How to explore and discover a new city for free? I'd say, join a free walking tour.

During my first two days in Taipei, I joined Like It Formosa's two free walking tours, and perhaps that belongs now to the best decisions I ever made in my travels.

Like It Formosa is an independent organization which promotes what they call "cultural tourism". It is a tip-based downtown tours by young local tour guides. See Taipei in a local's perspective—that is what they promised to do. And they did, I did. We visited historical landmarks with so much rich history, discovered hidden corners that only locals know, and they did it in a very informative way.


Another best thing is I was able to meet fellow travelers and incredible people who has the same interests as mine. I may not be in contact with them after the travel, but talking to like-minded people became an escape from the anxiety I have felt from time to time. One more thing, locals could give the best advises on where and where not to go, what to do, and what more the city has to offer.

Day 1 - Taipei Golden Age Tour

With no sleep at all, I joined this tour lead by young Taiwanese Eric and Jaenna. The tour covered Zhongshan Hall, North Gate, Taipei Post Office, Tianma Tea House, Xia Hai City God Temple, Dihua Street and ended at Ning Xia Night Market. Even though it was raining during the three hours, we got to see these interesting places in a both entertaining and informative manner. As interesting as it is, I was not able to take many photos as I decided to listen more to the tales and stories as told by our guides.

Truth be told, when I was at the meet up point, I was actually hesitant to join in even though I already signed up. I thought of maybe not just showing up. We were only three in the group, and two tour guides. Fortunately, I find the guts to show my face and greeted them.

Sin Hong Choon Tea House—once of the city's largest tea factories, where Tom Cruise once spent an afternoon tea with a Taiwanese superstar while promoting his movie The Mummy. (Yes, that story came our guide. Lol)

Xia Hai City God Temple—a temple famous for young people who prays for a happy love life.

I could have entered the temple and pray, but I don't exactly know how they do it. Lol

Di Hua Street—a street in Datong District regarded as one of the oldest streets in Taipei. Here you can find herbal medicines, dried goods, incense products, among others. This is where I tried dried lemons for the first time. The street also used to be the Manhattan street of Taipei in the 1920s, where fashion people used to hang out.

Taipei Post Office—the only place where you can previously get a limited 200NTD. It has been badly damage during the WWII and has undergone several reconstructions.

A newly built passage besides the Taipei Post Office.

North Gate—the only remaining gate with the original appearance out of all the five gates in Taipei. Inside the gate are the original bullet holes during the Japanese colonial rules.

The tour group. And that is Eric, our tour guide who has fascination towards railways. We talked about how Tagalog words are somehow similar to Chinese words. He was very knowledgeable and in-the-know of what he is doing. Jaenna is the vice-guide who took this photo, she's an undergrad taking history and has been an exchange student in England for a year.

Day 2 - Taipei Nature Walk

I was strolling down at one of the parks in Taipei on my first day when I received an email with a subject—"Tour Cancellation Notice". I was scheduled to hike Zhuilu Old Trail in Hualien City, one of the famous trails in Taiwan. But due to the heavy rainfall, the trail was damaged and government advised it to be closed until further notice. My heart sunk. There was no way I can re-schedule as the train tickets were fully booked, and taking a taxi will cost me as much as my airfare tickets. I was looking forward to this trail for weeks. But something like this is way out of my control. So instead of sulking and feeling bad about it, I chose to look on the brighter side and joined another free walking tour.

You see, I think what's good about Taipei is that it's a mix of urban city and its surrounding mountains. So I figured, even if I don't get to hike Zhuilu Old Trail, at least I get to experience Taipei's nearby mountain and that's when I signed up for the nature walk.

Again, it was raining all through out the day. Surprisingly, the tour group consists of mostly Filipinos. We were picked up by a private bus at the meet up point. (I waited for almost 10 minutes, and thought for a second that maybe they left me out already. Just as I was about to leave, the bus arrived with the tour guide holding a fan saying "Taipei Free Walking Tours") 

On our way up, the view was already so scenic that it somehow reminded me Sagada.

This is one of the sworn three brothers near Bishanyan Temple. Our tour guide Emily was just saying how this guy was always drunk, that's why he was red all the time. Lol

This is Bishan temple, a majestic Taoist temple located uphill with a 360 degrees view of the city.

It amazes how this 84-year old Lola was able to come with us and hike up into the Mountain. Sobrang rockstar!

It was so windy that our umbrellas can't even hold it.

Despite the bad weather, there were still a lot of tour groups and locals who came.

Our second to the last stop was Baishihu Suspension Bridge

They say that this bridge resembles the back of a dragon. Unlike in Western myth where dragons are considered devil, dragons in Chinese culture could symbolize luck,

I should have lose the umbrella. Lol

We ended the tour in a store selling soya pudding, which I think is just like Taho. This is or tour group.

Overall, I would highly recommend Like It Formosa for free walking tours. If you're travelling solo, it's a best way to meet fellow travelers. Or if you're in a budget, then the answer is this. I'd say, it's good to tour around a city if there is someone explaining it to you. I can't believe I only discover about this free walking tours lately. I might join one or two here in Singapore. Watch out!