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12 Must-Eat Food in Taiwan you Have to Try When Visiting
If you are planning a trip to Taiwan then you better come hungry! In my opinion, Taiwan has the best street food and night markets in the world. Taiwan is a paradise for food lovers, like me! That is why I created this post on must-eat food in Taiwan. From bite sized food at the bustling night markets in Taipei to a unique twist of your classic hot dog in Kaohsiung, we’ll explore some of the top food dishes in Taiwan and some of my favorite foods you just can’t miss when visiting Taiwan. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Must-Eat Food in Taiwan I’ve traveled to Taiwan several times now and have explored a good portion of the island from Taipei to Kaohsiung. One of the driving factors that keeps me coming to Taiwan is the food! Taiwanese food is absolutely incredible and the night markets in Taiwan are in my opinion, the best in the world. From food that is common at night markets to Indigenous food in the mountains, here is a list of must-eat food in Taiwan that you can’t miss when visiting. Bubble Tea Not really a food per se, but it’s an iconic Taiwanese beverage that you have to try when visiting Taiwan. Bubble Tea or Boba Tea is a must try drink that combines delicious tea flavors with tapioca pearls. Bubble Tea can be found on almost every street corner throughout Taiwan. It originates in Taichung, starting in the 1980’s at the original Bubble Tea store, Chun Shui Tang. Bubble Tea comes in so many varieties now a days. You can find your classic black milk tea, fruit tea flavors, and so much more. Pineapple Cake Looking for a sweet treat or perhaps a souvenir to bring back to the office or family and friends? Taiwan’s pineapple cake is the perfect pastry to indulge by yourself or share with others! The pineapple cake usually comes in bite sized pieces. It’s square or rectangular in shape with a buttery crust and pineapple jam or fresh pineapple filling. Pineapple cakes are found throughout Taiwan. You can even find pineapple cakes at Taoyuan Airport, which makes for a great gift. After all, the treat symbolizes good fortune and prosperity. Peanut Ice Cream Roll I first tried a Peanut Ice Cream Roll in Jiufen along the old street and instantly fell in love with this sweet and savory dessert. The Peanut Ice Cream Roll is a popular Taiwanese dessert that starts with a thin flour crepe with scoops of ice cream, usually taro or vanilla. The crepe and ice cream is then topped with crushed peanuts and fresh cilantro. The Peanut Ice Cream Roll is a popular dessert found in touristy areas and night markets throughout Taiwan. The surprising bursts of flavor make the Peanut Ice Cream Roll one of my favorite desserts in Taiwan. Who knew that cilantro, ice cream, and crushed peanuts would taste so good! Gua Bao Considered one of Taiwan’s top street food, Gua Bao is a steamed bun filled with tender, braised pork belly, mustard greens, crushed peanuts, and fresh cilantro. Gua Bao is a popular Taipei night market food but can also be found in restaurants and being sold by local vendors. I’ve had Gua Bao at night markets in Taipei and food stalls in Taichung and it’s always one of my top rated food items in Taiwan and I consider it a top must-eat food in Taiwan. Pepper Cakes One of my favorite go-to and must-eat food in Taiwan is the Pepper Cake and specifically the Pepper Cakes at Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake near Taipei Main Station. Pepper Cakes are the perfect on the go meal. It’s a flaky bun that is filled with marinated meat that is mixed with scallions, white pepper powder, and other ingredients. The pepper cakes are cooked in a cylindrical clay oven and come out pipping hot. I know it’s hard to resist but watch out before biting into the pepper cake. I’ve tried pepper cakes around Taiwan at random stands and at Night Markets, but I think the ones at Fuzhou Ancestral Pepper Cake are the best! Stinky Tofu Probably one of the most famous and talked about street foods in Taiwan is Stinky Tofu. Stinky Tofu is known for it’s well stinky aroma and acquired taste. Sometimes walking around Taiwan, you’ll get a bad city smell, turn the corner and turns out it’s a food vendor selling stinky tofu. That is the kind of smell it puts out. Stinky Tofu is fermented tofu and is considered a delicacy and can be found at night markets around Taiwan or even specialty food vendors. Often times, stinky tofu is fried and served with pickled cabbage and some type of sauce. Despite the bad smell, stinky tofu isn’t that bad taste wise and is a beloved local favorite and must try food for any adventurous food lover looking for an authentic Taiwanese culinary experience. I’d say, stinky tofu is not for everyone but it’s worth trying. It’s generally cheap and easy to come by in Taiwan. Beef Noodle Soup One of the top must eat food in Taiwan has to be Beef Noodle Soup. Beef noodle soup consists of slow braised broth with tender chunks of beef and hardy noodles. It’s an iconic Taiwan comfort food that is a must try! You can find great beef noodle soup restaurants all over Taiwan, even Taoyuan Airport has quite a few places has beef noodle soup on the menu. When visiting Taipei, try the Beef Noodle Soup at Lian Pin Beef Noodles, it’s close to Taipei Main Station. Scallion Pancakes Scallion Pancakes are a popular street food in Taiwan that can be found at night markets. Scallion Pancakes are a savory snack with a fried and crispy layer of dough. The scallions are added and cooked with the dough. At Night Markets, the scallion pancakes are often filled with egg or some time of meat. When you bite into the scallion pancake, you get a crunchy texture with a savory flavor of fried dough and filling. It’s truly one of the best street foods in Taiwan. Taiwanese Hot Dog The Taiwanese Hot Dog, otherwise known as Small Sausage in a Big Sausage is one of the more popular local foods in Taiwan that you simply can’t miss out on eating. This iconic night market food consists of a sweet and juicy grilled sausage and the bun is made of sticky rice. You wouldn’t think that a sausage wrapped in rice as the bun would be good, but it’s actually delicious and a must eat food in Taiwan. The sausage is usually topped with garlic, sometimes way to much garlic. It’s also served with pickled vegetables, cilantro, and various sauces. Taiwanese Hot Dogs are found throughout night markets in Taiwan. This twist on your traditional hot dog needs to be added to your Taiwan food bucket list. Taiwanese Tea Egg A recent favorite of mine and a snack I can’t go a day without when visiting Taiwan, is the Taiwanese Tea Egg. The Taiwanese tea eggs can be found at festivals, tourist attractions, and convenience stores. They don’t look all that appealing sitting in the pot but do yourself a favor and try them! It took me a few visits to Taiwan before trying the tea eggs. Like many, I couldn’t get past the cracked eggs just sitting in the brown liquid. Until I visited the Philippines and tried Balut. Although nothing alike, not even close, it took me to eat balut to finally try the tea eggs and to my surprise I am addicted to them now. The brown liquid is actually a blend of black tea, soy sauce, and other spices. The eggs are cracked in order to allow the marinade to soak into the egg. It tastes like a boiled egg with a sweet taste. It’s an amazing snack and I eat them daily when in Taiwan. Indigenous Food If you really want to explore all the must eat food in Taiwan, I suggest trying indigenous Taiwanese food. It’s a little harder to come by, both times I’ve had indigenous food I was in a national park, Yangmingshan and Taroko National Parks. Both times included bamboo rice, wild boar meat, and millet wine. Banana rice is also popular amongst indigenous dishes in Taiwan. Hot Pot Hot Pot in Taiwan is a must try dining experience and a highlight of any food tour itinerary. Hot Pot is found everywhere in Taiwan, just look for signs at restaurants that say Hot Pot. Most of them, at least ones I’ve visited are buffet style. Taiwanese hot pot contains bowls of hot broth at the table where you can fill it with fresh vegetables, bite sized meats, tofu, and so much more. I’ve had everything from shark skin to chicken testicles. Hot Pot is best shared with a group of people, it is more of a social event and you can spend hours at a hot pot restaurant trying the various food items and broths. Hot Pot is a must try food experience, make sure you add it to your Taiwan food itinerary. Conclusion In my opinion, Taiwan is a paradise for food lovers and one of my favorite foodie destinations. From eating delicious beef noodle soup and snacking on Gua Bao to the bold aroma and flavors of stinky tofu, I highly recommend trying these must eat food dishes in Taiwan. I always recommend visiting the Night Markets in Taiwan, you can find most of these recommended dishes and so much more. If you have other must-eat food in Taiwan that you recommend or think I should try, leave a comment and I’ll follow up! Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺️✈️ 🇹🇼 Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
Recommended Day Trips from Taipei: Nature, Culture, & Getaways
Taipei is one of my favorite cities. I’ve spent days, if not weeks here but I also love exploring easy to get to destinations from Taipei. It’s the perfect launchpad for exploring northern Taiwan and other parts of the country. Some of Taiwan’s most scenic locations, historic towns, and natural parks are just a short trip away. This post outlines my favorite and most recommended day trips from Taipei that are definitely worth your time and effort. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary Day Trips from Taipei: Taipei is an incredible city with an abundance of things to do and attractions. I think Taipei deserves a minimum of two days to visit. But if you are extending your stay in Taipei or just want to see more of Taiwan, there are many great day trips from Taipei that are worth your time. Top Day Trips from Taipei: Yangmingshan National Park Jiufen Yehliu Geopark Considering a day trip from Taipei? I recommend booking a day trip through Viator, Klook, or Get Your Guide, you can browse the many fun and exciting tours and activities. Day Trips from Taipei Taipei is an incredible city and deserves time to explore. But if you want to see more of what Taiwan has to offer without spending to much time and hassle, there are many great day trips from Taipei that are both easy and offer a new experience. My list of day trips from Taipei here includes a nice mix of other cities, national parks, and fun experiences. Yangmingshan National Park One of the closest day trips from Taipei is Yangmingshan National Park. This volcanic area is a must when visiting Taipei and is so easy to get to. There are a few popular hiking trails like Qingtiangang and Xiaoyoukeng that really showcase this national parks beauty and geothermal activity. The Qingtiangang Grasslands were one of my favorite areas of Yangmingshan National Park and it was here where I saw the wild water buffalo. If you are looking to hike in Taiwan, visit hot springs, spot wild water buffalo, and see beautiful nature, then Yangmingshan National Park is definitely the place for you! Getting to Yangmingshan National Park from Taipei If relying on Public Transit to access Yangmingshan National Park from Taipei, then taking the local bus is the most affordable and easiest option. From Taipei Main Station, take the City Bus 260 to Yangmingshan Bus Terminal. You can check the Taipei eBus website for routes and times. Jiufen One of the most popular day trips from Taipei is Jiufen. When visiting Jiufen, you get a slice of all things Taiwan in one small town. Jiufen offers a blend of history, culture, scenic beauty, and delicious food! Jiufen is known for its narrow alley ways, traditional teahouses, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. While exploring Jiufen, make sure to walk Jiufen Old Street, sample food at the vendors, and take a break at one of the teahouses. You can’t miss a photo opportunity of Amei Teahouse. For more information about Jiufen and things to do, I have a dedicated post: Day Trip to Jiufen. Getting to Jiufen from TaipeiFrom Taipei Main Station, take the local train on the Yilan Line to Ruifang Station. When exiting Ruifang Station, head to the bus stop and hop on the Local Bus 788 or 1062 to Jiufen. The day we visited Jiufen, we opted to take a taxi to and from Ruifang Station. It’s about a 10-15 minute drive. Houtong Cat Village If you are a cat lover as much as we are, then I highly recommend visiting Houtong Cat Village. A day trip to Houtong Cat Village from Taipei can be combined with a trip to Jiufen. Houtong Cat Village is a charming destination that got its start as a coal mining town but has since become a tourist attraction due to the abundance of cats that live here. Not only are adorable cats found throughout Houtong but there are a lot of cat themed sculptures, cafes, and souvenir shops. Getting to Houtong Cat Village from TaipeiTake the Pingxi Line from Taipei Main Station. Yehliu Geopark Located along northern Taiwan’s stunning coast is Yehliu Geopark. Known for its unique rock formations like the iconic Queen’s Head or Fairy’s Shoe, this natural wonder is one of the most popular day trips from Taipei. There are a few hiking paths at Yehliu Geopark, but the main attraction is walking along the coast meandering through the rock formations. Keep an eye out for fossils. Getting to Yehliu Geopark from TaipeiFrom Taipei Main Station go to the Kuo-Kuan Bus Taipei Terminal and look for the Bus #1815 headed toward Dharma Drum Mountain. Get off at Yehliu Bus Station. Keelung City Visiting Keelung as a day trip from Taipei is an easy way to experience the beautiful coast of Northern Taiwan not to mention there is a lot to do in Keelung. Keelung is known for its famous Night Market, it’s often regarded as one of the best night markets in Taiwan. Other things to do in Keelung include seeing the unique geology and coastal views at Heping Island Geopark, having fun riding the Shen’ao Rail Bike, and taking the Keelung Tower to Zhongzheng Park. Getting to Keelung from Taipei There are a few ways to get to Keelung from Taipei, I recommend either the bus or train. If taking the bus, at Taipei Main Station head to Taipei East Gate 3 and wait at the bus stop for Bus #1813. Bus #1813 goes directly to Keelung from Taipei. The bus journey to Keelung is about 35 to 50 minutes depending on traffic. If taking the train there are multiple trains that go to Keelung from Taipei Main Station. These leave roughly every 15 to 20 minutes. The train ride from Taipei to Keelung is around 45 minutes. Pinglin Taiwan’s tea capital, Pinglin is just an hour away from Taipei. A day trip to Pinglin is perfect for those that want to explore Taiwan’s tea culture. I recommend booking a Pinglin Tea Plantation tour. This is the best way to arrive in Pinglin, learn about the tea culture, and enjoy a tea brewing ceremony. The tour also stops at an observation deck for views of the Thousand Island Lake, beautiful! Taichung A day trip from Taipei to Taichung is definitely doable, but I recommend starting the day off early as there is a lot to see in Taichung. We stayed in Taichung over the course of a weekend and still didn’t get to see everything we wanted to. But traveling to Taichung from Taipei is only an hour train ride on the Taiwan High-Speed Rail (HSR). Once in Taichung, most attractions are within walking distance from the city center. I recommend going to Jianguo Public Market, visiting the National Museum of Natural Science, and going to Chun Shui Tang, the birthplace of Bubble Tea. One of Taichung’s most popular tourist destinations is Rainbow Village. It’s a quick and easy stop from Taichung’s HSR Station. Taroko National Park One of the most beautiful places in Taiwan is Taroko National Park. Known for it’s stunning marble gorges, mountain forests, and turquoise rivers, Taroko Gorge is a top-rated natural attraction that is a must-see! I highly recommend staying in Hualien and spending a few days in the Taroko Gorge area, but if that is not an option, a day trip from Taipei is possible. A local tour is one of the best ways to explore Taroko Gorge. A tour includes transportation and a guide. Here are guided tours to Taroko Gorge from Taipei: Shared Full Day Tour of Taroko National Park from TaipeiPrivate Tour Taroko Gorge from Taipei Conclusion There are an abundance of top-rated attractions and must-see destinations just outside Taipei that make for the perfect day trip. From the small alley ways to explore at Jiufen to the natural wonders of Yehliu Geopark, these destinations are ideal if you are looking to maximize your Taipei itinerary. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼 Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
Taichung Travel Guide: What to See, Do, & Eat for a First Time Visit
Welcome to my Taichung Travel Guide – this guide is especially helpful for those that are spending a quick weekend in Taichung. Or if you are just visiting for the first time and want to hit the main attractions, eat great food, and explore this colorful and vibrant city! Taichung is not only the birthplace of Bubble Tea but it is also known for its pleasant weather, artistic neighborhoods, delicious night markets, fascinating museums. From walking around the iconic Rainbow Village to trying Bubble Tea at Chun Shui Tang, Taichung offers a nice mix of city atmosphere, relaxing spaces, rich culture, and amazing food. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary Why Visit Taichung: Taichung is a vibrant city with plenty of things to do and see. Taichung is the birthplace of bubble tea and is known as a foodie city. Top Things to do in Taichung: Visit the National Museum of Natural Science. Rainbow Village. Bubble Tea at Chun Shui Tang. Consider taking a Sightseeing Walking Tour With a Local Guide to see the main highlights and learn about Taichung along the way. Where is Taichung Taichung is located in the central part of Taiwan on the western side of the island between Taipei and Kaohsiung. Taichung is about 170 km (105 miles) south of Taipei. Getting to Taichung Taiwan is well connected and getting to Taichung is easy. The Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) between Taipei and Kaohsiung stops at Taichung. From here, you can walk to Xinwuri Station and take the local train to Taichung Station, located in the city. There is also an airport in Taichung, Taichung International Airport that has both domestic and international flights. You can read more about flying into Taichung and taking the HSR below. Taichung International Airport Taichung International Airport is situated about 20 km from downtown Taichung. The airport serves as a hub for both domestic and international flights. For international flights to and from Taichung, there are destinations to places like Incheon, Macau, Hanoi, Hong Kong, and Okinawa. Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) All HSR trains that travel between Taipei and Kaohsiung make a stop in Taichung. From Taipei or Kaohsiung, the HSR travel time is about 50 minutes to an hour. The HSR runs frequent, about every 10 – 15 minutes. You can buy tickets at the train stations or even convenience stores. When purchasing a HSR ticket, you can either do a reserved seat or non-reserved. Both times we took the HSR, the reserved seats were already booked and the non-reserved carts were full, so we had to stand the entire time. When you get to Taichung HSR, walk toward Xiwuri Station to take the train to Taichung Main Station. Just note, around the Taichung Station in town, there are a lot of homeless people that camp around the station. They are harmless. Where to Stay in Taichung Taichung offers a wide variety of places to stay from budget hostels and mid-range hotels to places you can truly splurge on. A lot of it to, just depends on the area of Taichung you are staying in. Based on price, proximity to the Taichung Station, and activities in the area, I stayed two nights at the Old School Hotel in the East District of Taichung. Old School Hotel A 5 – 10 minute walk from Taichung Station is the Old School Hotel (Central Land Hotel). Not only is it close to the station but it is within walking distance to many major attractions like the Jianguo Public Market, Miyahara, and some of the huge malls in Taichung. We chose to stay here because of the location, distance to the train station, budget, and of course decent online reviews. So, for my Taichung Travel Guide, I highly recommend the Old School Hotel. Staff was friendly, the rooms were big, the hotel was clean, there was a few convenience stores around, and 12 Bubble Tea shops between the hotel and train station, we counted! I booked a couple nights at the Old School Hotel (Central Land Hotel) using the Agoda app, it’s also listed on Booking.com. Old School HotelAddress: No. 65 Dazhi Rd, East District, Taichung City, Taiwan 401Coordinates: 24.1339683, 120.6850337Website: Official Hotel Website What to do in Taichung If you are looking for things to do in Taichung for a quick weekend getaway or simply for a day, trust me, you won’t be bored! Taichung offers a nice mix of tourist attractions, relaxing parks, and night markets. Below is a list of some of the things we did in Taichung over the course of a weekend. Explore the Jianguo Public Retail Market I absolutely love starting my day off in a local market. It doesn’t get better then walking through aisles full of fresh produce, seafood caught hours ago, and chunks of meat hanging out in the open. Taichung has many markets scattered throughout the city, but Jianguo Public Market is a must visit! This is the largest market in Taichung, you could spend a few hours here exploring. It’s more of a fresh market though and not a food market. Sure, there are some food items that can be purchased and side restaurants, but this is where locals go to buy their produce, meats, spices, and other culinary delights. Address: No. 500, Jiancheng Rd, East District, Taichung City, Taiwan 401Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 5:00 am – 12:00. Closed Mondays Visit the National Museum of Natural Science If you are traveling to Taichung with kids or it’s a rainy day in the city, then I highly recommend visiting the National Museum of Natural Science. I love Natural Science Museums, so I visited on a sunny day and thoroughly enjoyed the museum. You could spend an entire day here, but I was short on time, so I spent probably around 3 hours at the museum. The museum covers a lot of exhibits from local archaeological finds to dinosaurs. For kids, there are a lot of hands and interactive displays. It’s a great place for the whole family to come together, learn, and have fun! Address: No. 1, Guanqian Rd, North District, Taichung City Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 am – 17:00. Closed MondaysAdmission: General Admission is NT$100Website: National Museum of Natural Science National Taiwan Museum of Comics I feel like this doesn’t make your average Taichung Travel Guide, but I recommend adding a brief stop at the National Taiwan Museum of Comics to your Taichung itinerary. It’s a unique attraction that is free and doesn’t take to much time. Build within the historic Taichung Prison Officers Quarters, the museum is comprised of several Japanese colonial-era buildings. Within the buildings you can find comics and art. For me, the giant Banyan Tree on the grounds was the most impressive site. Based on the visible roots, you can see where a house used to be. Address: No. 33, Linsen Road, West District, Taichung CityHours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 am – 18:00. Closed Mondays Walk the Liuchuan Riverside Walk I think the Liuchuan Riverside Walk is a newer addition in Taichung. It was constructed to clean up the river system and create an environment that people can enjoy and relax at both during the day and night. The riverwalk is only about 300 meters long but it’s a nice stroll. Apparently at night it is lit up and especially around holidays and special occasions. Relax at one of the Parks I was surprised at how green Taichung was. There were so many parks, riverwalks, and greenspaces, scattered throughout the city. Many of the parks I visited were pretty busy and active. Whether it’s people jogging on the trails or taking paddle boats around the city ponds. Some of the parks and greenspaces I recommend visiting in Taichung include Yogquan Park, Taichung Park, Shin Sei Green Waterway, and the Calligraphy Greenway. If you are wandering around Taichung and need a place to rest and relax, find a park and enjoy! Rainbow Village Prior to visiting Taichung, I was doing my research and read that the Rainbow Village in Taichung is the most popular attraction. Rainbow Village is in the Nantun District, not far from the HSR Station. We took an Uber to the Rainbow Village from the station and jumped in a taxi on the way back. Price wise it was the same, NT$272. What’s so special about Rainbow Village? It’s a small yet vibrant cluster of houses and structures that are painted with colorful murals depicting people, animals, designs, and local Taichung art. Rainbow Village was started by a former soldier, Huang Yung-Fu. He first painted his home and due to its popularity, his artwork spread to a few nearby homes. Rainbow Village is a fun and quirky. It was much smaller then I expected. Sure, it’s great for photos and Instagram but I don’t think it is worth going out of your way for. If you have time to spare before or after the train station, by all means, go! Address: Zhanqu 1st Rd, Wuri District, Taichung CityHours: Daily from 8:00 am – 18:00Fee: Free Get a Taiwanese Foot Massage At the end of a long day on your feet while traveling, what better way to finish your night then a cheap yet professional foot massage. We get foot massages every night when we visit Taiwan. It’s so cheap and so necessary after a long day. You can find massage parlors everywhere in Taichung, simply look one up nearest to you and go. One we went to that I really recommend is called, 金角養生館. Address below. Address: No. 32 Section 4, Fuxing Rd, East District, Taichung CityHours: 11:00 am – 24:00 The Birthplace of Bubble Tea Taichung is renowned as being the birthplace of bubble tea. Taichung definitely lives up to being the capital city of Bubble Tea as it seemed that every other storefront sold Bubble Tea. I mentioned earlier, just a 5-10 minute walk from the train station to our hotel, there were 12 Bubble Tea shops. Of course, they sold everything from fruit tea to milk tea. Chun Shui Tang Original Store Every Taichung Travel Guide will say that you have to go to Chun Shui Tang, the Bubble Tea shop that started it all. I highly agree, and we did. We went to the original Chun Shui Tang and waited about 20 minutes to be seated. Chun Shui Tang began in 1983 and the founder, Liu Han-Chieh served cold tea with tapioca pearls which ultimately led to the first bubble tea. When visiting Chun Shui Tang, you kind of have to try the Pearl Milk Tea, this is their claim to fame. On a hot day, it was fantastic. Although I prefer the fruit tea over milk tea, it was still really good. The food here was delicious as well. Treat yourself to a nice meal and bubble tea! Chun Shui Tang has multiple locations around Taichung, the original store’s address is below. Chun Shui Tang has exploded all over Taiwan and can even be found at Taoyuan International Airport. Address: No. 30, Siwei St, West District, Taichung CityHours: 8:00 am – 22:00 Where to Eat in Taichung Taichung is a great city for foodies. You have the morning markets, great restaurants, small sit down eateries, and incredible night markets! My recommendation is to check out a morning market, grab lunch at a restaurant, and sample bite sized dishes at the night markets for dinner. Below is a listing of some of the recommended places to eat in Taichung City from Night Markets to Vegetarian sit down places. Zhongxiao Road Night Market Zhongxiao Road Night Market was about a 10 minute walk from the Old School Hotel we were staying at. Since
Touring the Pinglin Tea Plantation from Taipei: Taiwan’s Tea Capital
About an hour drive from Taipei you’ll find yourself in Pinglin District, Taiwan’s tea capital. Surrounded by lush hills, breathtaking scenery, and Shihding Ciandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake), Pinglin is one of the best day trips from Taipei. Pinglin District is known for its Tea Plantations and high quality Baozhong tea, which is a type of oolong tea. Tours of Pinglin Tea Plantation offers visitors a unique opportunity to learn about Taiwan’s tea culture, participate in a tea ceremony and sample tea, visit the Pinglin Tea Museum, and take pictures at a tea plantation. If you are a tea lover or like me, just interested in the experience and seeing more of Taiwan, I highly recommend booking a Tea Plantation tour from Taipei. I wrote this post to tell you about our day trip to the Thousand Island Lake and Pinglin Tea Planation and what is included in the tour. You can decide if it’s the right tour for your Taiwan adventure! **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Booking a Pinglin Tea Plantation Tour in Taiwan If you want to visit Pinglin and experience Taiwan’s tea culture then I highly recommend booking a tour online prior to your trip to Taipei through Viator or Get Your Guide. I recommend a tour because the guide drives to all the sites, tastings and entrances are included, and you get a lot more out of it as opposed to doing it yourself. I felt our guide on the Pinglin Tea Plantation tour was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot! Here are two recommended tours from Taipei to the Pinglin Tea Plantation. Thousand Island Lake and Pinglin Tea Plantation from Taipei From Taipei: Pinglin Tea Culture and Maokong Guided Tour About the Tour: Stops, Tea Shops, and Much More! We booked this tour: Thousand Island Lake and Pinglin Tea Plantation from Taipei. The Pinglin Tea Tour included a tour guide, vehicle, tea tastings, stops along the way, and entrance prices. After taking the tour, I highly recommend the Pinglin Tea Plantation Tour. I outlined the Pinglin Tea Tour itinerary below with some information regarding the stops and attractions included with this specific tour. Thousand Island Lake Views The first stop along the Pinglin Tea Plantation Tour was an overlook of Feitsui Reservoir, otherwise known as The Thousand Island Lake. There were a few tea plantations and terraced fields at the lookout locations. This stop was great to see the tea leaves and take photos among the tea bushes. Tea Plantations: Bagua Tea Garden Bagua Tea Garden is another quick stop before making it to Pinglin Old Street. Here you get more fascinating views of the Thousand Island Lake and get a chance to see tea bushes up close and learn a little bit more about the growing and harvesting processes. Pinglin Old Street and Sampling Tea Personally, I’d consider the Pinglin Old Street and tea tasting to be the main event of the Pinglin Tea Plantation tour. At one of the tea houses here, we got to sit with an actual tea master where he guided us through the proper ways to brew the tea, steep tea, serve, and even drink the tea. I guess I’ve been doing it all wrong! The Tea House we visited on the tour was called Xuan Zi Ju House. In case you want to visit Pinglin on your own without a tour, you can come here and still do a tea tasting and sample the various stages of tea. Here, we tried the Baozhong Oolong Tea, which is famous in the area. We also sampled Honey Scented Black Tea and traditional Oolong Tea. Here is how little I knew about tea prior to this tour. I thought different tea comes from different tea plants. But I learned that they all come from the same plant and the difference is the oxidation levels that occur during the process. The tea master had three pots on the table and we each had our own tea cup. He would freshly brew the tea, steep it, and serve it to each of us around the table. The drinking process was fun, as he poured the tea in a smaller cup and we flipped it into the proper tea cup. The smaller cup was warm and he had us rub it on our faces. Not sure if it was a joke or if that is what they do to stay young. Either way it felt nice! We got to hang out at Xua Zi Ju Tea House for about an hour sampling the tea and learning about the process. I bought some tea to take home to share with friends and family. Here, you don’t have to feel obligated to buy anything, but the tea is really good and makes a nice gift or if you love the teas you tried, then treat yourself! They also sell this peanut sugar candy that paired nicely with the tea that I brought back home. Pinglin Tea Museum The last stop on our tour was the Pinglin Tea Museum. The museum is located across the river from the Pinglin Old Street. According to the museum, it is the premier government-run tea museum in all of Taiwan and is a must for tea lovers. The museum does have many exhibits from harvesting tools and equipment and displays of the tea making process to historical tea sets and displays showing the history of tea in the Northern Taiwan area. Conclusion A tour from Taipei to Pinglin is the perfect way to explore Taiwanese tea culture and see beautiful nature just outside the city. I highly recommend booking a Pinglin Tea Plantation tour to fully experience, understand, and enjoy the famous Baozhong tea that comes from the Pinglin area. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼 Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
My Honest China Airlines Review: What it’s Like Flying Economy
China Airlines, not to be confused with Air China is the flagship carrier of Taiwan. China Airlines is a 4-Star Airline according to Skytrax and offers a blend of modern comfort, great service, and connections all over the world. China Airlines flies all around Asia, North America, Europe, and Oceania. China Airlines has become my go to carrier lately. I’ve flown them around Asia, to Australia and New Zealand, to Germany, and the United States and have had nothing but positive experiences. Of course, I fly economy and want to write this honest China Airlines review based on my experiences with the airlines. Hopefully this post is helpful if you are debating whether or not to fly with China Airlines. ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! ** As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Summary About China Airlines: China Airlines is the national carrier of Taiwan and its hub is Taoyuan International Airport. China Airlines is a certified 4-Star Airline. Why Fly China Airlines: Modern and a fuel efficient fleet Comfort and Amenities Good Customer Service In need of travel accessories for the long flight or layover? I shop on Amazon, from phone holders to travel bags, you can find everything here. China Airlines Hub: Taoyuan International Airport Taoyuan International Airport is the main hub and largest airport in Taiwan. Taoyuan opened in 1979 and is the main hub airport for major airlines like China Airlines, EVA Airlines, and Starlux Airlines. Taoyuan Airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. China Airlines primarily flies out of Terminal 1 but there are some flights that use Terminal 2. Curious how to spent a layover at Taoyuan International Airport? I have a dedicated post on What to do at Taoyuan International Airport During a Layover. TWAC: Taiwan Arrival Card Taiwan now requires all foreign visitors to electronically fill out a Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC). The TWAC can be filled out through the Ministry of the Interior National Immigration Agency Republic of China (Taiwan) website. Your airline should notify you of this and in some cases even provide you with a link 3 days before arrival. If they do not, just visit the TWAC website and fill out the required fields at least 3 days before your trip to Taiwan. It’s free, you just enter in your Passport information, length of stay, and any other required fields. The immigration officers then will have access to the data you fill out during the TWAC process once your passport is scanned. You’ll also receive an email with a QR Code, but I have not needed to show it so far. Here is the website used to submit your TWAC: TWAC Taiwan Arrival Card About China Airlines China Airlines is the national carrier of Taiwan and its headquarters are located at Taoyuan International Airport. Again, not to be confused with Air China, which is a major Chinese airline headquartered in Beijing, China. According to the airline website, China Airlines was founded in 1959. Today China Airlines is one of Asia’s most popular airlines with over 1,400 flights a week to over 100 destinations across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. China Airlines is a SkyTeam Airline Alliance member which allows passengers global connectivity and access to partner airline networks and benefits. China Airlines has a relatively new fleet that includes Boeing 777s and the Airbus A350s. For shorter flights like from Okinawa to Taiwan, I’ve flown Air China’s Airbus A321neo. Longer flights, I’ve flown Air China’s Airbus A350-900 to Brisbane, Australia. I’ve also flown with the Boeing 777-300ER to Taipei from LAX. I’ve also flown their Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 737-800. China Airlines is a 4-Star Airline On Skytrax, China Airline is a certified 4-Star Airline. This is something I really pay attention to when choosing which airlines to fly. I typically only pick 4 and 5 star certified airlines based on safety, quality, and service. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 China Airlines Dynasty Flyer Program China Airlines has a mileage program known as the Dynasty Flyer Program. You can earn Dynasty Miles, which can be used for flights, upgrades, and other services. There are status levels of you can reach, each level offers increased benefits. Dynasty, Gold, Emerald, and Paragon. You can learn more about the Membership Tiers and Benefits on the China Airlines website. Signing up for the Dynasty Flyer Program is completely free. Once you login to the China Airlines website, simply sign up. Once in your own dashboard, you can redeem miles, view your activity, check total points, and so much more! China Airlines Review My China Airlines review is based on my personal experience flying with the carrier. I’ve flown with China Airlines around the world and always sit in economy, because of budget. So this review is solely based on my experience flying in economy with China Airlines. I’ll go over some of the basics like check-in experiences, thoughts on food, comfort, and what it’s like flying with China Airlines on short and long flights. For specific questions regarding the airline or to learn more about China Airlines, I recommend visiting their website. Check-in You should already have your flight booked through the China Airlines website. About 48 hours prior to departure, you will receive an online check-in email. I recommend checking in online, it makes things easier the day of the actual flight. All your information is already logged in and ready to go! Like any international trip, I arrive at the airport a minimum of 2 hours prior to departure. I’ve checked in at the China Airlines counter in many cities and countries around the world, from Kaohsiung to Brisbane. Honestly, I’ve never had an issue with check in through China Airlines. The staff is always professional and polite. Short Flights I fly often between Naha, Okinawa and Taipei, Taiwan. The flight is anywhere from 50 minutes to 1.5 hours. I’d say I am always impressed with China Airlines efficiency and the fact that they are always on time. For shorter flights, the aircraft is usually an Airbus A330-300 or a Boeing 737-800. Even short flights, the aircraft is spacious and the seats are large with plentiful leg room. Even though the flight is short, you even get a meal onboard the flight. It’s smaller but I enjoy it. I’ll talk more on food later in the post. International Long Haul Flights I’ve flown with China Airlines from Taipei to Germany, Taipei to Australia, and Taipei to the United States. The Taipei to Europe and Taipei to the United States are especially long, about 14 hours. On the long haul flights with China Airlines, I’ve flown their Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 777-300ER. I really don’t have a preference between the Airbus or Boeing as they are both exciting to fly with. I always try and book the aisle seat. It just gives me that freedom to get up whenever I want without bothering the passenger next to me. The seats on the Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 777-300ER are wide and comfortable. I usually have enough leg room as I store my carry on in the overhead bins. Long flights with China Airlines are comfortable, I’ve never encountered any issues. The flight attendants come around often and outside of meal services they offer water and other beverages. One of my only complaints about China Airlines on their long flights are the bathrooms. The bathrooms are cramped and do not get cleaned as regularly as other airlines do. Seating and Entertainment Seating and entertainment for my China Airlines review will be primarily for the long haul flights. Some of the shorter flights do have a small tv but it’s barely even worth turning on. For the longer flights, you can view the in-flight entertainment on the China Airlines website. There is a wide range of movies both old and new, tv shows, games, and music right in front of you. I think for Economy, the tv has a 10″ screen. Each seat has a USB port so you can charge all your devices. The seats are spacious. As spacious as it can be for an economy seat with an airline. The seats have adjustable headrests, a literature pocket, personal tv screen, and USB ports. For long flights, you will get a blanket and pillow. If you need one regardless of a long or short flight, you can always ask the flight attendant for a pillow or blanket and they will gladly provide you with one. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Food & Beverages I might be one of the only people that actually likes airplane food. It’s fun, gives me something to look forward to, and honestly airplane food isn’t that bad. Since this is a China Airlines review, I think their food is just ok. Honestly, I find the short flights between Okinawa and Taipei have more authentic Taiwanese food then their long haul flights. The Okinawa to Taipei flights serve small meals, even though it’s only an hour flight. The food comes in a small box with a drink and small snack. The food on this route usually represents Taiwan well. Many of the meals use traditional spices and flavors. My last meal even had a Taiwanese Tea Egg, which I love. On the long flights, the meals are pretty standard, no different then any other airline. You get two options for dinner, usually chicken or beef with rice, a roll, fruits/vegetables, and a small dish that is always different. For breakfast, there is usually a western option with eggs and chicken sausage. There is also a Taiwanese option that comes with meat and rice. Customer Service The China Airlines customer service continues to amaze me. China Airlines customer support is always helpful, timely, and clear to understand. On the China Airlines website, go to Contact Us, usually, I go to Service Hotline and call one of the telephone number listed in my Region/Country. Here the Region/Country, number, and office hours are listed. Each time, I’ve contacted China Airlines customer support, whether it be for questions or concerns regarding my Dynasty Flyer Program or changing an international flight, they’ve helped me out and show professionalism. Mandarin Airlines I recently had the opportunity to fly with Mandarin Airlines, which is a Taiwanese regional carrier and the parent company is China Airlines. I flew Mandarin Airlines from Manila, Philippines to Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Being a subsidiary of China Airlines, Mandarin Airlines is recognized by Skytrax as a 4-Star airline. Mandarin Airlines offers short-haul domestic and international flights. Questions About China Airlines Is China Airlines Safe? Yes, China Airlines is safe. Thy have significantly improved their safety over the last few decades. They are rated a 4-Star Airline by Skytrax. Is there Wi-Fi on board China Airlines? China Airlines does offer Wi-Fi services. I never use it, so I can’t go into to much detail. I recommend reviewing China Airlines Wi-Fi Onboard page. Who is China Airlines Partnered With? China Airlines is part of SkyTeam and some of the other partner airlines include Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air France, China Eastern Airlines, Delta Airlines, Korea Air, KLM, Vietnam Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Is China Airlines a member of Star Alliance? No, China Airlines is not a member of Star Alliance. Who is the National Carrier of Taiwan?China Airlines is the National Carrier of Taiwan. Don’t Forget These Travel Accessories For those long flights around the world, there are a few accessories that I use that have made flying so much more pleasant. Here are a few of my recommended travel accessories. ✅ Universal Phone Holder (Handsfree phone mount. It
What to do at Taoyuan International Airport During a Layover
Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is the main airport and gateway to Taiwan, plus it is one of the best airports for travelers coming to Asia. Taoyuan International Airport is known for its efficiency, amenities, atmosphere, and excellent connectivity. I’ve visited Taiwan seven times now and have traveled through Taoyuan International Airport at least a dozen times now and it remains my favorite airport in terms of spending layovers, things to do, and overall flight connections. Whether you have a short to long layover at Taoyuan International Airport or are beginning your Taiwan adventure, this post is all about Taoyuan International Airport and how to traverse through the airport or spend your time wisely during your layover. ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! About Taoyuan International Airport Taoyuan International Airport sometimes abbreviated to TPE is the main hub and largest airport in Taiwan. It is located in the city of Taoyuan about 40 kilometers to the west of Taipei City. The airport opened in 1979 and is the primary airport for international travel to and from Taiwan, it’s also a popular connecting airport to the United States, Australia, and other countries in Asia. Taoyuan is the hub airport for major airlines like China Airlines, EVA Airlines, Starlux Airlines, and the low cost airline, Tigerair. Currently, there are two terminals at Taoyuan Internal Airport, Terminal 1 & Terminal 2. If you are traveling into Taipei from the airport, there is a convenient MRT that goes directly to Taipei Main Station. TWAC: Taiwan Arrival Card Taiwan now requires all foreign visitors to electronically fill out a Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC). The TWAC can be filled out through the Ministry of the Interior National Immigration Agency Republic of China (Taiwan) website. Your airline should notify you of this and in some cases even provide you with a link 3 days before arrival. If they do not, just visit the TWAC website and fill out the required fields at least 3 days before your trip to Taiwan. It’s free, you just enter in your Passport information, length of stay, and any other required fields. The immigration officers then will have access to the data you fill out during the TWAC process once your passport is scanned. You’ll also receive an email with a QR Code, but I have not needed to show it so far. Here is the website used to submit your TWAC: TWAC Taiwan Arrival Card What to do at Taoyuan International Airport During a Layover I’ve traveled to Taiwan seven times now and have either been or connected through Taoyuan International Airport a dozen times. I’ve had short layovers here, long layovers, and have even spent the night at the airport a couple of times. I’ve spent a lot of time at airports throughout the world and TPE is my favorite airport, I even prefer it over Changi Airport in Singapore. I find Taoyuan Airport to be very clean to include the bathrooms, there is a variety of great food stalls, the shops are fun to browse, and the themed gates are both fun and informative. If you have a layover at Taoyuan International Airport, here are my recommended activities to try, foods to eat, and places to rest and relax. Shopping I am not much of a shopper but TPE does have some decent shops that even I enjoy. Of course you can find your duty-free stores selling alcohol and international treats. Taiwan’s airport also has local shops selling goods and souvenirs from Taiwan. Try Beef Noodle Soup If you can’t leave the airport but want to try an iconic Taiwanese dish, then head to one of the many restaurants or vendors at the airport that make Taiwan Beef Noodle Soup. Taiwan Beef Noodle Soup is a dish that combines braised beef with wheat noodles and a savory broth. I recommend trying Lao Dong Beef Noodles at Terminal 2 or Royal Heritage Beef Noodles in Terminal 2. Bubble Tea What’s a visit to Taiwan without trying bubble tea. After all, Taiwan is the birthplace of bubble tea and you can find great teas at Taoyuan International Airport. Speaking of Birthplace of Bubble Tea, Chun Shui Tang has a location at the airport in Terminal 2. The original store is in Taichung but there is a branch at the airport. Make sure to try the signature Pearl Milk Tea. Mazu Village is probably my favorite Bubble Tea store at Taoyuan Airport. Mazu Village has a variety of tea flavors. They also make wheel cakes with fillings that are absolutely delicious. Check out the Themed Gates One of my favorite features at Taoyuan International Airport is the themed boarding gates and lounge areas. Most of the themed gates are located in Terminal 2. Many of the gates are Taiwanese Culture themed. Each theme represents a specific place in Taiwan like Taroko National Park or a specific activity in Taiwan like the Pingxi Lantern Festival. Some themes are even focused on animals found in Taiwan. Not only do the gates have artistic traits and images but detailed descriptions about the particular theme. Exercise What better way to spend a long layover at an airport then exercise! I mean you spend so much time sitting around whether it be at your gate, on the plane, or just waiting around. Near Gate D1 in Terminal 2 there is a Gym Area called Sports Park with a few weight and cardio machines. Relax and Unwind TPE has so many places scattered throughout the airport to take a rest or even sneak in a well deserved nap. The Wooderful Land Waiting Room is amongst my favorite places in the airport to relax. This room is tucked away in a forest like atmosphere. There is the Landscape Lounge with comfortable seats, chair massage areas, and other rest lounge areas, some are in what seems to be hidden spots making it the perfect place to catch up on some sleep after a long travel day. Read and Learn at the Library Want to escape people and find somewhere that is peaceful and quiet at the airport? Head over to the Mind Garden Airport Library at Terminal 2. Here, there are places to sit, desks for laptops, and tons of free books to read in a variety of languages. The library is open 24/7 and is a great place to escape the crowds. Whether you want to browse the net, read a book, or just want to charge your phone in peace, the Mind Garden Library is the perfect place. Get a Taiwanese Massage at the Massage Center One of my most recommended things to do in Taipei is to get a foot massage. Thankfully, you don’t have to leave the airport to find a decent massage center. There is actually a massage center near the food court in Terminal 2 on the 4th floor. Not only does the Massage Center offer foot massages, but you can schedule a full body massage, half body massage, and lower body massage. For the food massage, you can get a 30 minute, 45 minute, and 60 minute massage. Catch Some Sleep at a Capsule Hotel If you have an overnight layover at Taoyuan International Airport, instead of sleeping on the ground or a random chair somewhere why not experience a stay at a capsule hotel and get a comfortable nights rest. Outside the gate on the 5th floor of TPE there is a capsule hotel called CHO Stay Capsule Hotel. I’ve stayed at CHO Stay Capsule Hotel a few times now and it’s a treat! The experience is unique, the hotel is clean, beds are comfortable, privacy is great, and the bathrooms have showers. You can book a night at the CHO Stay Capsule Hotel through Agoda. Take the Metro to Taipei City If you have a long layover at Taoyuan Airport, I’d say at least 6 hours or more, I recommend taking the Taoyuan Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station and bum around Taipei for a little bit. The trip from Terminal 2 to Taipei Main Station is between 35 – 45 minutes. Keep that in mind when returning. If you need help planning your itinerary for Taipei or looking for specific sites during your layover, I have a post on Things to do in Taipei. Additional Information Regarding Taoyuan Airport If you are planning your layover at Taoyuan International Airport or have questions about anything, feel free to reach out in my contact form or drop a comment in this post. Here are some additional tips and information that I came up with that will help you have a smoother layover or transit through Taoyuan International Airport. ✅ TPE has amazing water fill stations scattered throughout the airport. They can fill your water bottle up with either cold or hot water. The water at the airport is completely safe to drink. ✅ The bathrooms are clean and in Terminal 2 near the boarding gates, they are even themed, each one being unique. ✅ Tired of carrying change or don’t want to hang on to that international currency that will do you no good unless you plan on visiting Taiwan again? There are donation boxes around the airport, you can drop your spare change in. Don’t Forget These Travel Accessories For those long flights around the world, there are a few accessories that I use that have made flying so much more pleasant. Here are a few of my recommended travel accessories. ✅ Universal Phone Holder (Handsfree phone mount. It can attach to the tray.) ✅ Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds (The AirPods have been my best purchase in a few years. It drowns out sound and the sound quality is excellent.) ✅ Multi-Pocket Sling Bag (A Sling Bag is a game changer for me. I keep all the smaller items that I use during the flight in here and put my backpack in the overhead bin.) ✅ Airplane Bluetooth Adapter (This product is useful for flights that don’t have built in Bluetooth for the entertainment. You can connect your wireless earbuds.) ✅ Cable Organizer (Storage Bag for cords and chargers) Conclusion With its blend of efficiency, atmosphere, and cultural charm, Taoyuan International Airport has earned its place as my favorite airport in the world. From the beautifully themed lounges at the gates to the comfortable CHO Stay Capsule Hotel it’s no question why I love Taiwan’s main airport. I hope this post sums up the perfect way to spend a layover at Taoyuan International Airport. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼 Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
Kaohsiung Travel Guide: All You Need to Know for a Perfect Visit
Kaohsiung City or simply just Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s third most populated city. Accessible by both plane and high speed rail, Kaohsiung is the perfect city to explore for a day or two. Whether you are a foodie looking for traditional Taiwanese Night Markets or into history and want to explore temples and museums, Kaohsiung definitely has something for everyone. My Kaohsiung travel guide covers all of the must-see attractions, popular night markets, and so much more! **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary Why Visit Kaohsiung City: Kaohsiung City is an underrated city in Taiwan. Kaohsiung City has many attractions and experiences to keep you busy for days. Top Things to do in Kaohsiung City: Visit the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum. Walk around the Lotus Pond. Sample food at Kaohsiung’s night markets. Where to Stay in Kaohsiung City: I booked a few nights at the Kung Shang Design Hotel and was very pleased with my stay. Consider taking a Private Day Tour of Kaohsiung City to see the main highlights and learn about this city along the way. About Kaohsiung City Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s third largest city, behind Taichung and of course Taipei with a population over 2.7 million. Kaohsiung is known as Taiwan’s Harbor Capital because it has the largest port in Taiwan. Because of this, there is a lot of industrial areas to the city. But don’t let that scare you away from visiting Kaohsiung. Kaohsiung has an abundance of things to do, modern architecture, and beautiful parks. Kaohsiung is located in southern Taiwan, just south of the city of Tainan. Kaohsiung has its own international airport and is well connected to Taiwan’s high speed rail. Flying to Kaohsiung City and Public Transportation Kaohsiung International Airport is where the majority of visitors will fly into. There are international flights to and from Kaohsiung from several cities throughout Asia. Kaohsiung International Airport is easy to navigate, customs is stress free, and baggage claim is reliable. Exiting the airport is easy and the MRT is within walking distance. Kaohsiung International Airport is on the MRT Red Line, so you can take the subway directly to any station along the Red Line or connecting Orange Line. I found public transportation in Kaohsiung to be incredibly easy and efficient. The Kaohsiung Metro or MRT has two lines, a Red Line that runs north and south from Gangshan Station to Siaogang Station, just past the airport. The Orange Line basically runs east to west from Daliao Station to Hamasen Station. There is also a convenient light rail circular line, the Light Green Line. The light rail is convenient for accessing places like Shoushan National Nature Park or the Love Pier. In my opinion, the MRT is very clean, safe, and affordable. I recommend getting a reloadable EasyCard. This is Taiwan’s transit cards where you can load money on them and use them throughout the country to access buses, trains, subways, and even bikes. Mikan, Kaohsiung’s Adorable yet Busy Stationmaster If you happen to stop at one of the MRT stations in Kaohsiung City, you’ll most likely notice an adorable mascot plastered all over. From having its own store in the HSR Zuoying Station to being seen on signs in just about every station. The famous mascot is Mikan, an orange cat who is the “Station Master” of Kaohsiung’s metro stations. According to the station, Mikan is a stray cat that was eventually adopted by the Kaohsiung Metro. Born April 4th of 2020. In Japanese, Mikan is a mandarin orange. When the kitty was found, he was curled up in a ball, people thought he looked like a cute orange, hence the name, Mikan. In order to become Station Master, Mikan passed his interview and completed all his necessary trainings. He mostly works at the Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Where to Stay in Kaohsiung City Kaohsiung has a wide variety of places to stay and many affordable options. I generally don’t seek out luxurious accommodations. When booking hotels, I generally pay attention to location, price, and accommodations. Now a days, I book most of my hotels through Agoda. Agoda allows for flexibility and many hotels give guests options to pay now or later. Based on accommodation, breakfast, price, and easy access to Formosa Boulevard Station, we decided to stay at Kung Shang Design Hotel. For starters, Kung Shand Design Hotel had massive rooms. By far the largest I’ve seen in a hotel anywhere in Asia. The room designs were unique and comfortable. This hotel was less then a ten minute walk from Formosa Boulevard Station. The breakfast was fantastic as well, it had a nice mix of Taiwanese and Western dishes. When staying in Kaohsiung, I highly recommend booking or at least looking into the Kung Shang Design Hotel. Best Things to do in Kaohsiung City This Kaohsiung travel guide is built around a two day Kaohsiung itinerary. There is just to much to see and many things to do where I feel two days is a good amount of time to see the main attractions within Kaohsiung and even take a half day trip outside the city. The attractions below, in no particular order are my recommended things to see and do in Kaohsiung City. Visit Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum Located about 30km from the Kaohsiung City is the impressive temple complex of Fo Guang Shan. Fo Guang Shan is an easy bus ride from Kaohsiung City, I have outlined getting here in my post: How to Visit Fo Guang Shan from Kaohsiung City. You can easily spend a day here, but I recommend spending a half day here just to maximize your time in Kaohsiung. When visiting Fo Guang Shan, don’t miss out on the Pagodas, Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, Big Buddha, Main Shrine, and Buddha Land. Walk the Lotus Pond and See the Pagodas Any Kaohsiung travel guide will recommend paying a visit to the Lotus Pond area. There is an abundance of things to do here. We walked to the Lotus Pond from HSR Zuoying Station. Some of the sites we saw include the Zuying Yuandi Temple, Spring and Autumn Pavilions, and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. There is a trail that goes around Lotus Pond and there are multiple parks throughout the area. Eat at the Night Markets One of my favorite things to do in Taiwan is to visit the night markets. It all started with night markets in Taipei, now when visiting, that is all I do for dinner. Night markets in Kaohsiung is a cheap way to try a nice variety of both Taiwanese and international dishes. While in Kaohsiung, I visited Ruifeng Night Market and Liouhe Tourist Night Market. If you could only pick one night market in Kaohsiung, I’d have to recommend Ruifeng Night Market. Ruifeng Night Market just had such a great variety of food and drinks to sample. There were so many vendors here it was a tad overwhelming. I ended up trying chicken feet, grain pancakes, fried chicken, squid on a stick, and steamed buns. Night markets in Taiwan are generally cash only. Hike Shoushan National Nature Park Just my opinion, but not Kaohsiung itinerary is complete without a visit to the beautiful Shoushan National Nature Park. Shoushan National Nature Park is easily accessible from anywhere in Kaohsiung City. We stayed near Formosa Boulevard Station and ended up taking the KMRT Orange Line to Hamasen Station and hopped on the Green Light Rail to Gushan Station. From there we walked directly to the trail head. I recommend Shoushan National Nature Park because it offers visitors a great chance to see local wildlife and beautiful nature. We hiked for about 3 hours here and saw many Taiwanese Macaques, got great views of Kaohsiung City, and met a lot of friendly people both locals and tourists. Interested in reading more? I have a dedicated post on Hiking Shoushan National Nature Park. Sanfong Temple In my opinion, one of the prettiest temples in Taiwan is the Sanfong Temple. This Taoist temple is known for its photogenic lanterns in the courtyard and beautiful architecture. To take some of the best photos of Sanfong Temple, feel free to walk inside and up the stairs. Here you will see hundreds of lanterns strung across the center of the temple. The temple is free to explore. Formosa Boulevard Station Not exactly a must do when visiting Kaohsiung City, but if you are transiting through or staying near Formosa Boulevard Station, it’s worth wandering around. The main attraction at Formosa Boulevard Station is the Dome of Light. It’s a giant stained glass piece of art in the center of the station. At certain times there is even a light show on the ground of the station. Otherwise, there are some decent restaurants in Formosa Boulevard Station, convenience stores, and plenty of places to sit down and relax. Love and Glory Pier I visited the Lover and Glory Pier on a rainy day in hopes of seeing the giant rubber ducks floating around. Apparently the ducks are seasonal, so I didn’t see any. Nonetheless, we took the Light Green Line to the Love Pier Station, got off, and walked around the pier for a bit. From here, you get great views of the skyline to include the dominating 85 Sky Tower. Conclusion My Kaohsiung Travel Guide is perfect for visitors that are exploring Kaohsiung for their first time. Any Kaohsiung City itinerary should include a half day at Fo Guang Shan, a morning hike at Shoushan National Nature Park, a walk around Lotus Pond, and a night of exploring the night markets. Kaohsiung City has plenty of sites and attractions to keep anyone busy for a few days. One of the best things about Kaohsiung is that it doesn’t feel overrun by tourists yet! Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼 Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
Hiking Shoushan National Nature Park: Tips & Recommendations
If you love hiking, being in nature, wildlife, exercise, and gorgeous views, then visiting Shoushan National Nature Park is a must! This nature park is easy to get to from anywhere in Kaohsiung City and offers an incredible experience. If you are like me and the site of wild monkeys gets you excited, you’ll love this nature park. Shoushan National Nature Park has many trail networks and for the most part they were well maintained and somewhat easy. I highly recommend adding Shoushan National Nature Park to your Kaohsiung itinerary. In this post, you can find information on the nature park, learn about the wildlife, and I’ve included tips and recommendations to help better prepare you for a hike at Shoushan National Nature Park. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Getting to Shoushan National Nature Park by Public Transportation Getting to Shoushan National Nature Park is really easy, especially if staying near one of Kaohsiung’s subway stations. You don’t need to rent a car to get here, you can rely entirely on public transportation. Kaohsiung has great public transportation. There is a KMRT Red Line, KMRT Orange Line, and the Light Rail. There is a clockwise and counterclockwise Light Rail that circles the city, making it very convenient. We stayed near Formosa Boulevard, R10 and took the Orange Line toward Hamasen. From Hamasen Station, we took the Green Light Rail to Gushan Station. From Gushan Station, you can walk to one of the main park entrances. At this trail entrance there is a newly placed public parking space with bathrooms. You can also get off at the Museum of Fine Arts Station and take Qnghai Road to Mingde Road. Either station will take you directly to a hiking trail. About Shoushan National Nature Park If you look at a map of Kaohsiung City, Shoushan National Nature Park is located west of the city. It’s the big green space between the city and the sea. The park is located in Kaohsiung’s Gushan District. Shoushan National Nature Park is a lard nature park that consists of limestone formations and lush forests. Most visitors will come to the park to hike, sightsee, and even mountain bike. The majority of the trails are nicely maintained but some trails do require appropriate gear to successfully and safely hike, I’ll get more into that later on. The main reason for my visit to Shoushan National Nature Park was to see the wildlife, primarily the rock macaques. Trail Information Honestly, there is not a whole lot of trail information or info in general on Shoushan National Nature Park and the hiking trails here. One of the best resources to look at trails within the park is AllTrails. On AllTrails there 10 different trails listed within the park all different lengths and experience levels. If you are like me and only wanting to visit Shoushan National Nature Park for a half day and see the Taiwan Macaques I recommend the moderate Monkey Mountain Trail. According to AllTrails, Monkey Mountain is a moderate trail, totaling just about 5 km. If you plan for a full day hike, the full loop is a 10.5 km long trail. If following the maps posted throughout the park, stay on the main trail for an easier hike. Many of the trails that branch off the main one appear to be shortcuts on the map but they are more intense trails that are smaller, more overgrown, and challenging. Do yourself a favor and stick to the main trails. If following the Monkey Mountain Trail, the trail is a mix of concrete, loose gravel, and boardwalk. For the most part the trail was really well maintained. Many of the pavilions labeled on the map actually are rest stations, equipped with water, shelter, shade, and even workout and stretching equipment. Wildlife The wildlife of Shoushan National Nature Park is the main driving factor for my visit here, primarily to see wild Formosan Rock Macaques otherwise known as Taiwanese Macaques. There is a reason that locals call this park “Monkey Mountain.” Not even 5 minutes into our hike we spotted trees full of these energetic monkeys. When we visited (August) many of the adult macaques had babies. We spotted monkeys at the very beginning of our hike to the very end, they were everywhere. Although fun to witness in the wild, keep in mind that these monkeys are in fact, wild. Although cute, they can be aggressive and unpredictable. Give them their space, don’t feed them, and respect their boundaries. How we Spent a Day Here While staying in Kaohsiung City, we were near Formosa Boulevard Station. On our second day we visited Shoushan National Nature Park in the morning. From Formosa Boulevard Station, we took the KMRT Orange Line to Hamasen Subway Station. Here we jumped on the Hamasen Light Rail stop and accidentally took the light rail to the Gushan District Office stop instead of Gushan Station. We ended up walking from Gushan District Office station to the new parking area, but I recommend just getting off at Gushan Station. From here, we found a nature park map and decided on hiking the Monkey Mountain Trail, I’m not sure if that is the official name but it is highlighted Yellow on the maps. I believe this started near the North Shoushan Trail Entrance near the Qianguang Temple. 5 minutes in we spotted a bunch of Taiwanese macaques, many with babies. They were on the road, up in the trees, and even walking up and down stairs. We followed the path toward Monkey Rock and stopped at a few of the rest stations along the trail. We were worried because we finished our water about half way through the hike but were thankful that the rest stations had water and tea, so you can fill your bottles here. We followed the trail clockwise and ended at the Longquan Temple entrance. I actually recommend going in a clockwise direction. Although the other direction seemed to be more popular, it seemed to have had more stairs and steeper hills to climb. Near the Longquan Temple entrance, there are shops that sell hiking gear, snacks, and beverages. Tips & Recommendations Bring water and appropriate clothes with. The hiking here is not difficult, but the elements can be harsh. Mainly the heat and humidity. There are rest stations along portions of the trail. Thankfully, when we went (August), the rest stations were equipped with water and even hot tea, free of charge. Beware of the wild monkeys. They are cute and entertaining but can be aggressive and unpredictable. Simply give them space. Share the trails. Shoushan National Nature Park is a popular attraction for both locals and visitors. Plus monkeys might walk on the trail as well. Bring a hand towel or some type of towel or cloth to wipe sweat or clean hands. Of course, snacks are recommended, especially if you are planning on hiking the majority of the day. Just beware that monkeys are known to steal food and can be aggressive over it. Conclusion If you are looking for things to do in Kaohsiung City, I highly recommend starting your morning at Shoushan National Nature Park. This nature park is the perfect place to spend a relaxing morning, whether it be for exercise or spotting wildlife, Shoushan National Nature Park is a unique experience and is accessible from anywhere in Kaohsiung City. We had a great time here and were glad to have shared the trails with other friendly hikers and even monkeys. This was one of my favorite places to visit in Kaohsiung and I hope to visit one day again. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼 Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
How to Visit Fo Guang Shan from Kaohsiung City
Located about 30 km from Kaohsiung lies the Buddhist complex of Fo Guang Shan. This massive religious complex acts as both a spiritual retreat and one of Taiwan’s most popular tourist destinations. Locals and visitors from around the world come to Fo Guang Shan as a peaceful escape, to learn about Buddhism, or just to check out the beautiful complex to include the 108 meter tall Buddha statue. Getting to Go Guang Shan is a simple bus ride away, so if you are wondering how to visit Fo Guang Shan from Kaohsiung City, I’ve outlined all you need to know in this post. **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout the page, whether it be TripAdvisor, Booking.com. Agoda.com, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Summary How to Get to Fo Guang Shan: The easiest way to visit Fo Guang Shan is by local bus. From Zuoying Station in Kaohsiung take the E02 bus also called Harvard Express. This bus goes directly to Fo Guang Shan. Top Things to at Fo Guang Shan: Visit the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum. Photograph the Big Buddha. Pay a visit to the Main Shrine. Don’t feel like figuring out the train and bus system? Or prefer to do tours that include Fo Guang Shan? I’d recommend booking a Kaohsiung Private Tour with Fo Guang Shan or this Classic Kaohsiung Day Tour. Why Visit Fo Guang Shan? If visiting Kaohsiung, Taiwan, it is highly recommend to set time aside to visit Fo Guang Shan. Fo Guang Shan is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan and one of Taiwan’s most important religious sites. The Fo Guang Shan Museum is one of the largest of its kind in the world and is home to so many impressive exhibits and collections. Between the Front Hall and Fo Guang Shan Museum are eight pagodas that stand tall To me, one of the most impressive features of Fo Guang Shan is the giant 108 meter tall Buddha statue. The Fo Guang Shan temple is relatively easy to visit from Kaohsiung by local bus and for the most part visiting the complex is free. Taking the Bus to Fo Guang Shan from Kaohsiung The best, cheapest, and easiest way to get to Fo Guang Shan from Kaohsiung is by bus. Taking the local bus was relatively hassle free and so much easier then I expected. I stayed near Formosa Boulevard Station in Kaohsiung City. I took the red line and got off in 6 stops at Zuoying R16. When arriving at Zuoying Station, I followed signs to the buses and found the bus stops outside. There were many bus stops outside, thankfully there were electronic signs listing each us along with the destination, time, and route, below is an example. I ended up taking the E02 from THSR Zuoying Station to Fo Guang Shan. This bus is also called the Harvard Express E02. The bus ride was about 40 minutes and the cost was very cheap. We paid NTD 61 which is just under $2. The Harvard Express E02 goes directly to Fo Guang Shan, stopping at Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and Fo Guang Shan. To return to Kaohsiung City from Fo Guang Shan, simply walk back to the bus stops you were dropped off at and wait for the return bus. The bus stops had times. For the latest times for drop off and pick up I recommend looking at the bus schedule here. To sum it up. Take the Red Line to THSR Zuoying Station Follow Signs to the Bus Stop area Take the Harvard Express E02 directly to Fo Guang Shan It really is that easy! What to See and Do at Fo Guang Shan Front Hall The Front Hall is the main entrance to the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum. Upon entering, you’ll notice the lion and her cubs and the elephant on either side of the entrance. The Front Hall is a more modern building filled with souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes. Pagodas Between the Front Hall and Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum are eight pagodas, four on each side. Each pagoda is 38 meters tall and serves a different yet unique purpose. The Pagodas are as listed, One Teaching Pagoda, Two Assemblies Pagoda, Three Goodness Pagoda, Four Givings Pagoda, Five Harmonies Pagoda, Six Perfections Pagoda, Seven Admonishments Pagoda, and Eightfold Path Pagoda. Some of the pagodas were open while others were closed. The few we popped into had various designs and purposes. For instance, one we went in to was set up for weddings. For a more in depth description on the pagodas, you can read more on the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum website. Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum – Main Hall The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum is incredible. The museum itself is free to visit, you could easily spend 2 – 3 hours here alone, if not longer. Within the museum, there are seasonal exhibits and events but also permanent exhibits. You can see the Buddha Tooth Relic, Golden Buddha, Jade Reliefs, Giant Jade Buddha, and so much more. Take your time exploring the museum, I definitely learned a lot here and had a wonderful experience. For more information, including exhibits and events, check out the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum website. Fo Guang Big Buddha The giant Buddha statue at Fo Guang Shan is considered to be the largest seated Sakyamuni Buddha statue in Asia. According to the site, the statue was built in 2011 and is made up of 1,800 tons of copper. The Buddha itself is 40 meters tall, but all together the statue is 108 meters tall. To me, the Fo Guang Shan Buddha is the highlight of the Fo Guang Shan Museum. It’s amazing how enormous this statue is especially when you walk closer to it. The Buddha statue in the background with the pagodas in front is definitely one of the best pictures you can take at Fo Guang Shan. Fo Guang Shan Main Shrine The main shrine that is separate from the Fo Guang Shan Museum is a must when visiting. According to the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum website, the The Main Shrine or Mahavira Hall is about 100 ft tall. Three Jewels Buddhas are located here, Sakyamuni Buddha, Amitaha Buddha, and Medicine Buddha. Each Buddha is about 26 ft tall. The walls inside the Mahavira Hall are full of statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, there are 14,800 smaller statues in total. We got lucky and a kind lady gave us a tour of the Mahavira Hall. Shoes are to remain outside when visiting the Mahavira Hall and photos are prohibited inside. Fo Guang Shan Great Buddha Land The last attraction we stopped at while visiting Fo Guang Shan, was the Great Buddha Land. The Great Buddha here is a 36 meter tall statue surrounded by 480 smaller Buddha statues. Conclusion The Fo Guang Shan Buddha complex is a must for any Kaohsiung itinerary. Visiting Fo Guang Shan is as easy as taking a direct local bus from Zuoying Station to Fo Guan Shan’s Front Hall. It can take several hours to fully explore this religious site, so take your time. This is truly one of Taiwan’s best gems and I highly recommend a visit to Fo Guang Shan. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼 Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
Taking the Express Trains from Taipei to Hualien
Taipei and Hualien are both very popular destinations to visit in Taiwan. One of the best ways to travel between Taipei and Hualien is by Express Train. The trains connecting the two cities offer an enjoyable ride with breathtaking views of mountains and ocean. The express trains from Taipei to Hualien offer comfortable seating, convenient schedules, and affordable prices. This post shares our personal experience riding the express trains from Taipei to Hualien and how we booked our tickets. ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Booking Train Tickets from Taipei to Hualien Booking a train ticket online via the Taiwan Railway e-booking app is easy and hassle free. The app is through Taiwan Railway. I found it easiest to find train stations and timetables using the Taiwan Railway website. On the Taiwan Railway site, you can enter in your departure and arrival stations. From Taipei Main Station (Station Code: 1000) to Hualien (Station Code: 7000) there are many Express trains that leave throughout the day. I recommend booking the Taroko Express or T.C. Ltd. Express. The travel time from Taipei Main Station to Hualien Station with the express train is around 2 – 2.5 hours. We ended up booking our tickets through the Taiwan Railway website and transferred our bookings to the Taiwan Railway e-booking app. Once the Taiwan Railway e-booking app is set up, you can access your current tickets, bookings, and view booking history. The active tickets will show on the app with a QR code that can be used at the gate. Train tickets for the express trains from Taipei to Hualien cost 440 TWD ($13.94) one way. What are the Express Trains Like The express trains in Taiwan at least between Taipei and Hualien we about what I expected. I didn’t expect Shinkansen type trains like in Japan, but something in between a local train and Shinkansen. That is exactly what the Taroko Express and T.C. Ltd Express was like. The express trains in Taiwan were on time. I had reserved seats and was surprised by the spacious area and comfortable seats. The express trains had restrooms on board that were about as clean as you’d expect for a train. There was on board service. Here and there, a vendor would walk down the aisle selling treats, meals, and drinks. Overall, I was very satisfied with the express trains between Taipei and Hualien. I found them to be very comfortable, spacious, clean, and punctual. Hualien Day Tours Once you get to Hualien, you are probably wondering what there is to do? There are numerous things to do in Hualien but most visit Hualien to check out the stunning Taroko National Park. There are many day tours to Taroko Gorge from either Taipei or Hualien. So after getting off the express train from Taipei to Hualien, why not let a guide take care of the rest? We booked a private tour to Taroko Gorge and highly recommend it. I learned so much about Taroko Gorge, Hualien, and Taiwan. We booked this Full-Day Private Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City. Here are other similar tours that are worth looking in to. One-Day Private Guided Tour in Taroko Gorge from Hualien Full-Day Taroko National Park Tour from Hualien City Hualien & Taroko Gorge Shared Tour from Hualien Conclusion Taking the express train from Taipei to Hualien is in my opinion the best and most convenient way to travel between the two cities. The Taiwan Railway e-booking app made booking and purchasing tickets a breeze. Given the comfort of the chairs, stunning views out the window, and option to purchase snacks and beverages onboard, made taking the train from Taipei to Hualien and vice versa an enjoyable and hassle free experience. Enjoying my photos and want to see more? Check out my Picfair Store. 📸 Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇹🇼 Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖 For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁 Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options. In need of a car rental? 🚗 🚘 I recommend checking with Rental Cars.