Written by Wei Rwei from MOOK Travel Life Network; Photography by TAO CHEN and Wang Mingwei

 

Continuing last week’s feature on scenic hotels, we wrap up this series by introducing the final three distinctive scenic hotels in northern Taiwan. These offer views of airplane takeoffs and landings, harbor charm, and expansive sea vistas. Don’t miss the chance to experience them if you can.

Watching Planes Take Off and Land Is a Thrill – Novotel Hsinchu Taoyuan Airport

 

Located just a 5-minute drive from Taoyuan International Airport, Novotel Hsinchu Taoyuan Airport offers a unique vantage point to watch planes take off and land. Its prime location, along with effective soundproofing, provides an exceptional and unique experience for transit passengers. It is also Taiwan’s first “Family Fun Hotel,” offering free breakfast and no extra charge for adding beds for up to two children under 16 sharing a room with their parents. The hotel also features a “Children’s Play Area” on the first floor, allowing parents to enjoy meals or gatherings without distraction. During holidays, many locals love coming here for an “airport mini-trip,” visiting the nearby Aviation Science Museum, enjoying light bites at the Q Bar on the first floor, or dining at The Square (Pin Square) or the second-floor Wei Fang Restaurant. Others prefer to spend the night here to take advantage of the heated pool, jacuzzi, and 24-hour gym to relax, recharge, and head out refreshed.

Must-Try Highlights:

 

? New Shanghai Cuisine at Wei Fang Restaurant

Different from traditional Shanghai cuisine (known for its heavy sweet and salty flavors), Wei Fang Restaurant offers a modernized version—so-called “New Shanghai Cuisine” or “Haipai Cuisine”—by incorporating culinary elements from other regions. The restaurant’s stylish and minimalist Eastern design was also one of the filming locations for the idol drama “In Time with You.”

 

The menu at Wei Fang blends delicacies from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Huaiyang, Yangzhou, and Suzhou cuisines. A must-try is the “Poached Tender Beef,” made using a broth simmered for two days with 70–80 spices including Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers, as well as pork bone, chicken feet, and pork skin. It’s served with premium Australian Angus snowflake beef. When ordered, staff will cook the beef tableside. The aroma is so enticing it could make anyone’s stomach rumble—and even diners at neighboring tables might be tempted. Though it sounds spicy, it’s not overpowering. Instead, the numbing and fragrant flavors keep you going back for more. Paired with bean sprouts and mung bean starch sheets, the dish is well-balanced, appetizing, and leaves you wanting a second bowl.

 

Other popular dishes include Osmanthus Glazed Sticky Rice Lotus Root, Suzhou Braised Abalone, Hangzhou-Style Spicy Fish, Mountain Spring Fish in Sour Bamboo Shoot Soup, and Loofah Soup Dumplings... Each à la carte dish costs approximately NT$180–640, and there are also set meals priced at NT$1,280 and NT$1,580.

 

In addition to open seating, the restaurant has six private rooms, with the largest accommodating 20–25 people and featuring a separate living area and restrooms. It is often frequented by international travelers eager to sample Eastern cuisine, and is also highly favored for business banquets.