The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement

Taiwan

Jiufen sounds good on paper, but 20,000 other visitors have the same idea as you.

I visited the most overrated attraction in Asia’s most underrated country

I’m elbow deep in a crowd of a few hundred people when the regret starts to kick in.

  • Paul Marshall
Ecuador

The 20 countries to put on your travel list for 2026

Find new charm in the familiar, or forge a fresh trail. Here are the under-the-radar nations and re-emerging classics set to define travel in 2026.

  • Ute Junker
Cycling in Taiwan: an adventure made easier by friendly locals and excellent infrastructure.

An Asian cycling trip introduced me to the kindest people on Earth

In Taiwan people are not only absurdly kind but also way too casual about their kindness, like the guy who buys me a bottle of wine because it’s his birthday.

  • Paul Marshall
Sun Moon Lake.

Aussies are flocking to Japan and South Korea. Here’s where we should go next

As overtourism becomes a problem in Japan and visitors to South Korea surge, it might be time to discover their quieter, island neighbour.

  • Andrew Bain
Nanxi Shopping District near the Zhongshan metro station in Taipei.

The coolest part of this Asian city is actually underneath it

A visit to Zhongshan, one of Taipei’s up-and-coming neighbourhoods, is not normally on the dance card of first-time visitors to the Taiwanese capital.

  • Kerry van der Jagt
Advertisement
Flavour bomb… Taiwanese beef noodle soup.

This nation’s perfect noodle soup is a labour of love

It’s tasty, but be warned: the creation of Taiwanese beef noodle soup is a complex, hours-long process.

  • Ben Groundwater
Viking’s Yi Dun arriving into Keelung.

Port guide: Keelung, Taiwan

Taipei’s outlet to the sea might be down-at-heel, but it has several charms and a great local vibe – and Taiwan’s throbbing capital is just a short ride away.

  • Brian Johnston
China Airlines’ economy seats feel surprisingly spacious.

This economy class feels unusually spacious (unless I’m imagining it)

I’m a poor sleeper in the air but on this overnight flight I manage hours, not mere minutes, of sleep.

  • Andrew Bain
The National Palace Museum – the largest collection of Chinese art. And excellent museum shops.

The world’s biggest collection of Chinese cultural objects isn’t in China

The collection spans a wide range of art forms and thousands of years of history. Every exhibit is a wonder.

  • Brian Johnston
Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal.

Port guide: Kaohsiung, Taiwan

This city on Taiwan’s southern tip has lately undergone a wonderful overhaul to become one of Asia’s most relaxed and easy-to-visit destinations.

  • Brian Johnston