What to do and see in Wulai, New Taipei: The Best Sights & Landmarks

Reviewed By maryyeo - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Wulai is literally the word for, 'hot springs' in Aboriginal Taiwanese. It was awesome that this mountainous hot spring getaway town was merely a half-hour ride from Taipei, and around a 2.5 hour ride from the Taoyuan airport. Love the fact that the glowing blue azure hot springs here contains pH-neutral sodium bicarbonate water that's great for skin hydration (different types of hot springs serves different purposes!). While we enjoyed the simplicity of this town, with shops mainly situated at the rather short Old Street and with the oldest cable car leading to the oldest amusement park in Taiwan as their main attraction, we can't help but notice that the town's a little dead after dark. Most shops that we passed by even near the good 5-star hotels were closed for the 3 nights we were there in beginning of November. It could be because the winter season has just started, but we barely felt cold wearing our normal t-shirt and pants since it was only about 20 degrees celsius. It was only after our driver/guide shared with us that few years back that Wulai has been half decimated by the sudden storm and floods. Many of residents passed on. Those that were alive had to rely on helicopter drops for daily ration of food and water. The driver also mentioned that while the Taiwanese president encouraged locals to come visit the town again after the devastation was cleared, but recovery efforts were slow and the new express road to this town was opened only recently. Most of those alive probably moved to other towns in Taiwan for a better living too. Driver said nowadays most locals goto Yilan, which explains why it's crowded there and not so crowded in Wulai these days as compared to the last. Also explains the lack of life after dark. It's a sad back story for a beautiful mountainous tourist town. Hope they recover and won't be forgotten!