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County-administered city in Taitung County, Taiwan
Photo: Sengkang, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Taitung (臺東 Táidōng) is a city in Southeastern Taiwan. Taitung is situated on a small plain between the mountains and the ocean at the southern mouth of the East Rift Valley. This provides Taitung with not only spectacular scenery but also an ocean breeze that makes this tropical city surprisingly comfortable.
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國立臺灣史前文化博物館
In the 1980s and 1990s, a team of archaeologists from National Taiwan University excavated over 1,500 stone coffins and more than 20,000 stone and pottery artifacts belonging to the Peinan culture. This museum is dedicated to this discovery and is located a few kilometers from the actual archaeological site. It also houses an extremely in depth exhibit on the current aboriginal groups in Taiwan. Outside the Museum building there are beautifully sculpted grounds and garden area.
卑南文化公園
Associated with the Museum of Prehistory the Beinan Cultural Park contains the largest and most important prehistoric archaeological site in Taiwan. Beyond the archaeological site the park also consists of beautiful grounds with a commanding view of the surrounding area. Tours in Chinese begin twice a day at 10:00 and 15:00. English tours must be planned in advance.
Taitung City converted several buildings of the old railway station into an exhibition space for local artists and artist in residence..
Two buildings really, one houses the tourism center and library. The other has exhibition spaces, one of which houses the Aboriginal Artifacts Exhibition.
While there are seemingly temples on every block this one dedicated to Mazu (Matsu) is ornately decorated and quite popular, especially on Mazu's birthday (23rd day of the 3rd lunar month — generally April or May).
鯉魚山公園
With its trails and lookouts Liyu Shan offers a panoramic view of Taitung. Also, Long Feng Tower near the monastery gives a great panoramic view of the city.
蘭嶼
On the 15th of the first lunar month (right after Chinese New Year) is the Festival which in Taitung is played out with a unique and spectacular display known as the Bombing of Master Han Dan. In the course of this display a man wearing nothing more than a pair of shorts and a face mask stands upon a sedan chair while onlookers lob strings of lit firecrackers at him. It is unique to Taitung and a must see.
Every mid-July several aboriginal groups, though of primary importance to the Amis, celebrate the millet harvest. This culminates in the long and colorful celebrations of dancing and merry making by Rukai, Paiwan, and Amis depending on which village or which part of the city you are in.
Rent a bike at the beach (or bring your own) and bike the Taitung City Bikeway. The bikeway does a 32-km loop around the city. It follows the old train track out to near the new train station before heading back along the river eventually going through the Forest and Seashore Parks.
Taitung Forest Park
Taitung Seashore Park and the attached Taitung Forest Park are extremely popular with both locals and tourist alike. With miles of cycling and walking trails as well a beautiful and surprisingly undeveloped seashore these parks offers a perfect chance to experience Taitung's laid back lifestyle and clean ocean air. There are bicycles for rent at several places along the beach and at the entrance of the Forest Park. If you walk along the beach and enter from the sea side, you can skip the entry fee. Or from the highway that goes right through the park. Also, there is a potential overnighting option in the small observation tower next to the running lake towards the beach, if you have sleeping bag and mattress.
海草手作健康輕食館
A very popular and excellent quality noodle house; Offering a variety of fresh, healthy noodle dishes and dumplings in a friendly and clean environment.
阿賓羊肉爐
Proper goat, grilled, fried, as you want it. Highly recommended.
雲棧部落音樂餐廳
This Puyuma restaurant offers a unique setting with dance performances and excellent aboriginal food. Best for groups so one should find some friends or family to accompany one and to share the taxi.
米巴奈山地美食坊
This Amis restaurant located in the Malan section of town provides a taste of aboriginal food not too far from the center of the city. It is set up groups so once again bring friends or family.
玉子屋泡菜韓式料理
Good, simple, home style Korean food.
丹寧象咖啡館
This artsy cafe has Taitung coffee as well as other coffee and teas and a small but interesting menu.
A very hip cafe with a modern artsy vibe that is conveniently located right on the bikeway and only a block away from the Taitung Theater. It serves a large range of coffees, teas, mixed drinks, and a fine assortment of Belgian beers. It serves daily freshly home-made bread by various products. Hot chili roll on Friday, hot brownie with ice cream on Saturday and cinnamon rolls on Sunday are the most bakery in Cheela Cafe & Bakery. English menu & bilingual service available.
寶桑町屋
欲望旅人
A small and homey place for budget stay.
遊民公社
Friendly hostel, clean dorms with A/C. Free Wi-Fi in the lobby. The hostel is not always open (e.g., it may be closed at 4PM when you want to check in) so it is advised to call them first.
V-Hotel 假期商旅
娜路彎大酒店
This is five-star hotel for those with a large budget and an appreciation for amenities. It offers all the things a hotel of its stature should including spa and free gym.
東台灣卡塔文化
Located in one of the buildings of a now defunct sugar factory this glass bead studio and handicraft center sells a variety of aboriginal handicrafts. Including textiles, leather work, and handmade glass beads. Since the Ata glass bead studio is located on site you can also watch glass beads being made.
This Taitung-sized hypermarket should cover you for most of your daily needs and provides the best selection of imported food and drinks in town.
The largest bookstore in Taitung. If you want a book it is the best place to go.
This unassuming little shop sells glutinous rice desserts that are as good or better than any of the more famous shops up the coast (and have been since the 1940s). It is quite popular with Taiwanese tourists.
By plane
By plane, Taitung is served by a local airport with flights to Taipei, Lanyu and Lyudao.
By boat
By bus
There are car and scooter rentals near the train station if you have an international drivers license.
By bicycle
Bicycles are a good alternative form of transportation and can be rented at several locations beach side, or near the entrance to the Forest Park at the north end of Jhongshan Rd.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Taitung City · Regional · TTT
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Articles and travel topics about Taitung and Taiwan.
Culture & historyPrior to large-scale Han Chinese settlement during the Qing Dynasty, Taiwan was primarily inhabited by various Austronesian peoples.
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Travel tipsTaiwan's rail network offers a seamless, efficient and reasonably affordable way to explore the island's diverse cityscapes and landscapes.
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Food & drinkBubble tea, also known as boba and pearl milk tea, is a tea-based beverage originating in Taiwan in the early 1980s.
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Culture & historyThe Pacific War was a theatre of World War II including East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania, separate from World War II in Europe.
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