Taiwan is not just about Taipei. If you are visiting Taiwan for the first time and have a limited time, then Taipei is a great place to start. But, if you have lots of time or it’s your second time in the country, it’s a good idea to explore other tourist spots in Taiwan outside the capital city. [Check out our Taipei Travel Guide for your ultimate Taipei experience]
Taiwan may be small but it offers a number of interesting attractions that are worthy of your well-curated Instagram feed. Here are some of the IG-worthy tourist spots in Central Taiwan.
Houli Flower Garden
If you want to see different types of colorful flowers and want a photo in that famous piano in the middle of a flower farm, then Houli Flower Garden must be included in your Taiwan itinerary.
𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗶 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 is one of the top tourist attractions in Taiwan. It is located in the city of Taichung in Central Taiwan, about 1-3 hours from the capital city.
How to Get To Houli Flower Garden
To get there, you can either take a high-speed rail, a local train, bus, or a private car. You can check our travel guide for detailed instructions: How to Get to Houli Flower Garden from Taipei.
Gaomei Wetlands
Gaomei Wetland Preservation Area, also known as Gaomei Wetlands is a protected wetland in Qingshui District, Taichung, Taiwan. It’s a popular tourist spot in Central Taiwan known for its majestic sunset and picturesque windmills.
During low-tide, visitors can walk through an 800-meter boardwalk and enjoy the sea breeze while watching the birds and other sea creatures in the wetlands.
At the end of the boardwalk, you can remove your shoes and walk on the silt to fully experience this tourist attraction.
How to get to Gaomei Wetlands
The most convenient way to get to Gaomei Wetlands vis public transport is by taking a taxi. The taxi cost is roughly around NTD800 from THSR Taichung Station and around NTD250 from Qingshui Railway Station.
During weekends, summer/winter school vacations, and public holidays, bus #655 can bring you to Gaomei Wetlands from the high-speed rail station in Taichung.
If you are coming from Taichung Main Railway Station, you can take bus #309 and alight at Windmill #18 stop.
For a hassle-free visit to Gaomei Wetlands, you book a tour here.
Sun Moon Lake
Located in Nantou County, Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area is one of the popular tourist spots in Central Taiwan. It is the country’s largest lake that draws millions of visitors each year. Book a Sun Moon Lake Tour from Taichung!
There are lots of hotels in the area but the best place to stay is at The Lalu Sun Moon Lake as it offers a breathtaking view of the sun and the moon lakes. Check rates and availability.
While at Sun Moon Lake, you can do a cruise and enjoy the scenic view of the lake. You can also take a gondola or the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway and explore the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village.
How to Get to Sun Moon Lake
From Taichung TRA Station, walk towards Gancheng Bus Station. Get on a Nantou Bus to Sun Moon Lake. The travel time is around 2 hours and the fare is NTD193 one-way and NTD360 for a return ticket. The buses run from 7:45 AM until 7:45 PM from Taichung. The last trip from Sun Moon Lake back to the city is at 7:25 PM. For other details, you may check the Nantou Bus website.
Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village
Established in 1986, the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village is the largest outdoor museum in Taiwan located in Yuchi Township, Nantou County. It has a total area of 62 hectares and it features traditional homes and architecture of Taiwanese indigenous tribes. It’s one of the top tourist spots in Central Taiwan. Book a tour now!
Aside from the cultural display, it also features a number of theme parks where you can explore: the European Gardens, the Aladdin Plaza, the Aboriginal Villages, Amusement Isle and Ti Ka Er Rainforest.
If you are visiting between February to March, you can enjoy the view of the cherry blossoms. It’s a perfect spot for an IG-worthy shot.
How to Get to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village
The Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village is in the same area as Sun Moon Lake. You can take the same bus to get to both attractions.
Lihpao Land Theme Park
Lihpao Land is considered as the biggest resort park in Taiwan. It covers an area of around 200 hectares for both its land and water theme parks. It also features:
- Fullon Hotel Lihpao Land – a five-star hotel,
- The Chamber of Secrets – an escape room
- Lihpao Outlet Mall
- The Lihpao Road Station
- Lihpao Racing Park
- Sky Dream – Taiwan’s biggest Ferris wheel
Must-try attractions at Lihpao Land are Discovery World’s Gravity Max which has the world’s only tilt roller coaster AND Mala Bay’s Big Dream attraction that boasts the biggest artificial waves in Southeast Asia. Buy a Discounted Lihpao Land Combo Ticket.
Taiwan Lantern Festival in Taichung
If you are visiting Taiwan between February 8 to 23, 2020, you should head to Taichung and experience the 2020 Taiwan Lantern Festival.
The 2020 Taiwan Lantern Festival is hosted by the Dazzling City of Taichung. It has three major exhibit areas located in the main Forest Park Area and Horse Ranch Park Area of the Houli Flora Expo Site and at Wenxin Forest Forest Park.
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