With this year’s Lunar New Year holiday being nine days — from Jan 2 — Taipei and New Taipei City’s travel departments have recommended a number of tourist attractions to visit during the holiday from museums and special exhibitions to scenic sites and hot springs The Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said last year’s five most popular sites attracting millions of foreign and local visitors were Taipei’s Ximending’s (西門町) shopping area Yangmingshan National Park and the historic Red House Theater The department recommends visiting Songshan Cultural and Creative Park during the holiday as it is holding a “Year of the Snake” exhibition from Jan The exhibition showcases Spring Festival decorations and merchandise and people who collect all 16 stamps at decorated fire hydrants throughout the park can receive a small gift free of charge A Lunar New Year holiday campaign would be held at the National Taiwan Science Education Center from Wednesday to Sunday featuring more than a dozen hands-on events and science talks as well as quizzes for all visitors to participate in to win small snake-themed gifts The department also recommends visiting the Travel to Mars special exhibition at the Taipei Astronomical Museum where a special campaign is held from Wednesday through Sunday offering free entry to visitors born in Years of the Snake as well as a scratch lottery ticket for each purchased ticket Longshan Temple (龍山寺) in Wanhua District (萬華) would celebrate the Yuan Xiao Festival (元宵節) tomorrow during which the temple would be decorated with festive lanterns to symbolize good fortune Visitors can participate in a do-it-yourself activity by making omamori (a type of Japanese amulet) at the historic Xinbeitou Train Station on Saturday and Sunday themed “Lucky Snake Comes,” would begin on Sunday in the city’s west — with four main display zones including the main lantern near the historic Zhongshan Hall The festival’s six City Light Corridors near Zhonghua Road were lit up on Friday while the main lantern display zone — featuring colorful clouds surrounding a snake symbolizing prosperity and joy — would be lit up from Sunday through Feb which features art installations of Disney princesses in collaboration with Disney the same day as the Night Cherry Blossom Festival at LOHAS Park in Neihu District (內湖) which offers visitors a romantic experience The New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department recommended two “secret spots” to view cherry blossoms including on a road to Hunglodei Fude Temple (烘爐地福德宮) in Jhonghe District (中和) featuring rows of native cherry trees and Erge cherry hiking trail (二格櫻花步道) in Shiding District (石碇) Wuji Tianyuan Temple (無極天元宮) in Tamsui (淡水) launched its Sakura Blossom Festival on Wednesday offering guided tours and do-it-yourself craft sessions from Saturday through Sunday Shuttle buses to and from the temple from the Tamsui MRT station are available from Wednesday through Sunday As cold weather is expected to prevail until Lunar New Year’s Day with lows dipping to 8°C in northern Taiwan New Taipei City’s travel department has also recommended a few hot spring areas in the city Wanli District (萬里) and Gongliao District (貢寮) The hot springs of Wulai are known as “beauty springs” because they are sodium bicarbonate springs which are believed to be beneficial to the skin Visitors can also take the waterfall cable car to see the mountain scenery and cherry blossoms visit Neidong National Forest Recreation Area or try local indigenous food at Wulai Old Street (烏來老街) Jinshan and Wanli districts are near the sea and surrounded by mountains and as their hot springs are part of the Datun Mountain geothermal belt The only rare chloride bicarbonate spring in Taiwan is in Gongliao and visitors to the area can also travel on Route 2 Taiwan a tourism route that connects scenic spots along the New Taipei City coastline from Bali (八里) to Sandiaojiao (三貂角) in Gongliao the Health Promotion Administration said that people planning to soak in a hot bath or hot spring should avoid doing so within two hours after eating or drinking alcohol adding that they should gradually soak themselves in water no hotter than 40°C and stay for no longer than 15 minutes at a time people with conditions such as heart disease diabetes or other chronic diseases should avoid going to a hot spring alone it’s the perfect time to explore Taiwan’s local culture To offer international students studying Mandarin a closer understanding of Taiwan’s rich diversity where students connected with the traditional wisdom of the Atayal tribe This event aimed to promote cross-cultural understanding while fostering unity and resilience through the team-oriented traditions of Atayal hunter culture The journey took students through Wulai’s famous hot springs and old streets before winding up the mountain roads to arrive at the “Gesuw Camp” of the Atayal tribe Established by the tribal leader Gesuw to preserve Atayal culture the camp is a well-known indigenous hunter school that attracts visitors from near and far for its dedication to cultural preservation Gesuw welcomed the students with the words “Learn well—our indigenous survival skills in the wild are powerful!” Energized students joined him in a loud call of “Lokah (Let’s go!)” before following the tribal elder’s traditional chant of blessings to set the day in motion Dressed in traditional Atayal clothing with symbolic facial markings the students transformed into Atayal hunters and tribal princesses as they followed seasoned hunter-teachers—Toraw and Hacyo—into the forests to explore the local ecosystem and learn about the Atayal way of life led students in a simulated wild boar hunt symbolizing the honor and accomplishments of Atayal hunters who earn the privilege to marry their beloved after a successful hunt Students learned not only about traditional hunting techniques and traps but also crafted bamboo rice tubes and enjoyed a special lunch featuring grilled meats seasoned with fragrant maqaw spice the hunter instructors organized students into teams to try their hand at archery Cheers in multiple languages filled the air as they competed creating a lively scene of enthusiasm and camaraderie students gathered for a mochi-pounding finale working together and cheering each other on to create a chewy delicious mochi topped with maqaw honey and peanut powder—a perfect end to the day Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries Admiring the bold colors of Zhengbin Fishing Harbor is just one way to spend time on a day trip from Taipei © Panuwat Dangsungnoen / Shutterstock Within the dense forests that encircle the colorful Taiwanese capital, the beauty of rural Taiwan awaits, made accessible by Taipei’s ultra-efficient public transport system Along with a full spectrum of green spaces from the steep alleyways of Jiufen Old Street to the old-world Pingxi railway Read on to discover our favorite day trips from Taipei The sheer number and range of hiking opportunities near Taipei will leave you breathless, as will the area's countless parks and reserves. Yangmingshan National Park is one of the most accessible natural preserves lording over Taipei City with lush peaks coated in silver grass and an extensive network of trails winding through meadows and pastures There are several ways to climb 1120m (3675ft) Mt Qixing – the meandering 2.4km (1.5-mile) Miaopu trail starting near Yangmingshan Visitor Center follows a stone-paved path with signs in Mandarin and English; signs along the route highlight other attractions such as Menghuan Pond and the Lengshuikeng natural springs allowing you to extend your trip depending on energy levels How to get to Yangmingshan: To reach the visitor center hop on shuttle bus 260 from Shimin Boulevard behind Taipei Main Station and alight at Yangmingshan Bus Terminal (30NTD/US$1 walk back to the main road and head uphill; look for a sign on your right marking the path to the visitor center Pick up a detailed map here (or get human advice!) to locate any trails you wish to try the 108 bus can drop you back at the visitor center to catch the 260 bus returning to Taipei City Originally constructed to connect a series of coal mining towns during the Japanese occupation the charming Pingxi railway line is less than an hour from Taipei This 12km (7.5-mile) single-track railway runs parallel to the Keelung River and stops at a number of slow-moving villages that are rich with mining heritage spectacular natural attractions – and cats Houtong Cat Village will win you over early on so pause for some quality time with the dozens of docile kitties that sunbathe on the steps and corrugated roofs around the village You can also visit the coal mining museum (and ride a handcar into the tunnels) followed by a coffee in a cutesy cat-themed cafe while you wait for the next scheduled train – they usually run every hour Sandiaoling and Shifen are two competing waterfalls on the Pingxi Line; the former is worth visiting for forested hiking trails leading to swimmable pools; the latter is considered the best option for mindblowing views The Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail is a half-day trip in itself linking the Hegu and Motian cascades and Pipa Cave via a suspension bridge and nature trail The 40m (131ft) Shifen Waterfall is considered Taiwan’s most scenic cascade and it has the added bonus of an adjacent "old street" of vintage houses the mining town that gave the railway its name known for its nostalgic old street and Sky Lantern Festival when nearly 100,000 visitors paint their wishes onto paper lanterns and release them into the night sky you can stroll along tracks lined with souvenir stalls stands serving sizzling Taiwanese sausages Concerns about the environmental impacts of sky lanterns are on the rise, with many counties in Taiwan banning them entirely. Releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi is legal as long as visitors follow a few rules established by the city’s government there are a few ways you can minimize your environmental impact such as collecting and recycling debris at Sky Lantern Shell Recycling Stops throughout the city How to board the Pingxi Line: The Pingxi Line is an easy day trip from Taipei and it's easy to extend the trip with an overnight stay in wildly popular Jiufen village. Taiwan Railway (TRA) trains to Ruifang Station run from Taipei Main Station (from 50NTD/US$1.70 at which point you can transfer easily to the Pingxi Line A day ticket for unlimited travel on the Pingxi Line costs only 80NTD (US$2.75) making it one of the all-time best cheap trips from Taipei especially when returning to Ruifang at the end of the day Consider coming on a weekday or start early to avoid the worst crowds One of the top romantic getaways near Taipei Wulai District gets its name from the Atayal word for the hot springs for which this Indigenous town is renowned Wulai retains a certain authenticity – the mountain valley is cut off from the rest of Taiwan and exists in harmony with the verdant mountains surrounding it Most people who come here stay overnight at a Wulai hot springs resort some of which are bookable by the hour for day-trippers It's also possible to bathe in hot springs for free next to the Wulai River allowing you to save your money for a visit to the Wulai Atayal Museum a tram ride or the gondola trip to the Yunshien Amusement Park Travelers wishing to get off the beaten park have myriad options including heading beyond the red Nanshi suspension bridge on looping hiking trails towards Wulai Falls or climbing straight up Big Knife Mountain Rambling along the rocky Laka Trail or hiking through the emerald-hued Mini Gorge is particularly rewarding swimming and camping are more options for outdoor fun How to reach Wulai: The simplest route to Wulai from Taipei is to board the 1601 bus from Xindian MRT Station (40NTD/US$1.40 Taxi drivers wait around the metro station looking to ferry tourists to Wulai for a fair rate consider teaming up with other travelers and sharing the ride Day trippers to Manyueyuan can tackle a 10km (6.2-mile) loop trail that crosses over Beichatian Mountain paved trail along the Dabao River for possible sightings of Formosan rock macaques and crested eagles perched upon the branches above the path For an extended weekend trip from Taipei, consider adding on more forest bathing at Dongyanshan Forest staying overnight at a heritage guesthouse in Sanxia or Yingge How to get to Manyueyuan: The most convenient way to reach the forest is to drive; alternatively, consider a guided tour or taxi pool with a group of fellow travelers using services such as Tripool and Parkbus taking the 702 or 812 bus to Sanxia Stop 1 followed by the less frequent 807 to the Manyueyuan parking lot People who ask if Keelung is worth visiting clearly haven’t heard about this port city’s reputation for succulent and affordable seafood too – the bold colors of Zhengbin Fishing Harbor and a prominent 25m (82ft) statue of Guanyin standing amid the temples of Zhongzheng Park sea views and curious rock formations make the walking trails a joy to explore which boasts some 200 food stalls covering several blocks in the vicinity of Dianji Temple raw or paired harmoniously with thick crab soup and glutinous rice pork knuckle and dianbiancuo soup – a Keelung specialty made with scrapings of rice flour batter How to get to Keelung: Simply hop on a northbound train from Taipei Main Station and travel to reach Keelung Station (40NTD/US$1.30 Tea lovers can take a day trip to savor the delicate taste of pouchong tea on the plantations and old streets of Pinglin a district central to Taiwan’s century-old tea trade Pinglin is just over one hour from Taipei by train; the picturesque Thousand Island Lake also lies in the area and it's a must-see if you have enough time Start your day with breakfast on Pinglin Old Street where every snack comes infused with local leaves Tea eggs are a convenience store staple across Taiwan they switch black tea for pouchong in the steeping process The Liang Xin bun store distinguishes its steam buns from the pack with natural coloring and tea infusions; they cost 10NTD (US$0.35) each Rent a bicycle and follow the river along the Beishixi Bikeway through landscapes of terraced tea fields. The Pinglin Tea Museum lies within easy reach for insights into the history of the tea trade and the manufacturing process visit a working farm such as Tea Town Osmanthus or the Green Light Farm to see tea harvesting in spring or enjoy tea tasting all year round You might smell your last stop on approach Famed for 100 years of the Taiwanese delicacy stinky tofu Shiding Old Street might not be every foreigner’s first choice for a snack stop but the old-school atmosphere is worth the time with stone walkways and stilt houses suspended haphazardly over the riverbed Stores here also sell more accessible tofu snacks How to reach Pinglin: Pinglin lies just 30km (18.6 miles) outside of Taipei but the winding mountain roads make the journey feel longer The Green 12 bus runs to Pinglin via the Feitsui reservoir but the 923 bus is the only direct bus route to Pinglin It runs from Xindian MRT station to Pinglin Old Street via Shiding (30NTD/US$1 If you’re looking for a pot to brew your freshly acquired pouchong tea October is the best month to visit Taiwan’s pottery and ceramics capital as local businesses get fired up for the Yingge Ceramics Festival and performances take over the streets Anyone interested in ceramics or ancient Chinese arts will enjoy pottering around town at any time of year. Visitors can learn about the colonial history that shaped the ceramics trade at the Yingge Ceramics Museum (80NTD/US$2.75) The Yingge Ceramics Mall also has multiple traders selling crockery traditional tea sets and decorative pieces under one roof To try your hand at sculpting, glazing and firing your own pottery, book a two-hour class at one of the ceramics studios in the area (such as Shu’s Pottery) for around 300NTD (US$10) per person several kilns on Chongqing Street offer a glimpse of the traditional firing methods used to produce Yingge ceramics Having found a decent tea set, enjoy upscale tea and small plates at the Tea Day restaurant adding on a visit to the nearby town of Sanxia to admire more red-brick architecture and traditional knick-knacks The central Qingshui Zushi Temple is a living museum of Chinese history and folk art hosting a controversial animal sacrifice on the sixth day of the lunar calendar How to get to Yingge: Yingge lies about 30 minutes southwest of Taipei, but you can also get here via a leisurely hour-long cycle along the riverside bikeway; there's a YouBike station adjacent to the old street in Yingge. Alternatively, you can take a Taiwan Railway train directly to Yingge Station from Taipei Main Station. offer an alternative to staying at the pricey W hotel: Chinese comic books line a wooden bookshelf in the breakfast nook and Amba’s current music program takes its inspiration from—where else?—a Brooklyn rooftop party which has indoor and outdoor mineral-water tubs (from $82 for 1.5 hours in a private bath) Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York The Tranan Qwasan Biru Experimental Elementary School in New Taipei City’s Wulai District (烏來) is offering a new immersion language program to promote indigenous-language education The school was founded in September 2020 to preserve Atayal culture initially employing Atayal elders as teaching staff New Taipei City Indigenous Peoples Department Commissioner Lo Mei-ching (羅美菁) said in an interview The school teaches the Atayal language through traditional activities seeking that students build fluency naturally Photo courtesy of the New Taipei City Education Department via CNA Lo said the dress she wore to the interview was created by students in an arts and crafts class focused on traditional weaving and the symbolic meaning of traditional patterns The school’s concept seeks to achieve fluency in language and culture featuring X and O-shaped elements symbolizing solidarity is traditional to Wulai’s Taiyaru community Other Atayal communities’ traditional patterns prominently feature stripes Taiwan is home to 16 officially recognized indigenous ethnicities speaking 42 languages Preserving the diversity of Taiwan’s indigenous heritage requires that policies are tailored to local conditions Her department is working toward that goal and has created an indigenous-languages committee to oversee language education New Taipei City Education Department Commissioner Chang Ming-wen (張明文) said that his department is working with the indigenous peoples department to implement a language and culture education program The project is developing teaching materials improving the quality of lessons and rewriting school rules to facilitate the integration of indigenous cultures New Taipei City schools have begun treating indigenous festivals as official holidays for children of indigenous descent This page requires JavaScript to function correctly please enable JavaScript in your browser settings first Rescuers continued the search for residents of New Taipei City’s Wulai (烏來) Sindian (新店) and Sansia (三峽) districts who went missing after the nation was pummeled by Typhoon Soudelor on Friday and Saturday Wulai suffered the most damage by the typhoon with landslides cutting off the district’s only road access to the rest of the nation The emergency operation center in New Taipei City said that it had confirmed that 3,100 residents in Wulai were safe Photo: EPA / NEW TAIPEI CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT About 2,000 Wulai residents were evacuated after the town was severely damaged by the typhoon about 1,100 residents were reluctant to leave their homes because they wanted to clean up the mess left by the typhoon Ample supplies allowed the residents to remain the operation center said it was still searching for three missing people in Wulai The typhoon devastated the hotel industry in Wulai with media reports saying that four famed hot-spring hotels in the town were completely wiped out by the storm Asked if they would resume operations there some hotel owners said they would have to think about it because the hotels’ hot springs have all been reduced to pools of mud Others said that they can no longer stay there because the course of the river has changed and the riverbanks had been eroded heavily by the surging water the Ministry of National Defense and National Search and Rescue Center continued to dispatch helicopters to bring supplies and rescuers to the disaster zone and evacuate people who are in need of medical attention Premier Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) went to see the damage to the roads in Wulai yesterday afternoon and ordered that an emergency steel bridge be built at the 10.2km mark of Highway No before the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday next month Mao also asked the Directorate General of Highways to repair part of Highway No 9 so that large construction machinery and motor vehicles operated by rescuers could start entering the disaster zone The National Fire Agency was instructed to work with Chunghwa Telecom to bring small base stations to the Fushan (福山) area to ensure uninterrupted communication with the Wulai District Office strong winds brought by Soudelor also shattered the antenna cover at the weather radar station in Wufongshan (五分山) in New Taipei City’s Rueifang District (瑞芳) The antenna cover was shaped like a globe and was one of the district’s most well-known landmarks The cost of the cover topped NT$200 million (US$6.3 million) the cover was insured against damage caused by typhoons A 90-year-old railway in New Taipei City’s Wulai District (烏來) was reopened yesterday after nearly two years of reconstruction following Typhoon Soudelor The train’s three carriages transport passengers 1.5km between Wulai Station and Waterfall Station There will be a discounted fare of NT$30 until the end of next month The railway is a landmark of the district along with Wulai Waterfall Lansheng Bridge and Neidong National Forest Recreation Park Premier Lin Chuan (林全) said at the reopening ceremony adding that the area has the potential to become an international tourist attraction The originally hand-pulled railway was built in 1928 during the Japanese colonial period to transport logs Forestry Bureau Director-General Lin Hua-ching (林華慶) said most sections of the railway were demolished except for the 1.5km portion,” he said Typhoon Soudelor in August 2015 caused serious damage to the remaining portion of the railway “Much of the reconstruction work was done by hand as big machines could not operate on the narrow roads,” he said adding that the work was finished last month gave many photographs to a museum by Wulai Station he met many tourists from the US who would give him enough tips in a single day to purchase a bag of rice His two grandsons said they were glad to see the railway reopen but expressed hope that the Aboriginal Atayal people’s culture could be featured more in local tourism The railway closure dealt a blow to local businesses adding that their cafe only barely stayed afloat thanks to some regulars and bicyclists our houses were washed over by mudslides because the bureau did not properly maintain fortifications on the slope,” Lin said adding that they were still negotiating compensation with bureau officials I can’t think of many places where you can end a hike with a cable car ride and although Taiwan presently only has two tourist cable cars one of them is in a position to offer just that The hot-springs-and-waterfalls resort of Wulai (烏來) is one of those places that just about every visitor to Taiwan gets to at some point in their stay colorful Atayal Aboriginal inhabitants and magnificent scenery) to the full Wulai is definitely not the direction to head in search of seclusion Wulai may be overrun with day trippers on fine weekends (it’s not exactly quiet during the week either) but the multitudes stick to a very well-defined and limited area leaving most of the surrounding wild scenery to a slowly growing yet still small minority of hikers The area suffered hugely from flooding and mudslides bought on by Typhoon Soudelor dumping 72 centimeters of rain on the area in just 24 hours and although the center of the village still looks a bit unsightly as repairs continue Wulai’s trails are definitely once again open for hikers there’s plenty of magnificent countryside to explore in the Wulai area Get off the road and there’s some wild and remote terrain out there which shouldn’t be tackled without a good map and experience that manages to be relatively wild and exhilarating while not straying too far from civilization is the Laka Trail (啦卡步道) steep ramble from Wulai village to the top of the famous Wulai Waterfall (烏來瀑布) Starting at the car park and bus terminus in Wulai follow the crowds along the road through town beside the river for a couple hundred meters then branch left along a tributary stream immediately after crossing the first bridge emerald-green water of the stream cuts its way through a glen called Mini Gorge (迷你谷) Its beauty was destroyed temporarily by the vast amounts of mud and stone swept down by Soudelor but time is healing the scars and returning the place to its former loveliness the way to the start of the Laka Trail is a little further down the road on the right Climb these and turn left at the top onto another road turn right again up another flight of wide steps that cut off a zigzag in the road At the top of the steps turn left once more onto a wide dirt trail (marked by a board map) which zigzags up the steep wooded hillside for about half an hour to the start of the Laka Trail itself The trail almost immediately starts climbing steeply An especially lovely section climbs through an old plantation of conifers: an eerily atmospheric place during the frequent mists that descend on these hills straight trunks disappear into the clammy white haze above The trail finally joins a wider path of rather ugly stone steps just before the ridge green-blue stretch of the Beishi River (北勢溪) The trail now sticks quite close to the edge of the Beishi River gorge sheer cliffs as the rocky path climbs to the highest point of the walk muffled shouts of happy day trippers down in the gorge far below waft up on breezes and at intervals the strange whooshing sound of the engine propelling the cable car upwards to nearby Yunhsien Dreamland (雲仙樂園) can be heard through the trees The descent from Big Knife Mountain is steep and slippery then along a narrow and treacherously slippery trail that veers left away from it to descend to the back of Yunhsien Dreamland Damage from Typhoon Soudelor is apparent here which was established during the Japanese colonial era and it’s a lovely place to rest and maybe have lunch (there’s a Chinese restaurant and coffee shop if you forgot your sandwiches) Finally follow the wide concrete path downhill beside the stream as it plunges into a deep hanging valley over several waterfalls en route to the big plunge of Wulai Waterfall itself Hikers might be asked to pay for the ride down but since at least some of the cable car operators seem unaware of the existence of the trail especially when the car floats out over the brink of the great waterfall giving fantastic views of its snow-white horsetails before coming to rest in the tourist village that has built up at the foot of the waterfall It’s a unique way and fun to finish the hike walk down the steps to the lower street for the best views of the imposing waterfall and walk downstream for 25 minutes back to the car park and bus stop but informal pools of hot spring water can still be found (or dug) in the river bank and are a great place to soak tired muscles while admiring the view back up the gorge and the wooded heights above Richard Saunders is a classical pianist and writer who has lived in Taiwan since 1993 and is the author of six books about Taiwan Visit his Web site at www.taiwanoffthebeatentrack.com An expert has warned against eating poisonous fungi after a hiker spotted what he thought was the world’s deadliest fungi but which turned out to be a less harmful species A hiker surnamed Lee (李) on Saturday said that he took a photograph of a cluster of red fungi he saw on his way to Gaoyaoshan (高腰山) in New Taipei City’s Wulai District (烏來) last month After discussing the picture with a retired science teacher they concluded that it looked like poison fire coral but has been found as far away as Australia Lee became concerned that people might pick the bright red fungus for consumption who published a paper on poison fire coral as a new species in Taiwan said that the fungus in the picture Lee took is likely Clavulinopsis miyabeana fleshy and reddish orange stromata that point upward and are white inside adding that they are 6cm to 10cm in height and 0.7cm to 1cm in diameter Clavulinopsis miyabeana is different in that it is hollow and rodlike grows in scattered patterns on the ground beneath broad-leaved trees While touching poison fire coral is not harmful There was a case in South Korea of two people drinking water cooked with wild lingzhi mushroom they gathered without knowing that it contained a piece of poison fire coral One died and the other suffered from desquamation of skin on the palms and soles Consuming any type of poisonous fungus can cause vomiting while poison fire coral additionally causes severe liver damage so those who have consumed it can only be treated with supportive therapy It’s been hard to get a decent ride done lately Even last week’s interview with Lucy Hsieh (謝雅惠) of the Cycling Cats which was supposed to be done “from saddle to saddle” on the short trip alongside the Sindian and Nanshih rivers from Taipei to Wulai (烏來) ended up being washed out for two weekends in a row and so finally took place in a downtown cafe than the clouds cleared and the sun came out Which allowed enough time to check out Hsieh’s recommended ride snap a photo or two and take a hot spring soak Wulai is said to derive from the Atayal Aboriginal word urai meaning either “hot” or “poisonous” since as the Atayal Museum (泰雅民族博物館) in Wulai explains the township’s origins trace back to a tribal hunter who accidentally discovering the area and observing hot-spring gases rising from the stream bed announced it was kirofu urai (hot and poisonous) But we’re getting ahead of ourselves; about 25km and around an hour and a half that our starting point is in Wanhua District (萬華) because the name Wanhua was a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) preservation of the written form of the Japanese colonial administration’s preservation of the spoken form of a Hoklo-Taiwanese transliteration (艋舺; Bmang-kah) of a Plains Aboriginal word vanka meaning “canoe,” (according to Akiyoshini Abe’s Research into Taiwan Place Names (台灣地名研究) published in 1935) charcoal and other produce by boat from upstream to trade with Han-Chinese immigrants occupying the Taipei Basin Shortly after leaving Wanhua we pass through Guting (古亭) in Daan District which apparently used to be written with the similar sounding characters meaning “drum pavilion (鼓亭).” According to a stele at the local Changqing Temple (長慶廟) a tall pavilion was erected by local immigrants from Quanzhou in Fujian Province to watch for “marauding Aboriginal headhunters,” whose presence would then be announced by beating a drum The quickest way south from here is down Roosevelt Road one of perhaps only two thoroughfares in Taipei named after a foreigner More pleasant is to take the riverside bike path around 10km brings one to Sindian District (新店) Dating from more than 200 years ago and meaning “New Store,” this too is a nod to Indigenous-Chinese relations since the store’s primary trade was selling groceries to mountain-dwelling Aborigines Wikipedia goes so far as to state the original owner was a Quanzhou native surnamed Lin (林) though the normally authoritative Abe makes no mention of this Sindian more or less marked the boundary between Aboriginal and Han-Chinese territories in previous centuries and it still marks the end of the capital’s urban sprawl The 15kms of the Sinwu Road (新烏路; Sindian-to-Wulai Road) includes three moderate climbs which no doubt accounts for the hill-loving Cycling Cats’ interest though the Guishan Popsicle Store (桂山冰棒) might be more to their taste with its nine flavors of frozen juice-on-a-stick In warmer seasons at least; it is currently closed until March the Ice Products Department of Guishan Power Plant (台電桂山電廠冰品部) indicates that this too is a by-product of the river as this is where the Nanshih (南勢溪; “southerly”) and Beishih (北勢溪; “northerly”) rivers join and aided by the massive Feicui Reservoir (翡翠水庫) they provide the vast majority of Taipei and New Taipei’s water The dangerous power of these rivers are evidenced by two statues standing on the side of Sinwu Road The first merely says “Gave up [him]self to save a person” (捨己救人) which commemorates the actions of Lee Ho-feng (李合豐) of the Sindian Fire Department who lost his life in October 1988 while rescuing a 7-year-old boy who was trapped by rising flood waters recounting the details of how Republic of China (ROC) Army Major Chen Chin-lung (陳金龍) died in August 1979 while leading his unit to repair the nearby weir so that drinking water could be reconnected to the two million citizens of Taipei depending on it even when it isn’t raining in Taipei it often is in Wulai which lies about 250m higher up in the hills and only makes the prospect of a hot spring soak more attractive There is one last climb before descending into the heart of the district which with an area of more than 320 square kilometers is easily the largest in New Taipei City sleepy-looking Wulai looks sublime ahead in the mists the Atayal Museum at the beginning of the Old Street was closed for renovation and is a good source of information for visitors wishing to learn about the tribe’s 19th-century migration from further south and west under pressure from Han-Chinese immigration and expansion their material culture and traditional religious practices This leaves more time to cycle up to the main 80m waterfall which is particularly magnificent after so much rain sample the various Aboriginal/mountain foods These range from maqaw-flavored (馬告; spicy pepper-like fruit from the Litsea cubeba tree) sausages rice cooked in bamboo tubes and roast boar to multi-course meals with various high-altitude vegetables locally caught fish and Aboriginal-themed dishes all washed down with a bottle or two of millet wine (小米酒) but we still have the 25km ride home to deal with hopefully before the gloom descends and the inevitable evening rains begin again Fares for taxi rides in Taipei and New Taipei City are set to increase for a 10-day period during the Lunar New Year holiday next month the New Taipei City government yesterday said New Taipei and Keelung wpi;d pay an additional NT$30 per ride New Taipei’s Transportation Department said With the exception of three routes in Wulai District (烏來) and four in Ruifang District (瑞芳) fares for all rides would be calculated based on the meter For rides between central Wulai (Lansheng Bridge or the main parking garage) and the Wulai Cable Car Station Neidong Forest Recreation Area and MRT Xindian Station passengers taking a taxi between Rueifang Train Station and Jiufen (九份) Shifenliao (十分寮) or Shuangsi (雙溪) would be charged NT$260 NT$560 and NT$695 outside the Lunar New Year holiday Those using taxis late at night (11pm to 6am) would be asked to pay an additional NT$20 fare per ride (both by the meter and for fixed fare rides) during the Lunar New Year holiday National freeway tolls would also be subject to the price increase No other supplementary fares would be allowed and it urged passengers to request printed receipts displaying the journey’s meter readings If passengers feel they have been overcharged they should note the taxi’s license plate and the time and location of the ride and file a complaint by dialing 1999 or sending an email to https://service.ntpc.gov.tw/contact/Index.action The department said unlicensed drivers or those who do not charge the fare shown on the meter could face fines of NT$9,000 to NT$90,000 4235TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — There were two separate reports of hikers attacked by bees or hornets in New Taipei on Sunday (Oct a group of ten relatives were hiking along the roadside near a popular waterfall around 1:50 p.m The three victims suffered stings around their back The three victims included two women in their late 30s and a nine-year-old boy who were sent to a hospital but their condition was not life-threatening Authorities who investigated the scene were unable to confirm the species of bee or hornet involved in the attack a group of eight friends were hiking off trail near a main road around 3 p.m when they were attacked by black bellied hornets one of Taiwan’s most dangerous hornet species The group quickly called for medical help and rushed back to the road three of the victims were in serious condition and were quickly rushed to Mackay Memorial Hospital The black bellied hornet’s venom can cause edema and stings can be life-threatening if not properly treated it is a good idea to wear long sleeves and pants in light colors If you encounter a hive of bees or hornets hikers should detour or retreat away from the hive If someone suffers a serious allergic reaction after being stung such as having trouble breathing or excessive swelling call 911 immediately to ensure prompt medical treatment Hiking guide fatally stung by hornets in east Taiwan Bee swarm delays Kinmen to Taipei flight by 54 minutes Taiwan dollar hits NT$29 per US dollar triggering currency exchange rush Taipei MRT reminds passengers of drinking water ban Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes off east Taiwan Vietjet flight makes unscheduled landing in Taiwan Four Vietnamese residents found dead in northern Taiwan Central Bank steps in as Taiwan dollar posts strong single-day gain Taiwan ranked 2nd most innovative country in world Rising Taiwan dollar over Trump tariffs has pros and cons US tech earnings spark Taiwan stock market rally Taiwan ranks 1st in Asia on World Press Freedom Index The first two boys who had been found in a deep pool without vital signs, Su and Chen, were declared at 5:17 p.m. on Tuesday, while the third boy surnamed Su was declared dead at 5:26 p.m., reported CNA TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Three teenage boys drowned after they were caught in a whirlpool while swimming in a recreational area closed off to the public in Taoyuan City on Tuesday (July 11) Seven male students from a middle school in Taoyuan City met to go swimming in the Yunei River below the Xiaowulai Skywalk in Fuxing District, reported TVBS three of the students accidentally fell into a deep pool and disappeared the classmates called 119 for help and the fire department dispatched 16 personnel to the scene four of the students were seen calling for help from the side of the river Firefighters quickly rescued the students by the side of the river then went to retrieve three 15-year-old boys from the water one at a time the first boy surnamed Su (蘇) was pulled out of the water followed by a boy surnamed Chen (陳) five minutes later and the two were immediately rushed to Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital and sent him to En Chu Kong Hospital for emergency medical treatment Taoyuan Fire Department officials said that although that stretch of the Yunei River in the Xiao Wulai Scenic Area is a popular area for swimming from June to September it is closed this year due to a recreational area improvement project The fire department reminded the public that during summer vacation people should only go swimming at officially authorized locations An example of the numerous signs in the area warning against swimming 20-year-old male drowns in northern Taiwan creek Indian American student drowns at south Taiwan beach Woman from Philippines drowns near south Taiwan waterfall Taiwan Air Force soldier drowns after dare National Taiwan University plans nation’s largest student dormitory 5397TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A photo of a church in New Taipei City has become popular on social media for showing a fusion of Western and Taiwanese cultures in a statue with indigenous tattoos an American English teacher and Chinese/English translator told Taiwan News that he captured the photo with his Samsung Galaxy S20+ while visiting New Taipei's Wulai District on Jan He said that while he was walking along Wulai Old Street he spotted the Catholic Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima church he noticed that the statue of the Virgin Mary had traditional Atayal facial tattoos on her cheeks women of the tribe had to master weaving before they could receive a tattoo and be considered an adult Men were expected to capture the head of at least one member of an enemy tribe to earn the right to receive their distinctive tattoo and thus achieve manhood said he is interested in Taiwanese culture including the cultures of Indigenous peoples "so when I saw such an interesting mix of western and Taiwanese culture I had to take a picture." On Tuesday (Jan Maas posted the photo on the social media site Reddit Entrance to Catholic Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Wulai Taiwan Indigenous groups protest plan to make some government roles unpaid Taiwan doubles compensation for logging on Indigenous lands New book documents Tsou hunting grounds in Alishan Feature photo: Legend of the Taiwan Bunun tribe sun shooting statue Eastern Taiwan festival to feature Indigenous culture Taiwan’s Hualien County sends delegation to Hawaii Land warning for Typhoon Kong-rey expected to be lifted at noon A landslide in New Taipei due to Typhoon Kong-rey 7919TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Most counties and cities in Taiwan will resume normal work and school schedules on Friday (Nov 1) as Typhoon Kong-rey's land warning is expected to be lifted Friday noon Typhoon Kong-rey exited Taiwan at 6:40 p.m Its outer bands continue to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the country Taiwan is expected to be clear of the storm by Friday morning All warnings are anticipated to be lifted by Friday evening Work and classes in some areas in Taoyuan, Nantou, and Chiayi County will remain canceled. For the latest work and class updates as of Nov. 1 see below, and please refer to the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration website Keelung City: Work and classes will continue as normal Taipei City: Work and classes will continue as normal New Taipei City: Work and classes will continue as normal *Wulai District: Work and classes canceled Taoyuan City: Work and classes will continue as normal.  *Fuxing District: Work and classes canceled Hsinchu City: Work and classes will continue as normal Hsinchu County: Work and classes will continue as normal Miaoli County: Work and classes will continue as normal Taichung City: Work and classes will continue as normal *Heping District: Work and classes canceled Changhua County: Work and classes will continue as normal Yunlin County: Work and classes will continue as normal Nantou County: Work and classes will continue as normal.  *Xinyi Township: Work and classes canceled.*Renai Township: Work and classes canceled Chiayi City: Work and classes will continue as normal Chiayi County: Work and classes will continue as normal *Alishan Township: Work and classes canceled Tainan City: Work and classes will continue as normal Pingtung County: Work and class status not announced yet Yilan County: Work and classes will continue as normal *Nanao Township: Work and classes canceled Hualien County: Work and class status not announced yet Taitung County: Work and class status not announced yet Penghu County: Work and classes will continue as normal Lienchiang County: Work and classes canceled Kinmen County: Work and classes will continue as normal Kong-rey 1st strong typhoon to make Taiwan landfall in late October Chinese ship stranded off Taiwan's north coast a pollution risk Taiwan cancels 527 flights due to Typhoon Kong-rey Typhoon Kong-rey to make Taiwan landfall in afternoon Two missing Czech hikers found in Taiwan mountains during Typhoon Kong-rey An Aboriginal dance to welcome China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Zhang Zhijun (張志軍) to New Taipei City’s Wulai District (烏來) on Thursday has drawn fire because so-called traditional Atayal dancers were wearing quasi-Amis Aboriginal outfits but then it’s not really Amis either,” Bawtu Payen an Atayal member of the Alliance of Taiwanese Aboriginal Youths “It is upsetting that they’re doing such an ugly thing in our tribe’s traditional domain.” The clothing of the female dancers was designed on the traditional Amis outfit but the feather-like headwear was not Amis but I’d say this is a half-assed performance arranged by a half-assed government for Zhang who said that he would like to get to know more about Taiwan,” said Oto Micyang and Association for Taiwan Indigenous Peoples’ Policies chairman he left the Atayal village with half-assed knowledge.” “Not caring about the details is exactly the government’s mentality in pushing its Aboriginal policies,” he added a Bunun member of the Alliance of Taiwanese Aboriginal Youths saying that the Atayal dancers in Amis-like outfits shows how little the government cares about Aboriginal culture “Government officials may say that they arranged the performance because they want to showcase our culture but the way it was performed only shows that that they treat our culture as entertainment 8 military officers killed in Black Hawk crash 1069TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A mourning area was set up for Taiwan's top general and seven other military officers who were killed in Thursday's (Jan After the fatal crash of a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter in the mountainous district of Wulai in New Taipei City on Thursday morning the remains of eight of the military officers who were aboard were brought Tri-Service General Hospital in Taipei Hundreds of military personnel soon gathered in the hospital that evening to honor their fallen comrades the media began to gather at a temporary mourning area set up in the hospital's Huaide Hall for all walks of life to mourn and salute the fallen soldiers A military ceremony was also held at the entrance of the hall to greet the spirits Honor guards stand in front of funeral hall the families of the victims arrived at the hall by way of minibus the body of Chief of the General Staff Shen Yi-ming (沈一鳴) arrived at the mourning hall via ambulance Three honor guards were stationed on both sides of the mourning hall to watch over the fallen heroes Defense Minister Yen De-fa (嚴德發) was among the hundreds of officers and enlisted personnel who attended the service The Black Hawk helicopter took off from Songshan Airport at 7:55 a.m. on Thursday morning as part of a pre-Lunar New Year inspection of a base at Yilan's Dong'ao. However, due to unknown reasons, the helicopter suddenly crash-landed in the mountains of Wulai Search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the area and out of a total of 13 crew members and passengers while five survived and are undergoing medical treatment The crash took place a little over a week before Taiwan is slated to hold its presidential election on Jan Photos of each of the fallen soldiers placed at the memorial The eight who perished in the crash include: Office of the Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Intelligence Chief Engineer Master Sergeant Hsu Hung-pin (許鴻彬) Chief Master Sergeant Han Cheng-hung (韓正宏) New Deputy Chief of Logistics of the General Staff Headquarters Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Communications-Electronics and Information Accounting Office Director Major General Liu Hsiao-tang (劉孝堂) Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Chou Hsin-i (周欣頤) Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi killed in helicopter crash Taipei is under the influence of cold front originating in the arctic regions and flowing down through Siberia to produce some of the coldest temperatures experienced in at least a decade New Taipei City’s Wulai District saw snowfall Saturday night The same district was subjected to severe damage from a tropical typhoon last summer Wulai-snow by wildeastmagazine Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. this site is affected by big-tech/social media censorship Get Instant notification of latest news by email Taiwan English News is published by Phillip Charlier who is based in New Taipei City, Taiwan. If you have news tips or issues you want covered: Let me know 597TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Forestry Bureau announced in a press release on Friday (May 8) that admission to 13 national forest recreational areas will be free for frontline health workers from May 12 – 17 to thank them for their efforts in fighting the coronavirus and keeping the country safe The bureau said in the statement that visitors with ID showing their status as healthcare workers would be eligible for the offer during the six-day period The 13 national forest recreation areas include Taipingshan rides on the Bong Bong Train on Taipingshan and on the sightseeing mini trains in Wulai Participants in an outdoor nudist barbeque party in the mountains of Wulai (烏來) in New Taipei City escaped serious punishment for offenses against public decency after prosecutors gave them only a one-year “stayed charge.” Prosecutors said they decided to be lenient because the party organizers had tried to safeguard their privacy and the activity took place in a secluded location a woman surnamed Chen (陳) and a man surnamed Chu (朱) which took place in a forest in September last year The “stayed charge,” handed down earlier this week means that the charges have been withdrawn Chen said: “I enjoy the feeling of my clothes-free body being in touch with nature Chen added: “Why do people think that the naked body is something dirty?” “We are just a group of people who love to embrace freedom outdoors It is a healthy lifestyle to bare one’s body in nature We do not engage in wild sex parties; it is not a swinger’s club I do not understand why people have such biased preconceptions.” Chen and Chu utilized Facebook to invite fellow devotees of “naturism” to join the party while women forked out NT$300 to join the party a total of 10 people — seven men and three women — ranging in age from 36 to 57 then hiked to a place near the upper stream of Tonghou River (桶后溪) to a secluded location to hold the party Chen said that the fees were used to pay for the food She said men were charged more because they usually consume more food than women Chu said nudist camps are found in many countries around the world and the clubs have families as regular members “So why do people in Taiwan give us peculiar looks as though something deviant is going on?” she asked I do not think that nudist clubs have any future in Taiwan,” she said someone tipped off the police about the event questioning Chu and other participants and taking photographs to use as evidence.