Taipei City
Taipei is the capital,
The first city in this tale,
I lived there six years for work,
Renting in Neihu and Ximending.
Looked down from Taipei 101,
Huashan and Songshan文创 parks,
Leisurely afternoon tea in the East District,
Evenings at the National Concert Hall.
Hot springs in Beitou smell of sulfur,
Watch the flower clock on Yangmingshan,
Hike Elephant Mountain for the view,
Take the gondola to Maokong.
Wanhua's Monga and Bopiliao,
Pray for luck at Longshan Temple,
Four Four South Village and Treasure Hill,
Sunset drapes Dadaocheng.
New Taipei City
Next stop New Taipei City,
Eat fish balls at Tamsui Old Street,
Jinshan, Wanli to Yehliu,
Sanchih's coast is dreamlike.
Hot springs in Wulai,
Visit tea gardens in Pinglin,
Watch Shifen Waterfall after rain,
Fly lanterns at Pingxi with wishes.
Qingshui Zushi Temple in Sanxia,
Tofu at Shenkeng Old Street,
Xindian's Bitan and the suspension bridge,
Yingge Ceramics Museum.
Yin-Yang Sea at Jinguashi,
Jiufen sees all joys and sorrows,
The Fish Road Ancient Trail at Jinshan,
Twenty years have flown by.
Taoyuan City
Childhood memories of Window on China,
Heading south to Taoyuan,
History at Cihu Lake,
Seafood at Yong'an Fishing Port.
Must mention Fuxing District,
So many memories here,
Skywalk at Xiaowulai,
Afternoon thunder on Dongyan Mountain.
Peaches on Lala Mountain,
Sigh in Sanmin Bat Cave,
Night barbecue on Jiaoban Mountain,
Still recall that full moon.
Live fish at Shimen Reservoir,
Dried tofu at Daxi Old Street,
Yunnan cuisine at Longgang Market,
Taoyuan specialties on the tongue.
Hsinchu City
Strong feelings for Hsinchu,
Months of service in Guanxi,
First job at the Science Park,
All told, four years there.
Jingxin Lake in Longshan Community,
Stroll after meals, thinking of tomorrow,
Rented a place near Qingda Night Market,
Met up on Jinshan Street.
Swam at Lienyu in the evening,
Badminton at Chiao Tung on weekends,
Walked every street and alley,
Tried hundreds of restaurants.
Wrote a blog on Wretch back then,
All vanished with the times,
Youthful folly turned to memory,
Years later, I write again.
Hsinchu County
Traveling through Hsinchu County,
Counting sights one by one,
Xinfeng has Hongmao Harbor,
Xinpu's rice noodles and Jiuhu Lake.
Biking at Nanliao Fishing Port,
Hakka cold springs at Beipu,
Up to Feifeng Mountain in Qionglin,
Waterfalls at Qingquan and Guanwu.
Oriental Beauty tea at Emei,
Neiwan's suspension bridge views,
Tung blossoms at Luliao Pit,
Gift exchange at Balang Tribe.
But the most unforgettable,
The tribe of God circling sacred trees,
Smangus on cold nights,
Milky Way on the path to heaven.
Miaoli County
College friend in Miaoli,
Hot springs at Tai'an with him,
Shengxing Station through the tunnel,
Broken bricks at Longteng Bridge.
Up to Liyu Tan Reservoir,
Sanyi Wood Sculpture Museum,
Red earth faces sunset,
Stand tall on Huoyan Mountain.
Windmills at Houlong's Haowangjiao,
Tongxiao Shrine and Hutou Mountain,
Fireflies by Shenshui Bridge,
Twinkle in the dark.
Strawberry wine at Dahu Winery,
Pottery at Yuanli's Huatao Kiln,
Foggy Malabang Mountain,
Nanzhuang's Dwarf Spirit Lake to the sky.
Taichung City
I'm from Taichung,
Studied and worked in many cities,
Now home during the pandemic,
Resting and writing.
Taichung's not just Golden Leopard,
There's the Science Museum,
Leisure at the Art Museum,
Breeze on the Green Parkway.
Hot springs at Dakeng and Wuri,
Further to Guguan on old Cross-Island Highway,
Birdwatching on Daxue Mountain,
Famous fruit from Lishan.
Wufeng's Lin Family Mansion,
Remembering the big earthquake,
Xinshe, Fengyuan to Houli,
Dajia and Wuqi welcome all.
Changhua County
First, Bagua Mountain in Changhua,
Besides the Buddha, there's ba-wan,
South to Xihu for lamb hotpot,
Dairy farm at Dashan in Huatan.
Miracle fruit on Tianwei Highway,
Makes everything taste sweet,
Xianxi's Changbin Industrial Zone,
Windy and desolate.
Longshan Temple in Lukang,
Pray for a good fortune,
Fresh oysters at Wanggong Fishing Port,
Sunset on the lighthouse reflecting water.
Remember field trips as a child,
Baiguo Mountain outside Yuanlin,
Time flies without pause,
Busy years slipping by.
Nantou County
Endless sights in Nantou,
Checheng and Jiji railway,
Nostalgic Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village,
Breeze on Sun Moon Lake.
Chung Tai Chan Monastery and Nuomi Bridge,
Caotun's 99 Peaks,
Up to Wuling, the highest point,
Stargaze on Hehuan Mountain.
Tea gardens at Lugu and Shanlinxi,
Wangyou Forest like a dream,
Zhushan's Sky Ladder across the valley,
Xitou's skywalk in the air.
Shuili Snake Kiln and Dongpu Village,
Hongxiang Hot Spring and Tiebilun,
Shuanglong Waterfall Rainbow Bridge,
Wujie Tribe's secret realm.
Yunlin County
Honestly, Yunlin,
I remember my first visit,
Twenty or thirty years ago,
Softball game at Yunlin Tech.
Not many visits since,
Coffee art at Gukeng,
Beigang Chaotian Temple Old Street,
Jianhushan's thrill rides.
Caoling's unique geology,
Steep cliffs and slippery slopes,
Giant rocks in Shibi Xiangu,
Hiking secret mountain spots.
A primary school hidden in the hills,
Misty with fairy air,
Each place broadens the mind,
Safe home with evening glow.
Chiayi City & County
Chiayi City's fountain square,
Turkey rice on Wenhua Road,
I remember my first visit,
The tower at She Ri Tower.
Waiting for sunrise on Alishan,
New Year's Eve near freezing,
Nostalgic little train on the railway,
Forest and sea of clouds unknown.
Shiji Valley to Xi'an Mountain,
Danayigu and Fenchihu,
Chashan, Dabang, Tefuye,
The Tsou people live in peace.
Meishan Sky Ladder suspension bridge,
Rueili's Yuntan Waterfall,
So many memories before my eyes,
Laughter on the journey scene by scene.
Tainan City
Smile when writing Tainan,
Best six years of youth,
Clubs, teams, writing thesis,
Hundreds of restaurants explored.
Chicken at Meiling, Hutoubei,
Salt mountain at Cigu Lagoon,
Yanshui Beehive Fireworks roar,
Mud hot springs at Guanziling.
Luermen's Holy Mother Temple,
Bamboo raft eco-tour at Sicau,
Nankunshen's Dai Tian Fu,
Water chestnuts at Guantian, lotus at Baihe.
Zuozhen's Caoshan Moon World,
Rare whirlpool at Xikou,
Sunset at Mashagou seaside,
Memories at Zoumalai Farm.
Kaohsiung City
Start Kaohsiung from Shoushan,
Monkeys by day, view by night,
Yuanshan Hotel and Chengcing Lake,
Heart of Love River reflects the sky.
Wontons on Zuoying Main Street,
Gangshan lamb even more famous,
Dragon and Tiger at Lotus Pond,
In the crowd at Liuhe Night Market.
Dashu Iron Bridge and Fo Guang Shan,
Qishan Old Street near Meinong,
Yellow Butterfly Valley and Meilun Mountain,
Hot springs at Bu Lao to Qikeng.
Visited Jiasian many times,
Camping and creeking at Shikeng,
Meishan Tianchi Guesthouse,
Drinking and talking over Kaoliang.
Pingtung County
Unforgettable paragliding in Pingtung,
Ultralight flight at Saijia,
Afternoon thunderstorm,
View from Sandimen.
Friends gather in Donggang,
Whales at the Aquarium,
Summer snorkeling in Kenting,
Hot springs at Sichongxi at night.
Famous cold-hot ice in Chaozhou,
Wanluan pig knuckle as souvenir,
View at Dapeng Bay,
Cheap seafood at Fangliao.
Finally, out to Xiaoliuqiu,
Explore Wugui Cave,
Night tour of Longpan Grassland,
So many memories in drops.
Taitung County
Finally writing Taitung,
South Link and South Cross roads,
Down valleys to wild creeks,
Colorful Lisong hot spring.
Grassland at Chulu Ranch,
Hongye Little League memories,
Visited Zhiben six times,
Taiyuan Gorge and Dengxian Bridge.
Beinan Cultural Park,
Paragliding at Luye Plateau,
Amazing water flowing uphill,
Seafood at Fugang Fishing Port.
Rough seas to Green Island,
Rare undersea hot spring,
Isolated, mind resets,
Flying fish in Orchid Island most missed.
Hualien County
Must-see Taroko Gorge,
Magnificent Central Cross-Island Highway,
Night at Tianxiang with drinks,
Wake to flowing water at dawn.
Rafting on Xiuguluan River,
Rapids and whirlpools shake the boat,
Ocean Park shows,
Whale watching off Shitiping.
Golden daylilies on Liushishi Mountain,
Mugumuyu now closed,
Stroll at Matai'an Wetland,
Good mood at Liyu Lake.
Qingshui Cliff majestic,
Best view on Suhua Highway,
Mountains on one side, sea on the other,
Beauty accompanies northward.
Yilan County
Qingshui Geothermal and Taipingshan,
Clouds and mist in the rain,
Renze Hot Springs for a soak,
Blue sky at Cuifeng Lake.
National Center for Traditional Arts on Dongshan River,
Tapioca pearls at Luodong Night Market,
Visit Baimei Clog Village,
Stroll Lanyang Museum.
Play in the creek at Wulaokeng,
Cold springs and seafood at Su'ao,
Whisky at King Car Distillery,
Warm soak in Jiaoxi.
From Wushi to Guishan Island,
Circle the former fortress,
Many memories on the Freeway and Snow Tunnel,
Yilan stays in my heart.
Keelung City
True Keelung native,
College friend Yuping,
So I often visited him,
Exploring sights together.
Sea breeze at Badouzi,
Morning at Lover's Lake,
Rock formations at Heping Island,
Sea hibiscus on Keelung Islet.
Fishing trips from Bisha Harbor,
Night squid fishing is amazing,
Snacks at Miaokou Night Market,
Tapioca, pork ribs, eel soup.
Power plant at Waimushan,
Fort on Dawulun,
Rainy city always gray,
But doesn't dampen adventure.
Penghu County
South from Gushan across the sea,
Ferry named Taihua Lun,
Four hours crossing,
Penghu, the Chrysanthemum Island, fishing villages.
Half-island tour from Magong,
Tongliang Banyan and Whale Cave,
Cross-sea Bridge and Aquarium,
Sky and sea merge, heart light.
Two southern islands face each other,
Tongpan, Hujing, Guanyin Pavilion,
Night drive to Fenggui,
Listen to waves, lightning in the sky.
First-class historic site Tianhou Temple,
Shi Lang's Ten Thousand Troops Well,
Remember the night at Jibei,
Stone weirs with sea breeze.
Kinmen County
Final push to finish,
Never Forget in Ju at Taiwu Mountain,
Another year visiting a friend,
All the sights in Kinmen.
Fierce battle at Guningtou,
Qionglin Tunnel and Zhai Shan,
Beishan Western House and Cihu堤,
War years at the War Museum.
Shuitou Village's Deyue Tower,
Fujian-style old houses,
Dungeon under the Military Command,
Nearby ancient academy.
Wind lions on the island,
Protect from wind and evil,
Taiwan's diverse customs,
Endless learning, always new.