Alishan
During the Japanese colonial occupation, Alishan became famous for its rich forests, especially the vast fields of Taiwan Yellow and False Red Cypress. Alishan is also famous for its cherry blossoms, as well as its sunsets and even more beautiful sunrises, when the sun rises slowly above a sea of clouds. The Alishan Forest Railway is one of the only three remaining alpine railways in the world. The Japanese built the railway to convey lumber from the forests. From Chiayi City about 30 meters above sea level, the railway ascends into the mountains to over 2,000 meters above sea level. There are 49 tunnels, 77 bridges and numerous wonderful sights along the railroad. Because of the steep incline, the train has to zigzag upward, making the ride an unforgettable experience. Because there is only one train trip scheduled daily (two on weekends and holidays), it's best for visitors to check the timetable when making travel plans.

About half way up the Alishan Forest Railway stands Fencihu Station, next to which is an old street with stalls selling famous local snacks such as Train Cakes and the famous Fencihu Lunch Box. The railway terminal is situated in the Alishan Forest Recreation Area, which is best known for its spring cherry blossoms. Many people also like to come here in the summer for its cool weather.

Tainan
In terms of the number of historical sites, Tainan ranks first in Taiwan. From the Dutch occupation to Koxinga, who drove the Dutch out, Tainan has always been one of the most important cities in Taiwan.

The Chihkan Tower stands on the foundation of Fort Provintia, which was built by the Dutch in 1653 and is the oldest historical building in Tainan. Fort Provintia was the political center of the Dutch government in Taiwan. Since then it has passed through many hands and been used for various purposes. In front of the tower stand nine stone turtles bearing stone tablets with engraved characters. In addition to the turtles, a stone horse with broken legs can also be seen here. It is said that the stone horse's legs were broken as a punishment because it was believed that the stone horse turned into a monster at night and harassed the local residents.

The God of War Temple, dedicated to Guan Gong, and Datianhou Temple (Great Queen of Heaven Temple), dedicated to Mazu, are located near Chihkan Tower. Both temples are famed for their exquisite, Chinese-style architecture.

Yanping Jyunwang Temple, also known as the Koxinga Shrine, was built in 1662 to commemorate Koxinga and all his efforts in the development of Taiwan. It is the only Fujianese-style temple in Taiwan. The Eternal Fortress (Yi Zai Jin Cheng) was built in 1874, and was the first place in Taiwan to be equipped with western style cannon. It also marked the modernization of Taiwan's coastal defenses in recent history.

On either side of Tainan's Luermen River stand the two Tianhou Temples, both boasting huge floor spaces and grand architecture. It is said that there was originally only one Tianhou Temple on the river bank, and that it was swept away by a flood. After the flood receded, the remains of the old temple were found scattered on both banks of the river, prompting people living on the two sides to build their own Tianhou Temple. Needless to say, both temples claim to be the only true descendant of the original Tianhou Temple. If you have a chance to visit both temples during your stay in Tainan, don't forget to compare their differences.

Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is the second largest city in Taiwan and a commercial harbor of world importance. Located south of the Tropic of Cancer, its tropical climate means Kaohsiung is hot and sunny throughout the year.

The Love River, which runs through the city, is now a major recreation site. The river is lined on either side by well-kept parks and gardens that make romantic walkways of the riverbanks. The riverside area is also a venue for events like the Lantern Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, and other performances, concerts and folk art festivals.

The new Jyuejiang Shopping Area is the biggest retailer of international goods in Southern Taiwan, displaying fashions from Tokyo, Paris, London, Milan and New York. Liouhe Night Market and Guanghua Night Market are both noted for their large number of food stalls selling delicious Taiwanese snacks, and for great shopping. A stroll through the night markets here will bring you closer to the rhythm of Taiwanese life.

Lotus Lake in Zuoying is surrounded by many temples, which make it the religious and tourist center for the Kaohsiung area. The Spring and Autumn Pavilions, the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, and the Confucius Temple are a few of the major attractions in the Lotus Scenic Area.

Tianhou Temple in Cijin was first built in 1691and is one of Kaohsiung's oldest buildings. Taiwan's second lighthouse, Cijin Lighthouse in Houshanding, was built in 1883. The lighthouse is octagonal, snow-white, and fairly petite (only about 16 meters tall). Cijin Coastal Park and Cijin Beach are two other places worth visiting here. On practically every street in Cijin there are seafood restaurants or stalls selling their catch fresh from the sea.

The Sizih Bay Scenic Area centers around National Sun Yat-sen University. It's especially famous for its fine sandy beach and beautiful sunsets. The beach is lined with palm trees and is great for water sports, beach volleyball or just a leisurely sunbath. Other attractions in Greater Kaohsiung include the Chengcing Lake Scenic Area, the Shoushan Scenic Area, and Taiwan's biggest Buddhist center-Foguangshan (Light of Buddha Mountain). Foguangshan is widely recognized as one of the world's most important Buddhist centers. The central feature of the site is a huge golden statue of Buddha 40 meters high surrounded by 480 smaller Buddhas, all replicas of the Great Buddha. Their raised right hands symbolize guiding lights while their lowered left hands represent a receiving gesture to all living beings. These gestures symbolize Buddhism's philosophy of giving light and unconditional mercy to all living things.

Dapeng Bay & Little Liouciou
If you drive further south along the coastline from Kaohsiung City , you'll see the huge fish and oyster farms which are located in that area. Dapeng Bay , one of the few lagoons along the south coast, supports rich fauna and flora. Southwest of Dapeng Bay is the Cingjhou Recreation Area, which is also known as "Hawaii in Taiwan" for its sandy beaches dotted with palm trees. Little Liouciou is just off the coast of Dapeng Bay and is Taiwan 's only coral island. Its surrounding waters are a great breeding ground for marine life. Boat tours are available so visitors can glimpse the colorful undersea world.

Kenting National Park
Kenting National Park is located on the southernmost promontory of Taiwan , facing the Pacific Ocean on the east and the Taiwan Strait on the west. Surrounded by the sea, Kenting is blessed with rich marine life. The tropical weather here helps to create its highly complex and colorful ecological system. Kenting's topography is also very rich and varied, including sandy beaches, reefs, rocky seashores, limestone tableland cliffs, isolated mountains, estuaries, river basins, and lakes. This topography supports a wide variety of wildlife, including 15 species of mammals, 310 species of birds, 59 species of reptiles and amphibians, 21 species of freshwater fish, 216 species of butterflies, and numerous species of other insects.

Thanks to the warm Kuroshio current which passes offshore, the sea off Kenting supports all kinds of marine life: coral reefs, tropical fish, shellfish, algae, sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea lilies and sea urchins all flourish in these waters.

Kenting abounds in tourist attractions, with places like Jialeshuei, Sheding Nature Park , Fongchueisha, Longpan, Eluanbi Park , Nanwan, Shadao Beach , Siaowan Beach , Maobitou, Baisha Bay and the Kenting Forest Recreation Area. Because of its open spaces, low urban density, and low light pollution, Kenting is also known for its glittering starry skies. For star lovers or just lovers seeking romance, Kenting is never a disappointment!