Taiwan by Road — We Went Together

Taipei and Jiufen · 6 June

City and Mountain Town

Our first full day began high above Taipei at the observatory in Taipei 101. By late afternoon we had driven out of the city and climbed into Jiufen, where raincoats, steep lanes and food stalls replaced the view from the tower.

Staying overnight in one of the old houses meant we saw the village after the day visitors had left, with mist settling around the rooftops outside.

Vanessa and the children looking down through the windows of Taipei 101 — Looking down from Taipei 101

Vanessa and the children walking through Jiufen Old Street — Jiufen Old Street

The children inside the old house where the family stayed overnight in Jiufen — Inside our house in Jiufen

Shifen to Taichung · 7–8 June

Lanterns, Waterfall and Bicycles

In Shifen, the railway line runs straight through the town. We wrote on a lantern beside the tracks and watched it rise above the town before continuing to the waterfall.

The following day brought the trip’s most active stretch: all four of us sharing a multi-seat bicycle on the Houfeng Bikeway, with old railway tunnels and bridges ahead.

The children holding a painted sky lantern beside the railway tracks at Shifen — Decorating our own lantern.

The family together at Shifen Waterfall — Shifen Waterfall

The family stopped together on a multi-seat bicycle along the Houfeng Bikeway — The Houfeng Bikeway — four of us on one e-bike.

Sun Moon Lake · 9 June

Sun Moon Lake

The road turned south to Taiwan’s largest lake. We crossed the lake by boat and then took the ropeway above it. We stopped at the temple along the way and stayed by the water into the evening.

Vanessa and the children by the lake in the evening light

Alishan and Fenchihu · 10 June

Forest Railway and Tea Country

Highway 18 climbed into cooler air and mist. Around Alishan, the children moved between forest paths and the red trains of the mountain railway. By Fenchihu, the view had opened again over steep tea fields and layered green hills.

Vanessa and the children on wooden steps among tall forest trees in Alishan — Into the forest at Alishan

One of the children running beside a red Alishan Forest Railway train — The Alishan Forest Railway

Vanessa and the children overlooking the tea-covered hills near Fenchihu

Back in Taipei · 11–13 June

One More Day in Taipei

After the long drive north, Taipei felt busy again. We returned to night-market streets, visited Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and gave the children time to play before the early drive to the airport the next morning.

A family selfie on a brightly painted street at night in Taipei

Sophie and George watching the honour guard inside Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall — Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Sophie playing in an arcade on the final afternoon — Collecting arcade coupons.

Singapore · 13 June

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9 days · 8 nights · a self-drive loop through Taiwan