Discover Taitung: A Hidden Gem of Taiwan

Overall, Taitung presents a fantastic opportunity for travelers to immerse themselves in the region’s rich tea and coffee culture while finding unique gifts to share with friends and family. Visitors to Taitung looking for locally produced tea or coffee to take home as gifts have several great options to explore. One notable destination is the Taitung Railway Art Village, where travelers can find a variety of tea products sourced from local tea farms in the area.
Cheng Ping Hot Spring Inn (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor) is my recommended choice here. Rooms have private hot spring 台東 伴手禮 推薦 tubs with river views. Hotel Royal Chihpen (see on Booking / Agoda / TripAdvisor) offers a more luxurious experience.

The parking lot is huge, and leaves to a museum that explains more of the history. If you have free time away from the ocean and want to see some other historical areas then a good place. There is a very large area for kid to play with even tree awing or two! The National Museum of Prehistory is a large and informative museum that showcases exhibits pertaining to geological formations, human evolution, and cultural history. It is an ideal destination for those interested in learning about prehistoric Taiwanese people and their way of life.
The views are phenomenal and offer stunning scenery, this part of Taiwan definitively is the most beautiful one. Going on a hot air balloon ride over the area is one of the best things to in Taitung. Jialulan Recreation Area, located less than a kilometer away, is an elevated seaside lookout adorned with several driftwood art installations.
The friend chicken tasted like original KFC batter but tasted stronger and more fragrant. The burger has no taste of meat on the bites, could be the patty is thin. A worthwhile place to go for fast food in Taitung. The PIPA lake is a wonderful place in Taitung that should never be missed. Once you get to the entrance, you need to rent a bike for more convenience for only 100NT  dollars.

The food is of high quality and can be enjoyed throughout the day as the restaurant operates 24 hours. The staff is courteous and attentive to customers' needs. It is highly recommended to dine at this establishment due to its flavorful and delicious cuisine. The 伊塔原旅 臺東縣原住民文化會館 is an innovative hotel that celebrates the indigenous heritage of Taitung. The rooms are comfortable and adorned with indigenous art and crafts, offering a unique and colorful ambiance.
I wrote a separate guide  to the best food souvenirs from Taiwan because there are just too many! So in this article, I will just focus on non-edible souvenirs. In this article, I’m going to introduce more than 20 of the best Taiwan souvenirs.
Taitung offers a wide variety of tea leaves, from green tea to oolong tea, and even to rare and exotic teas that can only be found in the region. Buying tea leaves directly from the source ensures that you are getting the freshest and highest quality leaves available. On Day 1, you can start by visiting the tea plantations and witnessing the process of growing and harvesting tea leaves. Then, head to a tea factory to learn about the tea-making process and even try your hand at making your own tea.

The rope to cross the river had also been washed away and the water was over 6 ft deep where you typically cross with very strong currents. My kids love this so called nature wonder where water travel upstream. I measure the bottom and top is about 20’ difference in height. As you climb up, The views and grass rest area is fantastic.
Due to its flatness, Longtian is also the landing ground for paragliders; watch as they descend from on high and land. The green tunnel formed by Madagascar Almond trees, the tung blossoms of March-April and other natural scenes also attract many visitors. Chishang bikewayThe best way to experience Chishang at a slower pace is by riding a bicycle. Make sure to stop at the solitary tree where the commercial was shot and enjoy the expansive views with vast fields and majestic mountains in the distance. Known for creatively adding new twists to traditional Hakka flavors, this is now one of the most popular restaurants on Provincial Highway 9.

Ambiance not super, but fine for a short-order rice place. The tips I read were to avoid the noodles and only add spice if you are a SERIOUS spice lover. We ordered the shaoxing surf and turf and the garlic sausage. Love the park across the street; we spent hours riding loaner bicycles in the park. My mate and I stumbled upon this as we were driving across Taiwan and we have been to a few different hotels.
Taitung Art Museum (臺東美術館) A small art museum near Taitung Forest Park known for its unusal shape and wooden platforms which allow visitors to walk up into the trees. The park protects the largest and best-preserved prehistoric settlement in Taiwan. The Beinan (卑南) culture inhabited the area from 2500 to 300 BC in and were known for their jade production. The site was discovered when the train station was being built in the early 1980s.
First, as a bonvoy lifetime platinum member, i will get bonvoy points as welcome gift and I can go to the concierge/club lounge for breakfast with my kids. But this hotel does not offer breakfast at club lounge. If you want to have breakfast, you can’t get welcome gift and the breakfast only for 2. Second, this hotel is  a 5 stars hotel, but it surprised me that the lobby is stinky especially when standing closer to the lobby bathroom.