Taoyuan & Tainan, where you can feel the traditional sensibility of the Greater China region.
A fun sandbar experience on Yongpu Street, Tainan
Hotel in Kaohsiung, ‘Taiwan’s second city’, with a beautiful harbor view
Taiwanese karaoke experience and foot massage in Kaohsiung
Taoyuan and Tainan in Taiwan offer a variety of experiences that allow you to experience local characteristics. Taoyuan not only has beautiful mountain and water scenery, but also has rich tourism resources. It is a city where many Hakka people, a branch of the Han Chinese, live and have their own culture.
Tainan, the former capital of Taiwan, is located in the southwestern part of Taiwan. It was the center of politics, culture, and art for 220 years before the capital was changed to Taipei, and is where Taiwan’s history began. Cultural heritage sites with a long history are scattered throughout the area, so there are many things to see that give a sense of traditional sensibility.
Experience Taiwan’s traditional tea culture in Taoyuan
![I tried solving fortune-telling at Yongpu Street in Tainan… Unique Taiwan travel [오! 여기]](https://dimg.donga.com/wps/NEWS/IMAGE/2024/11/22/130481585.3.jpg "I tried solving fortune-telling at Yongpu Street in Tainan… Unique Taiwan travel [오! 여기]")
October and November in Taiwan are the best time to enjoy traditional tea culture as winter tea is harvested. I visited the Taoyuan International Conference and Exhibition Center to experience traditional Taiwanese teas such as black tea and oolong tea.I participated in the ‘2024 Feng Cha Bong Congress’ and experienced the concept of ‘Feng Cha Bong Bu’, which combines Taiwanese tea culture and health supplements. There were various items on display here, including products that combined traditional tea and medicinal foods.
After viewing the exhibition, we sampled traditional Taiwanese desserts and famous teas. Feng Lisu, Taiwan’s representative dessert, goes well with warm oolong tea. In Taiwan, oolong tea grown in high mountain areas is famous. It has a unique strong aroma and rich taste, and it warms your stomach when you take a sip.
Taiwan, which has many mountainous areas throughout the country, has an appropriate climate and geographical characteristics for producing tea leaves. Because of this, Taiwanese people naturally began to enjoy drinking tea. In particular, tea grown in high areas above 1000m above sea level is called alpine tea, and the higher the altitude, the sweeter the taste.
In addition, we experienced a variety of Taiwanese foods by eating desserts such as fish porridge with duck-shaped glutinous rice cake and taro bread. It is said that during the Idong period, Taiwanese people enjoy this type of health food to protect their bodies.
15 companies participated in the exhibition. These are companies that have received the Taiwan Excellence Award in Taiwan for their excellence in marketing, quality, R&D, and design. There were various experiences and tasting corners at each booth, so there was no time to get bored.
A unique fortune-telling experience at Yongpu Street in Tainan.
If you want to experience fortune telling in Tainan’s fortune telling alley, visit Yongpu Street. Based on your date of birth and time of birth, you can receive fortune telling on various topics such as health, employment, and love. The alley of the fortune-telling restaurant, full of Tainan’s old sensibility, was narrow but had a quiet atmosphere. In front of the three famous fortune-telling houses, there were crowds of people waiting to receive fortune telling.
Taking pictures is not possible once you enter the fortune telling house. Instead, you can put the solved fortune telling paper in an envelope and take it with you. On this day, the fortuneteller spoke in detail about personality, health, wealth, etc.
After experiencing the unique Saju Puri, you can visit historical attractions nearby. There is Chikan Tower, one of Tainan’s symbolic historic sites, and Sidianwu Temple, a nationally designated cultural property of Taiwan. You can also visit artistic attractions such as Snail Alley and Tsunmei Theater.
Hayashi Department Store, Taiwan’s oldest department store
Just a 10-minute drive from Yongpu Street, you will find Hayashi Department Store, the largest old building in Tainan. The gorgeous exterior that can be seen at night gives off a modern feel that makes it hard to believe that it was built in 1932 during the Japanese colonial period.
But it’s different when you go inside. There are many places with an old-fashioned feel, and one of them is the elevator. The floor number indicator is an old-fashioned dial type. As it is Tainan’s first elevator, traces of its old days can be seen. The maximum capacity is 5 people.
From the 1st to 4th floors, unique and cute products such as local specialties, souvenirs, household goods, and fashion accessories are sold. From the 6th floor rooftop, you can see the night view of Tainan at a glance.
Near Hayashi Department Store, there is a RON& COMPANY restaurant where you can feel Taiwan’s retro sensibility.
This restaurant alley, built in a renovated old house, had a very quiet and retro atmosphere. On the other hand, the interior of the restaurant attracts attention with its modern interior. While creating a warm atmosphere in various places, the atmosphere of a sophisticated bar was created through
First, I tried the lettuce salad with ricotta cheese. It was paired with a fried platter consisting of salty and crispy French fries and chicken nuggets. The ’Tiger Shrimp Risotto’ that I ordered as the main menu has a spicy yet soft texture. If you eat it with a spicy grape vinegar drink, it will not bite and goes well with it.
Beautiful harbor view & Taiwanese karaoke experience at InterContinental Kaohsiung Hotel
Kaohsiung is the second largest city in Taiwan and is also called the Busan of Taiwan. Because it is a port city located at the southern end, it has a variety of foods, including seafood, and a beautiful port.
I ordered a business lunch menu at SEEDS restaurant on the first floor of the hotel.
First, at the organic salad bar, you can make your own combination of seasonal organic vegetables and dressings. Freshly made bread and tomato sauce are served before the main dish is served. It’s delicious served with warm soup and moist rye bread.
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For the main dish, I ordered zucchini frittata (Frittata di pasta). Frittata is an omelet made by mixing various ingredients such as eggs and vegetables and frying them in an oven or pan. You can feel the softness of the egg and the chewy texture of the pasta.
Lastly, vanilla gelato was served along with warm tea. In most Taiwanese restaurants, tea is included as standard. You can feel the deep aroma and taste that can only be felt in Taiwan.
Afterwards, I tried karaoke. In Taiwan, karaoke bars are usually called KTV. Hyatt YES KTV Kaohsiung branch is just a 10-minute drive from the hotel. It is very similar to a Korean karaoke bar, and you can also order alcohol and food inside. The lighting is bright and the facilities are cleanly maintained, making it perfect for holding a party. There is a wide variety of menu items you can order, including beef noodles, dim sum, pizza, fried foods, stews, and fruit.
The lighting inside the karaoke room is decorated more colorfully, and uniquely, there is a bathroom inside the karaoke room. It is large and can accommodate multiple people.
One thing that cannot be missed in your Taiwan travel itinerary is a foot massage. At the entrance to the Left Leg Right Foot Massage Shop in Kaohsiung, a palm tree and a sculpture of the sole of the foot were placed cutely.
First, start with a foot bath with warm water. Let’s sit in a cozy chair and soak our feet in the foot bath for about 10 minutes. Afterwards, when it is your turn, you will receive a foot massage in the massage room. You can also use the remote control to turn the chair into a bed and lie down on it. Enjoy a cup of hot tea and relax while receiving a foot massage. Every time I press the acupuncture points on the soles of my feet, I feel the fatigue of my entire body being relieved. If acupressure hurts, you can ask the masseuse to adjust the intensity.
When you wrap your feet with a hot towel during a massage, your mental and physical stress is relieved. After receiving a massage focused on the feet for about an hour, it ends with a calf massage.
An authentic Taiwanese foot massage that will completely wash away the fatigue of your travels. It is said that foot massage is being developed not only for simple fatigue recovery but also as a treatment for various diseases. The feet are called the second heart and are connected to every part of the body. When you receive a massage, you can feel that the pain is different in each area. If you want to experience true healing, a foot massage shop is a must on your last stop in Kaohsiung.
Why is a warm towel beneficial after a massage?
Warm towel after the massage, it feels rejuvenating. The entire experience is designed to help you unwind and leave you feeling refreshed. The foot massage lasts for about an hour and targets pressure points on the feet, promoting relaxation and alleviating any tension built up during your travels.
if you find yourself in Kaohsiung, the combination of enjoying fresh, organic dishes at SEEDS restaurant and indulging in a soothing foot massage at Left Leg Right Foot Massage Shop is a perfect way to immerse yourself in local culture and unwind after a day of exploration. Whether you are savoring the flavors of Taiwan or treating yourself to a relaxing experience, the city offers plenty of opportunities to nourish both the body and soul.