After breakfast in Jiufen, we travel west toward Taichung, making a cultural stop in Hsinchu along the way. Our visit begins at the historic Chenghuang Temple, built in 1748—long before many formal government institutions were established in northern Taiwan. Remarkably, the temple survived religious suppression during the Japanese era, preserving its role as both a spiritual and community landmark. Nearby, we explore one of Hsinchu’s heritage spaces—either the former Shinzhou House (OR House), a 1930s department store reimagined as a creative hub, or an alternative cultural site such as OR Craft, the former residence of Principal Xin Zhiping, or the historic 132 Officers’ Quarters—each offering a different glimpse into the city’s architectural and cultural past. After sampling local snacks from the bustling food stalls surrounding the temple, we continue on to Taichung. Upon arrival, check in to a stylish 4-star hotel in the city center and enjoy a relaxed evening at your own pace.

Head to the Sun Moon Lake area and start exploring Sun Moon Lake to the fullest. We'll travel across the lake on a pleasure boat, hike through a magnificent grove of climbing bamboo, and visit the serene Xuanguang temple, a major pilgrimage site for followers of the Buddhist faith. We'll have great meals, and do a cycling trip around the lake (listed as one of the top ten cycling routes in the world by CNN Travel) before heading back to our 4-star hotel.

On the journey's fourth day, we'll say goodbye to Sun Moon Lake and head deeper into the mountains. Our goal for the day is the Alishan scenic area, but the landscape through which we’ll be passing is so beautiful that we’ll take our time, stopping for a meal with a great view first followed by a visit to a well-known tea farm, where we’ll walk a trail passing through some of Taiwan’s most beloved tea fields. Once we get to Alishan, we’ll take a ride on the narrow gauge Alishan mountain rail before checking in for the night.

It's the final day of the tour, and you may either get up early to enjoy the sunrise or simply enjoy the beautiful morning at the hotel (The hotel is right inside of the national park; nature is in your footstep). After breakfast, you can check out and take the forest train to go for a walk through the high mountain forests of the area, including past a cypress tree that’s said to be a thousand years old. After lunch, we’ll wave goodbye to the mountain and head back to Taipei City.