4 Days Taipei Group Tour: Mars-like Nature to City Highlights

Li Hao (Hello)! Welcome to Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. Taipei was honored as the 2nd best global travel city by Lonely Planet in 2022. It's a city open to all. Its culture, style, and attitude come at you in the best way possible! Modern Taipei 101 stands hand-in-hand with traditional temples. Night markets dot city, satisfying both locals and travelers.

Upon arrival at Taipei, you can make your own way to the hotel to rest. We'll inform you of the check-in procedure via Line, WeChat, or WhatsApp in advance. If you don't receive a notification, please contact us for immediate assistance. Your driver or guide will notify you of the next day's meeting time by phone or text message before 10 PM.

P.S. Locals are very warm and friendly, so feel free to ask for directions. And hotels do not provide disposable amenities such as razors, combs, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. Please bring your own.

Free Time Idea:

If your flight arrives earlier, you can head to Taipei 101 (台北101) on your own to overlook the city streets and skyline. In the evening, you can savor street food at night market, trying bubble tea, fried chicken cutlets, stinky tofu, and more, kicking off your Taipei tour.

Top 2 Night Market:

Shilin Night Market (士林夜市): Taipei's top night market – the largest and most famous. First-time visitors to Taipei usually choose this one, with over 500 food stalls.

• Getting there: MRT Red Line (Jiantan Station, Exit 1, about a 5-minute walk).

Linjiang Night Market (通化夜市): A night market located an 18-minute walk from Taipei 101.

Taipei Shilin Night Market

Try Taiwan Local Food in Taipei

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Today, you will tour unique rocks, waterfall, romantic old street in a day.

After breakfast, drive 30-40 minutes from the hotel to Yehliu Geopark (野柳地质公园), a must-see in Taiwan. It’s the most iconic geological park in northern Taiwan, and was even praised by CNN as the most Mars-like place on Earth. The strange rocks are highlight of this 1,700-meter-long narrow cape. It could be a surprise if you facetime someone and say “Guess where I am!”

In scenic area, Queen’s head (女王头), Taiwan tourism's landmark and calling card, will amaze you. The 2 meters tall rock, with a slender neck, resembles a queen sitting majestically, facing sea with her wind-blown crown. Long way to admire other rocks! Let your imagination run wild. Nature has no fixed answers.

Yehliu is also an important stopover for migratory birds, so birding lovers would have a double gift in March, April, and October.

Next, we'll drive 30 minutes to Jiufen Old Street (九份老街), Taiwan's famous mountain town. It prospered in the 1940s due to gold mining. Boom to bust. Revive due to Hou Hsiao-Hsien's classic film A City of Sadness. Admire winding stair alleys, rows of vintage red lanterns, old Japanese-style buildings.

While exploring, sit down and enjoy some tea. A sweet tooth will be obsessed with Jiufen's traditional taro balls. Look out, mountains and sea appear together, perfect partners to relax your mind. As night falls, sunset dyes mountains red. And red lanterns illuminate early, their lights seemingly pouring into sea!

Then, drive 30 minutes to Shifen Waterfall (十分瀑布), famous as "Taiwan's Niagara Falls". Its powerful spray creates a magnificent sight. Up close, waterfall's impressive 20-meter height and 40-meter width, along with its stunning rainbows, become even more apparent.

Finally, arrive at Shifen Old Street (十分老街), one of the birthplaces of sky lanterns and a popular "train street." Here, trains pass through, lined with traditional house mixed with Chinese & Japanese style. Countless films have been shot here. You can launch a sky lantern, writing your wishes on it, and feeling as if they're coming true as it ascends into sky. Be your hero or heroine!

After the tour, drive back to hotel in Taipei.

Yehliu Geopark

Jiufen Old Street

Shifen Waterfall

Shifen Old Street

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Another day with Hot Spring and dormant volcano.

After breakfast, head to Beitou Hot Spring Museum (北投温泉博物馆), a former Public Bathhouse during Japanese colonial era. It reflects the growing Hot Spring culture in Taiwan. Building blends Victorian and Japanese architectural styles. The ground floor is constructed from brick, the second floor from wood, and the roof is made of black tiles.

Inside, first floor features an 800-kilogram Beitou Stone. Upstairs, a wooden recreation area with a large tatami hall and balcony showcases early Taiwanese film history. Interactive exhibits even let you virtually learn hot spring culture from Japanese colonial period.

Next, visit Thermal Valley (地热谷) near museum. This is one of the sources of Beitou Hot Springs, located in the core of a volcanic cluster. Clear, bluish-green water reaches 80-100°C, emitting a faint sulfur scent. Steaming never stops.

As you approach, wind carries warm mist towards you, along with sulfuric aroma. However, it's crucial not to touch spring water, as it will cause burns, so take care of your limbs. While you can't directly soak, the scenic area provides a water channel with cooler spring water to enjoy a foot bath. Bring your towel, buy some hot spring eggs!

Next, a 30-minute ride brings you to Tamsui. Tamsui was a major international port starting in the late 1800s. So, buildings that mix Chinese and Western styles sprang up. Huwei Mackay Hospital (沪尾偕医馆) is a great example, Taiwan's very first Western-style hospital. Built in 1879 by a Canadian missionary named George Leslie Mackay. Look around, traditional Chinese bungalows with Western-style arched windows.

Then, a 4-minute walk leads to Fort San Domingo (红毛城), Taiwan's oldest existing colonial fort. Built by the Spanish in 1628 and rebuilt by the Dutch, its striking vermilion-red walls have stood for over 300 years. People still use its original Spanish name, San Domingo, though locals continue to call it "the Red-Haired Fort" (referring to Dutch hair). This historic site served as a military defense, consulate, and prison. Explore its buildings and gates to explore colonial-era weapons and tools..

Next, walk 5 minutes to Former British Merchant Residence (小白宫), a popular historic spot in Tamsui. Built in 1870, this pure white colonial building with its arcades and green verandas was once the Customs Commissioner's dormitory. Locals call it the "Little White House." A stroll under arched walkways is an absolute must-do!

Conclude your day at Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf (渔人码头). This is one of northern Taiwan's most iconic coastal tourist landmarks. It boasts a beautiful floating pier, with its most famous attractions being a circular route formed by a 330-meter wooden boardwalk, harbor park, and Lover's Bridge.

You can stand on boardwalk and gaze across at Mount Guanyin and Taiwan Strait, watching the sunset slowly dip below the horizon. The salty sea breeze blows away all worries. All blue!

After the tour, drive back to hotel in Taipei.

Beitou Hot Spring Museum

Thermal Valley

Fort San Domingo

Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf

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Today, enjoy a day in Taipei’s bustling city center. P.S National Palace Museum closed on Monday.

First, head to the National Palace Museum (故宫博物院). It's one of the best museums in the world. Finished in 1965 in the style of traditional Chinese palace, museum houses almost 700,000 items, showing Chinese art from 8,000 years ago all the way to today.

Most of the amazing items are on the main four-story floor. You’ll admire three national treasures: Meat-Shaped Stone (looks like real pork belly), Jadeite Cabbage with Insects (a beautiful jade carving that was part of a queen's dowry), and Mao Gong Ding (an ancient bronze pot from Western Zhou Dynasty with ancient offer” inside). Look into ancient times that have long passed.

Second, come to Taiwan’s oldest district - Dadaocheng (大稻埕) & Dihua Street (迪化街) for city walk. Dadaocheng, a prior top 1 trade port in 1851, is now a living museum of Taipei's urban culture. A one-stop shop sells tea, traditional Chinese medicine, food, and more. This area saves shopping memories for generations of old-school Taiwanese. Spend time, go to Dadaocheng!

Stroll along Dadaocheng Wharf to enjoy the breeze. And, wander through Dihua Street within Dadaocheng, browse its various shops, old-style architecture, and the City God Temple.

Third, visit Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (中正纪念堂), one of Taipei's iconic landmarks. Completed in 1980, it was built to commemorate the first president of the Republic of China. The memorial hall features white walls and a roof adorned with sapphire blue glazed tiles.

First floor displays Japan's instrument of surrender from World War II and life of this political powerhouse. Go ahead to outer plaza. You can get a good shot to visit the Changing of the Guard ceremony, which takes place every hour on the hour.

Then, head to the foot of Taipei 101 to admire its exterior. At 508 meters high, Taipei 101 is the most iconic landmark in Taipei, holding the title of "world's tallest building" from 2004 to 2010. Its bamboo-stalk design blesses continuous growth and prosperity in Chinese culture.

Optional: You can opt to visit the panoramic view of Taipei city on the 89th floor.

After the tour, contact us if you need airport drop-off service.

Extend Your Taipei Travel: Our travel car can take you to Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, Kaohsiung in Taiwan.

We, Asia Odyssey Travel, are so glad to accompany you for 4 Days Taipei Tour, and are always prepared to design your destination in China and Asia. See you again!

National Palace Museum, Taipei

Dadaocheng

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

Taipei 101

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