As far as I’m concerned, day trips from Taipei are at least as important as the core attractions of your Taipei itinerary. And I’m not saying this simply because of how much less likely torrential rain is to the south and west of the city center!
To be sure, whether you take a day trip to Taroko Gorge from Taipei or spend a weekend exploring the cultural and scenic Lion’s Head Mountains, many of Taiwan’s top things to do are within day-trip distance of Taipei. The hardest part? It many cases, it’s choosing just one or two excursions from Taipei.
Popular Day Trips from Taipei
Qingshui Cliffs
Jiufen and Keelung
Some travelers take a Keelung day trip without visiting Jiufen Old Street (or vice-versa), but since these places are relatively close to one another, I’d combine them. Visit Jiufen by day and Keelung, which is most famous for the yellow lanterns of its Night Market, once night falls. Organized travelers can also add a trip to Yehliu Geopark (home of the famous “Queen’s Head” rock formation) to this Taipei day trip, though I wouldn’t bother if the weather is rainy.
Taroko Gorge
Like Qingshui Cliffs, a Taroko Gorge day trip from Taipei is not for the faint of heart, though both look relatively close to the capital on a map. Whether you take an extended hike on one of the trails here, or simply ride the park bus to attractions like Swallow Grotto and the Shrine of the Eternal Spring, it’s a lush and mysterious escape from busy Taipei, and of the few instances I think the Taiwan travel experience is enhanced by rainy weather.
Wulai
Most travelers in search of Taiwan hot springs head to Beitou, and I have no particular problem with this town apart from its crowding. However, in addition to the fact that the natural pools along the river in Wulai are generally deserted, this town is also the perfect spot to get a taste of Taiwanese aboriginal culture, which can be somewhat impenetrable otherwise if you aren’t planning to take a road trip down Taiwan’s East Coast.
The Best Day Trip from Taipei
The most of all Taipei day trips, in my opinion, is Quanhua Temple. Accessible via a series of local buses from the Hsinchu High Speed Rail station, this is actually one of the places (or rather, an image of it) that inspired me to return to Taiwan and explore more deeply than I had the first time (which is to say, outside of Taipei and day excursions from the capital).
Want to take an overnight or even weekend trips from Taipei? This is also the spot for you. Quanhua Temple, you see, is near the end of the enchanting Lion’s Head Mountain (aka Shitoushan) tourist route, which includes a menagerie of historical towns and perhaps Taiwan’s best opportunity to experience local Hakka culture. The temple itself offers simple lodging, which includes the vegetarian food you’ve likely come to love if you’ve ever done a temple stay, either in Taiwan or at Koyasan in Japan.
The Bottom Line
Whether you take all these day trips from Taipei or just a couple, one thing is for certain: Taiwan’s capital is as enjoyable outside its city limits as it is in the shadows of Taipei 101. Walk on Taiwan’s wild side in Taroko Gorge or at the Qingshui Cliffs, or have a spiritual awakening at the mountainside Quanhua Temple. If you don’t have more days to spend in Taiwan than your time in and around Taipei, these capital-area excursions will leave you itching to return for a long trip.
Robert Schrader is a travel writer and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications such as “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” along the way. His blog, Leave Your Daily Hell, provides a mix of travel advice, destination guides and personal essays covering the more esoteric aspects of life as a traveler.
