Hakka sanheyuan house near Xinpu
Dabajianshan, Taiwan’s most magnificentlly distinctive high mountain peak
Temples at Shitoushan, Miaoli County
Shuiyang Lake, a beautiful creation of the great 1999 earthquake
In Taiwan 101 western Taiwan is everything from the Hakka lands of Hsinchu and underrated Miaoli, through Taichung City, Changhua, Yunlin (another under-explored corner of the island), and beautiful Nantou County. This long swathe of the island comprises the flat and (for a nature lover) relatively uninteresting western plains, but these are dotted with some of Taiwan’s most historic (and interesting) towns, the majority of Taiwan’s heritage structures are found here, and there’s even the occasional stunning natural anomaly, such as the badlands landscape of Fire Mountain and the Da An River Grand Canyon, both just north of Taichung city.
Taiwan’s magnificent central and Snow Mountain ranges are also generally approached from the west, which has easier access to most of the high summits, while in their foothills, Taichung City and the counties of Nantou, Yunlin, and Chiayi feature some of the island’s most magnificent easily accessible scenery. For hikers and nature lovers with time to explore only one part of Taiwan, this western region (with the magnificent scenery of Chiayi County just to the south) is the area to go for. Several months could be spent hiking around and exploring the area’s extraordinary range of natural and cultural attractions without exhausting the possibilities.
The summit of Mount Yuanzui, perhaps the most exciting day hike in the Taichung area
Wannian Gorge, Yunlin County
Atomospheric old alleyways in Lukang, Chunghua County
Eve Tree, Zhenxibao, Hsinchu County
Taiwan Pleione, a rare endemic orchid
In Chung Tai Chan Temple, Nantou County
Atayal sculpture at Shilai, Hsinchu County
Taoshan Waterfall, Taichung City
Temple sculpture, Lukang, Chunghua County
Taiwan’s highest road (3,200 meters) at Mount Hohuan, Nantou County
Old Movie Theater at Nanchuang, Miaoli County
Japanese-era Lidong Fort sits atop a mountain at just under 2,000 meters, Hsinchu County
Ancient red cypruss tree (over 2,000 years old) at Zhenxibao, Hsinchu County
Sun Moon Lake cycle path
Shenxian Gorge, dwelling place of Atayal aboriginal ancestors, Miaoli County
The Hall of the Four Kings at Chung Tai Chan Temple, one of Taiwan’s largest
Kuhuatan Waterfall, Miaoli County
Smangus, Hsinchu County
Climbing Mount Yuanzui, Taichung City
Shuiyang Lake, Nantou/Chiayi County border
Maliguang Waterfall, route 60, Hsinchu County
Cijiawan River, Wuling Farm, home of the critically endangered Formosan landlocked salmon
The famous Fan-shaped Railway Depot at Chunghua
Water Curtain Cave, Caoling, Yunlin County
Confucius Temple, Changhua
The thrilling Batongguan Historic Trail, a Japanese-built route from Nantou to Hualien County
The original Heavenly Steps bridge at Taiji Canyon in Nantou has since spawned several imitators around the island
Granddaddy Tree, Smangus, the third largest known tree in Taiwan
View en route to Shanlinxi, Nantou County
The spectacular Pinglai Stream Canyon, Nantou County
The famous Chiyou Tree, on the Wuling Four Mountains high mountain trek
Beautiful but rarely visited Fenghuang Waterfall, Yunlin County
Smangus, Hsinchu County
The view from the summit of Snow Mountain, Taiwan’s second highest mountain at 3,886 meters
Songlongyan Rock, Shanlinxi, Nantou County
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK 
Amazing snapshots ! Thanks so much for sharing !
Sent from my iPhone
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Thanks Anne!
So many stunning photos from my home country which many parts of them I have never been! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks! Taiwan really is a very special place!