Taiwan has some stand-out bike trails
(Getty/iStockphoto)The street food is seriously good
Every Taiwanese city has (at least) one road or market dedicated entirely to street food – its stalls sizzling
with barbecue pork, beef noodle soup and seafood skewers. The food is fresh, authentic and ideal for
nibbling while people-watching. Every now and again you’ll catch a whiff of something ghastly: that’s just
“stinky tofu”, a fermented local speciality. Take a bite: it’s surprisingly innocuous, with a sweet flavour and
crispy deep-fried crust.
There’s plenty for pud, too: think pancakes stuffed with peanuts and ice cream; pineapple cake; and
mountains of sweet shaved ice topped with fresh mango.
It’s a tea lover’s paradise
Maokong, in the mountains just south of Taipei, is a tea-growing hotspot – its hills a patchwork of family-
owned plantations, dotted with cosy wooden teahouse cafes. Most have outdoor terraces overlooking the
valley, for the ultimate brew-with-a-view. Take a seat (each table has its own kettle) and order a pot of
tieguanyin or baozhong: both are local specialities, renowned for their flowery fragrance and deep jade
colour.
Maokong is best reached by gondola from Taipei. It’s a half-hour journey up into the hills, swooping up over
tiny rural villages and plunging valleys – made all-the-more thrilling by the cable car’s glass floor.
Find delicious street food on every corner
(Getty/iStock)It’s great for grown-up backpackers
Want to re-live the freedom of your first backpacking adventure – but without the sketchy bunk beds and
sweaty bus journeys? Taiwan’s hostels are clean and quirky, while the island’s diminutive size and excellent
public transport network makes getting around a cinch.