Geography School Trip to Taiwan

• Learn about Taiwanese culture firsthand, with an immersive cooking class. Explore the traditions, styles and depths of Taiwanese gastronomy – and be sure to try it afterwards!
• Head to the top of Taipei 101, an observation deck situated on the 89th-91st floors of the Taipei 101 skyscraper! It was once the tallest building in the world, and today, visitors can take a high-speed elevator all the way to get an incredible view of the skyline.
• For another perspective on the city, take a short hike up the Elephant Peak. Here, students will be able to get incredible views of Taipei 101 and the rest of the city’s developments.
• This evening, visit the bustling Shilin Night Market. Adored by locals and visitors for over a hundred years, enjoy a meal in one of the excellent restaurants that flank the market, before sourcing a delicious dessert from one of the 500 market stalls.

• There’s time for breakfast today, before heading to the first destination – Yehliu Geopark. This unique park is heaven for physical geography lovers, and is filled to the brim with unique rock formations. When viewed from above, it’s said to resemble a turtle! Here resides the Queen’s Head, a natural rock formation that’s said to look like a woman’s profile.
• Explore the historic area of Jiufen. Once an isolated village, it quickly become famous in the 1930s thanks to the discovery of gold. The village quickly grew during the gold rush, and it now today stands as a cultural destination that captures a moment in Taiwanese history.
• Take a trip to Shifen Old Street. Here, students will get a further glimpse in Taiwan’s industrial history, as the area was once a railroad town on a line designed to transport coal. It’s now a bustling area filled with places to buy snacks and souvenirs, and is renowned for both its lanterns and the nearby Shifen Waterfall.

• This morning, transfer to the next base on your geography school trip to Taiwan – Hualien City. Along the way, take in the gorgeous coastline of East Taiwan, including a stop at Qingshui Cliff. It’s been designated one of the country’s eight natural wonders, and it’s one of the only places you can see the three distinct colour tones of the Pacific in Taiwan.
• Head off to Taroko Gorge for a hike. It’s one of the tallest canyons in the world, and boasts some truly incredible geological formations and landscapes. Take some time to explore the area on foot!
• Visit the Tungtamen Night Market, and enjoy the street food from the three main market lanes. These three lanes provide visitors with a chance to try native Taiwanese food, local Aboriginal street food, as well as food from across Mainland China.

• Set sail from the black-pebble coastline of Hualien, and take to the seas on an amazing dolphin-spotting boat cruise! There’s around 27 species of whales and dolphins currently residing in the waters around Hualien – see if you can spot bottlenosed dolphins, spinner dolphins, and much more!
• Today, students will take part in a fascinating cultural experience. They’ll pay a visit to an Indigenous Taiwanese tribe, where they can take part in a number of activities. There will also be the opportunity to ask lots of questions to find out more about their traditions and culture.

• Head to Yilan, for an experience on a local farm. Students will learn more about Taiwanese culture through its food, as they assist local farmers with green onion picking! They’ll learn how to harvest and safely wash the onions, before getting stuck in with a hands-on cooking class where they learn to make a scallion pancake.
• After transferring back to Taipei, pay a visit to Xingtian Temple. Known as the most visited temple in Taiwan, it’s dedicated to Guan, a famous general who lived during the Three Kingdoms period.

• Visit the the Beitou Thermal Valley. It’s located in the foothills of Yangmingshan, one of the sources that supply the area’s hot springs. Nearby, you’ll be able to visit the Hot Springs Museum, which teaches visitors about the history and geography of the Beitou hot springs.
• Contemplate the history behind the Republic of China’s foundation at the National Martyrs’ Shrine, built in 1969 to commemorate the 330,000 soldiers who lost their lives during the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the civil war against the Chinese Communist Party. The Shrine’s design is reminiscent of the imperial palaces of Beijing, and hints at the Republic’s historic origins.
• Head to Ximending for souvenir shopping – it is a vibrant and lively neighborhood located in the Wanhua District of Taipei. It is known as the ‘Harajuku of Taipei’ and is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
• Visit the oldest district of Taipei, Dadaocheng, and walk along Dihua Street which was a major trading center in the 19th century. The area features many traditional shops and markets, including tea shops, herbal medicine stores, and traditional food vendors.
• Come together for a reflection session. Through discussion, listening and guided thought, participants can process their experiences, digest new ideas and consider what they have learned about Taiwanese culture, language and people during the trip.

Today sadly marks the end of your geography school trip to Taiwan. Head back to the airport, ready to head home with a wealth of transformative travel experiences!