-Guest writer Tony Conboy III shares tips for a kid-friendly Taiwan vacation.
Also known as Formosa, Republic of China, or Chinese Taipei, the island of Taiwan has many surprises for families that visit. For the family looking for a safe destination -- an increasingly important attribute in today's world-- a Taiwan vacation is a unique choice.
Taiwan Vacation: Background
To many, Taiwan is a far-off little-known country famous only for the various products it manufactures. Its tourism attractions are unfamiliar especially when compared to its much larger neighbor, China. (Taiwan is less than 100 miles off the coast of China in the Pacific Ocean. It is a fervent US ally with a strong history of cooperation with the United States.)
A family visit to Taiwan will provide all the exotic thrills of an Asian destination with the comfort of all of the amenities sought by most. For example, dinner can be a mundane American chain restaurant or it can be some of the best seafood in the Pacific from a independently owned Taiwanese restaurant. (Taiwan is so proud of its food choices, it hosts a huge gourmet food exhibition each year.)
The country is a contrast from what it is perceived to be (- the hustle and bustle of a modern economic powerhouse), to what you often don't hear of: natural beauty, complete with magnificent mountains, waterfalls and views of nature.
Taiwan Vacation: Main Attractions
Taipei 101 Tower
Starting with the obvious, the last two decades have been very good to Taiwan. Taipei, its capital, is a monster-sized city; but it is still clean, safe and easy to get around. The top tourist attraction and the most visible is the Taipei 101 tower (-click to see photo, above.) With 89 stories stretching 1671 feet high into the air, the tower hosts offices, financial institutions and virtually every luxury shop on the planet.
Taipei 101 also makes the claim of being one of the tallest buildings in the world. An observation deck on the 89th floor features multilingual tours and allows for panoramic views of the Taipei area. Its elevators are recognized as the fastest in the world - taking you to the top in an amazing 39 seconds. Children will be amazed by the elevator ride, complete with lighting on the ceiling to simulate a nighttime sky, as well as the views from the top of the building.
More in Taipei
For culture, the National Palace Museum, located in a Taipei suburb, holds a world class collection of antiquities, paintings and calligraphic works. For Taiwanese children it is the equivalent of America's Smithsonian; busloads of children visit daily. Some of the more famous pieces are artifacts from the Sung, Yuan, Ming and Ch'ing dynasties. All told, the museum includes over 600,000 pieces and is well worth the cost of admission.
Even if you don't like to shop, don't miss a visit to the Taipei Night Market. A first time visitor to Asia will be wowed by the market's sights and sounds. In alley after alley, people are shoulder to shoulder with virtually no room to spare. Shopkeepers often use bright signs and loud music in an attempt to lure the shoppers into their small open air stores to buy their wares - which include everything from snakes to bubble tea, a local favorite beverage.
Fast Ride Out of Town
When you want to leave the capital to see Taiwan's more natural side, you can either drive or take Taiwan's bullet train, which locals call HSR (High Speed Rail). HSR is a futuristic looking train which resembles Disney's monorail system. For most Americans, HSR will be an attraction as well as a mode of transportation. (Click on "More Images", above.) The HSR was immaculately clean and safe as well.
If you plan on leaving the capital in a more mundane fashion, by car or bus, modern roadways often feature tunnels that stretch for miles and miles under and through the many surrounding mountains.
Magnificent Nature
One such road is the 5 freeway that leads to Provincial Route 9. The route snakes along the rocky and rugged Pacific coast providing for postcard quality views. Near the port city of Hualien City, you can jut inland to Taroko National Park, which is one of many of the country's top parks that are free to visit.
Taroko was magnificent and was unlike anything I had ever seen. Limestone and marble gorges make for spectacular views throughout the National Park. The park provides publications in English detailing its many named trails; the majority of trails are easy to walk for visitors of all ages, from kids to grandparents.
The Liushuei-Heliu Trail is one of the most memorable. Complete with a suspension bridge over a river, a trail along an intimidating cliff and a light-less tunnel cut into the side of a mountain, the trail provides for spectacular views and an increased heart rate for the faint of heart. It also provides a great opportunity to see native vegetation as you walk the primitive trail.
How to get to Taiwan: China Airlines flies from the east and west coasts of the United States to Taiwan. For more information, contact the Taiwan Tourism Bureau: www.go2taiwain.net.
Tony Conboy III is a freelance writer who visited Taiwan as a guest of the Taiwanese Tourism Authority.
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