Dharma Drum Mountain overlooking the coast at Jinshan, is the largest Buddhist community in Northern Taiwan. The scholarly teachings of its late leader Dharma Master Sheng Yen (1930-2009) was first known for his academic interpretation of Zen Buddhism. The complex is formally a Buddhist education center, with a library, meditation halls, conference rooms and accommodations for monastics and visiting scholars, as well as dining halls, landscape gardens and collections of religious artworks and artifacts.

Stretching far out into the East China Sea, this limestone cape has long attracted people to its delightfully odd rock formations. Yehliu Geopark is a geologist’s dreamland but also a fascinating place for the day tripper. Home to a number of unique geological formations including the iconic “Queen’s Head”, it’s one of the premier destinations in northern Taiwan.

The Villages of Chiufen were once the centers of gold mining in Taiwan. The gold is gone, but these quaint old villages, built of closely-packed houses clinging to steep mountainsides, continue to offer enchanting scenery and fascinating glimpse into the lifestyles of the past