The Other Side of Taiwan

Filed in archive Hidden Gems on December 3, 2007

Taipei is Taiwan's showcase city. It's museums house impressive collections of art, both old and new. Tea plantations and hot springs are a mere hour from downtown via bus, faster by taxi. It boasts all the excitement and opportunity of a large city.

But Taipei is not the only place to visit in Taiwan.

Taiwanese travel agents are trying to package other destinations together, especially those on the southern part of the island. Some would-be travel hot spots include: Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Sun Moon Lake.

Silk Air, the regional airline owned by giant aviation giant singapore airlines, is planning direct flights into Kaohsiung from international destinations like Singapore and Hong Kong.

Kaohsiung is doing its best to get off the sidelines.

Kaohsiung City Government had sent a proposal to the central government for a casino project. There are also confirmed plans to build a cable car system connecting Qi Jin Island to the mainland within the next two years. Passengers will be able to enjoy great scenery, as the cable car will pass through forested areas. There are also plans to introduce gondolas on Kaohsiung's Love River.

Aside from that, Kaohsiung is home to many famous schools and the best seafood in Taiwan.

Nearby Tainan has an old quarter that is imbued with a deep history. Its proximity to Kaohsiung makes it an obvious choice for a day trip for visitors to the southern part of the island.

Sun Moon Lake is a ruggedly beautiful body of water inland from Kaohsiung. It is popular with domestic tourists looking to escape to Taiwan beautiful and mountainous interior.