I landed in Taiwan not really knowing what to expect. Taiwan was on my list for years. Even when I lived in China I never got the chance to visit it.
I’d seen photos, heard about the night markets, read about Taipei being “underrated.” But I didn’t have a list or a plan. I just had a camera and a bit of curiosity.
Turns out, that’s all you need.
First stop: Taipei
Taipei surprised me. It’s really busy but not in a stressful way. There’s a relaxing energy to it, especially in the way scooters pour through the streets like a flood. I found a spot where they all converge into a kind of scooter waterfall it’s weirdly beautiful!
At night, I checked out some night markets. It’s not the flashy, touristy kind it felt local. Grills were going and people were chatting. Folks were super open and friendly.
Chiang Kai-shek
I also stopped by the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. This was such an impressive sight! I didn’t expect the square to be so vast and the structures to be so big. It’s a place that really makes you pause. Whether you know much about Taiwan’s history or not, standing there kind of makes you feel like you’re in the center of something important.
Escaping the city to Yangmingshan Park
One of the best things about Taiwan is its nature. Drive 30–40 minutes from Taipei and suddenly you’re breathing in mountain air. We headed up to Yangmingshan National Park where we found water buffalos, birds and beautiful hills.
I hiked up to Xiaoyoukeng, a sleeping volcanic area where the ground literally breathes steam! You smell the stinky yellow sulfur before you see it. Kind of makes you feel small in a cool way.
It was a bit of a National Geographic moment for me, truly special to witness.
Locals tip: Xiaoyoukeng means little oil pit because the Japanese back in the days thought there was oil to be found, but there wasn't any.
Pinglin Tea Fields
Pinglin is a town surrounded by tea fields and forest. We rode out through the mountains and suddenly everything was still. No scooters. No honking. Just green hills, tea plants, and the sound of wind.
Longshan Temple
Right in the heart of a busy neighborhood stands Longshan Temple. I’ve seen a lot of temples over the years, but this one really stood out. The details were incredible with intricate carvings, colors, even a small waterfall. There was so much to see, I didn’t know where to look!
Yehliu Geopark
Alltho Yehliu Geopark was quite busy, it was like walking onto another planet. Wind-shaped rock formations everywhere, with waves crashing behind them. We found a hiking trail behind the rocks all the way to the end of the cliff. Really cool.
Behind the scenes
I didn’t storyboard this trip. I barely even took notes. I just shot what caught my eye. That meant lots of random stops, backtracking for a better angle, and some camera balancing on rocks. In every shot I kept my camera still aiming to make it look like moving post cards.
I composed the music my self, edited and color graded the video solely in Final Cut.
Let’s chat
Ever been to Taiwan? Thinking about going? Let me know in the comments below!
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Thinking about visiting Taiwan?
Among some of the hotels I stayed in Taiwan, The Grand Mayful was my favorite. We wanted to treat our selves that time and this was a nice and quiet getaway from the busy city.
The location was not that optimal but it was fast to reach as it was just outside the busy city center and subway was only 15 minutes walking. The room was huge, which was very convenient for our son so he could run around and play whenever we came back in the room from a long trip.
Overall, prices of hotels in Taipei were more expensive than I anticipated, this hotel was much more affordable than many others while still having a pool and breakfast included.
My recommended Hotels in Taipei 🛏️
The Grand Mayful Taipei
Taipei, Taiwan
$$ – Mid Range (but luxurious experience!)
Felt very luxurious for a good price- Breakfast was really good!
Felt very luxurious for a good priceFind out where to stay in Taipei below in this interactive map:
