The High-Heel Wedding Church
It’s not actually an official place of worship, but since it hosts private wedding ceremonies, this giant shoe-shaped venue has become known all over the world as the ‘high-heel church’. It’s located in the fishing village of Budai in the Southwest Coast National Scenic Area and was the vision of the local tourism board. Their idea was to create a tourist attraction that would bring visitors to the area and boost the local economy. The idea for the shoe shape came as they sought a way to commemorate the outbreak of Blackfoot disease that blighted the local female population.
Lotus Pond - Lake of Temples
Lotus Pond is not just famous for its sunset views and beautiful reflections of the surrounding mountains. The twenty temples worshipping different deities situated around the lake also draw many visitors. The most famous four temples are also the most visually striking. Situated inside the belly of the huge beasts, the Dragon & Tiger Towers are memorable places to pray. The nearby Pavilion of the North Pole and Confucius Temple are also popular destinations for locals and visitors alike.
Formosa Boulevard MRT Station Kaohsiung
Right by the Liu He Night Market is Kaohsiung’s Formosa station. At first, it may seem like any old station in the world, but there is a secret beautiful gem waiting to be discovered. The station is home to the “Dome of Light”, an impressive glass work display that is the largest in the world. Designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata, the colorful glasses tell the story of four elements: Water, Earth, Light, and Fire.
Longshan Temple
Built in the late 18th century, Longshan Temple remains a showcase of southern temple design. The temple is expansive, covering over 10,000 sq meters within its gated walls, so give yourself a few hours to take in the grandeur and admire the minutiae. In addition, let's check out the hall's window lattice for two fish that curl around each other in the shape of the yin and yang symbol.
National Taichung Theater
Located in the popular west-coast city of Taichung, National Taichung Theater is an opera house like no other in Taiwan. Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, the building was opened in 2016 and is as distinctive as you can get. Its curved and sloped walls give the impression that you’re walking through a giant coral reef, and its fountain area makes it a very popular spot in this hot and humid city.
Chimei Museum
It’s a building that would look more at home in 18th-century Europe, with a bridge leading to it that looks like it was taken from ancient Greece. This is the Chimei Museum in Tainan, and it’s one of the most incredible museums in Asia. Let’s for a moment forget the fact that this is home to what Forbes magazine once described as the most surprising art collection in Asia. Let’s not even consider the fact that it’s entirely privately owned. The building itself is enough to draw thousands of visitors each year wanting to take photos of the amazing architecture.
Tao Zhu Yin Yuan Tower
Tao Zhu Yin Yuan is a residential project located near Taipei 101 in Taiwan which is an eco-designed, energy-conserving and carbon-absorbing green building. The structure design is rotated 4.5° clockwise at every floor to a total of 90° allowing sky-villas to plant trees. Moreover, column-free inside space offers flexible interior design.