Wulai

Wulai is an easy on the eye town set in the mountains of New Taipei City, serving as a vital hub for Atayal indigenous culture. In Wulai Old Street, visitors can sample unique tribal delicacies like bamboo-tube rice and wild boar sausage. The town's most iconic landmark is the Wulai Waterfall, a magnificent 80-meter cascade. An appealing miniature train, the 'Wulai Log Cart', gives a nostalgic ride through the forest, connecting the town center to the waterfall area. The natural hot springs along the Nanshi River are the main draw; visitors can choose between high-end spa resorts and open-air riverside pools. The Atayal Museum provides deep insights into the history, weaving, and traditions of the local tribe. The surrounding lush rainforest has excellent hiking opportunities with rich biodiversity. Wulai is easily reached by bus from the Xindian MRT station. Winter is the convenient season for soaking in the springs, while spring brings beautiful cherry blossoms to the mountain slopes.

Nearby cities

New Taipei City

The most populous city in Taiwan, completely enclosing the capital Taipei.

Hutoushan / Lalashan

A high-altitude mountain retreat famous for its millennia-old giant cypress trees and refreshing air.

Beitou

Taipei's famous hot spring district, known for its sulfurous steam and historical Japanese influences.

Yilan

A picturesque city in the Lanyang Plain, famous for hot springs and untouched nature.

Zhongjiao

A prominent surfing paradise on Taiwan's north coast, famous for its consistent waves and wide sandy beaches.

Jiaoxi

A modern hot spring town in Yilan, famous for its rare flatland thermal springs and local 'hot spring' agricultural products.

Baishawan

A stunning white sand beach on the north coast, perfect for water sports and seaside relaxation.

Yehliu

Yehliu is famous for its geological park featuring bizarre rock formations shaped by erosion along the northern coast.

Keelung

A bustling port city in the northeast, famous for its night market and rainy weather.

Luodong

Taiwan's smallest urban township, which is nevertheless the busiest business center in Yilan County.

Taoyuan

A major industrial city in the northwest, home to Taiwan's main international airport.

Smangus

A remote Atayal tribal village known as 'God's Village', famous for its giant trees and communal lifestyle.

History & landmarks

Yehliu Geopark

A geological park on the north coast, famous for its unusual rock formations.

Jiufen Old Street

A charming mountain town that was once a center for gold mining, now famous for its narrow alleys and traditional teahouses.

Maokong Gondola

A cable car system in Taipei that takes visitors up to the tea-growing areas of Maokong, home to many traditional teahouses.

Elephant Mountain

A steep hill near the center of Taipei, offering one of the best views of Taipei 101 and the city skyline.

National Palace Museum

A world-renowned museum housing one of the largest collections of ancient Chinese imperial artifacts and artworks.

Yangmingshan National Park

A volcanic national park right outside Taipei, known for its hot springs, fumaroles, and cherry blossoms blooming in spring.

Shifen

Famous for its wide waterfall and a historic railway track that runs directly through the town's market street.

Nature

Tamsui River

The Tamsui River flows through the Taipei metropolitan area and empties into the Taiwan Strait in the northwest of the island.

Laomei Green Reef

A coastal formation with volcanic trenches covered in green algae during spring.

More places

Lin Family Mansion and Garden

One of the best-preserved examples of traditional Chinese architecture and gardening in Taiwan.

Fort San Domingo

Originally built by the Spanish and later used by various colonial powers, it reflects Taiwan's complex history.

Hobe Fort

A late 19th-century fort in Tamsui that defended the mouth of the Tamsui River.

Pingxi Coal Mine

Formerly Taiwan's largest coal mine, which shaped the industrial development of the region.

Port of Taipei

A modern seaport in Bali District designed to relieve congestion at the Port of Keelung.

Jinguashi Gold Mine

One of the largest gold and copper mines in Asia during the Japanese colonial era.

Remains of the Thirteen Levels

The massive ruins of a former copper and gold smelting plant, often referred to as the Machu Picchu of Taiwan.

Taipei Zoo

One of the largest zoos in Asia, well-known for its giant pandas.