Taiwan’s not all sky-skimming building, neon night markets and honking traffic. Escape the concrete jungle of Taipei and explore her astonishing landscapes, wildlife and tribal cultures. Here are 12 reasons to go green in Taiwan:

1. To watch solar-powered sports

To coincide with the World Games 2009, Kaohsiung opened the world’s first state-of-the-art solar powered stadium.

2. To cycle the sites

‘Let’s bike Taiwan’: Taiwan Tourism Bureau and Giant Bicycles are promoting cycling as a healthy and environmentally friendly way to explore the country, with over 1,000 km of bike trails now available.

3. To trace a river

Specialist Taiwanese adventure activity called ‘river tracing’. Start at the bottom and make your way upstream to the source: rock-climb up mini waterfalls, hike along jungle paths, hop across boulders, and swim through crystal-clear rock pools.

4. To scale a mountain

Taiwan is one of the world’s best undiscovered trekking destinations, home to NE Asia’s tallest peak, Mt Yushan (3,952m), and with two-thirds of the island covered in mountains, it has the highest density of mountain peaks in the world.

5. To meet aborigines and witches

Take an overnight homestay with Taiwan’s indigenous tribes, each with their own dialects, traditions and tribal structures. The Paiwan tribe have recently launched a class to train students in the ancient skills of witchcraft. Students learn how to seek guidance from the gods and communicate with the souls of deceased ancestors.

6. To get naked

Taiwan is famous for its volcanic springs: hot springs, cold springs, mud springs, saltwater springs – you name it. Their medicinal properties are well-known, but it not just therapeutic: steaming up with strangers has given rise to a vibrant culture in Taiwan, so it’s very social, too.

7. To check out the birds

Taiwan is a twitcher’s paradise, chock full of rare birds. There are 15 endemic species and 60+ endemic subspecies, some of which are on track to be elevated to full species status. Look out for the Fire-breasted Flowerpecker and the extremely rare transient Chinese Egret.

8. To light a lantern

In a remote indigenous village, Pinghsi’s Lantern Festival hosts lively processions with revellers gathering to paint their sky lantern with personalised prayers for the New Year. Once lit and billowing, they are released, in their hundreds, to shimmer off into the inky sky.

9. To shop like a local

Daytime food markets are hidden throughout Taipei, unvisited by most foreigners. Get lost in a labyrinth of winding alleys along Jinhua South Road and Xinyi Road; discover strange fruits, fresh fish (not a refrigerator in sight), pens of squawking chickens, and little old ladies squeezing out dumplings in powdery stalls.

10. To go Green (literally)

A 12-minute plane ride from Taitung (or, greener still, 50 mins by ferry), is the laid-back getaway of Green Island. Don’t expect picture-perfect sandy coves – its beauty is rugged and dramatic. Coral reefs, colourful fish, and warm ocean currents make it a brilliant spot for scuba diving.

11. To surf a typhoon

While not advisable, some crazies do precisely that. Daxi and Penghu Island have a strong surfer dude culture, and while you should steer clear of a force 8, if you’re feeling brave you can test your skills against Taiwan’s famously blustery swells.

12. To take on Taroko

One of the secret wonders of the world with dense jungle and impossibly sheer rock faces sliced by the aquamarine Liwu River. Scooter through a startling network of tunnels and bridges; jump off to hike through your own corner of this 920 sq km park.

Available with Lightfoot Travel (www.lightfootasia.com), a bespoke tour operator specialising in holidays to Asia and Australasia.

Image courtesy of culture.teldap.tw

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