New Hotels

1. The Archipelago | 凱渡廣場酒店

Located at Wushi Harbor in Yilan County; 285 guestrooms; grand opening March 2023 www.archipelago.com.tw

2. Four Points by Sheraton Taipei Bali | 八里福朋喜來登酒店

Located in Bali District of New Taipei City; 241 guestrooms; grand opening March 2023 www.facebook.com/new.fourpointstaipeibali

Nostalgia Rongjin Gorgeous Time

Central Taipei City is home to a large number of old houses dating from the Japanese colonial era, easy to recognize as one- or two-story wooden or red-brick structures with slanted black-tile roofs. Many of these heritage houses have been thoughtfully restored and given new life as cultural spaces, cafés, shops, and restaurants. One building complex that was recently opened after restoration is named Rongjin Gorgeous Time. Located close to MRT Dongmen Station, this long row of buildings, now housing small restaurants, cafés, and shops, is especially photogenic in the evening when it is illuminated very tastefully. rongjintimes.com

Visitor Center

Qigu Visitor Center/ Island No. 6

Located northwest of Tainan City’s urban core, Qigu District is a flat coastal area well-known for its wetlands (great for birdwatching; black-faced spoonbills in the winter) and salt fields (salt production was a main industry here in the past). To learn more about the area before exploring it, head to the Qigu Visitor Center, run by the Southwest Coast National Scenic Area Administration. A modern facility with a striking design, the center provides helpful information and is also a popular IG check-in spot. A recent addition to the site is tiny Island No. 6, reached via a 60m-long path, home to a small art installation in the shape of a house seemingly made of salt. swcoast-nsa.travel

Shopping Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport

Located a 10-min. walk southeast of Taichung Railway Station, this is a new shopping mall conceived by Japanese real-estate developer Mitsui Fudosan. Home to about 300 stores, the mall serves as a one-stop center for shopping, dining, and entertainment. It consists of two large buildings connected by a footbridge, which crosses over a street. The South Building includes the largest collection of Japanese specialty stores in Taiwan, while the North Building has a collection of small and medium-sized stores. www.mitsui-shopping-park.com.tw