Epic Places in Taiwan Even Locals Don't Know About

The village of Wulai is a major tourist attraction throughout the year and the many hot spring hotels dotted around the area make it a great place for a relaxing afternoon. But while many know of Wulai Waterfall, you won’t see too many people a little further down the road at Wuchong Waterfall. It’s the perfect outdoor shower and an ideal spot for some great photos.

It’s rather unbelievable that a small valley located just 20km outside Hualien and within driving distance of Taroko Gorge can be so secluded and idyllic. This quiet little spot is a haven for those that want to get off the beaten track and enjoy Taiwan’s finest scenery and nature in relative peace and quiet.

There’s no prizes for guessing how this place got its unusual name. It’s a strikingly barren looking area that some call the Badlands but Moon World sounds so much nicer. It’s quite popular with locals around Kaohsiung but not so much with tourists from the rest of Taiwan and beyond, simply because many don’t know about it. It’s an intriguing place to visit with scenery that is in complete contrast to Taiwan’s usually lush landscapes.

Set 3,520 meters (11548 ft) above sea level, Jiaming Lake is the second-highest mountain lake in Taiwan. Locals once believed that a meteor strike created the lake but the current theory is that it was created by glacial movement. This is one for the accomplished hikers but the scenery is beyond compare.

A popular destintation for mountain climbers but not so popular that the tourist masses have made their way there. This lake is only eight meters deep but it’s the water’s color that gives it the nickname Rainbow Lake. When the sun shines, the water glows with a myriad of colors that really are quite magical.

While not quite on the same level of epicness as our mountain lakes above, this abandoned house is an intriguing place to visit and a must-see for those who like a bit of creepiness on their day trips. Located in the Chiayi countryside, the place was formerly known as the Liu Family mansion and was abandoned in the 1950s. There are so many local myths surrounding the place that it’s near impossible to figure out exactly why it was abandoned but whatever happened there, the locals avoid it at all costs.

This eery forest is the result of a terrible landslide that occured after the major earthquake that hit the island in 1999. Set in Alishan Township, it’s a nice destination for a camping trip, if you can handle the feeling that you’re in a haunted forest.