老外看台灣 | TAIWAN MADE SIMPLE

Five Ways to Exercise in Taiwan During the Summer

If you’re stuck in an exercise rut, don’t ask yourself, “Am I going to exercise today?” Instead, ask, “How am I going to exercise today?”

The answer doesn’t have to be an intense workout — it can be a bike ride with a friend, a sunset hike up the Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan, 象山), or a jog around a local park.

Running

Admittedly, when I first arrived in Taipei, finding a place to run without traffic and where I could safely stay distanced from others while removing my mask was daunting.

In the following weeks, I discovered plenty of green spaces within the city, like Da’an Forest Park, Yuanshan Park, the Taipei Arena track, and university campuses like National Taiwan University (NTU) or the National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU).

Running is a great sport because it requires very little equipment — throw on your sneakers and head out!

I am stopping to take in the view during a run. (courtesy of Hana Bredstein)

Hiking

Taiwan is a fantastic location for hiking, with countless well-maintained trails that lead to beautiful views.

Stay close to the city and catch the sunset at Xiangshan, Jianmingshan, or Guanyinshan, make a day trip out of a Fulong or Yangmingshan hike, or spend a weekend at Alishan or Taroko Gorge.

Make sure to go with a buddy, check the weather, bring lots of water, and stay aware of your surroundings!

I am exploring Yangmingshan National Park, located a few minutes from the city center. (courtesy of Hana Bredstein)

Swimming

Whether you opt for open water, indoor, or outdoor pool, swimming is a perfect way to cool off in the summer and a great low-impact option with little risk of overuse injury.

Some gyms have pools, and many universities will let visitors use their facilities without a fee. Most pools require swimming caps, so come prepared.

Biking

The “start-up cost” of getting into cycling can be steep — at least the price of a bicycle. Still, it’s easy to do a trial period with YouBikes available all over cities, such as Taipei, Hsinchu, and Kaohsiung.

Just swipe your EasyCard at one of the many bike stations and head to a riverside park like Dajia, Meiti, Guanshan, Huazhong, or Yonghe, where you’ll find miles (or kilometers) of flat, paved bikeways along the water.

You might not win the Tour de France, but you’ll have great city views and get some exercise.

You can get a nice view of Taipei 101 while biking. (courtesy of Hana Bredstein)

Taiqi

If you’ve been near a public park in the early morning, you’ve seen people practicing Taiqi together.

This martial art is about focusing on your breath and core as you complete movement sequences (the style usually practiced in Taiwan has 37 such sequences).

I suggest signing up for classes before venturing to a park session and, depending on your language level, either going with a friend who understands Chinese or finding an English-language instructor, as the explanations of techniques can get complicated.

Taiqi instructions demonstrate a sequence. (courtesy of Hana Bredstein)

Please note that Taipei is experiencing some of its hottest weather at this time of year. Use good judgment and common sense when exercising, especially outdoors.

Try to do outdoor activities in the morning and evening when temperatures are slightly more relaxed. Make sure to hydrate before and after, and bring water or an electrolyte drink with you on longer excursions.