Classic Taiwan

DAY 01 (SAT)

ARRIVE IN TAIPEI

As you arrive at the Taoyuan International Airport and clear your customs, you will be met by your driver in the arrival hall. From the airport you will be taken to your hotel for your stay, where you can rest well for your upcoming tour.

DAY 02 (SUN)

TAIPEI CITY TOUR (B/D)

In the morning, your tour will begin in the city by visiting the greatest tourist attraction, the “Chiang Kai-shek memorial hall”, which was erected in the memorial of the former president of Taiwan describing his life and work culture. The 62 acres of land is covered with landscaped gardens, pavilions and ponds that showcase the eccentricity of this place. When you visit the Martyr’s Shrine which is a classic Ming Dynasty architecture, you might have the opportunity to see the colorful ceremony of changing of the guards at the entrance. Later, you will be visiting the National Palace Museum which houses the world’s largest collection of priceless Chinese art treasures that spans China’s nearly 5,000-year history. Most of the museum’s 620,000 art pieces were part of the Chinese imperial collection, which began over 1,000 years ago in the early Sung dynasty. Continue to the Grand Hotel located at Yuanshan in Taipei’s Zhongshan District. The main building of the hotel is one of the world’s tallest Chinese classical buildings, it is 285 ft high. It was also the tallest building in Taiwan from 1973 to 1981 and has played host to many foreign dignitaries who have visited Taipei. Our final stop is the Xingtian Temple, a popular temple dedicated to Guan Yu, patron saint of businessmen, and is relatively recent in origin. This temple is situated on a street corner near the center of the city. Sculptures of dragons feature prominently in this temple’s design. It covers over 75,347 square feet. This afternoon is free at leisure.

In the evening, you will be accompanied by our guide for a night tour of Taipei city. Firstly, you will have our dinner at the famous Din Tai Fung restaurant where you will be treated to the famous Xiao Long Bao dumplings. Post dinner, you will visit the ancient Lungshan Temple which is often crowded with worshipers. The Lungshan Temple architecture is considered as one of Taiwan’s finest examples of temple architecture. Ancient Buddhist rituals are still practiced at the Lungshan Temple. The night tour of Taipei continues to the exotic Huahsi Street Night Market where you can stroll past food stalls and street vendors in the bustling night market. Our last stop is the famed Taipei 101 Building which is the second tallest building in the world. You can ascend the observation deck for outstanding views of Taipei city (admission is an additional expense, payable direct). At night, you will be escorted back to your hotel.

DAY 03 (MON)

TAIPEI/KEELUNG CITY/YEHLIU/TAIPEI (B)       

Venture to Taiwan’s North Coast, an area embraced by mountains and the Pacific Ocean stretching to the northern horizon. Our first stop is Keelung city to visit Chung Ching Park where you can enjoy seeing the huge statue of the “Goddess of Mercy” and also the beautiful panoramic view of Keelung Harbor. Continuing your journey, you will be visiting Yehliu which is a cape famed for its numerous rock formations, resembling a Queen’s head, Fairy’s Shoe and Lover’s Rock. Afterwards, you will be returning to your hotel at Taipei for a free afternoon at leisure.

DAY 04 (TUE)

TAIPEI/PULI-SUN MOON LAKE (B) 

Your journey starts in the morning heading to the central of Taiwan to visit Puli Town, the cultural & artistic heaven. Afterwards, you will be proceeding to the famous Sun Moon Lake, which is situated at 2,500 feet above sea level in the lofty mountains of Central Taiwan. As you reach the sun moon lake you will be visiting the famous Wen Wu Temple or Literature Warrior Temple dedicated to Confucius as Master of Pen, Kuan Ti as Master of Sword and other places including Itathao Village, Tse-En Pagoda and Holy Monk Shrine.

DAY 05 (WED)

SUN MOON LAKE/ALISHAN/CHIAYI (B)

With a refreshing breakfast in the morning at the hotel, we will leave for Alishan. Alishan is famous throughout the island and renowned for its production of high mountain tea and wasabi. A leisurely stroll along the forested paths allows visitors to take in Alishan’s other attractions. The enchanting Sisters Ponds are two small pools (one with a wooden bridge and pavilion) named for two lovelorn aborigine sisters who drowned themselves there. Another attraction is the Three Generation Trees –the second tree growing out of the first tree and the third tree growing from the second tree. In the afternoon, the journey continues towards Chiayi for an overnight stay.

DAY 06 (THU)

CHIAYI/SOUTH BRANCH OF NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM/TAIPEI CITY (B)

Post-breakfast, we will tour the South Branch of National Palace Museum. The main structure of the Southern Branch Museum consists three techniques of Chinese ink wash painting, comprising the nongmo (flying white), feibai (thick dark ink) and xuanran (applying colors to drawings) which were employed to form the real mass (i.e., the artifact display areas and artifact storerooms), virtual mass (i.e., the public reception areas) and the mass connecting the real and virtual masses. These three “masses” symbolize the three diversified and long-lasting Asian civilizations of China, India and Persia that enabled the Southern Branch Museum to fulfill its purpose as an Asian Arts and Culture Museum. At the end of the tour, you will be back to the Taipei city to rest for the night at your hotel.

DAY 07 (FRI)

TAIPEI DEPARTURE (B)

Meet your driver at the hotel lobby for your transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Meals: B= Breakfast   L=Lunch   D=Dinner