Unique Things To Bring Back From Your Visit To Taiwan – Part 1

As we celebrate the first anniversary of our exploration into the diverse and vibrant world of travel, what better way to commemorate this milestone than by having a trip to Taiwan? 

Taiwan is a beautiful country located in the heart of East Asia, attracting a large number of tourists with its breathtaking landscapes. In this article, we unveil a list of extraordinary souvenirs you can purchase in Taiwan for your beloved. Each item serves as a tangible memory of your vacation through Taiwan's enchanting landscapes and dynamic traditions.

Join us as we delve into the first series of "Unique Things To Bring Back From Your Visit To Taiwan," offering a glimpse into the distinctive charm of this nation. Here’s a list of 9 unique things to buy in Taiwan and where to buy them.

1. Mini Sky Lanterns

In a small town called Shifen, a little way east of Taipei, it’s become a tradition (and more recently, a hot tourist activity) to release sky lanterns containing the wishes and messages of the people who bought them at night.

The good folk at Shifen came up with the mini sky lanterns. These little ornaments are perfect souvenirs, meaningful, and uniquely Taiwanese. They even have different versions, such as LED lanterns, glow-in-the-dark lanterns, and glow-in-the-dark LED lanterns….

Where to buy them: You can find these trinkets in abundance in Shifen although there are also a few stores selling them outside Ningxia Market in Taipei.

Mini sky lanterns are pleasant souvenirs to buy in Taiwan

2. Stone ornaments and wood carvings

Jade, precious stones, and wood carvings are very typical Chinese-style souvenirs, and Taiwan obviously has its fair share of these items. Wood carvings can range from Chinese deities to animals and even to furniture. 

In terms of stone ornaments, in addition to jade (which can sometimes be expensive), you can find a lot of stores or stalls that sell necklace pieces made of uniquely formed stones with beautiful natural designs. 

Where to buy them: For wood carvings, you would want to pick those up while in Miaoli County. Although you can probably find carpenter stores in any place in Taiwan, the town of Sanyi in Miaoli County is known to be home to some of the finest wood craftsmen around. For stone ornaments, some of the finest marble can be found in Hualien, near Taroko National Park.

Precious stones, and wood carvings are very typical souvenirs in Taiwan

3. Anime goods and manga

Colorful, pretty, and easy to carry, anime figurines and manga are a perfect gift to bring back from Taiwan for all your otaku friends; and in Taiwan, it’s not ridiculously expensive either.

Where to buy them: Taipei Main Station. No, not kidding. Look, there’s an underground mall at the main train station of Taipei called the Taipei City Mall and about 40% of the mall, which runs for over 800m, is dedicated to anime merchandise. You can find anime figurines, manga, DVDs, CDs, and posters. Definitely worth a visit.

4. Trendy and/or wacky clothes

In Taiwan (Taipei especially), you can find loads of trendy seasonal fashion items and T-shirts with wacky or funny vinyl images. For those who read Mandarin, there are even T-shirts with funny jokes or puns on them and all of them sell for a relatively cheap price. They’re light, easy to pack, and an excellent gift.

Where to buy them: There’s a district in Taipei not far from Taipei 101 called the Wufenpu District. It’s basically a place where clothes and other fashion items and accessories are sold in bulk and wholesale. Depending on which store you visit, they cost next to nothing when compared to some of the malls in Taiwan.

Trendy clothes are popular in Taiwan

5. Electronic Gadgets

Taiwan does have an array of cheap electronic components such as USBs and powerbanks. And they often look much more trendy and appealing in design (such as a Captain America Shield USB which you can wear as a necklace). You can also purchase some vintage (read: old classic) gaming consoles like the Gameboy Advance.

Where to buy them: You can find electronics stores in any mall in Taiwan, and there are some electronics stores in Taipei City Mall as well. But you would want to make a visit to Taipei’s Guanghua market on Civic Boulevard, which, as fate would have it, is the street above Taipei City Mall.

As we conclude this journey through the myriad treasures of Taiwan, our hearts are filled with the spirit of discovery and appreciation for the extraordinary items in this island nation. 

These unique souvenirs in Taiwan will surely tighten your relationship with your loved ones. Join us in Part 2 as we continue our exploration, unveiling more exceptional keepsakes that will adorn your shelves and serve as lasting reminders of Taiwan's cultural richness. Until then, may these treasures inspire your future travels and make each journey a truly unique adventure.