4 Days City of Lights Taipei

Today we set out from the hotel and arrived at 野柳地質公園Yehliu Geopark Our first stop is Yehliu Geopark, a significant international attraction in northern Taiwan, once acclaimed by CNN as the most Mars-like place on Earth. Famous for its naturally sculpted rocks and unique geological formations, Yehliu is a must-visit spot for anyone traveling to Taiwan. Located on the North Coast and within the Guanyinshan National Scenic Area, this cape, an extension of the Datun Mountains into the sea, showcases an array of natural artistic creations formed by geological forces, sea erosion, and crustal movements. Stroll around and witness nature’s meticulous artwork, including iconic formations like the "Fairy's Shoe", mushroom rocks, erosion pillars, candle-shaped rocks, and fossil traces. Yehliu is also known as a natural geological classroom, with the world-famous "Queen's Head" being its most renowned feature.

九份老街Jiufen Village ：Travel back to the 1940s to Jiufen, a mountain village that flourished during the gold rush era. Though its golden days have passed with the closure of the gold mines, Jiufen still has many stories to tell. It gained renewed attention after being featured in the internationally acclaimed film 'A City of Sadness' directed by Hou Hsiao-Hsien. Its unique old-style architecture and ambiance attracted visitors from all over the world, revitalizing it as a famous spot in Northern Taiwan. In Jiufen, besides enjoying a cup of tea and the breathtaking views, the village's old street is quite distinctive compared to others, offering various local delicacies and souvenirs. Don’t miss out on Jiufen's traditional dessert, 'Taro Balls', especially if you have a sweet tooth! At night, the narrow alleys of Jiufen Old Street are lit with lanterns, creating a romantic and enchanting atmosphere. The sunset view, with the sun dipping behind the mountains, is especially mesmerizing.

十分瀑布 Shifen Waterfall Famed as the 'Niagara Falls of Taiwan', Shifen Waterfall is renowned for its spectacular cascade and powerful spray. The mist created by the waterfall, when lit by sunlight, often forms a rainbow-like glow, making it one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Taiwan.

十分老街 (含放天燈體驗) Shifen Old Street (Sky Lantern release) Next to Shifen Station lies Shifen Old Street, uniquely built along the railway tracks, offering a rare sight of trains passing right in front of the shops. Here, you'll experience the joy of releasing sky lanterns. Write your wishes and blessings on the lantern, and with assistance from staff, watch it gently ascend, sending your hopes to the heavens.

Meals： Breakfast   

Accommodation： Taipei Hotel

故宮博物院 National Palace Museum The next stop on your Taipei day tour is the world-famous National Palace Museum, which is also one of the world’s largest museums.With a collection of nearly 700,000 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks, the museum showcases 8,000 years of Chinese art history spanning multiple dynasties. Two of the most famous artworks on display are “the Jadeite Cabbage” and “the Meat-Shaped Stone”, which are the must-sees in National Palace Museum.

大稻埕 Dadaocheng /迪化街 Dihua Street After National Palace Museum, you will visit Dadaocheng, a nostalgic area where tradition and modernity meets. The retro cafes and stores in the streets and alleys enhance the nostalgic atmosphere, making this place become a popular destination for hipsters.

The heart of Dadaocheng is Dihua Street, once the most prosperous place in Taipei more than a hundred years ago. Even now, it is still a popular spot to shop for dried goods and herbal medicines. Every year, the Chinese New Year Street Bazaar takes place in Dihua Street, and is always crowed with people getting ready for the coming new year.

Today, the streets and alleys are lined with traditional shops, alongside with chic cafés and mini art galleries housed in the in well-preserved historical buildings, giving off a vintage vibe.

中正紀念堂Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Next, you will head off to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, an impressive monument in memory of the late President Chiang Kai-shek. Here the changing of the guard ceremony takes place every hour on the hour from 09:00 in the main hall.

In addition to the majestic main hall of the memorial, the exquisite Chinese garden around the building and the vast plaza are also worth taking a look. If you come here in the early morning, you can see some people doing Qigong there.

台北101大樓 (不含觀景台) Taipei 101

The last stop of your tour is Taipei 101 Mall, the fashion lovers’ paradise. The mall houses hundreds of fashionable stores and restaurants, along with a food court and a supermarket. From luxury brands to fast fashion retailers, from Michelin star restaurants to cheap eats, you can always find something for your there.

The famous skyscraper, Taipei 101, stands right next to the mall. It was once the tallest building in the world that reaches a height of 508 meters, towering over the skyline of Taipei. The building has 101 stories, with an observatory deck on the 89th floor, where the visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Taipei City. Not only that, it has one of the top 3 fastest elevators in the world; from the 5th to the 89th floor, it only takes 37 seconds.

You can go to the observation deck on the 89th floor at your own expense to enjoy the magnificent view of Taipei from high above and embrace the all-round excellent viewing angle.

Meals： Breakfast   

Accommodation： Taipei Hotel

北投溫泉博物館 Beitou Hot Spring Museum

Beitou Hot Spring Museum, a building from the Japanese colonial era, originally served as the Beitou Public Bathhouse. Here, you can learn about the development and history of Beitou's hot springs. This Tudor-style (British-like) two-story building mixes Western and Eastern architectural elements, with a brick-built first floor, wooden second floor, and black tiled roof. The first floor houses the brick-built large and small bath pools, including an 800-kilogram Beitou stone on display; the second floor is a wooden relaxation area with a large tatami-matted hall and a balcony, mainly exhibiting early Taiwanese film materials.

地熱谷 Geothermal Valley

Visit Geothermal Valley, one of the sources of Beitou's hot springs. The water here is clear, classified as 'Green Sulfur Springs'. The spring water is extremely hot, producing steam and sulfur vapors, creating a misty, ethereal atmosphere.

陽明山國家公園 ─ 竹子湖 (午餐自理) Zhuzihu (lunch on own arrangement)

Home to Yangmingshan’s calla lily and hydrangea, Zhuzihu is a farming area hidden away in the mountains. It was originally a lava-dammed lake created by volcanic eruptions; the geological factors and fertile soil making Zhuzihu a suitable place for farming.

Besides the seasonal flowers, Zhuzihu is also well-known for the mountain vegetable cuisine. Since you are here in Zhuzihu, don’t miss the chance to try the local specialties.

陽明山國家公園 ─ 小油坑遊憩區 Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area

After that, you will visit the most popular attraction in Yangmingshan National Park —Xiaoyoukeng (literally “little oil pit”), a post-volcanic geological landscape area.

The scenic trail around Xiaoyoukeng offers close-up views of the pit from different angles, where you can see and smell the steam coming out of the cracks, and the sulfur crystals around the fumaroles, as if you can feel the breath of a dormant volcano.

陽明山國家公園 ─ 擎天崗 Qingtiangang

Then you will visit Qingtiangang, a vast lava terrace formed when the lava flowed north after the eruption. The terrace was once a ranch for water buffaloes grazing during Japanese colonization; even today you can still see the naturally bred water buffaloes there.

Your trip ends in Taipei. If you need to arrange for an additional hotel or airport transfer service, please inform your travel specialist when booking the itinerary. Thank you.

Meals： Breakfast   

Accommodation： None