Taitung Things to Do

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LiSong Hot Spring is in the page of Lonely Planet. Actully it's not a hot spot for Taiwanese on account of the tough path to arrive. 1st you have to get down through a steep hill, around 40-50 minutes you could arrive the bottom of the hill and see the hot spring, but that's not the end. Before taking a great hot spring bath, you step into the cold water and get through the river; a big rock is in front of you and gave you a hint, a rope , to conquer it. get through water again and you make it. After finishing the banquet of nature, think of the path that you just came and figure out how to get back!!
My motto: the most beautiful place is hard to arrive

Well anyone can see the snorkle trips. Every guesthouse on the island will likely connect you to a snorkle tour operator. They will supply you with a wetsuit, wet shoes, a mask, snorkle and a guide. All you need to bring is a towel and a swimsuit and your rented scooter to get yourself to and from there (while following the guide on his scooter). You don't even need to know how to swim if you can handle wearing a life jacket and hold onto a life ring the guide will pull you around.

The reefs are actually in good shape and were quite good. I wasnt expecting much, this being Taiwan and after seeing the horror of Kenting's reefs on a snorkle trip there I didnt expect much. But it was actually beautiful! I could see lots of angelfish, clownfish and a few parrotfish. Lots of fan coral and brain corals. Large oysters were visible amongst the coral. Overall it appeared quite healthy and good during the time I was there.

Taiwanese tourists usually lack swimming skill so if you DO choose to go on the free tour expect that they will be holding onto a rope with life rings attached and wearing life jackets and floating and whining about how cold it is and how their makeup is running. They seemed quite shocked when I removed my life jacket to dive. One guy actually said (in Chinese) "he wants to commit suicide?!?" LOL.

Just look for a snorkle store or wait at your guesthouse. The guesthouse I stayed at gave us the free snorkle tour at 10 AM and ran another one at 2 PM each day (only 1 time was free). You probably can just rent what you need and go on your own to any beach available as long as you have a swim buddy or two and you know how to swim, you will likely have a good time.

Guan Shan waterside park is a big and beautiful park where you can enjoy the mountain view and the river view. People used to rent the bicycle outside the park and ride it in the park and around the whole town.

The hotel is decorated with the aboriginal cutural stuffs. They are very beautiful and unique. It is nice to visit this place even if you do not stay here. The twim room is about USD 30 to USD 40 in this hotel. It is not expensive but we did not stay here so we did not know how it felt to live here.

Taitung Forest Park is a big green park close to the city. In the park, there are a big garden, two lakes and the hiking trial inside the woods. Besides the Forest Park, it is the beach and the Seashore Park. It is nice to have such a big park in the city.

You can enjoy the sea view at this park. The park is close to the city. Many locals walk or jog in the park at their leisure time. There is also the bicycle lane here. You can ride the bicycle to go around.

Kending Narional Park has three parts. The first part has Jyadung gigantic tree, flower house, stalactite caves, silver-leaf & board-root tree, viewing tower; the second part has silver dragon cave, umbrella pavilion, dangling banyan cave, one-line sky; the third part is an unopened primitive rain forest area. The forest recreation area has many swelling coral reefs and the growing densely and thickly tropical plants, looking like the landscape in the South Sea Islands.

Website (chinese only):
http://recreate.forest.gov.tw/forest.php?init=05&char=big5&forest=12

Jiben Forest Recreation Area is located at the middle reach of Jiben creek. You will meet a red suspension bridge at its entrance. The recreation area has botanical garden planting camphor woods, mahogany, pine trees, broad-leaved tree forest, etc. and the B.B.Q, & camp site, plants nursery, hotels, etc.; there are paths stretching to link these spots with one another. The clear creek, the emerald mountains, a variety of butterflies and birds and the pleasant climate are all attractions. It's certainly a worthwhile trip on holidays. The nearby Jiben Hot Spring is also a good spot to visit.