Taitung
Set on a big courtyard of ornate gateways lit with massed clusters of lanterns, this is Taitung's largest temple. It's a beautifully proportioned, intensely colourful landmark, dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of the sea.
In the evening, you might see groups of people practicing swordplay in the main courtyard. It's around 1.1km northeast of the bus station. Continue northwest up Rende St and turn left then right to find an area with a scattering of surviving Japanese-style houses.
9.64 MILES
For spectacular views looking down across Dulan towards the ocean and horizon-silhouette of Green Island, you can't beat the upper balcony of this little…
22.51 MILES
Green Island's windswept northeast corner was completely out of bounds for much of the 20th century, occupied by a large prison camp. Here, political…
10.97 MILES
The area known as the Gaotai is a hill which rises fairly abruptly above Luye, surveying the surrounding green mountain ridges in all directions. For most…
29.99 MILES
The last section of Hwy 24 is a gorgeous winding highway that leads you deep into the mountains. Not for the fainthearted, some parts of the road run…
0.63 MILES
A spur line once brought trains to the centre of Taitung. That line was decommissioned in 2001 and has since been turned into an excellent cycle path. The…
Chihpen Forest Recreation Area
11.45 MILES
The core of this forest park is a 45-minute walk to a bamboo grove past a botanic garden, herb garden and a 'forest fun' area for children. Longer trails…
23.47 MILES
One of the most beautiful viewpoints on Green Island is reached by walking a 300m path along a precipitous high promontory called Little Great Wall. This…
4.05 MILES
This hi-tech and engaging if occasionally disorientating museum charts Taiwan’s geological birth and human prehistory as well as introducing the island's…
0.48 MILES
This huge expanse of estuary, scrubland and woods includes a butterfly garden, a duck-watching hide on a small lake and great lengths of cycle path: it's…
2. Taitung Railway Art Village
0.63 MILES
A spur line once brought trains to the centre of Taitung. That line was decommissioned in 2001 and has since been turned into an excellent cycle path. The…
0.66 MILES
A pleasant place to smell the sea air, this park's signature feature is known immodestly as the Taitung International Landmark (台東國際地標; Táidōng Guójì…
0.77 MILES
For sweeping views across Taitung to the ocean and, on clear days Green Island, climb to the viewing platform in this steep, wooded park. It's just ten…
3.55 MILES
If you've got an hour to wait for a train, a fine way to spend it is strolling through this landscaped park. It features a significant Neolithic site, but…
3.75 MILES
The seafront rocks within this coastal park are geological curiosities, many forming cuesta structures: angled geological sandwiches with alternating soft…
7. National Museum of Prehistory
4.05 MILES
This hi-tech and engaging if occasionally disorientating museum charts Taiwan’s geological birth and human prehistory as well as introducing the island's…
4.14 MILES
In stark contrast to the orchards and lush subtropical forest all around, this small 'geopark' is an area where gulleys and cliff sides of loose,…