Taiwan Highlight Tour

Day 1

Place & Transport: Arrive in , Flight not included
Today's Activities: 8-day Tauwan Highlight Tour

Day 2

Place & Transport: to Taizhong
Today's Activities: Our guide and driver will escort you from to Taizhong, Sun Moon Lake, Puli Town
Meals: Breakfast

- Sun Moon Lake: Located 748 m (2,454 ft) above sea level, Sun Moon Lake is 27 m (89 ft) deep and has a surface area of approximately 7.93 km2 (3.06 sq mi). Yuchi Village where the lake is situated is a famous tourist destination. The lake is home to the Thao tribe, one of aboriginal tribes in Taiwan. Lalu Island in the middle of the lake, divides the water into two parts, the south part shaped like the moon while the northern part looks like the sun. This is where the name originates. The major sites of this area are Lalu Island, Jioulongkou, Wenwu Temple, Ci En Pagoda, Syuentzang Temple, Syuanguang Temple, Peacock Garden and Yida Tribe. Around the lake, there are many hiking trails and people can take a boat ride in the lake. While swimming is not allowed, an annual 3-km race called the Swimming Carnival is a highlight for Mid-Autumn Festival.
- Puli Town: Puli Town is located in the northern part Nantou County, the geological center of Taiwan. The small town has a lot to offer: temples, churches, sugarcane fields, countryside hiking trails and mountains. One of the most popular temples is Chungtai Chan Temple, which as over 80 other temples in Taiwan. Just outside the town is Taomi Village, where a church made of paper (Taomi Paper Church) is a site to remember. Heading to Liyu Lake (Carp Lake), you will find some pleasant trails that are just ideal for a day in nature. Puli Town is also foodies' favorite for its fresh and organic products, Shaoxing liquor, Alianthus Prickly Ash Cookies and Puli Rice Flour Noodles are the town’s specialties.

Day 3

Place & Transport: Taizhong to
Today's Activities: Our guide and driver will escort you from Taizhong to , Mazu(Goddess of Sea) Temple in Changhua, Pakua Mountain, Lukang Historic Area
Meals: Breakfast

- Mazu(Goddess of Sea) Temple in Changhua: It is located in Nanyaoli in Changhua, by which the first Taiwan Provincial Highway passes.Mazu(Goddess of Sea) Temple is a saint place where Mazu ,who is regarded as the Saint Goddess of Sea, is worshipped greatly by her followers.
- Pakua Mountain: Located in northeast of Changhwa County, Pakua Mountain is a primary spiritual center for the locals and famous among Buddhists and tourists alike. The most impressive site on the mountain is the Giant Buddha, which rises 7.2ft. The temple located there has a ground floor which is the shrine and the 2nd to 5th floor house important scriptures that tell the life story of the Buddha; the top of the statue offers a panoramic view of Changhwa City. Hiking trails around the mountain can be a good choice for a leisurely day trip.
- Lukang Historic Area: Lukang Town is located in Changhwa County. Lukang means Harbor of Deer, used to be an important trading port during the Qing Dynasty. Despite its small size and population, the town has a long history and is noted for remarkably well-preserved ancient architecture such as Tien Hou Temple, Long Shan Temple, and City God Temple. The Folk Culture Museum has an interesting collection of antiques, clothes, furniture, musical instruments and pottery. A trip to Lukang Historic Area is full of history and cultural interests.

Day 4

Place & Transport: to Gaoxiong
Today's Activities: Our guide and driver will escort you from to Gaoxiong, Anping Fort, Chih-Kan Tower, Eternal Golden Castle, Fo Kuang Shan Mountain
Meals: Breakfast

- Anping Fort: Anping Fort, aka Fort Zeelandia, is located in Anping Town. During the 17th century, Europeans poured into Asia for trading. Anping Town was chosen by the Dutch for its ideal strategic location as a sandy peninsula off the main coast. On 30th April 1661, General Zheng Chenggong won a battle against the Dutch with a loss of 1,600 Dutch lives and returned Anping Fort to the authority of Ming China. Nowadays, ruins of fortress are rarely seen but the history remains and is part of the as the town’s attraction. Zeelandia Museum provides an informative insight of the region’s history and culture.
- Chih-Kan Tower: Chih-Kan Tower (aka Chih-kan Lou, Fort Provintia or Chamber of Red Hill) was built by the Dutch in 1653 during their colonial period. It was a typical European-style building functioning as the island's center but it was torn down late in the Qing Dynasty. It was rebuilt it as a shrine to the Ocean God in a classical Chinese style with red tiles and cornices and this is the exterior of the present day structure.
- Eternal Golden Castle: Eternal Golden Castle (also known as Yi Tzai Golden Castle or Eternal Fortress) is located at the southern end of Anping Town. It used to be the most important military installation during the Qing Dynasty and had Taiwan’s first Western-style cannon.
- Fo Kuang Shan Mountain: Meaning Buddha's Light Mountain, Fo Kuang Shan is located in Dashu Township of Kaohsiung. The mountain is the largest and most influential religious center in Taiwan for Buddhists. There are a giant Buddha statue, a main temple, monastery, nunnery and Buddhism university and other facilities. Fo Kuang Shan, the most famous Buddhist sacred place of southern Taiwan. Here you will learn about Buddhism during the monastery walking tour, and there will be chance to taste Buddhist vegetarian lunch (at your own cost) and communicate with some of the monks, nuns during the visit to the Main Shrine, Great Buddha Land where you will find a huge Buddha statue.

Day 5

Place & Transport: Gaoxiong to Hualien
Today's Activities: Our guide and driver will escort you from Gaoxiong to Hualien, Former British Consulate, Spring & Autumn Pavilions, Sizih Bay
Meals: Breakfast

- Former British Consulate : The Former British Consulate is one of Kaohsiung's most famous historical sites, located in Gushan Township of Kaohsiung City. It was built in 1865 when the Treaty of Peking forced the Qing government of Formosa (present-day Taiwan) to open up the ports of Takao (present-day Kaohsiung). The building now serves as a museum which has an abundance historical material and models.
- Spring & Autumn Pavilions : As a must-see attraction in Kaohsiung City, the Spring & Autumn Pavilions reflect the rich Taoism culture. Located in Zuoying Township, it is a part of the famous Lotus Lake Scenic Area. The twin pavilions, Spring Pavilion and Autumn Pavilion are built on elegant Chinese palace-style. The Martial Saint, Lord Kuan (aka Kuan Yu) is worshipped here. Around the twin pavilions, you can find vendors selling local snacks and handicrafts. It is a nice place for an easy stroll.
- Sizih Bay: Sizih Bay Scenic Area is a very popular place in Kaohsiung. At the western corner of the city, Sizih Bay Scenic Area is faces Chichin Island at the south and lies at the foot of Wanshou Mountain. The sandy beach and clear water offer a cool break during summertime. Sunrise and sunset are the pretty on the bay, especially when enjoyed on a relaxing boat ride.

Day 6

Place & Transport: Hualien to Taipei
Today's Activities: Our guide and driver will escort you from Hualien to Taipei, Taroko National Park, Chi Hsing Tan Beach
Meals: Breakfast

- Taroko National Park: Spanning Taichung City, Nantou County, and Hualien County, Taroko National Park is one of the most famous national parks in Taiwan. The park is located in Xiulin Village of Hualien County. Main sites of the park include Tunnel of Nine Turns, Eternal Spring Shrine, Swallow Grotto, Jinheng Park, the Bridge of the Kind Mother, Tiansiang, Jhueilu Precipic, Lioufang Bridge, Hill of Yu the Great, Buluowan and several scenic hiking trails.
The parks resources provide opportunities for mountain climbing, cloud sea watching, hiking, caving, cycling and photography. Depending on the season, Taroko offers different experiences: Spring is a great time to see the flowers, especially peach blossom and cherry blossom. Visitors go caving and hiking during summer. The frosts of fall are also amazing; even though it does not snow often in Taiwan it may be possible see snow on Hehuan Mountain Range during winter.
- Chi Hsing Tan Beach: Chi Hsing Tan Beach (aka Seven Star Beach) is a moon-shaped bay located at the northeast corner of Hualien City. The sandy bay is a peaceful place where you can just lay on the beach, listen to the sound of the ocean or stroll around.

Day 7

Place & Transport: Taipei
Today's Activities: Wild Willow Cape, Jiufen Old Town, Keelung Harbor, Yin Yang Sea
Meals: Breakfast

- Wild Willow Cape: It is located by Wild Willow Village at Wanli town in Taipei County. Wild Willow Cape is the cape which extends to the sea from Datun Mountain System.Around Wild Willow Cape, there are many beautiful and charming scenic spots which are developed through weathering. When it is ebbed there will be many colorful shells and sea hedgehogs which are framed with cannas, mescals and other coastal plants. So a natural coastal park is developed around Wild Willow Cape. Now it is one of the most famous twelve scenic spots in Taiwan.
- Jiufen Old Town: Once a prosperous gold mining town till 1950's, Jiufen Old Town is a famous historic site located in the north part of Taiwan, just a 15-minute bus ride from Taipei. This mountainside old town is humble yet charming: crowded streets lined up with food stalls, handicraft shops and souvenir stores, teahouses serving fresh local cuisine and amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and mountains. Here, you can stroll on the Historic Commercial District, visit Songde Park or learn some mining history at the Wufan Tunnel. Hiking trip to the Keelung Mountain is a nice option, too.
- Keelung Harbor: Keelung Harbor, aka the Port of Keelung, is located in the seashore of Keelung City, Keelung County of north Taiwan. After Tamsui Port was open by the Treaties of Tianjin in 1860, Keelung was the next in the following year. Before Kaohsiung Harbor, it used to be the largest port of Taiwan in the middle 20th century. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the harbor boasts for throughput capacity of 40 million per year.
- Yin Yang Sea: On the way from Taipei to Keelung, Yin Yang Sea is an impressive site that is worthy a stop-by. Yin Yang is the concept of Taoism, which fits the feature of the sea: the blue sea is mixed with the underground water that dissolves the minerals from the ore deposit, resulting in two contrast colors on the surface: blue and yellow.

Day 8

Place & Transport: Depart Taipei, Flight not included
Meals: Breakfast