See the True Taiwan: an insiders guide

One of the greatest, and worst, things about Taipei is its basin-like structure ringed by mountains. On hot summer days the heat and smog linger for what feels like an eternity and even strong winds can't blow it all way. Yet go up any of those mountains at night and you'll be rewarded with a spectacular view. Enter one of the all time classic things to do in Taiwan: The night view. Despite some rather intense discussion about if "night view" actually means anything in proper English, it's definitely what it's called here. Elephant Mountain at night in 2013. The most popular spot to take in the city at night is Elephant Mountain. You make the short but steep ascent to the large stones, turn around and...prepare to be even more breathless! On a clear night you can see the whole city from east to west, as well as almost entirely from south to north. Pre-dusk back when Nanshan Plaza hadn't gotten to full height. Elephant mountain. ...

Pingxi is an area this blog has discussed before with a overview of the Shifen waterfall. On a recent trip back there it was discovered the waterfall is no longer a pay-to-see attraction and now has new viewing platforms. You can see the whole article about that here . Pingxi is also a township located farther down the rail line, and river, from Keelung than Shifen, and is worth a stop on a day that includes Houtong, Shifen, Pingxi, and Jingtong. It's a one day trip through mining towns and market streets where you're surrounded by nature at every turn. View from the 106. The big reason to come out this far is it's incredibly picturesque. The little village is nestled in the mountains, sits above several tributaries as they form the Keelung river, and is surrounded by great hikes which lead to numerous waterfalls. Take the initiative to get away from the old street, since each town has one which is nearly identical, and enjoy the area around it. If you're...

Understanding Danshui Danshui Township (now called TamSui on maps and the MRT) is a booming township situated near the mouth of the Danshui river stretching from near Bei Tou District in Taipei City to the coast to the north. It can be accessed by the MRT which terminates at the southern edge of the tourist market bearing the same name. In recent years this market has become a favorite for families on the weekend, and Taipei City's younger more affluent families are flocking here to live which is spawning another mass of building developments.  While the area has changed significantly and the authors of this blog rarely go, visitors will appreciate a walk along the river front, shopping in the many stores which line the alleys spreading northward (and seaward) from the MRT, and taking advantage of some great photo ops. Try to avoid the weekend unless you like swarms of people, but there are plenty of quieter, out of the way places just waiting to be explored down an alley or up...