2016 Year-End Review: Have You Visited All of Taiwan’s Top 10 Most Searched Attractions?

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

As the year draws to a close, what were the most popular tourist spots among travelers in Taiwan this year? The Yahoo website recently released the “2016 Taiwan Top 10 Most Searched Attractions” ranking. After topping Facebook’s check-in hotspot list last year, the Chimei Museum has once again claimed the crown as the most searched attraction this year.

The 2016 Taiwan Top 10 Most Searched Attractions ranking is as follows:

▲ Chimei Museum. (Photo / Authorized by Chen Yanyu, please do not reproduce without permission.)

1. Tainan — Chimei Museum
Since its opening on New Year’s Day 2015, the Chimei Museum has maintained its popularity. With its fairytale-like European architectural exterior reminiscent of the Palace of Versailles, statues themed around Greek mythology, fountains, and squares, every corner has become a popular photo spot. The museum regularly hosts diverse exhibitions, allowing visitors of all ages to step into an elegant European palace while getting an up-close look at art—making it a landmark representative of Tainan.

▲ Wuling Farm’s red leaves and ginkgo trees are at their best right now. (Photo / Provided by IG@whitegaga, no unauthorized reproduction to avoid infringement.)

2. Taichung — Wuling Farm
Wuling Farm, beautiful in all four seasons, ranked as the second most searched attraction this year. Coupled with the fact that it’s currently the best time to view autumn foliage, the golden tunnels formed by vast ginkgo forests have drawn many visitors.

▲ The strongly Japanese-style Momotaro Village. (Photo / Provided by the Facebook page “Flying in the Sky”)

3. Nantou — Momotaro Village
Momotaro Village, which opened earlier this year in Zhushan, Nantou, covers nearly 6 hectares. Designed around the Japanese folktale of Momotaro, it features a series of Japanese-style landscapes such as thatched-roof houses, Kumamoto Castle, and Japanese shrines. Each spot offers dreamy photos that make you feel like you’re in Japan—and it became an instant hit upon opening.

▲ National Palace Museum Southern Branch. (Photo / Reporter Chen Rui-zhong)

4. Chiayi — National Palace Museum Southern Branch
Since its trial operation at the end of last year, the National Palace Museum Southern Branch has been a hot topic. The museum includes an Asian Art Museum, as well as facilities like an artificial lake and themed gardens. Every corner holds a little surprise, ensuring visitors will discover unexpected delights during their visit.

▲ Sun Moon Lake, beautiful from near and far. (Photo / Reporter Hsu Wen-bin)

5. Nantou — Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake, which attracts large numbers of domestic and international tourists every year, has long been a must-visit destination in Nantou. In addition to its scenic lakeside views and what’s hailed as the world’s most beautiful cycling path, the nearby Golden Dragon Mountain offers stunning sunrises and sea of clouds, making it a popular spot to welcome the new year.

▲ The sea view of Little Liuqiu. (Photo / Reporter You [character missing] Ru)

6. Little Liuqiu
Having become a tourist hotspot in recent years, Little Liuqiu has seen over a million visitors in recent years. Its azure seas, unique natural ecology, and intertidal zone landscapes are the main draws for travelers.

▲ Van Gogh’s famous painting “Starry Night” recreated with plastic bottles on a grassy field. (Photo / From the Facebook page of Starry Grassland)

7. Keelung — Starry Grassland
At the beginning of this year, the Yongheng Cultural and Creative Park used 4 million recycled plastic bottles to create Van Gogh’s famous painting “Starry Night” on a 13,000-square-meter grassy field. Viewed from above, it resembles flowing water, and the lighting at night presents a different spectacle. It became an instant sensation after its official opening, and has recently been transformed anew using 3 million recycled CDs for a fresh visual effect.

▲ The hottest attraction of the year: the High Heel Chapel. (Photo / Provided by the Yunlin-Kaohsiung-Tainan Area Administration)

8. Chiayi — High Heel Chapel
The High Heel Chapel, which captured major media attention upon opening, has a unique design that even attracted coverage from several international media outlets, sparking a wave of tourism. Starting in mid-year, it also introduced a lighting event, using 8–10 different colors to give the chapel a varied ambiance.

▲ The mysterious atmosphere of the Forest of No Worries. (Photo / Miss Kitb)

9. Nantou  The Forest of No Worries
The vast area of cryptomeria trees in The Forest of No Worries turned into deadwood after being soaked in water for a long time, thus forming a unique forest landscape. Located at a high altitude, the area is often shrouded in mist, earning it the nickname “Mist Forest.” The towering tree clusters and their reflections in the puddles complement each other, and the surrounding drifting fog creates a hazy, dreamlike scene that feels like stepping into a magical world — exuding an atmosphere that is both enchanting and melancholic.

▲Xitou Monster Village. (Photo / Provided by Mingshan Forest Hotel)

10. Nantou  Monster Village
Monster Village has long been a popular attraction in Nantou. The various Japanese-style buildings and landscaped features built within the forest have kept its popularity going strong. Special events reminiscent of festivals are also held according to different seasons, continuously attracting visitors.