Going here could break you up: Taiwan’s top 6 dating no-go zones

By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

Couples often choose romantic spots when traveling together, such as picturesque landscapes or vibrant night scenes. However, Taiwan has quite a few popular attractions rumored to carry a breakup curse — including Xindian Bitan, Lover’s Lake, and Changhua Bagua Mountain. There have even been cases of celebrities holding weddings at these sites, only to end up divorced later, reigniting rumors about these so-called “couples’ forbidden zones.”

1. Xindian Bitan Suspension Bridge
During the day, the Bitan area offers swan boat rides for enjoying the lake views, while nights bring colorful cityscapes. From March to April each year, there's also a water dance show, making it a hot date spot. However, rumors persist that some young couples committed suicide here in a moment of despair, leading people to believe the bridge tests the strength of a relationship. Couples must support each other to cross it fully; stopping or parting ways midway is said to risk a breakup.

2. Keelung Lover’s Lake
Situated on Dagushan Mountain in Keelung, Lover’s Lake Park is known as the city’s backyard garden. Here, visitors can admire stunning lakeside scenery, walk across the narrow Lover’s Suspension Bridge, and snap photos at the European-style castle observation deck and windmills. Legend has it that a couple once jumped into the lake to end their lives due to family opposition, and the lakeside was once abandoned. The area also has numerous burial grounds, and many believe visiting couples tend to break up, further fueling the “curse” rumors.

However, after renovation, the scenic area now features one large and one small interconnected lake, symbolizing how lovers lean on and accompany each other. It’s said that couples who hold hands and walk across the Lover’s Suspension Bridge together will enjoy good fortune in love.

3. Kaohsiung-Pingtung Old Iron Bridge
Built during the Japanese colonial period, the Kaohsiung-Pingtung Old Iron Bridge spans three hundred hectares along the creek and includes water-friendly pathways, riverside bike trails, natural ecological zones, parks, green spaces, and a coffee plaza — offering vast and beautiful scenery. Local residents say that couples who walk across this bridge together are more likely to break up, turning it into a taboo destination for couples. The rumor goes that the loud noise from steam trains forced men to shout to be heard, often leading to misunderstandings and arguments that ended relationships.