The exuberant city of Taipei is not only the economic and cultural hub of Taiwan, but has an abundance of natural wealth located within minutes of the city center. While the city itself has plenty of parks and trails, there are ranges of lush green mountains encircling the Taipei Basin. Irrespective of whether you are a local or just stopping en route to visit this Asian destination, these four natural treasures of Taipei are certain to make a memorable impression once you have experienced them.
Taroko National Park
The Taroko National Park was founded in 1986, mainly to create awareness among the people about the importance of environmental protection. Occupying an area of around 92,000 hectares, the park is well known for the marble gorge. Nature lovers,especially hikers, would love to explore the two splendid trails, Baiyang and Shakadang, and thus get a respite from the hustle and bustle of the hectic city life. The principal river flowing through the park is Liwu, which runs along the base of Nanhu mountain and brings about a dramatic temperature difference within the park.
Yeh Liu Geo Park
The coastal region of Yeh Liu underwent a series of large geological changes due to erosion, effects of the weather and movement of the earth's crust resulting in formation of a unique landscape. These rare wonders of nature attract visitors in large numbers to view the peculiar phenomenon first hand. The Geo park has three distinct zones comprising of ginger and mushroom rocks, diamond and dragonite and finally the landscape carved by the erosion of the sea, like the iconic Queens Head, a structure which resembles a woman wearing an adorned crown.
Shifen waterfall
The extremely beautiful Shifen waterfall, lies in the Pingxi district of New Taipei City, and is considered to be the most scenic in the entire country. Waters cascading from a height of 40m create an artificial rainbow 9n their way down. It takes about half an hour to access the falls from Shifen Old Streets. An abandoned railway station, stands adjacent to this area and stands out as a stark reminder of the rich history and culture of Taiwan.
Jiufen
This one time prosperous gold mining center is perched on the hills of northeast Taiwan, with its old buildings, streets and abandoned mines reminding the visitor of the past hey days of Jiufen. While the tales of the gold rush have given a boost to the popularity of Jiufen, what really appeals to visitors in Jiufen are the walking opportunities. Suffice to say, that a stroll among the streets of this town, among some picturesque architecture and well laid out streets is sure to take your breath away. Jiufen has a large number of stairs and tunnels, but that adds to the uniqueness of the place. Almost magically, these connect one area of the town from the other. Hikers can marvel at the rock formations on the Nyaya coastline before heading to the charming teahouse lined roads of Jiufen. Plus, its super easy to go from Taipei to Juifen.
Overall my time in Taipei was simply amazing and I only did the KKday tours for nature lovers so it was the perfect fit.