Taitung Slow Tourism: Leisure Vacation Tour

For your average Taiwanese, Taiwanese omelets are a must order breakfast staple. If you ask a Taitung local, chances are they’ll tell you that the best Taiwanese omelets are found at Taitung – Blue Omelet. If you are looking for an authentic Taitung breakfast experience with the locals, Taitung – Blue Omelet is the place to go. Inside, you’ll find a small but carefully selected menu of their handmade specialties. Famous for their crispy golden exterior and generous fillings, be sure to come before 10 am to get them fresh and hot before they sell out for the day. After a tasty and filling local breakfast, a relaxing stroll around the Taitung Forest Park is a fantastic way to continue on with your day!

The Taitung Forest Park is located near the estuary connecting the Beinan River and the Pacific Ocean. With its vast lush greenery, walking around the entire park takes a few hours. Another popular option to get around is by bicycle. Bicycle rental shops near the park are abundant, and a leisurely ride around the park takes around 2 hours. A few places of interest inside the park are the three lakes: Pipa Lake, Heron Lake, and Flowing Lake.

Flowing Lake is the largest lake in the park and serves as a popular swimming spot for locals and tourists. Not far from the Flowing Lake is Pipa Lake. Shaped like the Chinese instrument from which it gets its name, Pipa Lake is famed for its picturesque scenery. As the mirror-like surface of the water blends with the azure skies, the entire landscape feels akin to something out of an oil painting. If you are a bird lover, the Heron Lake located near the West end of the park is a great spot to watch the many flocks of Egrets that enjoy the tranquil lakeside. Whether it be birdwatching, biking, or swimming, Taitung Forest Park is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy the symphony of nature.

Located right next to the Taitung Forest Park is the Taitung Seashore Park. As you pass the juncture between forest and sea, the endless sapphire blue coastline seemingly extends out underneath your feet. Around noon, the rays of the sun descend gently onto the surface of the water, forming a collage of various shades of azure shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight. With a pleasant sea breeze blowing, it’s a great time for tourists to enjoy the views or even take some photos. A few famous landmarks in the park have become hot spots for photo-ops, including the large red frame next to the sea. Framing the breathtaking Pacific Ocean views, the structure is an excellent spot for photos with family and friends. Not far from the photo frame is the famous International Landmark. The sculptural architecture is a large bamboo-woven structure that extends out of the earth before your eyes. Made entirely out of bamboo, the building’s central arching design signifies the vitality of nature. It is a sight not to be missed.

Taitung is great for local Taiwanese eats and delicious international foods that are not to be overlooked. Uncle Pete’s Pizza serves up large 14-inch pizza pies that please locals and tourists alike. Originally from Tennessee, Chef-owner Pete moved to Taiwan for the surf but decided to stay after meeting the love of his life that soon became his wife. Hidden among a row of small residential houses, the restaurant is easy to miss if you don’t have a keen eye. Inside the restaurant, Chef Pete crafts up each pizza with the care of an artisan. Using a medley of local ingredients, each pizza is also creatively named as if each was a piece of art. If you can’t decide on just one flavor, why not choose two? Just tell Pete what type of toppings you would like, and he’ll be happy to make it for you. When he’s not busy making pizzas, you can find Pete playing the banjo and singing some of his favorite tunes. The lively atmosphere alone is a reason Uncle Pete’s is a must-stop on your travel itinerary. After filling your bellies with delectable handmade pizza, take a stroll to the historical Tianhou temple to take in some history and culture.

The Taitung Tianhou (Mazu) Temple is located on Zhonghua Road, one of the city’s most prosperous areas. With a history of more than 100 years, the historic temple is a major cultural heritage in Taitung.

The plaque bestowed upon the temple by the Qing Dynasty Emperor Guangxu tells the temple’s historical importance. Commissioned by Admiral Zhang Zhaolian, the temple was built to commemorate the goddess Mazu for her blessings during the period of turmoil that preceded its construction. The Lingquan Well Stele located inside the temple may look like just an ordinary slab of stone but was in-fact carved to commemorate Mazu for bestowing clear spring water to a battalion of soldiers trapped in a besieged fortress nearby. The temple’s left and right halls are dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Compassion, King Wen & Wu of the Confucian tradition. Hence, the temple is a prime example of the seamless blending of Taiwanese folk beliefs and the unity of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.

The structure is built in the traditional Southern Fujian architecture style with wide sloping roofs and exquisitely carved motifs of various gods from the Taiwanese pantheon. A few architectural features of note are the double dragon arches and carvings of classical Taoist imagery. Reflecting the Taiwanese people’s desire for health and happiness, the various carvings throughout the temple are auspicious omens that symbolize good luck and longevity.

Countless festivals are held at the temple annually, with the Mazu festival held on March 23rd of the Lunar Calendar being one of the most important. Other significant festivals held on the temple’s grounds include the Lantern Festival as well as the Bombing of Lord Handan. One can easily get taken in by the cacophony of sounds, colors, and incense smoke during these festivals. If you happen to be around in time to attend, it’s a fabulous opportunity to quietly follow in the footsteps of the worshippers as they pray for blessings, longevity, and protection from evil.

Located on Zhengqi Road, the Taitung Canvas Store has been in operation for over 60 years. For many, it has become much more than a mere canvas shop. Its creative cultural crafts have made it an indispensable part of many Taitung tourist itineraries.

During much of the past century, Taiwan’s canvas industry was one of the most-popular in the country. After the Second World War, Taiwan focused on developing various modern sectors. These required the large-scale production of canvas; hence the demand for quality canvas in Taiwan soared. In the past, canvas was also used to provide shade and protection from the rain and harsh sun. With the changing of the times, the demand for canvas has diminished considerably. Seeing that their shop’s future was in jeopardy, the Taitung Canvas Store owner decided to sew his leftover canvas into a multitude of household essentials. The boss created brightly colored canvas backpacks, lunch bags, and other bags of varying sizes and functions. To his surprise, his handmade bags were a hit for both locals and tourists alike.

Though the bags are simple in style, they won the hearts of many in Taiwan due to their durability and fine craftsmanship. The Taitung Canvas Store can truly be considered a shining example of transforming a traditional craft into something modern, fashionable, and relevant to the times.

Grannie’s Sweet Soup Shop is a small nondescript shop located on Zhongzheng Road. Serving a selection of healthy and satisfying sweet soups, Grannie’s Sweet Soup Shop has been a mainstay with Taitung locals for over 50 years. Now run by the third-generation owner, the shop still maintains much of its old-school charm.

Outside the store, you can find the original street carts that the founder Mr. Liu Zhen Sheng used to pedal his sweet soups to passers-by. The antique pot used to cook the mung bean soup still has remnants of the words “Taitung mung bean soup: 1 yuan per bowl”. As Mr.Liu recalls nostalgically, “ in the past, just filling one’s belly was enough to be content.”

Maintaining this straightforward and upright attitude, Mr. Liu proudly exclaims that there are no secrets to his mung bean soup. The only things needed are quality ingredients and time. To make a heartwarming pot, one must slowly boil the mung beans over low heat while continually stirring throughout the process. Only then will the beans be soft and tender, the soup sweet yet refreshing. In addition to his famous sweet mung bean soup, the store also offers a few other wholesome options, such as red bean soup and eight treasure soup. With each bowl only costing a few coins, there’s no better way to get a taste of such a heartwarming and time-honored flavor.

Seven Quinoa is famous in Taitung for its nourishing cuisine using red quinoa, as well as the multiple awards the restaurant has earned for its mouthwatering Taiwanese braised pork rice. For three years running, the restaurant has been awarded Taiwan’s top ten spots for braised pork rice. The restaurant has also been granted a certificate for its use of sustainable local ingredients.

The owner, Huang Kunlin, set out to create healthy and nourishing dishes using the local red quinoa. Known as the “ruby of cereals” for its bright red color, the grain is packed full of vitamins and antioxidants. The ruby-like grain serves as one of the main ingredients in the restaurant’s renowned braised pork rice and in a variety of other specialty dishes at the eatery. The dried grain is ground into a powder to make smooth yet chewy noodles integral to their fragrant stewed beef noodle dish.

Wild mountain vegetables are freshly picked daily and show up in a number of dishes, while the head chef also uses the sous-vide cooking method to ensure tender and moist meats. By maintaining a temperature between 50-80 degrees, dishes like the restaurant’s German pork knuckles come out succulent and juicy, with less of the carcinogens caused by higher temperature cooking. Delicious, healthy, and innovative, Seven Quinoa is a must-try spot for health-minded foodies.

After a hearty dinner, take a tranquil evening stroll at Fantasy Tiehua. Jointly planned by the Lovely Taiwan Foundation in cooperation with local artists and musicians, Fantasy Tiehua is composed of a concert venue, gift shop, and flea market. Every Thursday to Sunday, different Indigenous Taiwanese musicians hold performances at the venue. Order a drink and sit down on the grass field nearby to enjoy the evening performance while winding down from a busy day around the city. If you want to try your hand at performing, every Wednesday is open mic night. Bring your instruments and jam the night away with other music-minded locals and tourists. The Tiehua outdoor market emphasizes slow living. In hopes of allowing visitors to explore each product’s creative process through a constructive dialogue with stall owners, the Tiehua outdoor market allows visitors to bring home a piece of Taitung with them and the wondrous stories and fond memories associated with each trinket. From Wednesdays to Sundays, the Tiehua Gift Shop is open for visitors looking for all sorts of unique woodwork, pottery, fabrics, and other products.

Located a short walk away from Fantasy Tiehua is The Wave House. Also known as the TTstyle, the structure’s curved roof reminds one of the undulating ocean waves and towering mountains so prevalent in Taitung. With four floors housing more than 50 unique shops, The Wave House is open till around 10 pm, so there is plenty of time to explore each shop. Incorporating industrial design elements, the open glass panels of each workshop give the visitor an enticing glimpse of what is on offer in each store. With a multitude of shops, ranging from art studios, coffee shops, restaurants, and Indigenous cultural crafts, there is a little something for everyone. Coupled with the building complex’s imaginative design, one can’t help but feel Taitung’s surging artistic and cultural vibes.