Taiwan
The island's largest lake, ringed by temples and tea plantations, then a mining town with lantern-lit lanes
Taiwan
A journey through Taiwan's mountainous centre and north, far from Taipei and Taroko Gorge: Sun Moon Lake, the island's largest natural lake, ringed by Buddhist temples and hillside oolong tea plantations, then Jiufen, a former mining town clinging to the north-eastern mountains whose lantern-lit stepped lanes are said to have inspired the world of the animated film "Spirited Away."
When
March to May | Oct to Nov
Price
From 2 100€ excl. flights
(based on 2 people sharing)
How long
5 nights
Ideal length
Days 1-2
The first chapter unfolds at Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan's largest natural lake, whose name comes from its shape divided into two halves, one round like the sun and the other crescent-shaped like the moon. Wenwu Temple, dedicated to Confucius and the god of war Guan Yu, overlooks the turquoise waters from a wooded hill, while the surrounding hills rank among the island's main oolong tea-producing regions.
Day 1
A lake cruise and Wenwu Temple
A boat cruise on Sun Moon Lake, between its two symbolic shores, then a visit to Wenwu Temple, perched on a hill overlooking the turquoise waters.
Day 2
The oolong tea plantations of the hills
A visit to a hillside oolong tea plantation, a guided tasting with a local producer, with views over the lake from the terraced rows of tea bushes.
Days 1-2
The road to Jiufen, a former mining town that thrived during the gold rush at the turn of the 20th century, fell into obscurity once the mines were exhausted, then was rediscovered thanks to a Taiwanese film awarded in Venice in 1989. Its stepped lanes lined with traditional teahouses, lit in the evening by hanging red lanterns, offer a sweeping view over the north-eastern coast and are said to have partly inspired Studio Ghibli's visual world.
Day 1
The traditional teahouses at dusk
A walk through Jiufen's stepped lanes as the red lanterns light up, a stop at a traditional teahouse overlooking the north-eastern coast.
Day 2
The gold mine museum and neighbouring Jinguashi
A visit to the gold mine museum of Jinguashi, a mining village neighbouring Jiufen, discovering the history of Taiwan's gold rush and a restored mine gallery open to the public.
Other trips built in the same spirit — more to draw inspiration from.
6 nightsTaipei to Taroko
Taipei's night markets and the marble gorges of Taroko
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4 nightsTaiwan: Kenting and the Tropical South Coast
Taiwan's first national park, where coral reefs and tropical forest meet at the island's southern tip
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