Tested by Elle: The best tips for a tour of Taiwan

Taiwan used to be called Formosa, which means “the beautiful one”. Today the island is a unique essence of past and future: ultra-modern skyscraper city, wild pristine nature and great, innovative cuisine. Elle was on this magical island - and brought back lots of first-hand tips. From the capital Taipei to great excursion tips in the hinterland.

Where did I end up here? Definitely somewhere between heaven and earth... more precisely: at the hotel poolShangri-Lain Taipei, on the fortieth floor. With a view, among other things, of the skyscraper “101”, which once held the record as the tallest building in the world. Taipei is a truly amazing city. Ultra-modern and deeply relaxing at the same time. Everyone gives you a smile here. There has to be that much time. Because haste is not good manners. When they discovered Taiwan, the Portuguese sailors gave it the name “Ilha Formosa” – which translates to “beautiful island”. Today I would call it the “fantastic island”. The size of Baden-Württemberg, it has a world of its own. Very tall houses, much higher mountains. Very fast trains. Incredibly good food. And garbage trucks that announce their arrival with Beethoven’s “Für Elise” song. And the Shangri-La is also a world of its own. An extremely casual Buddha sits in the foyer and sets the attitude: Arrive. Relax. It's best to book a treatment in the in-house spa straight away. A welcome massage with Tina will make your jet lag disappear into thin air. Otherwise, it's a good idea to stay in a Horizon Premier Room with Horizon Club Access. Then we have breakfast in a nice lounge,, happy hour and a breathtaking view included.

In general the food. Taiwanese liken the shape of their island to that of a sweet potato, which is an important food in their cuisine. You can hardly walk ten steps on the streets of Taiwan without passing by a bistro,or passing a food stall. It seems as if the entire island is cooking and eating all day long. The cuisine here brings together knowledge and experience from the indigenous people, the Japanese colonial period and all regions of China. Chiang Kaishek, who fled to the island after the defeat against Mao, is said to have taken the best cooks with him. In addition to street food and night markets with hundreds of different stalls, a haute cuisine scene has developed in recent years that is one of the most exciting in the world.

The high-speed train takes you into the mountains, from Taipei to Chiayi in just an hour and a half. After another 45 minutes by taxi we are at 1000 meters above sea level: in the new oneIndigo Alishan. In the cool lobby there is a cocktail of oolong tea and peach, delicious. The rooms go through abstract rock walls. They are skillfully decorated in a colorful way. Airy with a balcony – and a view. Here I like to get up early, like everyone else. Because that's what we're here for: to see the spectacular sunrise. The fog seems to be falling from the sky here. Or has someone started a huge smoke machine here? Very mystical... After breakfast the hotel shuttle takes us to Alishan National Park. A sign warns you to stop and breathe deeply. 1000 year old red cedar and cypress trees exude essential oils. So forest breathing. Splendid!

Next stop with the fast and absolutely reliable train: Tainan. The former capital has a reputation on the island for being relaxed, casual and young. And very good when it comes to food. There are many small, modern cafes here. The sound: On Sundays, older gentlemen go to the park with their bird cages and let their birds sing together there. We live inSilks Place, a spacious city hotel. The lobby is magnificent. What an experience to come from the bustling streets and the heat into peace, clarity and coolness. In the Japanese-style rooms there is a floor-level table and two chairs without legs on a pedestal. Here you can enjoy the view. At Robin's Teppanyaki Restaurant, an exclusive menu is prepared tableside on a hot grill surface by a personal chef. From sea snails to Kobe entrecôte – sensational.

A typhoon is forecast. That's why everything is closed today. The government has declared a holiday. Everyone should stay home and stay safe. So we stay in the area. And check in at Just Sleep, the casual little sister of Silks Place. The industrial design suites are modern, airy and have a large balcony. Good to know the small hotel chain by the name. Because the houses are often located near the airports or train stations. They are uncomplicated and practical when traveling. We have to change travel plans because the typhoon has hit the islands off the east coast. Green and Orchid Island are not good to visit right now. So we cross the island by train and drive a little up the east coast.

Another unique natural beauty awaits us here: the 19-kilometer-long Taroko Gorge has been carved into the marble mountains by a turquoise river. The eyes take photos all the time. These powerful natural images will be saved forever before we return to Taipei. We spend the last few days in a dreamlike placeMandarin Oriental-Hotel. It's unbelievable how stately high-rise buildings can be! Everything here looks like haute couture. Tailor-made luxury. The rooms in delicate natural tones. Lots of marble, stunning chandeliers. On the farewell evening at the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant "Ya Ge", there is crab meat, pigeon eggs and matusake mushrooms. A fantastic menu. A fantastic trip. A fantastic island!