Xiangshan: Recall the First Impression of Taiwan from Different Point of View

One of the questions that I frequently ask to fellow foreigners during my stay in Taiwan is, “How do you think about Taiwan?” Some of them have stayed long enough to be able to describe various things that impress them about Taiwan. However, one answer that impresses me most comes from my new classmate who I just met about 4 months ago. He has stayed in Taiwan for more than 3 years, yet just like most of the foreigners or tourists who just arrive in the island, he still mentions Taipei 101 as an icon of Taiwan from which he got a deep first impression which result to long term relationship between him and the island. Taipei 101, the second tallest skyscraper in the world, has been the tallest skyscraper in the world from 2004 to 2010 before finally surpassed by Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It’s located in the Taipei city center and perfectly represents modernity in a busy metropolis, yet its surrounding, just like the most part of Taiwan’s big cities, offer us much more relaxed life pace compared to other Asian metropolis. My friend finally falls in love with Taiwan at the first sight.

Taipei 101 Day View from Xiangshan

Taipei 101 Night View from Xiangshan

However, not many will expect that in this metropolis city center, behind the world’s second tallest skyscraper, there is actually a place called Xiangshan where we can recall the first impression of Taiwan from different point of view. This time we will not look up to view the majesty of a skyscraper, but we will look down to enjoy Taipei 101 night view from mountain heights. 

Going to Xiangshan is as easy as take the red line (Beitou-Xiangshan) MRT to Xiangshan station. Get out from MRT Xiangshan station and we will immediately find Zhongqiang Park. Follow the sign direction toward Xiangshan and walk for around 10 minutes through the park pathways will bring us directly to Xiangshan hiking trail. Xiangshan hiking trail consist of stairs, stone road, fresh air, and very suitable for a whole family hiking trip. The best time to start our hiking trip is in the evening. It will only take around 30 minutes to reach top of Xiangshan hiking trail and find a best spot to enjoy splendid night view of Taipei 101. 

Zhongqiang Park Pathway

Xiangshan Hiking Trail

Climb Jiuwu Peak for more challenging adventure

For them who are craving for more challenging adventure, they can continue their hiking journey to Jiuwu Peak through a lot of steeper stairs. Although it definitely requires more effort and energy to climb Jiuwu Peak, but you will be rewarded not only with more excellent night view, but also quieter atmosphere in which you might also lucky enough to find some people doing meditation here. Share a romantic night view with our loved ones or enjoy a silent moment and doing some meditation to refresh our mind, the choice is yours!

Mazu Procession: Taiwan Must-See Documentary Movie 2014

Producer/Director/Actor

Richie Ren

Synopsis

Mazu is Taiwan’s most unique and important folk belief. Every year in spring, Zhenlan Temple in Dajia, Taichung, organize Taiwan’s biggest religious parade, 9 days 8 nights of Mazu procession across 4 counties, Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin, and Chiayi. With total journey over 340 km to visit more than 100 temples, this procession attracts millions of worshippers from Taiwan and abroad to participate. Mazu procession together with Moslem’s Hajj and India’s Baptism of the Ganges are the world’s three major religious events that should be considered as one of cultural event that Taiwan must be proud of.

(translated from www.facebook.com/MazuProcession）

Source of picture：www.facebook.com/MazuProcession

As a foreigner, enjoy this documentary movie definitely is an eye-opener experience for me. Some people say that Taiwan’s most beautiful scenery is the kindness of Taiwan people’s heart, and this movie proves everything. Richie Ren traveled across the county to fully participate in the whole journey and use a more relaxed approach to introduce Mazu Procession. Therefore, not only he can describe Mazu Procession in a detailed way, but he can also personally experience a faithful journey, let the audience feel Taiwan’s the most lovely human touch. In every county where Mazu Holy Palanquin traveled, there are always folks participate to provide various services to the worshippers. They provide foods, drinks, massage, bathroom, and even mailing service to help worshippers send home something that they will no longer need during the journey. I can’t stop thinking, during this grand event, if these folks are willing to do so, they may be able to earn a lot of money in such a short time. However, they prefer to not selfish and provide services of almost everything required during the journey for free, let the worshippers can safely join the whole 9 days 8 nights’ journey even if without bring any money with them. Therefore, it’s definitely not exaggerating to say that Taiwan’s most beautiful scenery is the kindness of its people’s heart.

       

As a Richie Ren’s fan for 12 years, this documentary movie is one of his work that impressed me the most. This movie let me feel that even though after develop his career in Hongkong and China for many years, Richie Ren still owns a loving Taiwan’s heart that encourages him to use such a special way to pay gratitude to his homeland. Since fell in love with the unique characteristic of his voice, admire his persistence to pursue own’s music dream, inspire by his never give up spirit during 7 years of long struggle period, and finally feel proud of Asian King title that he won, I’m definitely just a small fan who can only continuously support from afar. I don’t have the same luck as Taiwan or Hongkong friends and just silently watching 24 years of his career development process. Now that I have an opportunity to have a closer look at him and also realize that his career has improved one more step, I can’t clearly express the excitement in my heart. From an unfamous singer who purely struggle for a dream to find his own music world, to become a movie producer and director that put a great effort to let the world gain more understanding about his country, definitely is one of his great achievement. If I can have a chance to have a word with him, I would say: "I like you mostly because of your kind heart, now I even like you more because of your loving Taiwan’s heart."

            

Thank you Richie for all the effort to make this touching documentary movie.  I will always look forward for your next great work. 

Fulong : Refreshing Coastal Tourist Attraction Area

Fulong, located at the mouth of Shuang river in Gongliao District, is a complete coastal tourist attraction area in New Taipei City. A day bike tour along the coast will definitely refresh our mind, make it a perfect escape from stressful daily routine. The best way to reach Fulong from Taipei is by take a 90 minutes train trip from Taipei Main Station to Fulong Station. There are some alternatives of train types include local train and Juguang train which only cost around 100 NTD for one trip. The whole tourist attraction area is only 5 minutes walk distance from Fulong Station.

            

Outside Fulong Station, we could find various food shops that sell Fulong signature delicacy, Fulong Rice Box. Need something delicious to keep our body warm in a cold and windy weather? Then you must try the most delicious Squid Soup that can be served with rice or noodle. After enjoy the meal, it’s time to find a bike for our coastal bike tour. Rent a bike for a day with only 100 NTD from many bike rental shops, still in the front of Fulong Station.

There are some different bicycle trail along the Fulong coastal with the most beautiful one is Caoling Historic Trail which located at south of Fulong Station. Since this trail lead to a 300 meters long tunnel that will get dark in the evening (closed on 5.30 pm in summer and 5.00 pm in other seasons), make it the first stop during our bike tour is very recommended. Almost there is no spot along Caoling Historic Trail that doesn’t have a breathtaking scenery. 

Caoling Historic Trail

Caoling Tunnel

Another bicycle trail that should not be missed is Coastal Bicycle Trail, located at north of Fulong Station, in which you can visit Longmen Camping Resort, Yanliao Seashore Park, Fulong Beach, and Linjiushan Temple along the trail. Follow the trail to the north, find the Longmen Camping Resort and enjoy the beautiful view of nearby Shuang river in the middle of the trail and from the Longmen Suspension Bridge. Arrive at Yanliao Seashore Park at the end of the trail, turn back and try different bike experience through the forest trail or seashore trail until finally arrive at the most popular beach in northern Taiwan, Fulong Beach or sometimes also known as Fulong Bathing Beach. Follow the trail pass the Fulong Beach area and we will find Linjiushan Temple at the another end of the trail.

Fulong Camping Resort

Shuang River

Longmen Suspension Bridge

Fulong beach area stretches as long as 3 kilometers with clear water that is perfect for swimming, sun-bathing, sailing, windsurfing, and surfing. The sand is golden coloured and  very suitable for sand sculpture art. Visit the beach on summer if you don’t want to miss Fulong International Sand Sculpture Festival experience. Visit the beach on the off season and it will offer tranquility that even allows you to calm your mind through some meditation.

Fulong Beach

Meditate at Fulong Beach

Wulai: Taipei’s Beautiful Village

Wulai, located at one corner of Taipei County, is a beautiful small village that rich of famous hot springs and dazzling nature sceneries, wrapped in a strong aboriginal culture atmosphere. Such a beautiful place can be easily reached from Taipei by Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and city bus. Just take the red line (Tamsui-Xindian) MRT, get-off at MRT Xindian Station, and take the 849 bus to the last station, Wulai. The bus stop can be found at the behind of MRT Xindian Station’s information counter.

            

Depart from MRT Xindian Station to Wulai, the journey will be through a mountainous road with beautiful scenery of greenery on the left side and Nanshi River on the right side, make around 40 minutes of long journey become a pleasant and enjoyable experience. Make the first step in Wulai, we will be welcomed by a clear view of Nanshi River under the red bridge. The next 5 minutes walk will get us to the famous Wulai Old Street, where we could taste some local delicacies such as bamboo tube rice, cold hot spring egg, hot spring corn, honey-glazed yam, and finally buy some various flavor of sticky rice cake to enjoy back at home. All of those local delicacies are unique in culinary method and rich in taste, so that they indeed must be included in the must-try list.

Crystal Clear Water of Nanshi River

Continue the journey with the satisfied belly, we could directly take the Wulai Log Cart or just take a 30 minutes walk through Lovers’ Trail to get to Waterfall Station and enjoy the relaxing waterfall view. While walking in the Lovers’ Trail, we can also stop a while to enjoy riverside foot bath, feel the refreshing river water touch our skin and enjoy the view of crystal clear water. Various hot spring spot can also be found along the trail. Another option of taking the 50 NTD of Wulai Log Cart one-way trip will bring us the memories of old times. To be able to enjoy a classic transportation mode in a modern day is definitely worth a try. It will be best to firstly take a Lovers’ Trail walk to the waterfall while our energy is still full and ride the Wulai Log Cart on the way back. However, there is no harm to do the reverse instead.

Wulai Log Cart

The next journey after the waterfall is a cable car trip to the Yunxian Amusement Park. With 220 NTD (150 NTD for student) round trip ticket, we could experience a cable car journey across Nanshi River to the nearby mountain where the Yunxian Amusement Park located. Hiking along the park pathways, we can see a lot of aboriginal culture attribute in display. In the middle of the park, there is a small beautiful lake in which we can try our luck with paddle boat. Feel the fresh air, enjoy the beautiful garden view, and hear the soothing sounds of water flow while paddling around the lake is such a special moment to remember. We might also get a funny opportunity to interact with other tourists when our boat slowly hit each other. Just prepare our cutest smile and say, “Sorry, actually I can’t paddling a boat,” and share the laughter together to complete our memorable journey at Wulai.

Paddle Boat Adventure