When traveling in Taiwan, Taipei is the top choice for its convenient transport. But beyond the capital, cities like Kaohsiung and Taichung each offer something special. Kaohsiung stands out with sunshine, a harbor vibe, and creative spots like The Pier2 Art Center and Love River. Taichung has a mild climate and strong cultural flair, blending modern sites like the National Taichung Theater with the lively Fengchia Night Market. Kaohsiung feels free and vibrant; Taichung is artistic and gentle. Both are great ways to explore Taiwan’s charm. Here are some top food and shopping picks to enhance your trip.
Kaohsiung: Xinwei Forest Park
Xinwei Forest Park is located on a plateau on the west bank of the Laonong River in Liugui District, Kaohsiung City, at an elevation of approximately 200 meters. One of the park’s most iconic features is The Mahogany Avenue, lined with 1,100 mahogany trees that stretch along a straight 2-kilometer path. In late winter to early spring, the green leaves of the mahogany trees turn red and yellow, and fallen leaves carpet the avenue, creating a particularly poetic and picturesque scene. The park also features wooden boardwalks and bicycle paths, allowing visitors to stroll or cycle to the park’s European-style garden at the far end. There, you can take photos with elegant dome-shaped pavilions and art installations themed around purple butterflies and Indigenous culture, or climb to the observation deck to enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.
• Address: No. 171, Xinwei Li, Liugui District., Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
Kaohsiung: Tianliao Moon World Landscape Park
The unique landscape of the "Moon World Landscape Park" is known in geography as "badlands." These formations are the result of the earth's crust undergoing a rejuvenation process. Over long periods, intense erosion by rainwater and rivers caused silt and sediment to accumulate on layers of mudstone. Subsequent geological shifts mixed the sediment with the mudstone, and through continuous weathering and sedimentation, today's striking terrain was formed. Tianliao is home to Taiwan’s most developed badlands and mud volcanoes. The badland formations here, composed of Gutingkeng Formation mudstone, create a desolate, desert-like beauty—like a natural geological classroom untouched by human hands.
• Address: No. 36, Yueqiu Road, Tianliao District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
Taichung: National Taichung Theater
Designed by renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito, a recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the National Taichung Theater stands out with its avant-garde form, rooted in the concept of “an architecture of sound.” The building features distinctive curved walls, air holes, and tubular structures, showcasing the unique design element known as the “Sound Cave.” Remarkably, the entire structure is built without any beams or columns, and not a single wall forms a 90-degree angle — a radical departure from conventional architectural norms. As a result, it has been dubbed by industry experts as “the world’s most challenging building to construct.”
• Address: No. 101, Section 2, Huilai Road, Xitun District, Taichung City, Taiwan.
Taichung: PARK2 Caowu Square
PARK2 Caowu Square is an unconventional urban park that blends lush greenery with a curated retail experience. Here, you’ll find top-selected outdoor gear, exclusive international restaurants, artisanal desserts and drinks, as well as a popular Taichung store themed around caudiciform plants. Looking to unwind after work? Head to one of the hidden bars tucked within the park to relax and recharge. With weekly markets and performances happening throughout, it’s a vibrant urban oasis perfect for a full day of chilling. Feeling tired from exploring? Lounge on the wooden deck in the sunken outdoor plaza and soak in the shade surrounded by striking desert and broadleaf plants. More than just a go-to spot for meals with friends and family, PARK2 Caowu Square is a place to restore your body and mind—a refreshing retreat in the city that redefines what a park can be.
• Address: No. 534, Yingcai Road, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan.
Taichung: Inflorescence
Named after the Tang Dynasty poem “Perching swallows return to the eaves in peace; flying flower petals fall in the garden at leisure,” Inflorescence is a Japanese garden retreat located at an elevation of 465 meters in Shinshe, Taichung. After ten years of meticulous construction, it opened to the public in 2021. The garden exudes Zen serenity and offers a space where the beauty of all four seasons is distinctly felt. Showcasing a private and refined setting for Japanese kaiseki cuisine, the restaurant crafts seasonal menus based on the finest ingredients of the moment. Bridging local and global perspectives, it creates delicate and heartwarming dining experiences. Recognized as a Michelin-selected restaurant for three consecutive years, Inflorescence offers a rare escape from the bustle of daily life—an oasis where time slows down and stillness takes form.
• Address: No. 111, Section 1, Zhongxingling Street, Xinshe District, Taichung City 426, Taiwan.
• Contact: +886(4) 2582-2388
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