After six blissful days savoring the food and soaking in the vibrant energy of Taipei, we began our journey south toward Kaohsiung. But instead of speeding down the highway, we took the scenic route — thanks to our cousins (Ta Ming, Wai Ming, and crew!) who rented a minivan for us and even joined us for the first leg of the adventure. What followed was a road trip filled with fresh mountain air, cultural discoveries, and delightful surprises.
Our first stop was Wulai, a charming hot springs town just an hour from the city—yet it felt a world away. The winding mountain roads, surrounded by lush greenery, made the drive itself a refreshing escape from urban life.
We made a stop at Neidong National Forest Recreation Area for a short and easy hike to see the waterfalls. Tucked within the forest, the paved trails led us to cascading falls surrounded by vibrant greenery. It was an unexpected highlight of the trip—a peaceful retreat and a welcome respite from the buzz of Taipei.
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| Neidong upper falls |
After the hike, we stopped in Wulai’s old town, where a dramatic waterfall provided a scenic backdrop for lunch. The area has a strong presence of the Atayal people (泰雅族), one of Taiwan's indigenous communities, and we enjoyed local dishes at a nearby restaurant.
The highlight was the bamboo rice—we had to bang the thick bamboo tube hard enough to crack it open ourselves, revealing perfectly steamed, fragrant rice inside. Many of the vegetables were new to us, making the meal both delicious and eye-opening.
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| see those bamboo sticks of rice? |
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| Wulai Waterfall |
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| Wulai Old Street |
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| Exotic mountain vegetable and fruits |
After lunch, we hopped on a small train down the mountain, where our driver was waiting to whisk us away to Full Moon Spa Hotel for the night.
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| train ride down the mountain |
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| Full Moon Spa (top left building with the red sign) |
The hotel is a charming little spot right in town. There’s an elevator up to the lobby, but reaching the rooms requires walking down a set of steps—something to keep in mind for the elderly or anyone with limited mobility. The highlight, of course, was the enormous spa-like tub in our room, complete with a lovely view of the river. Filled with piping hot spring water, a long soak was the perfect antidote after a full day of exploring.
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| view of the mountain from the restaurant |
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| A delicious hot pot seafood dinner was part of our room package |
Unbeknownst to us, there was no heat in the room—and the temperature had dipped to a chilly 56°F or
13.3°C. It was
cold!
Around the same time, much of the southern U.S.—especially Nashville, TN — was battling a major ice storm and widespread power outages. All things considered, we’d much rather brave the cold in Wulai than the ice in Nashville.
Our next stop was in Taichung, but it'll have to be another post. Stay tuned.
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