Our 339th entry in our digital diary is our trip to Taiwan. We joined our school’s field trip to Taiwan to explore its culture and to make the students explore Taiwan’s schools and education system.

Since the school is located in Tainan, as soon as we got out of the plane, we immediately boarded a bus going to Tainan and enjoyed the scenery as we traveled for 4 hours. hehe. That is longer than our 3-hour trip from Cebu. 🙂

Taiwan consistently ranks as one of the safest places in the world, and locals are known for being extremely helpful to visitors. Our bus ride had a stop somewhere already near Tainan for us to have a toilet break. Everything is clean and the people from the shops greeted us with warm smiles.

It was already night time when we arrived in Tainan, we had our dinner at Hsinxiangyuan Restaurant. Everyone is tired and hungry, so we ate a lot of foods even though some of them looks weird. hehe. There was a chicken soup that is colored black. Surprisingly it just tasted like our chicken tinola. yum! 🙂

Even though Tainan is not the main city of Taiwan, the streets are still lively as well as clean. They say the air here is fresher. 🙂 Our hotel is the S&E hotel and it is close to night markets and convenience stores. In the morning we had our breakfast at the hotel and our high school students are getting ready for their school visit and activities.

Our high school students went to Tainan Municipal Yanping Junior High School. We all went in our bus and dropped them for their day’s school activities.

While Ate Rei is in school, we had our own Tainan Tour. Our first stop is the Qigu Salt Mountain.

Qigu Salt Mountain is a unique white “mountain” in Qigu District, Tainan, Taiwan, made entirely of accumulated sea salt from the area’s long history of salt production. It symbolizes Taiwan’s traditional salt‑making industry and offers a striking contrast against the blue sky and surrounding wetlands. Today, it is a popular photo spot and part of the Qigu Salt Mountain & Salt Museum area, where visitors can learn about coastal culture and salt heritage. Then we went to Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store and had our lunch at Saboten Tonkatsu.

Thankfully, Sai did not have any problems with our lunch as it is Japanese food he is familiar with. hehe 🙂 But, we looked for a local cafe for dessert and coffee. I forgot the name of the cafe we went to but it was all yummy and the place is relaxing.

Our next stop is the Chimei Museum. Chimei Museum is a grand private museum known for its elegant European‑style architecture and extensive collections of Western art, classical musical instruments, weapons, and natural history. Founded by the Chimei Group, it aims to make art and culture accessible to the public, and its scenic grounds and iconic white façade make it one of southern Taiwan’s most photographed landmarks.

After we explored the area surrounding the Chimei Museum, we went back to Tainan’s school to pick up the high school kids and proceed to another tourist spot for them to explore together with us.

Our next stop is the Anping Tree House. This is a historic warehouse ruin where massive banyan tree roots and branches have grown over and through the building, creating a striking blend of nature and history. Once part of a former trading company, it is now a popular attraction known for its wooden walkways, atmospheric ruins, and unique photo spots.

We then had our dinner at Chous shrimp rolls restaurant. There were a lot of food served and we are so worried that we cannot finish all of them despite the wonderful taste from each viand, it is just too many. haha! 🙂

After dinner, we headed to a night market. Wusheng Night Market in Tainan, Taiwan is a lively local night market known for its wide variety of street food, game stalls, and casual shopping. Popular with families and locals, it offers a relaxed atmosphere where visitors can enjoy classic Taiwanese snacks and evening entertainment.

So that concludes our first tour day. It was indeed very packed and fun. 🙂 The next day, we checked out of the hotel for us to go back to Taipei. We had a stopover for lunch at Roast chicken restaurant Hsinchu.

After our sumptuous lunch, we headed to Taipei and we first visited the Vigor Kobo Pineapple DIY shop. This is Taiwan’s popular hands‑on attraction where visitors can make their own Taiwanese pineapple cakes and learn about this famous local pastry. Known for its fun DIY experience and high‑quality pineapple products, it’s a favorite stop for families and travelers looking for edible souvenirs.

Our stomach is going to explode from all the eating stops here and there. haha 🙂 Our next stop is the famous Taipei 101. Taipei 101 is an iconic skyscraper that once held the title of the world’s tallest building, standing 508 meters high. Inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, it is famous for its high‑speed elevators, observation decks, and symbolic design representing growth and prosperity. We did not go to the top observatory floors as we wanted to spend more time in Ximending, the shopping street. haha! Priorities 🙂

We had a very yummy dinner at a hot pot restaurant near Ximending, called the Takao 1972. The restaurant combines Japanese-style dining with industrial décor, creating a unique, visually striking interior. Sometimes we feel like we are in Japan. hehe. 🙂

Our last stop is the famous shopping street Ximending. Thi is a vibrant pedestrian shopping district known as the city’s youth culture and fashion hub. Famous for its street food, trendy shops, live performances, and neon lights, it’s often compared to Tokyo’s Harajuku and is especially lively at night.

We then went back to our hotel, the Holiday Inn hotel in Taipei, Taiwan. We rested in our cozy rooms and ready for another fun-filled adventure the next day.

After our breakfast in the hotel, we immediately went to our bus and headed for Shifen Old Street. This is a historic railway street famous for its sky lantern tradition, where visitors write wishes and release lanterns along the train tracks. Lined with small shops and local snacks, it offers a charming mix of old‑town atmosphere, culture, and nearby natural attractions like Shifen Waterfall.

That was a fun first time experience as we made our own lantern messages and released our wishes for the heavens to accept. hehe. Our next stop is another old street, the Jiufen Old Street. But first, we had our lunch at the famous Jiufen Red House restaurant. This is a well‑known dining spot offering traditional Taiwanese cuisine in a historic red‑brick building. Set along Jiufen Old Street, it’s popular for its classic dishes, nostalgic atmosphere, and views that capture the town’s old‑time charm.

We then explored the Jiufen Old Street in New Taipei City, Taiwan, a historic hillside street famous for its narrow alleys, traditional teahouses, and red lanterns. Once a gold‑mining town, it now attracts visitors with its nostalgic atmosphere, local snacks, and scenic views of the mountains and sea.

Our knees are shaking from the long stairs going up and down the narrow alleys. hehe. 🙂 Our next stop is the Yehliu Geopark in New Taipei City, Taiwan, a famous coastal park known for its unique rock formations shaped by wind and sea erosion, including the iconic Queen’s Head. It offers dramatic ocean views and showcases Taiwan’s fascinating natural geology.

We all enjoyed the area as it is so unique and weird at the same time. The island looks like a chocolate chip cookie from afar, but being near, the chocolate-like structures are actually big. 🙂 After this spot, we have another food trip for our dinner. We had our yummy dinner at Wanling restaurant.

We then went back to our hotel and packed our bags for our departure tomorrow. But we still have quick stopovers before going to the airport. Our first stop for our last day in Taiwan, is none other than, the Chiang Kai‑shek Memorial Hall. This is a major cultural landmark known for its grand white marble building, blue‑tiled roof, and expansive public plaza. The site includes exhibition halls, gardens, and ceremonial spaces, and is a popular place for sightseeing, photography, and public events.

After the CKS Memorial Hall, we went to our last stop for this educational tour, The National Palace Museum. This is one of the world’s most important museums, housing a vast collection of ancient Chinese art, jade, calligraphy, and historical artifacts. Its collection spans thousands of years of history and is renowned for its exceptional craftsmanship and cultural significance. Although we did not have enough time to go inside the museum, we were already astonished by its surrounding areas.

Then we proceed to the airport area and had our lunch at a Korean BBQ restaurant.

That was a very delicious lunch meal. We then proceed to the airport and bid our farewells with our fun tourist guide, Tommy.

That was indeed a wonderful trip to Taiwan. It offered us a perfect mix of modern cities, rich history, vibrant street food, and stunning natural scenery. From iconic landmarks and lively night markets to traditional towns and scenic coastlines, Taiwan provides diverse experiences that suit travelers of all ages. Until next time Taiwan! 🙂