttle bus to Shouzhen Temple. From there, enjoy a leisurely walk among the sacred tree groves. You can then take the park train from the Alishan Sacred Tree site back to Alishan Station.）

Chiayi

Chiayi is the starting point of the Alishan Forest Railway. In the past, it thrived due to the development of forestry. With an early development history, there are many historical sites in the urban area, which have become important tourist resources. In terms of local specialties, turkey rice, square pastries, Alishan almond jelly, snowflake cookies, small steamed buns, sweet potatoes, and pineapple cakes are the most well - known. Regarding cultural activities, during the Japanese colonial period, painting was the most famous, and Chiayi once had the reputation of the "City of Painting", with representatives such as Chen Cheng - po. In recent years, the Chiayi International Band Festival and the Awakening Music Festival have been the most prosperous. Chiayi City is the first and currently the only city in the country where all urban buses are fully electrified and have a low - floor design.

Meals： Breakfast   

Accommodation： Chiayi Hotel

安平古堡 Anping Old Fort

Anping Old Fort, originally built by the Dutch in 1624 as Fort Zeelandia, served as a defensive stronghold. After Zheng Chenggong captured it in 1662, it was renamed Anping Town and became a key administrative center. Over time, the fort declined due to siltation and destruction during the Qing era. Today, it stands as a historical site, with its remaining brick walls and ancient banyan trees bearing witness to nearly 400 years of history.

安平樹屋 Anping Treehouse

The Anping Treehouse, originally a 19th-century warehouse for Tait & Co., is now a unique attraction where banyan trees have overtaken the structure. The intertwining roots and dense canopy create a rare tree-building symbiosis, reminiscent of Angkor Wat's Ta Prohm. Visitors can explore the site via wooden walkways and enjoy its vibrant ecosystem of squirrels and birds.

西子灣 Xiziwan

Xiziwan is famous for its stunning sunsets, natural rock formations, and tropical beach vibes. Visitors can enjoy scenic views of Kaohsiung Harbor, explore attractions like the Former British Consulate, and admire the "Xizi Sunset," one of Kaohsiung's top eight scenic spots.

打狗領事館 The Former British Consulate at Takao

The Former British Consulate at Takao, built in 1865, is the oldest surviving Western-style building in Taiwan. Perched on a hill overlooking Kaohsiung Harbor, it once served as a consulate and trade hub. Today, it is a historical site featuring colonial architecture, stunning harbor views, and exhibitions on local history.

Meals： Breakfast   Lunch  

Accommodation： Kaohsiung

蓮池潭 Lotus Pond Scenic Area

The Lotus Pond Scenic Area in Kaohsiung is a picturesque destination known for its tranquil waters, vibrant lotus blooms, and iconic temples. Highlights include the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, Spring and Autumn Pavilions, and Confucius Temple. Visitors can enjoy scenic walks, cultural landmarks, and the serene atmosphere of this popular attraction.

佛光山佛陀紀念館 Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum

The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, located in Kaohsiung, is a grand cultural and spiritual site dedicated to Buddhism. It houses a sacred Buddha tooth relic and features a vast complex with eight pagodas, a central Buddha statue, and exhibition halls. Visitors can explore Buddhist culture, art, and architecture in a serene and majestic setting.

Your trip ends in Kaohsiung. If you need to arrange for an additional hotel or airport transfer service, please inform your travel specialist when booking the itinerary. Thank you.

Meals： Breakfast   

Accommodation： None