The People’s Republic of China may be the third most visited country in the world, but right on its doorstep, the other China — the Republic of China — lies quietly, still waiting to be discovered. Two Chinas? Yes, it’s true.
Better known as Taiwan, the Republic of China plays second fiddle to its considerably larger neighbor when it comes to attracting visitors. But despite its size, Taiwan has an uncanny ability to win over travelers.
Wandering through Taipei, the island’s capital, delivers the quintessential Asian urban experience. It’s got buzzing night markets lit by a blinding torrent of neon, modern towers pushing at the clouds, and ancient temples tucked into the city’s nooks and crannies. Venture outside the city, though, and you’ll unearth Taiwan’s real treasure: its natural beauty.
Taiwan has no fewer than eight national parks. They range from marine reserves and island sanctuaries with pristine beaches to vertiginous mountain parks with enough biodiversity to fill an SD card several times over.
Hiking is one of the finest ways to experience the island. Below you’ll find three of its most popular and most accessible Taiwanese national parks.
Yangmingshan National Park
A mere stone’s throw from Taipei, Yangmingshan National Park is the most accessible park on this list. Unsurprisingly, it’s one of the most popular among locals and visitors alike.
Blessed with remarkable biodiversity, Yangmingshan is a genuine paradise for hikers, cyclists, and wildlife enthusiasts, particularly birdwatchers, who will find over a hundred species to tick off their lists.
The park is also home to more than 1,200 plant species and a cast of wildlife that includes Formosan macaques, wild boars, and hares. Spring is an especially rewarding time to visit, when the hillsides fill with color as cherry blossoms, azaleas, and calla lilies come into bloom.
Hiking options are plentiful, with trails suited to all fitness levels. Among the most popular are the routes around the volcanic Datun and Qixing ranges, which reward hikers with sweeping views of Taipei and the surrounding valleys.
One word of caution: wear sturdy boots and stay alert on the trails. Yangmingshan National Park is home to several venomous snake species, including the bamboo viper and the Chinese cobra.
For those staying more than a day, accommodation is available near the main entrance, and an overnight stay is worth it for one reason alone: the hot springs. Hikers will pass geothermal vents along the trails, but soaking in the steaming, mineral-rich waters at the end of a long day is one of Yangmingshan’s most satisfying experiences.
Taroko National Park
Taroko National Park is the jewel in Taiwan’s crown. Enormously popular with locals and visitors, it ranks among Asia’s most spectacular natural destinations — though remarkably, it remains relatively unknown beyond the region. The Taroko Gorge, the park’s centerpiece, cuts through the island’s interior, its ancient marble walls carved over millennia by the powerful Liwu River.
Laced with bridges, trails, and scenic roads, Taroko National Park is a trekker’s paradise offering some of Taiwan’s most accessible and rewarding views. While a few trails require a permit to access, several excellent routes start close to the park entrance and need no advance paperwork.
The most popular among them are the Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail (Jiuqudong), the Eternal Spring Shrine Trail (Changchun), and the Shakadang Trail. Ranging from 1.35 to 4.4 kilometers and easily completed in a day, each of these hikes takes in scenery that lingers. They showcase towering marble cliffs, brilliantly blue rivers, and, in one case, a cliffside Buddhist monastery perched above the gorge.
Taroko National Park sits less than an hour by car from Hualien, one of Taiwan’s most appealing cities, so it draws a steady stream of visitors year-round. Crowds are part of the deal, particularly around the most famous viewpoints. That said, the park is vast, and anyone willing to venture a little further along its longer trails will find themselves with far more breathing room.
Yushan National Park
At just under 4,000 metres, Yushan — or Jade Mountain — is Taiwan’s highest peak and the heart of Yushan National Park. Remote and rugged, it’s the most demanding park on this list, but it also offers the island’s finest high-altitude hiking and climbing.
Yushan suits the more adventurous hiker better than the casual day-tripper. Trails here are generally more technical than anything you’ll find in Yangmingshan or Taroko. Many require permits, careful planning, and appropriate gear.
The most traveled route in the park leads to the Yushan Main Peak, a strenuous but manageable climb for any reasonably fit, acclimatized hiker. Yushan belongs to an illustrious trio of major East Asian summits alongside Mount Fuji and Mount Kinabalu. Reaching the top has become a genuine bucket-list achievement for peak-baggers worldwide.
The ascent is best approached as a two-day hike beginning at Tatajia, with an overnight stop at the Paiyun Cabin roughly 8.5 kilometers from the trailhead. The cabin fills up quickly, so booking well in advance is essential.
Several longer multi-day routes also cross the park, including the historic Batongguan Japanese Era Crossing Trail and the Southern Section Two Trail. These are serious undertakings and should only be attempted by experienced, well-equipped trekkers.
Hut accommodation exists along the way, but hikers must carry all their own food and water. You should be prepared for rapidly changing weather. Landslides and washouts are a real risk in this terrain.
