+Taipei, Taiwan

+Travel Information

Getting from Airport to City
Freego bus - NT $140/pax 
Turn right upon exiting the arrival hall. There will be a lot of bus companies. Proceed to "Freego Bus" counter and tell them which hotel you are heading to and they will guide you along. 

For return, call them up a day before for pickup or go to the East Dragon hotel entrance to enquire about ticketing. They have pick-up every hour or so, you can also choose to ask your hotel staffs to call Freego for you but they might have additional charges for that.

Do not take cab as the journey will takes about 1 hours and will cost up to NTD1000.

Getting Around City

Get EZ card NT $500 at metro stations / convenient stores. Refundable before leaving.

Taipei's MRT website - http://www.trtc.com.tw/

Day Tripper Contact
** 8h NT 350 or Per hr Nt 500 **
- Chen Xian Zhou 陳獻周 - Contact:+886 910140026 (avail for KeeLung) 

- Chen Yi Jie (Mr Tan) - Contact: +886 0926 782 343
 
** 12 hours from 8.30 am to 8.30 pm for NT3,000 **
- Meeky Yang  - Contact: +886 921 915 586
Email: Meeky589@yahoo.com.tw / http://meekyyang.com/

Shopping + Sightseeing by Lines

Blue line

南港線 (NanGang Line)

@ 後山埤站 - Houshanpi Station
What to see around
> 后山埤 HouShanPi 

> 五分铺 Wu Fen Pu @ exit 4 / 5 min walk along YongJi st to corner of Zhongpo north road

To Explore
> 滷肉飯 (Braised Minced Meat Rice) : shop called ‘Hu Zi Zhang’ 胡子张

@ 市政府站 - Taipei City Hall Station> Movie Theatre - Warner Village which is opened by Warner Bros
> Taipei 101 - http://www.taipei-101.com.tw/index_en.htm 

To Explore
> 鼎泰豐 (Ding Tai Fung)
Address : 194 Xinyi Rd, Sec 2, 信義路2段194號 (Very near to Taipei 101)

@ 忠孝復興站 - ZhongXiao DunHua

the street is called ZhongXiao E. Rd. It's just like Orchard in Singapore. Many shopping centers, shops, and stores. The shopping district is expanding all the way round to ZhongXiao Fuxing. (you can walk through these two stations)

@忠孝新生站 - ZhongXiao XinSheng
the computer stuff district. Somewhere like SimLim square in Singapore. Computer devices would be cheaper in Taiwan compared to Singapore because TW has lots of computer hardware manufacturers. Go check out a bit :)

@ 台北车站 - Taipei Main Station

> Underground Mall

> Pineapple pastry @ Store ‘Lee Yi’ - Taipei Main Station exit 1 or 10

 Other Stations:
> NanGang Exhibition Center
> NanGang
> KunYang

> YongChun

> Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
> ZhongXiao FuXing

> ShanDao Temple


南港線 - NanGang Line + 板橋線 - BanQiao Line (aka Bannan Line)

@ 西門站 - Xi Men Station ~ is very much like Bugis in Singapore or Harajuku in Japan - Street Shopping

To Explore

1. Burt’s Bees 
2. Ah Zhong’s mian xian. XMD, near Rainbow hotel (Look for ppl standing outside.)
3. Hong Sao beef noodle 红烧牛肉面 Ximen exit 4. 2nd junction on Hengyang road
4. 于記杏仁豆腐 Yu’s Almond Tofu at Ximen exit 4. Hengyang road 衡陽路
5. Ya Rou Bian 鸭肉扁 Ximen exit 6. Rainbow lobby. Walk straight into the alley to the end, you’ll see the signboard.
6. 木吉他民歌西餐廳 Ximen exit 6. 臺北市成都路17號2樓. 電話：(02)23825325. 17 Chengdu rd, 2nd flr.
7. Modern Toilet 便所餐厅 Ximen exit 6. 10am-11pm. There’s a lane with lots of tattoo shops near the Neoprint bldg (3 storeys w/colorful neon lights at the heart of XMD). >Walk through the lane >Cross the road at the end of the 7-11 opp the multi storey carpark. The restaurant is just in front of the two.

板橋線 - BanQiao Line
@ 龍山寺站 Longshan Temple Station

> 龍山寺 (Longshan Temple) - it's a very huge temple.
> LongShan Temple Underground Street - Herbal medicines boosting health.

To Explore

> Foot massage
> Snake & Turtle delicacy
> Crushed ice (Bao Bing) 刨冰NT $50
> Beigang Sweet Soup (Tian Tang) 北港甜湯 no. 59 Huaxi St

 Other Stations:
> JiangZiCui
> XinPu
> BanQiao


板橋線 - BanQiao Line + 土城線 TuCheng Line
> FuZhong


土城線 TuCheng Line
> Far Eastern Hospital
> HaiShan
> TuCheng
> YongMing
> DingPu

Red Line 

淡水信義線 (TamSui Line)

@ 淡水 - TamSui Station  (formely DanShui)

a popular tourist attraction. Go and see sunset and enjoy the atmosphere over there. This place has a strong Holland style because it once was a Holland colony.

To Explore

> TamSui Old Street 淡水老街 
> Fisherman’s Wharf  漁人碼頭
> Lover’s bridge 情人桥 @ fisherman’s wharf  漁人碼頭 for sunset

** Don't go on Monday. Best to visit go weekend **

Get There

TamSui Station 40 mins ride from Taipei /Turn left upon exit, walk along coast

*Use EZ card for ferry; 12min ride NT $50 -> Fisherman’s wharf 漁人碼頭

Look out for NT $50 bag shop


@ 剑潭站 - JianTan Station / 士林站 - ShiLin Station

a well-known night market Shilin night market. a very very well-known night market for eating and buying cheap stuff. Must go. Shilin night market is all the way from this station to Shilin station.

To Explore

> 大餅包小餅
> 藥燉排骨
> 雪花冰
> Fruits

@ 雙連站 - ShuangLian Station

> 寧夏夜市 (Ningxia night market)

@ 中山站 - ZhongShan
it's also a shopping district. Many stores and shops. Duty free and Brand boutique would be around here.

Other Stations:

> HongShuLin
> ZhuWei
> GuanDu
> ZhongYi
> FuXingGang
> BeiTou - 北投站
> QiYan
> QiLi'An
> ShiPai
> MingDe
> ZhiShan

> YuanShan
> MingQuan West Road
> Taipei Main Station
> National Taiwan University Hospital

新北投信義線 (XinBeiTou Line)

 @ 新北投站 - XinBeiTou

To Explore

Hot Spring ** Bring own clothes and Towel **

  

 
信義線 (XinYi Line) + 淡水信義線 (TamSui Line)
 
@ 中正纪念堂站 - Chiang KaiShek Memorial Hall Station
a place to memorize our past president. well-known place.

 信義線 (XinYi Line)
> DongMen
> Daan Park
> Daan
> XinYi AnHe
> Taipei 101 / World Trade Center
> XiangShan
> XinYi SongDe
> ZhongPo


新店線 (XinDian Line)
> GuTing
> Taipower Building
> GongGuan
> WanLong
> JingMei
> DaPingLin
> QiZhang
> XinDian District Office
> XinDian

RailWay @ Songshan Station(松山車站) ** Metro coming up / XinDian Line **

> 饒河街觀光夜市 - Raohe Night market

Raohe St. NM Walk to Songshan Station, there’s a red bridge

To Explore 
1. Raohe Lian’s Pork Feet Noodle String (Lian Zhu Jiao Main Xian) 豬腳麵線 In front of no. 66 Raohe St. 
2. Chinese Herbal Pork Rib Soup 
3. Baked pepper bun 
4. Ci You Temple 

Have Not Try:

1. Oyster noodle - This stall sell only this food over one hundred years
2. Stinky Tofu - Different Taste
3. Fresh Squid - Only can be found in here
4. Banana pancake - Fusion food style
5. Sugarcoated mix fruit on stick
6. Marinated Stew

Outside Taipei City:

@ 烏來 (WuLai)

Get There:
Take Train to Xindian Station
Go to bus stop in front of station - destination Wulai 烏來 (Approx 45mins NT $45)
Wulai is the last stop. 
** To return, take the Sindian-Taipei main station bus & get off at Xindian Station.

To Explore

> Cable car NT $50 – 2 km. From the main tourist street in the town, cross the bridge, and take the wooden staircase across the road. It goes up to the left. Follow the pedestrian street to the station.

> Eat seasoned rice steamed in a tube of bamboo 竹筒飯

> Free hot springs:

* On the other side of the Nanshih River from the tourist street in downtown Wulai. Just cross the bridge, turn left, and walk up the road. Soon, on the left, you will see a stairway that takes you down to the river. Walk along the river and you will soon arrive at a rustic outdoor public hot springs area, with changing rooms, several pools, and even a sauna. You can also take a dip in the river when the water level is low and the current is weak.

* Pause Landis (璞石麗緻溫泉會館) No. 61 Yanti Rd. This hot spring hotel has several open air themed rooms. Their public baths are also open-air overlooking the cliff side across a river.

@小油坑 SiaoYouKeng

Get There
1. via Ximen
Ximen Station exit 3 bus stop. Bus 260, approx1h 15mins

2. via YangMingShan
To Yangmingshan: Beitou Bus 230 / minibus 9 - 30mins 
From Yangmingshan: Park bus 108. Last bus: 530pm

To Explore
Hiking, hot springs

@九份 - JiuFen

Get There: 
Take a metro to taipei main station
Walk to exit to taipei railway station
Get a ticket to ruifang (estimate 50mins ride)
When u alight at ruifang station
Cross the road to the shop "welcome" and take a bus up to jiufen.

@ 十分瀑布 - ShiFen Waterfall
Get There: 
Take a railway train from ruifang station via ping-shi line
first station is da hua station -> shi fen station -> wang gu station ->ling jiao station -> ping si station ->jing tong station (last stop)

** should take the train all the way to the last stop and walk backwards **

this is how friend went: 
Took train from Ruifang station at 13:02 hrs

Arrive Jing tong station @ 13:43hrs

First stop: jing tong station : just a few streeets selling food, speciality is the ah ma ice cream. Look ard wait for next train @ 15:15hrs - because the train timing is like almost hourly, we took a bus, from behind the streets. ask the ppl they will noe. only one bus.

Second stop: Alighted at Ping Si (pronounced as Ping Hsi) station walked ard, take alot of photos. took the train to 3rd stop.

Third stop: Shi fen station. here's where there's alot of attractions, two suspended bridge and two waterfall. its a 30min long walk to see those places and 30mins walk back.means add up u'll take 2hours. we hitched a bike ride to shifen waterfall due to time constraint! and managed to finish seeing and walking within 2hours to hop on the 1727hrs train back to ruifang station.

Do Note
> Go to the visitor centre to get the timing of the trains so as to plan where to go.

> Advice is to do these 3 stops as recommended by the lady. it will already take up half the day.

> The visitor centre is at Ruifang station itself.

++ Tip

If going to jiufen + yehliu, you wont have time for shifen.

to go to shifen, there's two timing. 11:24hours or 13:02 hours. my advice is go jiufen den catch the 13:02 to shi fen.of course there are later timings,but my advice is to go earlier, so that u can leave the evening for keelung. just nice u finish shi fen 5plus arrive at ruifang at 1830hrs, u can hop on a bus to keelung 30mins ride to miao kou market.

for me, i alighted at XINBEITOU station, walked 5min to beitou hot spring musem then continued walking 7mins to hell valley. since i was alr two-third my way to asia pacific hot spring, i walked to asia pacific for another 15mins. if ure not going hell valley, u can go to the museum then go back to the station to take the shuttle bus to asia pacific which comes at the 50th min of every hour. ie :1050hrs, 1150hrs,1250hr..etc

(NT80 40min ride to Ruifang station, cross road take bus 825 Ji Long Ke Yun NT19, 15min ride toward jinguashi direction and drop off at JiuFen

Pacific Sogo dept store中壢 Jhongli Sogo中央新館

Breeze Center

Zhongxiao Fuxing Station exit 4

Underground mall

Zhongxiao Fuxing Station exit 5. Only 2 stores in Taipei

@ Breeze center (Wei Feng Guang Chang)

@ Taipei railway station – 24h Watsons store opposite station

女人我最大 recommended products

Keelung - 基隆庙口夜市

(seafood)

瑞坊 Rueifang Train Station spelled Jui-fang on site. Purchase tix from Taipei main station. NT $82 45 mins ride from Taipei. Chu Kuang 51 - 07:46 08:31

Trsf to Keelung bus outside station. Walk to front of station, across big carpark, cross Mingdeng Rd Sec 3 to the bus stop outside the shops and café -> Take bus 825 Ji Long Ke Yun heading to Jinguashih via Jioufen approx 40mins. The bus terminate at Jinguashih. Bus fare: NT$22 (To Jiufen/Jinguashih same bus fare). The bus journey uphill takes about 20mins (to Jiufen) Alight at the Old street (Chishan Street) stop along the road bend -> You can see the 7-11 convenience store.

金瓜石 entry NT $100.

Keelung NM. At Keelung Train Station. Cross overhead bridge, go down stairs on left, walk straight. Continue to junction where McD is & use the underpass. Follow signs.

For return -> Can take a bus directly to Taipei -> Stops at Raohe St Night Market 绕河夜市 or Zhongxiao Fuxing Station Stop (竽圆，果冻 from Ah Xing's stall，Li Yi Bing Dian (李仪饼店) OR Li Gu Bing Dian (李鹄饼店) 太阳饼，凤梨酥，芋头酥，Mochi)

If more time: At Rueifang train station, take a local (DRC) train on the Pingsi branch line for Shifen Station. DRC 3209 –0900 0923 DRC 3211 -- 09:32 10:00

Shifen waterfall (Taiwan’s largest waterfall – known as “Mini Niagara Falls”) is located between Dahua Station and Shifen Station along the Pingshi railway train line. Although Dahua Station is nearer to Shifen waterfall on the map, because of the ground terrain level difference and thick vegetation, the train station staff has been advising visitors to the waterfall to alight at Shifen Station. From Shifen Station, walk about 25 mins to 30 mins towards Dahua Station following the railway track line passing through Shifen old street, a restaurant building and cross a suspension bridge to reach Shifen waterfalls. The Jintong-Rueifang direction of the railway track runs pass the front entrance of Shifen waterfalls.

Get the one-day pass NT $54 for unlimited train rides on the Rueifang – Jintong branch line. admission charge is only NT$100 if you show the one-day pass at the waterfalls entrance ticket counter.. Opening hrs: 0800-1730. NT $180

Shifen to Rueifang DRC 3214 –10:45 11:08 DRC 3216 -- 12:40 13:03

Hualien *Cfm Hualien train & minshu*

Tue 3 June

Hualien

a. Taroko Park/ Gorge

b. Play firecrackers 放煙火

http://railway.hinet.net/

Train 2035; 09:50-12:25 NT $445

House of stone minshu 民宿－「石頭的家」 @

973 花蓮縣吉安鄉仁安村南濱路一段251巷26號. Tel.+88 69334 8552

http://www.sutohome.com/

Hire cab around – NT $2,200

Taroko Gorge 太魯閣峡谷

View Pacific Ocean, eat fresh cheap Sashimi

Local muah-chee shop

Watch firefly

Cisingtan Beach七星潭

Cingshuei Cliffs 清水斷崖

Wed 4 June

a. Whale & Dolphins watch 抹香鯨, 海豚

Book from the minshu. Van pickup at minshu.

Thur 5 June

620am train-9am for 日月潭 Sun Moon Lake

Back to Taipei *Book return rail tix to Taipei on arr*

Fri 6 June

b. Food Street 食街

b. ‘Omni’ Jay Chou’s shop

b. Tang Chao 糖潮 Jacky Wu’s dessert

Zhongxiao Dunhua Station exit 2. Turn left at Watsons to Yanji St.

Zhongxiao Dunhua Station exit 2. When you walk out, you’ll see a Watsons (Qu Chen Shi). -> Turn left to the lane beside it -> Keep walking straight & u will passby four small lanes till a sign ‘161 lane’. -> Turn left & u’ll see Omni on the left.

Zhongxiao Dunhua Station exit 4.

d. Gongguan NTU, Gongguan NM

Shida Rd NM

Gongguan Station exit 4

龍潭豆花 Longtan Bean Jelly. No 239 Tingzhou rd sec 3.

香酥嫩臭豆腐 Crispy & tender Stinky Tofu (Xian Su Nen Chou Dou Fu) No 14 Lane 39 Shida rd

牛魔王牛排 Steak. No.19 Longquan St

Sat 7 June

a. Dajia Riverside Park

b.TaipeiArena小巨蛋

Yuanshan Station

Nanjing E Rd Station

105 臺北市松山區南京東路四段二號

Dragon boat festival

Concert

Look out for:

1. Beauty products: CosMed (a huge orange sign board w/white color fonts) 

2. Food: > 85degreeC Café (try dessert) > 太阳饼，凤梨酥 @ Guo Yuan Ye 郭元益. Shilin Station exit 1. Walk straight out, cross the street. Walk left till the traffic light, cross and turn right. Walk another 5-8mins & u’ll see the store on your left. > PS BuBu 金屋藏车食堂. Shipai Station exit right. Walk to traffic lights, turn right to bus stop. Take R19 all the way to end (Tian Mu). Walk down road to PS BuBu on the left side.                                                                                                                                           3. Shopping: Then keep walking left to the Export Outlet shops. Look for budget bins! Lots of bargains. To return, take bus 601 back to XMD

Highlight of Taipei, Taiwan

• XiMenDing - Done
• Miramar ferris wheel (Free shuttle from Jian Tan station)
• Shilin Night Market - Done
• Yang Ming Shan
• Jiu Fen 九份 - Done
• Jin Gua Shi 金瓜石 - Done
• Keelung Miao Kou - Done
• Shilin Night Market - Done
• Xing Tian Gong : Fortune telling – Yu Hong Ju Shi; National Palace Museum, Shin Kong Observatory, CKS Memorial Hall (CKS Station), Martyr's Shrine, NYNY, Breeze Centre, Zhong Xiao Dong Lu Underground Malls
• Taipei 101 - Done
• Wu Fen Pu - Done
• Raohe Night Market - Done
• Gu Gong Musuem
• Long Shan Temple
• Danshui - Done
• Yu Ren Ma Tou for sunset - Done
• Danshui Laojie - Done
• BeiTou - Done
• Guang Hua Shang Chang (Zhongxiao Xinsheng station, exit from Exit 4)
• Shida Market (Gu Ting station) - Done
• Gong Guan Night Market (Gongguang MRT - Exit 4)
• Hua Lian + Taroko Gorge - Done
• Sun Yet San Memorial Hall
• Tianmu (Shipai station)
• Hua Xi Night market
• Tong Hua Night Market
• Hua Bing Jie Night Market

Overview of all the Tourist Night Markets

Tourist Night Markets	Location
Keelung Temple Night Market	Between Jen 3rd. Rd. and Ai 4th Rd.
Taipei City Shihlin Night Market	Between Wenlin Rd. , Tatung Rd. , and Anping Rd.
Taipei City Jaoho Night Market	Intersection of Pateh Rd. , Sec. 4 and Fuyuan St. (up to Tziyou Temple on Pateh Rd. )
Taipei City Huashi Street (Snake Alley) Tourist Night Market	Between Hsiyuan Rd. and Huanho South Rd.
Taipei City Linjiang Night Market	Linjiang St. and Tunghua St. between Hsinyi Rd. , Sec. 4 and Keelung Rd. , Sec. 2
Taipei City Liaoning Night Market	Between Changan East Rd. and Chunghsing Senior High School
Taipei City Chingmei Night Market	In the vicinity of Chingmei St.
Panchiao Nanya Night Market	Within Nanya East Rd.
Chungho Hsingnan Night Market	Between Hsinyi St. and Lane 410 of Chinghsin St .
Hsinchuang Night Market	Hsinchuan Rd. , behind Hsinchuang Junior High School
Hsinchu City City God Temple Night Market	Area surrounding City God Temple as well as Chungshan Rd. and Hsian St .
Taichung City Chunghua Night Market	Chunghua Rd. between Kungyuan Rd. and Minchuan Rd.
Taichung City Fengchia Night Market	Fushing Rd. between Hsitun Rd. , Sec. 2 and Hsian St .
Taichung City Tunghai Villas Night Market	Intersection of Tungyuan Lane and Hsinshing Rd.
Changhua Lukang Night Market	Between Lukang's Tienho Temple and Mintsu Rd.
Chiayi Wenhua Night Market	From the fountain circle on Chungshan Rd. up to Tsuiyang Rd.
Tainan City Hsiaopei Night Market	Hsimen Rd. up to the Linan Rd. intersection
Kaohsiung City Lioho Night Market	Part Lioho 2nd Rd. between Chungshan 1st Rd. and Tzuli 2nd Rd.
Kaoshiung Hsinshing Night Market	In the vicinity of Nanhua Rd.
Pingtung City Mintsu Night Market	On Mintsu Rd. and in the area of Fushing Rd. under the bridge
Yilan County Lotung Night Market	Center of Lotung Town , around Chungshan Park
Hualien City Nanpin Night Market	Entrance to Nanpin Park

For Youth Travelling under 15 - 30 years:

Taiwanese or international youth who is at the age of 15-30 is qualified for applying for Youth Travel Card, with valid ID, in the following locations: YDA’s nationwide Youth Hub, Tourist Center of Taoyuan International Airport and Kaohsiung International Airport, Tourism Service Center of major railway station, MRT station and airport, Center of Chinese Language of College, Hsinzu Municipal Government and Yunlin County Government, and the office of relevant civil group. There are 115 places where you can fill the application form and have Youth Travel Card on the spot!

Is there charge/fee for the application?

1. No fee will be charged.
2. Bring a valid ID. (For Taiwanese youth, ID, health insurance card, or driver license will be accepted. For international youth, passport or Alien Resident Certificate will be required.)
3. The card will be issued immediately after the application is completed.

Youth Card : http://www.youthtravel.tw/

Recommended Accommodation by Friends:

1. Good Ground Hotel Ximending exit 6 turn at 木吉他 corner
2. Homestay at Shilin http://taipeihomestay18.blogspot.com/2009/04/taipei-shilin-homestay_4940.html
3. Good Life Hotel Minquan W road Station) Reservation No. 200805220256
4. Taipei - http://www.neijiang-hotel.com.tw/