Taiwan in 9 days: Cingjing, Kaohsiung and Taipei

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This route goes from cool mountain farms to a harbour city and back to Taipei, using Taiwan's high-speed rail for the long legs. Highlights are Cingjing in the Nantou mountains, Kaohsiung's old fort and Cijin beach, then Wulai and Yangmingshan around Taipei. Treat it as a starting point and adjust the nights to suit you.

Photos are my own, taken on earlier visits, and are for illustration. Check current opening hours, transport and prices before you go.

The route

Taichung (1 night)

Day 1. Land at Taoyuan, take the airport MRT one stop to Taoyuan HSR station and the high-speed train to Taichung. Spend the evening at Fengjia Night Market, one of Taiwan's biggest.

If you land early, take a bus or taxi to Gaomei Wetlands on the coast west of Taichung for sunset over the tidal flats and their line of wind turbines.

Cingjing (2 nights)

Day 2. Morning bus up to Cingjing. The air is cool and the farm's green meadows, gazebos and sheep pastures are a complete change from the lowlands.

Photo: Jaimes Tan

Day 3. Walk the Cingjing Skywalk in the morning and catch the sheep-herding show. In the late afternoon, find a west-facing spot for sunset over the mountains. With a car or a tour, Hehuanshan (over 3,000 m) is a short drive higher up.

Photo: Jaimes Tan

Side trip: Sun Moon Lake. About an hour by bus from Cingjing or Puli. Cycle part of the lakeshore path, take the boat between the piers, and climb to Wenwu Temple for the view over the water.

Photo: Jaimes Tan

Evenings are cold at this altitude, even when the lowlands are warm. Bring a jacket.

Kaohsiung (2 nights)

Day 4. Down to Taichung and south by high-speed rail. In the evening, walk the Love River or eat at Ruifeng Night Market.

Day 5, Cihou Fort and Cijin. Take the five-minute ferry from Gushan to Cijin island. Climb to Cihou Fort and the lighthouse for views over the harbour mouth and the city, then walk down to Cijin's dark-sand beach and the seafood street.

Photo: Jaimes Tan

Taipei (3 nights)

Day 6. High-speed rail to Taipei. Evening at Shilin or Raohe Night Market.

Day 7, Wulai. MRT to Xindian, then the bus up to Wulai, an Atayal village with hot springs. Ride the little trolley to the 80-metre Wulai Waterfall.

Day 8, Yangmingshan. Bus up from Shilin or Jiantan to Yangmingshan National Park. Xiaoyoukeng has steaming fumaroles along an easy path. Stay into the evening for the view of Taipei and Taipei 101 lit up below.

Photo: Jaimes Tan

Day 9. Fly home from Taoyuan.

Have more time? Add the east coast

With four or five more days, take the train from Taipei down Taiwan's Pacific coast to Hualien and Taitung for sea cliffs, quiet beaches and hot springs. See the east coast itinerary.

Before you go

• Entry: visa-free for up to 30 days. Fill in the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) online on the day you arrive or up to two days before.
• EasyCard: buy one at the airport. It pays for the MRT, buses, and convenience stores.
• High-speed rail: book on the THSR app or website; non-reserved cars are cheaper but can be full at weekends.
• Weather: mountain weather changes fast. Yangmingshan and Wulai are often misty and wet, so bring a light raincoat.

Questions people ask

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