Taiwan

The tour starts on Sunday 14 April, at Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei, with a transfer to the hotel.

The tour ends on Wednesday 24 April, at Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei.

Flights from Australia arrive in Taipei early in the morning. Upon arrival, check into your hotel with time to freshen up. There will be a mid-morning tour of Taipei and lunch at a local restaurant. Overnight Taipei (L)

This morning we take the fast train to Tainan. Upon arrival we explore some of the historic sites of Tainan, the island’s first capital and site of the overthrow of the Dutch colonialists by the folk-hero Koxinga. Tainan preserves a very atmospheric city centre, with narrow laneways, traditional shop-houses and dozens of ancient temples. Our sightseeing includes the Dutch Fort Zeelandia, centuries-old Daoist temples and the city’s splendid 17th-century Confucian temple, the oldest in Taiwan. After a lunch at which we sample some of Tainan’s well-regarded delicacies, the afternoon is free. You might like to participate in High Tea at the Shangri-la Hotel for your first taste of Taiwan’s highly regarded Oolong tea. This evening there is the option of heading out to Tainan’s vibrant night markets, where traditional ‘small eats’ abound. Overnight Tainan (B, L)

After a morning talk, we depart Tainan, and head north along the island’s seaboard to the town of Lugang. Lugang is Taiwan’s most interesting historic town and was the second largest settlement on the island during the 1700s. Highlights of our visit include the vibrant Tianhou temple, a Daoist place of worship, as well as the Koo family mansion. Built during the Japanese period, it contains interesting displays of furniture, art and design of the 18th and 19th centuries. We have lunch in Lugang before visiting the Longshan Buddhist temple to view the fine wood carvings that decorate its ceilings and roofs. Overnight Lugang (B, L)

This morning we head to Taichung to visit the National Museum of Fine Arts. Mainly dedicated to visual arts, the museum places a large emphasis on works by upcoming and established contemporary Taiwanese artists and features an outdoor sculpture garden. The collection also includes documents for the Ming and Qing Dynasties and works from the Japanese era through to the period following the Second World War, effectively documenting Taiwan’s history through its art. We continue to Sun Moon Lake, our base for the next three nights, and enjoy dinner in one of our hotel’s excellent restaurants. Overnight Sun Moon Lake (B, L, D)

Sun Moon Lake is some 1,000 metres above sea level and surrounded by steep mountains. Strict planning laws have preserved the natural environment of the lake. This morning we journey around the lake, visiting the Syanzuang and Syuangang temples that occupy a picturesque location on the lake shore. The temples preserve the relics of one of China’s most famous Buddhists, the monk Xuan Zang. In the early 7th century Xuan Zang made pilgrimages throughout China and as far as India, collecting some 657 Sanskrit texts of Buddhism (sutras). He had an enormous influence on Chinese Buddhism. After a lunch break in a local village we visit an Assam tea farm and experience first-hand the art of Taiwanese tea making. The afternoon is free for you to wander the well-maintained lakeside walks near the hotel, enjoying the lush vegetation, bird life and architecture of the lake. Overnight Sun Moon Lake (B)

Today we visit the Chung Tai World Museum, located near the town of Puli, about 40 minutes’ drive from Sun Moon Lake. Opened in October 2009, this superb museum is adjacent to the main Chung Tai Chan Temple and contains an outstanding collection of Buddhist art in stone, gilded bronze and wood, beautifully displayed with comprehensive explanations in English. It easily ranks as one of the world’s great collections of Buddhist art, and it is simply a matter of time before it enjoys an international reputation. After lunch in a local restaurant, we return to Sun Moon Lake with the evening at leisure. Overnight Sun Moon Lake (B, L)

This morning we head inland to the highest peaks of the Central Range. We travel along sections of the Central Cross-Island Highway, opened in 1960. The winding two-lane road has views to Taiwan’s highest peaks and is considered Taiwan’s most scenic road. Along the way, we stop at Wushe to view the memorial to aboriginal resistance against the Japanese. Over the next few hours we pass the most spectacular part of the road, stopping for lunch, brief walks and panoramic views before descending towards the east coast and Taroko Gorge, where we stop for the night. Overnight Taroko Gorge (B, L, D)

Taroko Gorge is a narrow marble valley, 19 kilometres long, and Taiwan’s most popular national park. The rugged countryside, dotted with temples and pagodas, is rather like a Chinese landscape painting come to life. Leaving early this morning to avoid the many coach groups which visit, we explore some of the sites of the valley through short walks and stops. We emerge from the gorge on Taiwan’s rugged east coast. We travel north along the Chingshui cliffs, where the corniche road hugs the cliff-face high above the sea. We continue to Taipei, arriving in the late afternoon. Tonight, we enjoy dinner at the hotel. Overnight Taipei (B, L, D)

This morning we view some of Taipei’s traditional and monumental spaces. We first visit the Longshan Temple, where there is sure to be chanting and incense-burning in abundance. We then visit the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, whose monumental forecourt consciously mimics Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. This gives us the opportunity to consider Taiwan’s dramatic 20th century history. Our last stop is the towering Taipei 101 skyscraper, until very recently the world’s tallest building. Inspired by Chinese pagodas, Taipei 101’s architect was C.Y. Lee, who also designed the Chung Tai Chan monastery. This afternoon is free for shopping or relaxing. Tonight, there is the option of attending a performance (depending on schedules) at the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial hall, which has a regular program of international quality classical music concerts. Overnight Taipei (B)

In the late morning we visit the National Palace Museum, Taiwan’s most famous cultural institution. When retreating from the communists in 1949 Chiang Kai Shek made a careful selection of over 500,000 artefacts and artworks from China’s imperial collection, representing the very finest in Chinese art. After a long and sometimes dramatic journey to Taipei the pieces in the collection were stored in the hills near Taipei, awaiting their inevitable return to Beijing along with a triumphant Kuomintang government. This never happened, of course, and the Taipei Museum was born. Highlights of the collection include ancient bronzes and jade pieces, exquisite Ming porcelain and fine paintings from the Song Dynasty. Overnight Taipei (B)

The morning is free to relax and prepare for your homeward journey. We share a farewell lunch at a Hot Springs Resort south of Taipei, not far from the airport. We then head to Taipei’s international airport for afternoon flights. (B, L)

The accommodation we have arranged is excellent, with 4 and 5-star hotels throughout.

• Taipei, Regent Hotel (1 night)

• Tainan, Shangri-La Far Eastern Plaza Hotel (1 night)

• Lugang, Union House (1 night)

• Sun Moon Lake, The Lalu (3 nights)

• Taroko Gorge, Silks Place (1 night)

• Taipei, Regent Hotel (3 nights)