West Coast: From Taipei to Kenting Beaches

Your immersion in the Taiwanese capital begins at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial, erected in honor of the former leader in the heart of a 25-hectare park. Among gardens and peaceful basins, discover the National Theater and the National Concert Hall, two buildings of traditional architecture. The large esplanade that separates them is also a place of life appreciated by residents.

Continue to the National Palace Museum (closed every Monday), which houses an extensive collection of Chinese artworks and artifacts. A dive through several millennia of history and art.

In mid-afternoon, head towards Taipei 101.

Explore the shopping galleries and dining areas of Taipei 101, then take the elevator up to the observation deck on the 89th floor. From there, enjoy the panoramic views over the metropolis, especially in the glow of the sunset.

End your day at the Shilin night market. Sit at a shared table to taste local street food, between hot skewers and typical Taïwan specialties.

Start the day early at Longshan Temple to attend the morning chants and liturgies, around 8 a.m. Before your visit, stop by a popular local establishment to enjoy a bowl of traditional rice soup (congee).

Built in 1738 by immigrants from mainland China, Longshan is Taipei's oldest sanctuary. Its name refers to the "Dragon Mountain" in Fujian, and the temple remains an important place in local spiritual life. Formerly, worshippers prayed to Guanyin for their health before heading to the nearby "medicinal herbs alley" to purchase traditional remedies.

Continue your discovery towards the historic district of Dihua Street.

To immerse yourself in the Taipei of yesteryear, explore this famous shopping street and its stalls:

• Remedies from Chinese pharmacopoeia;

• Incense and religious items;

• Aromatics and dehydrated goods;

• Colorful fabrics and bamboo and wood crafts.

Walking through these streets, amidst scents, textures and colors, allows you to discover the cultural heritage and living traditions of Taïwan.

Your journey begins in the village of Pingxi, famous for its sky lantern ritual. You will have the opportunity to write your wishes for happiness and prosperity before watching your lantern gently rise towards the sky.

The excursion then heads towards the northeast coast to reach Yehliu Geological Park.

Explore the spectacular Yehliu Geological Park. Extending into the sea like a narrow peninsula, this site reveals an almost otherworldly landscape, shaped over millennia by wind and wave erosion.

You will wander among surprising rock formations, notably the famous "mushroom rocks" and the iconic "Queen's Head".

Browse its steep stairways lined with red lanterns and traditional tea houses, with the East China Sea as a backdrop. The mineral and cultural history of Jiufen has nurtured the imagination of many artists and filmmakers.

Here, you will visit the Lin Family Residence and Garden. This jewel of Qing architecture, built in the 19th century by a wealthy lineage of merchants, reveals sculptured wooden pavilions and poetic ponds that bear witness to the aristocratic art of living from bygone times.

Strolling through its cobblestone alleyways like Ruyi Lane, it's like traveling back in time between artisan shops and traditional specialties.

The city is home to two spiritual treasures:

• The Longshan temple, a model of architectural purity with its shaded courtyards and its octagonal coffered dome

• The Mazu temple, a fervent hub dedicated to the protector of sailors.

You will continue with a bike ride on the panoramic cycle path suspended above the lake, ranked among the most beautiful in the world.

In late afternoon, the Wenwu temple, a majestic colossus dedicated to the gods of Letters and War, offers a plunging view over the basin.

The ascent to the Ci'en pagoda — built by Chiang Kai-shek in tribute to his mother — brings the day to a close: from its summit, the panorama over the lake set ablaze by the sunset is unforgettable.

At sunrise, the morning mists over the lake dissipate during a private cruise, offering a peaceful and intimate crossing along the water.

Fenqihu was once a stop on the forest railway built during Japanese occupation to transport wood. It was here that the tradition of the Fenqihu Bento Box developed. Railroad workers and travelers would buy metal lunch boxes filled with rice, braised pork, and local vegetables. You will lunch on this historic specialty in the atmosphere of the old cobblestone alley.

Embark on a stroll beneath the canopy of ancient red cypress trees. The near-constant humidity of this forest fosters an environment where certain sacred trees exceed a thousand years in age, amid veils of mist.

After your walk to the Sacred Tree station, board the little red Alishan train. The journey of approximately 10 minutes to the main station follows a mountain line opened in 1912, which winds through the vegetation.

Head back down the mountain slopes to reach a guesthouse located in the middle of High Mountain Tea Oolong plantations.

Attend a traditional tasting of this tea cultivated in an environment where morning sun gives way to afternoon fog. It stands out particularly for its floral notes.

Your immersion begins at Fort Anping (Fort Zeelandia), built in the 17th century by the Dutch East India Company. Its red brick walls, bound at the time by a traditional mortar of oyster lime and sticky rice, bear witness to the Dutch presence before the reconquest by General Koxinga.

Just a few steps away, discover the Anping Tree House. This former British trading warehouse has been gradually enveloped by the roots and branches of a century-old banyan tree, forming today a true vegetable maze.

In the afternoon, explore on foot the historic center and its maze of picturesque alleyways, between vintage cafés and period houses. You will discover:

• the Koxinga Shrine, built in tribute to the national hero who marked the island's history;

• the Confucius Temple, founded in 1665 and the first higher education institution in Taïwan;

• the Fort Provintia (Chihkan Towers), built by the Dutch in 1653 and later adorned with traditional Chinese pavilions overlooking water gardens.

To end the afternoon, stop by the Hayashi Department Store. Opened in 1932 during Japanese occupation, this oldest department store on the island retains the elegance of the 1930s with its Art Deco facade, its period dial elevator and its preserved Shinto shrine on the roof.

In the evening, enjoy some free time to stroll at your own pace. Explore the food-focused alleys or the famous night markets of Tainan, considered the capital of Taïwan street food. Your guide will be able to advise you on tasting local specialties, amid the aromas and nighttime hustle and bustle.

In the morning, your day begins with a spiritual immersion at the Fo Guang Shan monastery, a major site and sanctuary of Taiwanese Buddhism (closed on Tuesdays). As you explore its architectural complex, discover the immense 120-meter golden Buddha, dominating the site and watching over the valley.

In the afternoon, continue towards the Lake of Lotus, a peaceful pond bordered by sanctuaries and traditional pavilions. On its southern shore stand the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, two twin seven-story towers. According to popular tradition, entering through the dragon's mouth and exiting through the tiger's mouth symbolizes the purification of the soul and the promise of attracting good fortune.

In the late afternoon, enjoy some free time to soak up the local nightlife. Just a stone's throw away, the Pier-2 Art Center, a former maritime warehouse complex transformed into a creative district, brings together galleries, craft shops, cafés and outdoor sculptures.

Your morning begins at the heights of the Longpan park. From the viewpoint, contemplate the Pacific and this limestone plateau shaped by winds and sea. Its name means "the resting dragon", in reference to the crevasses and sinkholes that run through the landscape like the scales of a mythical creature.

Continue with a two-hour walk in the heart of the tropical forest of Kenting National Park.

The trail crosses an ancient coral barrier lifted from the ocean depths by tectonic plate movement, as well as various karst formations.

You pass notably by:

• the Fairy Cave;

• the Silver Cave.

Both feature stalactites and are surrounded by the large roots of banyan figs.

In the afternoon, join Baishawan (White Sand Bay) for a break by the sea.

Enjoy a stop at this bay with white sand of coral origin, sheltered from the wind and bordered by crystal-clear water. It notably served as the setting for the film Life of Pi. You can swim and enjoy a moment of rest at sunset.

The Kenting National Park, at the southern tip of Taïwan, brings together golden sand beaches and turquoise waters, notably at Baisha Bay and Nanwan, conducive to swimming, surfing and relaxing under the palm trees.

The region also features night markets by the sea and diving sites, in radiant weather year-round and a relaxed and festive atmosphere.

Finish your discovery of Kenting at Maobitou Cape, whose name means "the cat's nose". It refers to a rocky spur detached from the cliff evoking the silhouette of a crouching feline, facing the meeting of the waters of the Taïwan Strait and the Bashi Channel.