If you’re planning a road trip down the coast, also see my East Coast Taiwan road trip guide, Taroko Gorge guide, and recommended things to do in Hualien. Visitors from Scotland are often surprised to learn that Taiwan produces excellent whiskeys, including a few that have won international awards at whiskey-tasting competitions. So a bottle of Taiwanese whiskey is something that anyone who enjoys the hard stuff will appreciate.
These take place twice a day, and only if there are enough people, so it’s better to come on the weekend and call first to confirm . Luye Highlands, which can be reached on a 30-minute scooter ride from Luye, 鐵花村伴手禮 are the site of the famous Taitung International Hot Air Balloon Festival every summer. Witnessing the festival, or riding in one of the ballons, is one of the top experiences to be had in Taitung.

From coastal areas to mountain highs, Taitung greets visitors to a land of ecological richness and scenic beauty. The county is also known for its distinctive local products, from premium rice, day lilies, hibiscus, and sugar apples to sailfish, bonito , and other specialty seafood items. The city’s biggest green space,Taitung Forest Park, is situated right at the edge of town. Note that these attractions are rather spread out, and it’s not always easy to find a taxi in Taitung city, nor is the public transportation very convenient. Therefore, I recommend renting a scooter or bicycle in front of the train station to get around.

Taiwanese women are known for being somewhat fanatical when it comes to skincare, which makes sense when you consider that the country as a whole gets a lot of sunshine – even in the winter. So it’s only natural that Taiwanese women are well-practiced don’t cut corners when it comes to taking care of their skin. As a result, Taiwanese skincare products are some of the best you’ll find in Asia, and make great take-home gifts. It worths a visit since many little shops and cultural shops clustered there. At night, the lanterns designed by students were lit up, which made a romantic scenery. The magnificent view of the Pacific + the interesting art installations make it all a worthwhile trip!

There’s no train here, so you’ll need to rent a scooter, charter a car with driver, or rent a car. Taiwan tourist shuttle Bus 8101 runs along the coast as far as Sanxiantai, as does this guided east coast day trip. Many visitors queue up to wait to eat it when they go to Taitung. Boat tour on the lake and stopping at Shueishe Warft and visit Syuanguang Temple.
But there is more than just architectural beauty that attracts many visitors here. While it still produces 500 tons of fresh milk annually, you are invited to feed cows, see livestock, and enjoy the European pasture scenes in this grassland. You may also consider watching PawPaw Drum at the Pisirian Cultural Center.

On the 15th of the first lunar month is the Festival which in Taitung is played out with a unique and spectacular display known as the Bombing of Master Han Dan. In the course of this display a man wearing nothing more than a pair of shorts and a face mask stands upon a sedan chair while onlookers lob strings of lit firecrackers at him. From the north, the journey from Taipei takes 5½-7½ hr depending on the type of trains you take. From the south, from Kaohsiung to Taitung on the Southern route, the trip takes from just over 2 hr to a little over 3 hr depending on the type of train. It looks down over bluffs to the floor of the Beinan River, which flows out to sea at Taitung City, and looks across at the Luye Highland, venue for the annual Taiwan International Balloon Festival. This is yet another great lookout spot for taking pictures when driving along the East coast of Taiwan.
Every mid-July several aboriginal groups, though of primary importance to the Amis, celebrate the millet harvest. This culminates in the long and colorful celebrations of dancing and merry making by Rukai, Paiwan, and Amis depending on which village or which part of the city you are in. The main part of Taitung is small and compact enough to make walking a pleasant way to explore the city.
Public buses are available but you will be restricted by the low frequency. Make sure you have relevant international driving license to rent cars or motorbikes. So bringing home a few bottles of a local Taiwanese beer isn't a bad conversation starter either.

Today, coral reefs surround the island that is packed in summer with visitors eager to dive or snorkel in its clear waters. Zhaori means “facing the sun” and the hot spring is open from 5-6 am for people who want to soak and admire the sunrise. The touristy downtown street of the island is packed with souvenir shops and food stalls that you can try the island speciality – deer meat.
You can get to Taitung Forest Park by taking Taiwan Tourism’s shuttle bus from Taitung train station. If you want to rent a bicycle, there are a few shops near the park entrance, such as 天祥自行車行, which I’ve pinned on the map at the top of this article. Whether you’re just transiting at the Taitung train station for a few hours or decided to spend a night or two in Taitung city, there are a few interesting attractions in and around town. In this article, I’m going to introduce my favorite things to do in Taitung, based on multiple visits over the last 15 years. But if you’re short on time, skip to the sections on Highway 9 and Highway 11, the two parallel highways traversing the county, continuing north into Hualien.
These same qualities also make Aboriginal art and crafts excellent gifts for friends and family members who appreciate fine artwork. Australian wool products are found at major department stores and specialty stores selling Aboriginal art and crafts. I highly recommend visiting Wild Wool Australia in the Rocks district of Sydney.