Esther YueLocated in East Asia, the island of Taiwan is praised for its stunning natural beauty and charming man-made attractions. Undoubtedly, this has made Taiwan a popular tourist destination.
With so many captivating attractions in Taiwan to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which sightseeing spots to add to your itinerary. And so, we’ve picked out 10 of the most beautiful towns and villages in Taiwan, including outstanding attractions you can visit within these towns and villages!
Also read: Taiwan Itinerary for First-timers: My 6D5N Trip to Taichung & Taipei
10 most beautiful towns and villages in Taiwan
1. Chenggong Township, Taitung County
Image credit: Mlenny via Canva Pro
When it comes to coastal views, Chenggong Township is certainly one of the most beautiful towns in Taiwan. Because Chenggong is situated along Taiwan’s spectacular East Coast, it’s endowed with stunning coastal sights. Expect to see blue waters, picturesque beaches, offshore islands, caves, and reefs!
Parts of the East Coast National Scenic Area are located in Chenggong, including Shiyusan (‘Umbrella Rock’), and Douli Beach: a lovely beach known as the ‘mirror of the sky’, where the shallow water reflects the blue sky.
Chenggong Township is located in Taiwan’s Taitung County.
2. Alishan Township, Chiayi County
Image credit: Leung Cho Pan via Canva Pro
Where mountains and scenic views are concerned, Alishan Township is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful towns in Taiwan. Located in Chiayi County, this mountainous town is home to the breathtaking Alishan Mountain Range. Alishan is an amazing sightseeing destination for travellers who love the great outdoors, and like thrilling experiences.
One of Alishan’s must-visit attractions is the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area, which is situated within the Alishan National Scenic Area. Here, your eyes will be blessed by Alishan’s “five wonders”: its sunrise, sea of clouds, sunset glow, forests, and mountain railway! Hiking around Alishan is a very popular activity in Taiwan.
3. Jiji Township, Nantou County
Image credit: liuyushan via Canva Pro
Jiji Township may be the smallest administrative district in Taiwan, but it’s been getting increasingly popular with tourists thanks to its unique old-town charm!
You’ll get to see classic railways and historical architecture in Jiji, such as the iconic Jiji Railway, and Jiji Train Station, which is the best-known terminal station on the Jiji Railway. Jiji is also full of lush scenery that can be explored by bicycle! One of the best things to do here is cycling along the 4.5 kilometre-long Jiji Green Tunnel, which will give you beautiful views of the Jiji Railway and the lush farmland.
Fun fact: In 2015, the Jiji Green Tunnel was named one of Taiwan’s Top Ten Bikeways by the Taiwan Sports Administration!
4. Heping District, Taichung City
Image credit: DAPA Images via Canva Pro
For nature lovers, Heping District is hands down one of the best places to visit in Taiwan. This is because Heping is home to an abundance of flourishing nature. Think lush forests, mountains, and changing colours across the four seasons!
One of Heping’s most renowned nature attractions is Wuling Farm. Here, cherry blossoms abound during spring, and maple leaves decorate the farm during autumn! You can also enjoy gorgeous mountain views from Wuling Farm.
Heping District is also home to Daxue Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area, which is situated at the end of Taiwan’s Snow Mountain Range. ‘Dasyueshan’ literally translates to ‘big snow mountain’. From the Yakou Observatory in the recreation area, you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding mountains — even up to Yushan (‘Jade Mountain’), which is Taiwan’s tallest mountain. Daxue Dasyueshan National Forest Recreation Area is also a good stargazing spot!
Heping District is located in Taichung City, one of Taiwan’s largest cities.
5. Pingxi District, New Taipei City
Image credit: Bianca Constantinescu’s Images via Canva Pro
Pingxi District is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Taiwan for its magnificent waterfalls and retro streets!
Shifen Waterfall is one of the most famous waterfalls in Pingxi, and also in the whole of Taiwan. This cascading waterfall is often enshrouded by mist, and boasts beautiful rainbows. Because of its outstanding beauty, Shifen Waterfall has even been dubbed the ‘Niagara Falls of Taiwan’. Wanggu Waterfall is another idyllic waterfall to visit in Pingxi. It’s a great photo-taking spot though it’s smaller than Shifen Waterfall.
On top of natural scenery, Pingxi District is also home to charming old streets. One of the most popular ones is Shifen Old Street, located next to the iconic Shifen Railway Station. Here, you can experience the cool retro vibes and shop right next to the railway tracks! This is also a very popular filming location that you might’ve spotted in Taiwanese music videos.
6. Jiufen Village, Ruifang District, New Taipei City
Image credit: NH 的影像 via Canva Pro
Perched on the hills of northeastern Taiwan, Jiufen is a mountain village that overlooks the sea. A fun fact about Jiufen is that it used to be a major gold mining hub. Even today, you’ll see traces of its gold history. Jiufen is one of the most beautiful villages to visit in Taiwan for its charming old streets and scenic nature.
One of Jiufen’s most vibrant attractions is Jiufen Old Street: a popular photography and shopping spot which emits nostalgic feelings of traditional Taiwan. Walk down the narrow lanes and alleys, where you’ll see unique traditional architecture, teahouses, and little souvenir shops. And, located close to Jiufen Old Street is Keelung Mountain. Using the hiking trail, you can easily reach the peak, where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Jiufen Village, as well as Taiwan’s North Coast!
Tip: Some of Jiufen’s buildings are amazing vantage points from which you can enjoy beautiful coastal views!
7. Ren’ai Township, Nantou County
Image credit: FotoGraphik via Canva Pro
Ren’ai Township is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Taiwan if you love panoramic views and flourishing nature! Ren’ai is the gateway to Hehuanshan, one of Taiwan’s most popular mountains, which boasts dazzling snowscapes and hiker-friendly trails.
Qingjing Farm is another of the township’s top scenic attractions. At 1,750 metres above sea level, the farm offers visitors a bird’s eye view of the surrounding scenery, including the peaks of the majestic Central Mountain Range, the Puli Basin Mountain Range, Jade Lake, and City Guard Mountain. Qingjing Farm boasts natural beauty in all seasons, with lovely peach blossoms during spring and vibrant maple leaves during autumn.
8. Anping District, Tainan City
Image credit: Leung Cho Pan via Canva Pro
For history enthusiasts, Anping District will be one of the most beautiful towns to visit in Taiwan! Anping is home to dozens of grand historical sites that hail from different periods of history, including the Dutch occupation, Koxinga period, Qing administration, and the Japanese colonial era.
Make sure to stroll around Anping and explore its rich history! Some of Anping’s iconic historical sites include Anping Old Fort, the iconic historical replica of the very first fort built by the Dutch; Tait & Co. Merchant House, which features a distinct white exterior; and Anping Old Street, the first street built by the Dutch in Anping.
Anping District is located in Tainan City, the oldest city in Taiwan.
9. Xiulin Township, Hualien County
Image credit: leochen66 via Canva Pro
Located in the scenic Hualien County, Xiulin Township easily takes its spot as one of the most beautiful towns and villages in Taiwan. Some of the country’s most awe-inspiring nature is found right here in Xiulin.
Xiulin is the gateway to one of Taiwan’s most stunning natural assets: Taroko National Park, a popular hiking destination famed for its mountains, canyons, and waterfalls. Some of Taroko’s most stunning attractions include the Baiyang Falls, Tunnel of Nine Turns, the towering Qingshui Cliff, and the grand Taroko Gorge! Fun fact: Taroko National Park actually spans across Hualien County, Nantou County, and Taichung City.
Though many areas in Taroko National Park are temporarily closed to visitors in the aftermath of the April 3 earthquake, several attractions are slated to reopen by the end of 2024! These include the Buluowan Suspension Bridge, Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail, the Chongde Trail, and Huide Trail. Look forward to this and stay tuned for updates!
10. Beitou District, Taipei City
Image credit: Wirestock via Canva Pro
Last but not least, Beitou District is among the most beautiful towns and villages to visit in Taiwan! It’s a popular tourist destination thanks to its natural beauty. Firstly, Beitou is famous for its hot springs, including the Hushan Village Hot Spring and Longfeng Hot Spring. As such, there are many hot spring resorts in Beitou where you can relax and enjoy the scenery.
Beitou District is also the gateway to the famous Yangmingshan National Park, which is home to scenic forests, valleys, hot springs, and volcanic landscapes. Another notable nature spot in Beitou is Guandu Nature Park: a major stop for migratory birds, where the Keelung River joins the Tamsui River.
Also read: 10 Best Taiwan Attractions Outside Taipei
This article has collated some of the most beautiful towns and villages in Taiwan. Feeling inspired by these places? Add them to your itinerary for a sightseeing trip that’ll bless your eyes (and your Instagram feed)!
Featured image credit: Travel Photography via Canva Pro
