This photo copyright by K. Dickson from LookThroughTheLens.com
Wellness and Active Retirement in Taiwan
Taiwan offers a dynamic and healthy retirement lifestyle, blending accessible nature with a strong focus on holistic well-being. For older adults, especially those residing in the expat-friendly Tianmu area of Taipei, numerous opportunities exist to maintain physical, mental, and social health.
Accessible Nature: Parks and Hiking
Taiwan is a hiker’s paradise, and Taipei offers surprisingly accessible trails suitable for older adults:
- Local Parks (Tianmu): Areas like Tianmu Sports Park and nearby Zhishan Park offer flat, walkable paths and green spaces for daily exercise. The open areas in these parks often become impromptu gathering spots for morning exercise groups.
- Tai Chi & Qigong: Early mornings in most major parks—including Daan Park or the river parks accessible from Shilin/Tianmu—will find groups practicing Tai Chi ($\text{Taijiquan}$) and Qigong ($\text{Chi Kung}$). These slow, mindful practices are excellent for balance, core strength, and meditation, making them ideal for seniors. While these groups are often self-organized and primarily in Mandarin, a shared effort to follow along is typically welcomed.
- Easy Hiking Near Tianmu: The area near Tianmu provides access to the foothills of Yangmingshan National Park. The Old Tianmu Hiking Trail is a popular route. For easier, scenic walks, trails like the Camphor Tree Trail in Maokong offer gentler, stone-paved paths with great views and teahouses. Another excellent, easy option is Fuzhoushan Park, known for city views without the crowds of steeper trails like Elephant Mountain.
Private Fitness, Yoga, and Retreats
Beyond the public sphere, a strong private wellness industry caters to the international community:
- Yoga and Fitness: English-speaking yoga and fitness studios are common in Taipei. Some offer senior-specific fitness programs, focusing on balance and muscle strength, such as those utilizing specialized equipment for older adults found in certain sports centers (e.g., Turtle Gym equipment, often in public sports centers like Datong).
- Private Wellness Retreats: Taiwan offers excellent destination retreats. Centers like Origin Yoga & Wellness on the North Coast (near Baishawan, a short drive from Taipei) or Ananda Marga Yoga Wellness Center in Southern Taiwan (Tainan) offer yoga, meditation, detox, and fasting programs in a peaceful setting. These provide a great opportunity to dedicate time to holistic health.
Community Services in Tianmu
The Tianmu area (Shilin District) is the heart of Taipei’s expat community, and its community resources reflect this:
- The Community Services Center (The Center): Located in Shilin, this is a vital resource. It is a non-profit organization offering comprehensive, bilingual services designed for foreigners:
- Wellness Programs and Classes: They often run workshops, classes, and activities that foster social connection and learning, which are key components of well-being in retirement.
- Bilingual Counseling: They provide confidential counseling by licensed psychologists, which is crucial for navigating cultural adjustment, stress, and mental health challenges in a foreign country.
- Local Government Services: Organizations like the Hondao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation and the Taipei City Long-term Care Management Center provide extensive services for the elderly, including health promotion activities and long-term care resources. While primarily focused on citizens, these organizations are key to the city’s overall commitment to aging well and demonstrate the high priority placed on senior welfare.
List of Activities from the Commnunity Services Center, Tianmu, Taipei
Cycling
● Taiwan Outdoors
○ Website: https://taiwanoutdoors.com/cycling-in-taiwan-ultimate-guide/
○ Info on trials, routes, when to cycle, safety, bike maintenance, and finding
a cycling group
○ A good place to start learning about cycling in a new place
● Giant Adventure
○ Website: https://www.giantcyclingworld.com/travel/
○ All about tour options in Taiwan
○ It’s a travel agency that makes cycling accessible
● Taiwan KOM
○ Website: https://www.taiwankom.org/en/
○ Cycling races across Taiwan
Hiking
● All Trails
○ Website: https://www.alltrails.com/taiwan
○ Hiking routes, along with reviews and difficulty ranking
○ Helps you make the best judgement on what hikes to spend your time on
● Explore with Dory
○ Website: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorewithDory/
○ Reviews on hikes of Taiwan by a real person
○ Includes photos and thoughts on hikes
● Taiwan Trails and Tales
○ Website: https://taiwantrailsandtales.com/
○ Gives reviews of hikes, categorized by difficulty and location
○ Has hikes all over Taiwan
○ Give information about the distance, time, ascent, difficulty, and more
○ Also gives information on accommodations near the hikes
Marathons and Fun runs
● Runner’s Plaza
○ Website: http://www.taipeimarathon.org.tw/contest.aspx?lang=en-US
○ An exhaustive list of runs all over Taiwan
○ Includes links to races, the date, location, distance, and the deadline of
each race
○ Helpful in finding races that cater towards runners availability and ability
Trail Runs
● Beast Runners
○ Website: www.beast.run
○ Trail races that range from 10km to 104km
● Backyard
○ Website: www.backyard.run
○ Trail races that range from 7km to 31km
● Crazy Beer Trail Run
○ Website: www.facebook.com/CrazyBeerTrailRun
Triathlons
● Ahotu
○ Website: www.ahotu.com/calendar/triathlon/taiwan
○ A triathlon search engine
○ Includes where, when, and distance of each category
● Challenge Taiwan
○ Website: https://challenge-taiwan.com/index.aspx?lang=US
○ A triathlon in late april
○ Options range from 226km, 113km, 51.5km, “Sprint” as well as individual,
Relay, or Buoy
Public Sports Center
● Taipei Travel Geek
○ Website: https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/sports-centre-gym
○ Includes a list of locations, how to use these areas and cost
○ A list of public gyms that are cost effect gym
Diving
● Fun Divers
○ Website: https://www.fundiverstw.com/
○ Weekly dive sites for people to go to places in Taiwan to dive with a group
○ Gives information on what the dive is like, how long
Taiwan’s blend of ancient wellness practices, high-quality medical infrastructure, and easily accessible natural beauty makes it a highly supportive environment for an active and healthy retirement.