Scouting locations at altitude to buy land: suggestions?

[Taffy]

In the future I would like to pick up a parcel of land to build a house in the hills (don't have the funds yet, but doesn't hurt to start looking around). My requirements are as follows:

1. Average of 10 degrees cooler than Taipei City (so I'm assuming this means at least 1,000 metres in elevation). Ideally somewhere I can sit out in the summer without sweating my shirt through in five minutes.
2. Safe from landslides.
3. Within two hours of Taipei (the closer the better, but I know I have to be realistic here).

I would be able to buy building land (建地) or farmland (農地). Are there any locations out there which fit this bill?

[cranky laowai]

Miaoli County is unjustly overlooked by many. Lots of nice places there within about two hours of Taibei. You may not be able to buy land in the mountains, as much of it belongs to various tribes. But you should be able to secure a long-term lease (e.g., 99 years). I think that's how much of Tai'an has been developed.

[Mucha Man]

I was also thinking Miaoli, more around Nanzhuang though as Taian is very prone to landslides.

1000m up is going to make finding a non-landslide prone area difficult. At least in terms of reliable road access. I'm sure there are lots of stable bits of land, but the roads in are often washed out.

The gov is supposed to put out a report in the coming years on all the unstable geological parts of Taiwan. I would wait to see this before getting my heart set on any area.

If you are willing to lower your sights to 400-500m you have all the hills around taipei: Maokong, Shiding, Pingxi and even Pinglin. They can be much more comfortable in summer than the city.

[Icon]

My neighbors have a very Swiss looking chalet in Xinchu. Cool beyond cool.

[Belgian Pie]

Paling ...

[Taffy]

Thanks for the input. Muzha Man makes a good point about access roads. Going closer in to Taipei has its benefits, but costs go up dramatically too.

[headhonchoII]

Taoyuan County, Hsinchu, Miaoli...lots of locations. Miaoli is probably cheaper than the other two. Depends where you want to build really.

[pizzaon]

website for landslide alerts: http://246.swcb.gov.tw/default-2.asp