The final two days in Taiwan were a bit of a random one. We’d left behind the busyness of Taipei once more and headed into the cosy mountain district of Wulai. Famous for its hot springs, beautiful scenery, and hiking, we came to see what this quaint town had to offer — suspension bridge, cable cars, and more. So strap in for another two days with us as we uncover more of Taiwan’s beauty.

Wulai is home to the Atayal people, one of the country’s most important indigenous tribes.The name translates to hot spring, taken from the Atayal language. As I mentioned in my last blog, it’s the classic blend of urban meets nature — and it’s a stunning aesthetic

Mini trains, Waterfalls and brutal uphill climbs

We kicked things off with a visit to the Wulai Suspension Bridge. It spans the Nanshi River and is only a six-minute walk from Wulai Old Street. There is a panoramic view – look north and you’ll see the red arch bridge; south, where the Nanshi and Tonghou Rivers meet, along with trickling hot springs. Nature just doesn’t stop showing off.

Next we hopped on the Wulai log cart — a charming mini train ride from Old Street to the waterfall. It cost about £1 or $1.50 and runs daily between 9am–5pm. Super short, super cute.From there, you can either hike or take the cable car up to get a view of the waterfall.

As you can see from the photos below, it is a very photogenic sight!

Originally built in 1967, it became Taiwans first theme park. It once had bumper boats, a zoo, archery, and more. Unfortunately due to the 2015 Typhoon Soudelor, a lot of the place was damaged — with very little of it renovated.While it’s technically still running, a lot of it looks worn and half-abandoned.

Whilst it may not be the picturesque place it once was, it was nice to see the local families and nature lovers visit. We sat on the swings for a while and chatted, embracing the sunny weather. I believe that it was my friend who found this place and added it to our itinerary. I would recommend for those nature lovers and introverts if you are looking for a change of pace.

After a full day of adventuring, we came back to the hotel to find a lovely little surprise: our room was leaking.

Leaky rooms

Yup — you read that right. It was literally raining in our hotel room for a few hours that evening. Thankfully not on the beds, but still. The hotel staff (shoutout to them) joined us that night to drain the aircon. What was wrong? No clue. But we were left with a fresh, damp smell for the rest of the night. Pure luxury.

Final Day in Taipei: Visuals, Food and One hell of a Skyline

On our last day, we stayed in Taipei. Two of my friends wanted to sleep in, while I decided to escape the flooded hotel room and go find some hidden gems. So I stuck on the shoes and headed off to The National Palace Museum. With over 8,000 years of Chinese history, the museum opened in 1965 and is located in the Shilin District. The collection holds some rare artefacts of the Forbidden City in Beijing. From imperial loot to calligraphy, paintings and more, there is plenty of artifacts to admire.

The design of this museum really is stunning and you can spend at least half a day here exploring each area. A standard ticket for an adult is around £9 or $12 dollars (ish), which is pretty reasonable for how big it is. Now look, I love a good hike, but there’s something therapeutic about wandering through history. It was a perfect contrast to all the nature we’d been soaking up.

With a brief stop to Dalongdong Baoan Temple, I wondered round, took some photos and grabbed a bite to eat.

Food break

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

Later in the day, I met up with my friends again and we headed to: Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial hall. This hall was built between 1976-80 to memorialise the first President of the Republic of China. With surrounding gardens, you can find the National Theatre & Concert hall on either side. 89 steps (the age of his death) lead up to the memorial, which you can visit any time between 9am-5pm. Each hour you can watch the changing of the guard, which is very cool to see. Whilst we were there as tourists, you can see the locals hanging out, from kids to after work workers.

Now this place is huge – you can find yourself spending an entire day there walking around the different buildings and gardens. It is a gorgeous place that I would recommend visiting if you are close by.

We finished off with with a walk toward Taipei 101 to catch the skyline. The building, designed to withstand both earthquakes and typhoons, lit up the city beautifully. We ended our night with a quiet and enjoyed listening to some local buskers sing their hearts out.

Final thoughts on Taiwan

EWith a quiet final evening, I can honestly say Taiwan is one of my favourite countries I’ve visited. The blend of architecture and nature is genuinely stunning. The business reminded me of home — especially the city commuters — and the food? Top tier.

My favourite area was definitely Jiufen.

Jiufen stood out the most to me — it felt raw, rooted, and deeply connected to Taiwan’s traditional soul. Even with the tourist crowds, there’s an atmosphere there that doesn’t feel manufactured or dressed up for show. The narrow, winding alleys lit by red lanterns, the scent of incense and street food mingling in the air, the sound of rain hitting the rooftops — it all felt like stepping into an old dream you didn’t know you’d had. It wasn’t just scenic. It had spirit. Some places just hit you, and Jiufen had that effect.

(And yes — as I type this, it’s pouring rain in the UK. Classic.)

Taiwan is a country with a strong heart. It gives you everything — the chaotic energy of neon-lit night markets, the quietness of sacred temples, the unmatched beauty of its mountains and rivers, and a rich, layered history that lingers in the air.

There’s something magnetic about it. The nights are thick with the smell of grilled meat and sweet dough, the streets hum with life, and yet you can still find moments of complete calm, tucked between temple walls or at the top of a misty trail.

Its cultural identity is complex and compelling — a blend of indigenous heritage, ancient Chinese tradition, and Japanese colonial influence. It’s not a country you just see. It’s one you feel. And if you get the chance to visit, don’t overthink it. Just go. Let it pull you in.

In my next blog, we make our departure from Taiwan and onto the next place!

So as always, Thank you for reading my post—I hope you enjoyed.

Until my next blog of intrepid tales on my trails…!