The News Lens
Date: 2016/10/12
Date: Steven Crook

As temperatures start dropping in Taiwan, what does the island-nation have to offer visitors?

Photo Credit: CheWei Chang @ Flickr CC BY ND 2.0

“Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile …” wrote William Cullen Bryant. The 19th-century American poet never visited Taiwan, but his words are just as true for East Asia’s most alluring island as they are for the New England he knew and loved. The main reason is, of course, the weather. In October and November it’s dependably comfortable, with Taipei’s daytime temperatures averaging 19 to 25 degrees Celsius (66 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit). In a typical year, November is the capital’s second driest month each year, while October is the fourth driest.

Autumn is an ideal season for outdoor activities, especially if you are heading into Taiwan’s breathtakingly rugged interior. This is the time of year to enjoy Yushan National Park. Driving up from the plains into the uplands, you will pass (an immensely popular destination in its own right) and enter a realm where, because human visitors are few, macaques and pheasants loiter beside the road. Bring a thick jacket and a warm hat as you will encounter dramatically lower temperatures once you’re above 2,000 m (6,562 ft above sea level).     [FULL  STORY]