Thailand Souvenirs & Gifts: What to Buy in Thailand?
We did a cycling trip from Hualien to Taitung where we spend the last 1,5 day biking along the east coast. In Taiwan , 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. You see, in a small town called Shifen, a little ways east of Taipei, it’s become a tradition to release sky lanterns containing the wishes and messages of the people who bought them at night. Since you can’t take home any of its furry residents, opt for a plushie from the souvenir shop instead! Taiwan’s various cultures offer different souvenirs you may like.
Crafted by skilled artisans in Stoke-on-Trent, each piece of chinaware features a beautiful design that includes the Royal Coat of Arms and emblems of the four nations of the United Kingdom. Get ready for a royally charming cup of tea with this M&S Coronation Tea Pot, showcasing delightful pups having a blast at a street party. The fine bone china 雪Q餅 cup showcases a majestic White Hart, symbolising royalty and heritage. The cup, which has been been expertly handcrafted by Royal Warrant holders Caverswall in Stoke-on-Trent, is monogrammed with the coronation date and engraved with an authentication mark. This face washing puff is a best-seller that has been in the markets for over 30 years.
The suggestions below are organized into sections covering Taipei, the North, East Coast, Central Mountains, and the South of Taiwan. To find out how to map out the below attractions for your visit, please see my recommended Taiwan itinerary for 1-3 weeks. Here I’ve compiled my favorite things to do in Taiwan, all things I’ve personally done in my 10+ years living in this country. These include the most popular Taiwan attractions as well as my favorite off-the-beaten-track things to do in Taiwan. At least half the stalls are amusement - e.g. shooting balloons - and there isn’t a lot of variety in the food stalls. A pity that we couldn't relax, rest, or enjoy the hot sprig o swim in the water, and I didn't have fun rushing all the way back up, worrying we would get trapped in the dark......
I’ll be covering Taiwan’s offshore islands in individual entries below, as there is much more to them than just beaches. Amazingly, some of the best hikes in Taiwan can be found right in and around the capital. Several of these are located on Yangmingshan, a semi-dormant volcano right in the city! I’ve also written about the best hikes across the island here and here.
You can experience Taiwan’s hot spring culture by hiking to wild springs, soaking in Japanese-era bathhouses, or getting a luxurious private hot spring room with your loved one. Natural Tasty Co.’s product is a great choice for the best Taiwan Sweet experience, which use pine nuts, Taiwan red quinoa and sesame seed. Its nutty and lovely mild sweet flavors make for a tasty combination with the chewy-crisp balance. One whole street that was closed to traffic and filled with stalls selling lots of mouth-watering snacks eg.
NaRaYa is a famous local brand specializing in handcrafted bags of premium quality. They come in all types, colors and designs, giving a variety of suitable choices. You can find NaRaYa stores in major shopping centers in Bangkok as well as at the airport.
These are quite convenient to carry as they are lightweight. Price for single-bed quilt starts around INR 600 which is not heavy on the pocket either. Bagru and Sanganer area of Jaipur is the hub of the art of block printing.
Keychain and magnets also have different shapes and meanings and the most popular ones in Thailand are, of course, souvenirs with elephant pattern. Tiehua Music Village – this hip hub sells music CDs produced by local musicians and also carries a lot of whimsical and unique souvenirs. This plate is a must-have souvenir for the hardcore royalist.
The hike itself was definitely steep and challenging, starting with all the way down for about an hour (imagine that on your way back - lots of cardio!). You should be fine if you're used to hiking and physical trainings, yet I wouldn't recommend anyone who doesn't or to bring kids along. The trail gets more brutal when it gets closer to the bottom. You can see not only the prehistoric civilizations of eastern Taiwan but the diverse cultures of aboriginal peoples.
It’s unique texture makes it look like a Chinese landscape painting. If you’re on a budget, you don’t actually have to buy Taipei 101 merchandise from Taipei 101 itself! You’ll find many keychains and magnets bearing this building’s unique architecture! But if budget isn’t a concern, you’ll have a lot of eye-catching choices to choose from at the observatory of Taipei 101. There are many drugstores with really good beauty brands in Taipei. Wait till you see spacious standalone shops of your favourite brands!