Where to stay and hike for a weekend in Taiwan?

April 8, 2018 4:04 PM

I find myself in late April with meetings on Friday and Monday in Taiwan, so I have decided to spend a weekend and go hiking instead of flying in and out. Any recommendations for a good hiking area and associated hotel/B&B?

I know Taipei pretty well, so would prefer to get outside the city. I've been to Hualien, but wouldn't mind going back if I could find the right hotel. Don't mind train rides, but will not rent a car. So I would need somewhere I could access without a car. No camping options, please. I won't have the time or energy to lug my gear.

posted by frumiousb to Travel & Transportation around Taiwan (1 answer total)

You could try staying in Jiaoxi in Yilan county. It's about a 40-minute bus ride from Taipei city. There are a bazillion hot spring hotels in Jiaoxi, though the weather should be plenty hot by then. There are a lot of outdoorsy things to do in Yilan, but they can be a pain to get to if you're going to rely on the train or taxi to get to them. There's the beach at Wushi port just north (I'd take a taxi there). You could do this Caoling trail hike, end up in Fulong, hang out at the beach a little, and take the train back.

Another option would be to stay at a B&B type place in Jiufen. There's some hiking in that area. And you could explore the Shifen/Pingxi area around there. The weekend crowds there can be quite bad, though.
posted by alidarbac at 9:12 PM on April 8, 2018 [1 favorite]