Find busy night markets, galleries, museums, sporting arenas and spectacular natural scenery all within a short drive from the capital of Taoyuan County.

Taoyuan District (formerly Taoyuan City) is a city situated between Taipei and the northwest coastline of Taiwan. Explore the lively centre of Taoyuan District, where markets, museums and temples are not far from pretty public parks. Venture away from the city centre to discover the incredible natural beauty of Taiwan.

Start your tour in Taoyuan City Centre, home to the exquisitely decorated Jingfu Temple. Visit the Taoyuan Chinese Furniture Museum and browse exhibitions at Taoyuan Arts Centre. At Taoyuan Night Market, more than 250 vendors offer typical Taiwanese street food, clothing and accessories. Enjoy some tranquility amid the downtown chaos at Danan Park and Hotoushan Park.

Catch a train to Jungli (aka Zhongli District), which forms a large metropolitan area with Taoyuan. Feast on stinky tofu, among other tasty treats, at Jungli Night Market and Chung Yuan Night Market. Shop for discounted brand fashion items at Gloria Outlets. Attend a ballgame and concerts at Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium.

A 30-minute drive south of the city centre is the Daxi District. Stroll along Daxi Old Street, lined with baroque-inspired shopfronts built during the Japanese colonial era. Learn about the history and secrets of a world-famous soya sauce producer at the Kimlan Foods Museum (aka Kimlan Soy Sauce Museum). Shihmen Reservoir is one of Taiwan’s biggest reservoirs and a great place to hike and admire mountain views.

More natural wonders await in the city’s immediate surroundings. Walk the forested trail that meanders around Bade Pond Ecological Park, Bade District. Curious sculptures by international artists intersperse tall trees in Jiaobanshan Park. Travellers of all ages will enjoy the fairground attractions and miniature world at Window on China Theme Park.

Get to Taoyuan by flying to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, located about 9 miles (15 kilometres) to the north. Taipei 101 skyscraper, the National Palace Museum, Yong Kang Street and other Taipei attractions are easy to reach via public buses and trains. Sign up for the YouBike bike sharing system to get around the city centre in a comfortable and eco-friendly way.