Taitung is a city on Taiwan’s southeastern coast, backed by the Central and Coastal Mountain Ranges and facing the Pacific Ocean. Its setting gives the city a distinctive relationship with both mountains and sea, while a slower pace of development has preserved broad open spaces and coastal landscapes. Taitung Forest Park, Seashore Park, and the nearby Jialulan Recreation Area are among the city’s notable outdoor places. The wider Taitung area also includes hot springs, rural farmland, and coastal communities, making the city a useful base for exploring southeastern Taiwan.

Taitung has deep connections with Taiwan’s Indigenous cultures, particularly the Puyuma and Amis peoples, whose traditions remain an important part of local identity. The Beinan Cultural Park preserves the site of an important prehistoric settlement and includes archaeological remains, reconstructed traditional houses, and cultural displays. The city also contains historic Japanese-style buildings, including the Beiding Japanese-Style Dormitories, while the Old Station District and Tiehua Music Village provide spaces for contemporary arts, crafts, music, and community events.

The landscape around Taitung offers a range of distinctive attractions. Taitung Forest Park combines coastal scenery, wetlands, and wooded areas, while the nearby Xiaoyeliu coast is known for unusual rock formations shaped by erosion. Farther inland, Luye Highland overlooks a broad agricultural valley and is associated with hot-air balloon activities. The coast also leads toward places such as Sanxiantai, where an arched footbridge connects the mainland to a small offshore island. Together, these sites show the varied terrain of the Taitung region, from oceanfront rock formations to mountain valleys.

Local food reflects Taitung’s agricultural resources, fishing communities, and Indigenous heritage. Visitors can sample dishes and snacks at the Taitung Tourism Night Market, while Indigenous restaurants and cultural venues offer foods prepared with locally familiar ingredients and traditional techniques. Taitung is also known for its rice-growing areas, particularly around Chishang, and for produce cultivated in the surrounding countryside. One notable cultural site is the National Museum of Prehistory, which grew from archaeological discoveries at the Beinan site and presents evidence of early human settlements in Taiwan.