See the True Taiwan: an insiders guide

Yeliu 野柳 is a small town located north of Keelung 基隆 which is home to the Yeliu Geopark, a narrow strip of rock which juts out into the ocean. In addition to the park there is a Sea-World-like dolphin show and a string of restaurants which seem hell bent of having tourists eat there. The parking lot which spans the area between the docks, the park, and the marine spectacle is perhaps one of Taiwan's most obnoxious tourist traps. There is even a flea market which reportedly never has good prices unless you're a local, a criticism which has been leveled at the restaurants as well. Despite what I feel is well-earned criticism, Yeliu is worth a stop if you're interested in seeing the geopark. Plan to spend time walking the entire park area if you come inside because there are many quirky little areas to explore. The geopark is a great spot to add to any north coast itinerary assuming you see the park and get out of the surrounding area ASAP. When you come here you should ge...

Yangming Mountain, hereafter to be called yangming shan (陽明山) is a volcanic area set in Taipei City's northern Shilin and Beitou districts. For anyone in the city the name implies a vast area of peaks and valleys which include entire communities, colleges, hot springs, farms, and basically any area shaded green on a map of Taipei. Getting up all of the lower mountains eventually leads you up to the ultimate peak at Qixing shan (七星山). View from the top on a nice day Climbing qixing shan is a rewarding experience for anyone looking to get to the top of the tallest point in northern Taiwan. The next highest peak, snow mountain, requires a permit to get into, so qixing shan becomes the defacto mountain that lay people must conquer. And conquer they do. On busy days everyone waits around to get a photo with this. Note the heavy fog. A view up towards the eastern peak. Weekends are rather busy on the trails and on the roads during the early spring flower season when th...

Nanfangao is only a bus ride away from Taipei city and is a perfect location for a day trip. It's a small fishing town which hosts a port and some naval hardware. Taiwanese folks seem to like to come here because it is only about 2 hours from Taipei but feels like you are much much farther away. The town is full of fresh fish, epic scenery, and a few memorable temples. The most comfortable way to get here from Taipei is to take the KuoKuang bus 1879 which usually features seat back televisions and starts its run at Yuanshan MRT station. It stops a few times along the way in the city, notably at the Nangang railroad station and also at the Nangang exhibition center MRT. The final stop is just outside the Nanfangao visitors center and is a great place to grab maps of the area. Be careful though, because the bus stop before Nanfangao is in Su'Ao which is the closest railroad station to the port, and is also where you'll be able to find scooters, cheap local food,...