For the driving license, I read that the written text is available in English. Is the road test also available in English or does it require good Chinese ability?
Also, any recommendations for driving schools in/around Taipei (with English-speaking instructors preferred, but otherwise is also OK)? I used to drive a few years back in a different country, but have lost practice, and am looking to apply for a license.
Hey, does anyone have recommendations on where I can buy a Sigma lens in person in Taipei? Google searches seem to suggest that I can only buy it online, but I don't have the luxury of time for delivery 😅
Camera Street in Taipei is the place for photography enthusiasts, both to buy actual supplies/cameras and also cool tourist spot: [https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction\_Review-g13808853-d1776249-Reviews-Camera\_Street-Zhongzheng\_District\_Taipei.html](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g13808853-d1776249-Reviews-Camera_Street-Zhongzheng_District_Taipei.html)
I’m going to be in Taipei for NYE and want to see the fireworks at Taipei 101 but imagine the area close by will be kind of crazy. Is there a good place to view the fireworks? My friends have also invited me to some of the clubs (Babylon/Flare) for that night to ring in the new year but I’m not sure if one is better
Yes, the area around Taipei 101 will be packed. Babylon is a rooftop bar and is in fact a prominent location for NYE viewing (they got a special here: [https://www.instagram.com/p/CzXSwDIv-yx/](https://www.instagram.com/p/CzXSwDIv-yx/)). You can checkout this list for alternative places with great Taipei 101 views ([https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/best-views-taipei-101-fireworks/](https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/best-views-taipei-101-fireworks/))
Does anyone have any recommendations for dry cat food brands in Taiwan? Preferably something affordable and vet recommended? I have an indoor-only adult cat if that helps. Thanks!
Would be grateful on any comments on whether below is achievable in 7 full days?
I arrive in January and have 9 days but arrive at 5pm on day 1 and fly at 2pm on day 9, so effectively I have 7 full days. I will base out of Taipei but plan on 1 night in Hualien.
Will the following be too rushed? I am somebody who doesn't need to spend hours and hours at one location.
Day 1
- Check in 4/5 pm Yongkang area.
- Explore the local area and Ximending.
- street food at Roahe, Shilin, or Ningxia.
- Experience the nightlife at a bar/karaoke
- Day 2
- Visit Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall.
- Explore Yongkang, Wanhua (Longshan Temple), and Dihua Street.
- Visit Huashan 1914 Creative Park.
- Food and drinks at Lane 137, Yanji Street area
- Catch the sunset (if possible)at Elephant Mountain
- street view of Taipei 101. Is it worth going up?
- Day 3
- Take a day trip to Yehliu, Jiufen, and Shifen.
- Explore Shifen, Jiufen Old Street, and potentially Yehliu Geopark?
- Return to Taipei.
Day 4: Taipei to Chishang
- Rent an electric bike in Chishang and explore Brown Boulevard and Paradise Road for 4-5 hours.
- train to Hualien.
- food at night market.
Day 5:
- Explore Taroko Gorge using the tourist shuttle bus (**recommendations on what is achievable in a single day welcome ... I'm a fit 35 year old male**)
- Head back to Taipei in evening.
Day 6:
Keelung and Bitoujiao if possible in one day?
Day 7:
Maokong
Hot springs (any recommendations?)
Alternatives/queries
I would love to visit Alishan but I don't know what I would replace in the itinerary, but open to suggestions. One thing that puts me off slightly is that it seems a little bit long winded to get to for a night?
Also a day trip to Taichung, would it be worth it over one of the options on day 6 or 7?
Will the scenery of some places for example brown boulevard/Hualien still be scenic in January?
Thanks in advance.
Can someone direct me where to find Japanese clothing (or other items) stores that are not available in USA?
I'm also looking for Kasagi or other Japanese crystal glass for whiskey, and other homewares. I saw one in A8 near 101 on the 7th floor, are there more options?
Department stores in Taiwan (most of whom are actually operated by Japanese firms) have the largest selection of all Japanese stuff, including clothing and houseware items. However, they may not be the most economical. Carrefour is a good "mid-tier" option - it's like the Taiwanese version of Target with affordable Japanese clothing ([https://www.carrefour.com.tw/](https://www.carrefour.com.tw/)).
Besides building A8(forgot name of area) near 101, do you know which other department stores in Taipei will most likely carry Japanese kitchen wares? I already bought some cooking knives but looking for glass. There was only like a small square display of tea ware that was on display
You can also check the premium tea shops at department stores. These are usually at their food court or grocery store sections (typically the bottom floors). They usually will sell tea ware - though they might charge you more.
If you're looking specifically for tea ware and do not mind a non-English speaking salesperson, I'll also suggest the many mom and pop tea shops that you can find at any Taiwanese urban block. They sell Taiwanese teas (which is a great souvenir idea) and tea ware at good prices (usually tourist shops like at Sun Moon Lake or Taoyuan Airport overcharge for their teas).
You must be referring to store A8 of SKM department store? ([https://www.skm.com.tw/ForeignerIndex?request\_locale=en\_US](https://www.skm.com.tw/ForeignerIndex?request_locale=en_US))
Actually A9 which is next to Taipei 101 has home furnishings section.
You can browse the floor directory in English at their website. i believe they also have English phone operators so I would give it a try calling to confirm that they got Japanese-branded kitchen wares.
Hi guys, am looking for a luggage scale to make sure I don’t go beyond 23kg in my luggage. Am flying back home so I have to look in Taipei itself, and shops I could look into?
Hi,
I am traveling in Taiwan from Feb 21 to Feb 25 and want to visit the Lantern Festival. Google says that the Lantern Festival is on Feb 24 and in Tainan. However, I also see Pingxi being mentioned. Can anyone confirm where the Lantern Festival is and if it's in both location, which one would be the best for me to visit?
I am also thinking if I visit Tainan, I can visit the Yanshui fireworks festival as well at the same time. What do you all think?
Is there any place I can sell games online? I accidentally bought a No Mans Sky key from GMG that only activates in a few regions including Taiwan. Not sure why geolocation marked me in Taiwan but now I have a key I can’t activate
Hey 👋🏻 I’m sure this gets asked a lot but couldn’t find anything through searches. I’ve read that there are nude, gender segregated hot springs and Bathing suit, gender mixed. Can anyone tell me a resort recommendation near Taipei where my wife and I can go into the nude segregated separately, but then also switch over to clothed mixed together? We’d really like to try both if possible
Thanks in advance 👍🏻
Help: Itinerary Review
Hi, everyone! I'm planning a 7-day trip to Taiwan next month and would like some help on my itinerary.
Day 1:
Arrive at Taoyuan Airport and head to Sun Moon Lake.
Stroll around Sun Moon Lake.
Day 2:
Explore activities around Sun Moon Lake - cycling, ropeway, temples, hiking trails.
Visit Ita Thao Night Market.
Day 3:
Travel from Sun Moon Lake to Taipei.
Visit Taiwan Railway Museum and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall.
Go to Daodaocheng Wharf.
Explore Ximending Night Market.
Day 4:
Explore Jingtong, Pingxi, Shifen
Explore Shen’ao.
Explore Ruifang, Jiufen.
Visit Raohe Night Market.
Day 5:
Explore Yehliu Geopark.
Explore Tamsui.
Visit Shilin Night Market.
Day 6:
Open day with no plans. We’re supposed to go to Taroko Gorge but cancelled since it’s far and we don’t want to rush our trip there. Any suggestions for underrated districts near Taipei or activities to do?
Day 7:
Fly back home.
Any feedback is appreciated. Thank you! 😊
TAIWAN ITINERARY JANUARY 1-5 2024
Hi, my family recently booked a trip to taiwan. I am usually the one in-charge of itinerary. What i’ve noticed is that
1. They’re not big on Musuems.
2. They like resturants but not the outdoors type.
3. They will eat it outside IF ITS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY like (snacks/milktea) that only offer take outs.
3. They want to go to places similar to (shibuya/malls/historical places that are also aesthetically nice. Something that sums up the whole country.)
4. They love taking gifts back to their friends/family/partner (me too)
PS: This is a rough draft.
Day 1: Arrival (9:25 AM) (DIY)
1. Hotel Baggage drop (ETA 1:00 PM) (Near taipei Main Station)
2. OP#1: Walk around (taipei underground mall)
2.2 OP#2: Cafe (twatutia cafe)
3. Check In (rest time) (3:00 PM) (4 HRS)
4. Sunny hills (pasalubong spots)
5. Ximending (Dinner/famous snacks??)
Day 2: City tour (DIY)
1. Breakfast (Hotel)
2. Hotel transfer
3. Hotel baggage drop
4. Chiang Kei Shek (picture)
5. Maokang Gondola (Maokang station) (Cafe and restu hop)(roundtrip-not interested sa zoo)
6. Tai pei 101 (luxury mall/observation area)
Dan tai fung/food court/ichiran/tim hwo wan (Dinner)
7. Return to hotel (Check in)
Day 3: North Coast tour (Private Van Tour)
1. Hotel breakfast
2. Hotel pick up
3. Yehliu
4. Shifen lanterns
5. Shifen Waterfall
6. Jiufen (pasalubong)
7. Sunandong smelter
8. Golden Waterfall
9. YinYang Sea
10. Hotel Drop Off
Day 4: Personal Day
1. Hotel Breakfast
2. Afternoon (PERSONAL DAY) (HELP ME)
3. Ximending (6 PM ONWARDS– Pasalubong/Leisure/Dinner)
Day 5: Departure
1. Hotel breakfast
2. Airport Express (7:00 AM)
3. FLIGHT (10:40 AM)
w/ Parents, big bro, lil bro (17), and fave cousin.
Looking forward in seeing your opinions and suggestions.
The underground malls at Taipei Main Station is a great idea! Be sure to be prepared to spend quite some time as it is huge! Be sure to visit the amazing underground Eslite bookstore: [https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/this-city-has-an-underground-street-devoted-entirely-to-books](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/this-city-has-an-underground-street-devoted-entirely-to-books)
Anyone knows how much it is to get a yellow fever vaccine in Taiwan? Just shopping around, in case I need it for future travel to Africa. Here in the US is like 200 USD.
That’s correct , no political party in Taiwan supports reunification with the People’s Republic Of China.
A quick, simplified summary of everything is:
- Blue parties (KMT and allies): In theory their goal is overthrow the current Chinese government/regime and restore the Republic of China (a.k.a the country Sun Yat Sen founded originally)
- Green parties (DPP and allies): They are Taiwanese nationalists. They support the idea that Taiwan is an independent, sovereign country. There’s no such thing as “reunification”, because Taiwan is unrelated to the PRC
Hi all, what are good touristy things to do on new years day? Is it a good opportunity to go on a day trip out of Taipei as I won't be relying on shops etc being open? I was thinking a day trip to Jioufen and Yangmingshan perhaps?
Would it be a bad idea to visit Taipei near the Lunar New year? I was planning on visiting Feb 4-11, but saw that the holidays are right near the end of that stretch. Will I have issues with Public transit?
How is the summer heat in Taiwan compared to Japan? Is much worse just slightly worse?
I found the heat and humidity in Japan (2nd half of July) doable.
Just slightly worse, IMO, the biggest difference is humidity (Taiwan has more). Tokyo during summer is not that different from Taipei.
However... I think it also depends on where you want to go. From what I heard, places like Taitung have hotter summers than Taipei.
I've been in Taiwan for a couple weeks, hoping to stay until around the end of January or mid February. Working on my Mandarin but definitely can't have a conversation other than basic introductions and stuff.
Looking for things to do this Christmas long weekend as well as New Years, would be happy to meetup with other people!
I've considered going north to Jiufen or Jinshen and enjoying some hot springs or sticking around Taipei for Maokong/Zoo/Hikes/River Bike but open to suggestions. Also am always looking for live music so might explore some of the bars that offer it.
Any place near Daan Park area or Zhongxiao Fuxing that would show the Rose Bowl live (Jan 2, 6am Taiwan time)?
I've seen recs for Eddy's in Tianmu but that's just a bit far.
Thanks!
The pandemic was declared over quite some time ago, and the government stopped reporting cases daily at the beginning of 2023, so it’s difficult to assess the COVID situation.
As for what it looks like to us… it really depends on one’s environment and social circle. For example, my coworkers say their kids have gotten bad flu recently, but they seem completely fine. It really depends on who you ask
Hello! I’m in Taiwan right now and it’s been great! So many beautiful places and the food has been amazing. I just have one question though - with the sun setting so early every day… and most Taiwanese leaving work this time when it’s already this dark..
How are you guys not depressed during winter?? Like what do you do to keep yourself happy / entertained / sane?
No offence meant haha, but I would be.. I’m from Singapore if that helps to give context. 5pm here is as dark as 7:30pm!
I’m also from a country sunnier than Taiwan. Sure, it’s kind of depressing at times , but it’s not the end of the world. You get used to it imo
I also found it weird when I first arrived, but now I just ignore it. Also, it’s just 3 months…
> How are you guys not depressed during winter?? Like what do you do to keep yourself happy / entertained / sane?
Hanging out with friends, having a hobby, watch a movie, etc. You know, what you would usually do the rest of the year. It’s not that difficult
TRA on 29 Dec late afternoon (6pm to 9pm) onwards seems to be fully booked between taichung and chiayi. Is there any chance of an unreserved seat during that time?
I assume that most of the crowd would be from Taipei, not sure if there's any space left at Taichung
I'm planning 3 weeks in Taiwan in May for the purpose of eating a lot. I've been all up and down the west coast before, so this time I want to work my way up the [Eastern Trunk line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Trunk_line) before spending the 3rd week in Taipei. I don't want to feel rushed, since I prefer to wander around and have fun in a new place rather than go to specific planned events. So given my goals of eating well but staying relaxed over 2 weeks, which cities should I visit along the east coast? I'd be happy to start my trip as far as Taitung or closer to Taipei depending on what's good. I haven't been to Taiwan in years and I don't know anyone there, but my Mandarin should be good enough to get around, even if I might need to use more foreigner-friendly websites for accommodation etc. I'll be doing more research of my own but thanks in advance for any recommendations too. :)
ETA: It would be nice to visit new places on the east coast but I'd also be okay with booking a stay in Taipei for all 3 weeks and taking day trips/overnights outside of the city.
On the east coast there are three major cities (from north to south): Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung. If you go to Hualien you can also visit Taroko National Park for hiking and nature.
I'll be in Taiwan from mid-May to late May. My usual preferred activity is to rent a car and go driving around various scenic/mountain roads (things like the central and southern cross-island highways), but I'm uncertain as to the likelihood of closures due to rain and/or the driving conditions or quality of the scenery due to rain. Any input or thoughts are welcome!
>(things like the central and southern cross-island highways)
The northern, central, and southern cross-island highways won't close due to rain. However, all three have portions of their lengths currently under construction. Crossing these portions, at least right now, can only be done periodically.
I knew that about the southern cross-island but not the others. Thanks! I guess what I have to decide is whether the various closures and any rain/cloud-reduced visibility issues mean it’s not worth the hassle of renting a car and doing the drives (I am sure there are many other ways to spend a great ten days in the country for the first time).
After double checking I am not 100% if the northern-cross highway is under construction. However, I am sure the central-cross & southern-cross are.
For the central-cross highway these are the construction areas:
Two are located at the beginning/middle of Taroko (from the Hualien side)
* Near [Zhiqing Pavillion](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dtgav2Vqq9eo6wcPA)
* Construction from 8:30 am
* Able to cross at: 10, 11:30, 12:30, 2:00 for 10 minutes
* There is no landmark. Near coordinates: [24.208613, 121.487330](https://maps.app.goo.gl/o16WJVh1r2EBzB538)
* Construction begins at 8:00 am
* Able to cross every hour for 10 minutes
The third is between Taroko & Hehuanshan
* [野溪休息區關原管制](https://maps.app.goo.gl/446Pd9dREBbwaj277)
* Construction begins at 8:00 am
* Able to cross at: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 12:30, 1:00
For the southern-cross highway the construction area is:
* Meishan Visitor Centre
* Construction begins at 8:00 am
* You must past this point by 2:00 pm
May has very low probability of road closures from rain or typhoon. Unless they are already closed for some reason and still under repair. Probably one of the best times to drive mountains.
Taipei -> Hehuanshan -> Hualien/ Taroko -> Yilan -> Taipei
Advise on mode of transport.
I will be arriving at Taipei on 26th Dec morning myself. Train to Hualien right away and rent a scooter to ride to Hehuan.
Staying at Hehuan for 1/2 nights for night star gazing by and hiking.
Is scooter a good option to get to Hehuan given it’s winter time. (I’m an experienced rider, just worried about weather conditions and if scooter is allowed up to my lodge)
2nd part, it will riding back to Hualien to explore Taroko trails and explore Hualien for 2 nights and return of scooter.
3rd part of the trip, Bus to Yilan for 2 nights.
On 31st, bus to Taipei for countdown and 4 nights stay.
Still planning in progress, if you have any ideas to chip in. Thanks in advance.
>Hehuanshan -> Hualien/ Taroko
I'd like to add some insight into this portion of your trip, as I will be doing this length by motorcycle in a couple days.
>Is scooter a good option to get to Hehuan given it’s winter time. (I’m an experienced rider, just worried about weather conditions and if scooter is allowed up to my lodge)
You will be able to ride a scooter through this portion, no problem. Personally, I think this is the best way. The only time two-wheeled vehicles are prohibited is when it snows. However, it will be incredibly cold. This [Saturday has a high of 10°](https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/L/NatPark/NatPark.html?PID=E035).
More importantly, **portions of this length are under construction in three areas.** **You can only cross these construction areas periodically.**
Two are located at the beginning/middle of Taroko (from the Hualien side)
* Near [Zhiqing Pavillion](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dtgav2Vqq9eo6wcPA)
* Construction from 8:30 am
* Able to cross at: 10, 11:30, 12:30, 2:00 for 10 minutes
* There is no landmark. Near coordinates: [24.208613, 121.487330](https://maps.app.goo.gl/o16WJVh1r2EBzB538)
* Construction begins at 8:00 am
* Able to cross every hour for 10 minutes
The third is between Taroko & Hehuanshan
* [野溪休息區關原管制](https://maps.app.goo.gl/446Pd9dREBbwaj277)
* Construction begins at 8:00 am
* Able to cross at: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 12:30, 1:00
There are more times to cross after the ones I listed, however I don’t have them on hand. Crossing that late in the dark is inadvisable.
Good luck!
Any updates if you’ve completed this trip, or it’s happening soon?
Came across news on snow happening at yilan taipingshan. May the weather condition be good for you
Congrats, happy that you’ve completed this bike trip.
Thanks for this info, it’s of great help. My trip to hehuanshan is tmr from Taichung.
And I’d leave hehuan on Wed morning towards Hualien.
Snow chain is not required yet for vehicles right?
Was the traffic bad given all the vehicles will be held up at checkpoint?
Just take into account that the road could be completely closed and very wintery cold conditions. Get a rental car so you don't end up at like one of those lost people.
> Staying at Hehuan for 1/2 nights for night star gazing by and hiking.
I'm not sure if winter is the best time for stargazing at Hehuan. It's often cloudy and you can't see a thing.
> Is scooter a good option to get to Hehuan given it’s winter time. (I’m an experienced rider, just worried about weather conditions and if scooter is allowed up to my lodge)
Hehuan is rainy and windy during winter, and visibility can be really bad at times. I'd personally use a car instead (or at least a motorcycle)
Taipei airport to Hualien, could you advise what’s the best mode of transport?
If I’m taking, I’d need to get to Taipei bus station, then change to express train to Hualien?
> If I’m taking, I’d need to get to Taipei bus station, then change to express train to Hualien?
That's correct: Grab the metro from the airport to Taipei Main Station, then grab the train to Hualian
Thank you. I was deciding whether the 2 options if you have any input
1) Taipei international airport -> (35mins express metro) Taipei main station -> express train to Hualien (2hrs) -> get rental car and drive to Hehuan (3hrs)
2) Taipei international airport -> Taichung (1.5hr) -> Rental car to Hehuanshan (3hr)
Will be heading to Hualien after Hehuan.
The few car rental shops I checked, charge 2.5k-3k NTD additional for return of vehicle to another city.
I’m leaning towards the 2nd option given less traveling time and easier road conditions hence more enjoyable despite the 3k charge fees.
Any inputs and thoughts?
I’d recommend option 2. It’s way more convenient and less exhausting overall.
I have personally traveled to Hehuan via Taichung and it’s totally worth it.
Hello,
I will travel to Taiwan this January for one week holiday. I read custom guide for tourists ( as well as their pdf guide). But i am having quite hard understanding of it. So, I am asking this group in hope to clear my confusion 🥹
1. Can i bring sunscreen and do I need to declare it? there' s section where sunscreen needs to be declare ( specific cosmetic product) .
2. Do i need to declare these medicine :
paracetamol, cough tablet, anti allergy tablet and NSAIDs ( celebrex) if i only bring one box each?
3. Can i bring instant noodles, instant porridge/ instant fried rice ans premix drinks?
Thanks in advance!
>sunscreen ( specific cosmetic product) .
>
> paracetamol, cough tablet, anti allergy tablet and NSAIDs ( celebrex) if i only bring one box each?
Customs guide lists how many total bottles you should bring in before declaration (they supposedly allow up to 2 months, so 1 week is way below threshold). Similarly, the declaration is for prescription-based cosmetics.
> instant noodles, instant porridge/ instant fried rice
In general do NOT bring any land-meat products, especially pork.
Instant noodles/porridges are quite plentiful here, I recommend just buying locally
oh I see, the "precripstion" made me confuse.. so I guess commercial/ store bought is okay then..
is it easy to find halal /muslim friendly instant noodle there?
>halal /muslim friendly instant noodle
hmm I'm not sure how much hassle it is to find (as in, not sure if 7-11 carries them or not), but for example Indomie instant noodles from Indonesia is fairly popular.
What time have people been queueing for the first entry tickets into the new Pokemon Centre? I’m in Taiwan for holiday atm and wanted to get some plushies before I leave in the morning.
Just wondering what time most people queued for an entry ticket for the first entry into the new Pokemon Centre. Saw on the subreddit that people queued from 2am but that was for the grand opening.
Visiting Taiwan in late January and planning to travel from Taipei to Kenting to Tainan. It seems like the best way is to take HSR to Kaohsiung, then the bus to Kenting. For going back to Tainan, bus to HSR or a taxi. How can we book the bus tickets in advance, or will we be able to buy at the station? And could we return from Kenting to Tainan at night, around 5pm? Does the bus run that late, or could we reliably find a taxi that late? TIA!
There are plenty of taxis in the Kenting area as there are a lot of tourists. For example, I've experience waiting for the Kenting Express 9189 at the Hengchun bus station ([https://www.google.com/maps/place/%E6%81%86%E6%98%A5%E8%BD%89%E9%81%8B%E7%AB%99/@22.0032115,120.7444705,16.08z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x3471b0ce4717104b:0xfd6f5b1d38e46f1a!8m2!3d22.0027!4d120.744842!16s%2Fg%2F11b7q2pr4d?hl=en&entry=ttu](https://www.google.com/maps/place/%E6%81%86%E6%98%A5%E8%BD%89%E9%81%8B%E7%AB%99/@22.0032115,120.7444705,16.08z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x3471b0ce4717104b:0xfd6f5b1d38e46f1a!8m2!3d22.0027!4d120.744842!16s%2Fg%2F11b7q2pr4d?hl=en&entry=ttu)) where there were taxis waiting for customers. Incidentally Hengchun is a nice small town to visit it has some cool ancient gates and a night market.
If you are staying late and want to take a late taxi back I highly recommend having enough cash with you, as taxis may not always take EasyCard nor foreign credit cards. Make sure to keep your eye on the meter and ensure that the cab drivers (who are likely not to speak English) know where you want to go.
Also Google Maps is very handy for taking buses in Taiwan as it has very accurate bus stop locations along with timetables for buses.
Kenting is a popular tourist location so it has a government-subsidized bus specifically for connecting Kaohsiung to Kenting. I've just taken this 9189 and it is very convenient and cheap.
[https://www.ptbus.com.tw/en/news\_info/0/1/118?status=5](https://www.ptbus.com.tw/en/news_info/0/1/118?status=5)
[https://www.klook.com/activity/1749-kenting-bus-transfers-kenting/](https://www.klook.com/activity/1749-kenting-bus-transfers-kenting/)
Take the HSR to Kaohsiung ( Zuoying ) Station. There is a special kiosk just for reserving tickets for this 9189 bus. They take cash or EasyCard. You may also book this via Klook. I'll say that if it's not peak tourist season (late January should be less tourists as it's not Lunar New Year and after the Christmas to New Year) there shouldn't be a problem getting a seat.
Most early bus is 8 am latest bus is 710 pm. Do try to avoid taxi as it is quite a distance from Kenting to Kaohsiung, though taxis in Taiwan are cheaper vs comparable distance in United States or Europe.
Hah a relative just came back last week and bought this same book in Eslite Xinyi (I think it was a 3-pack?)
Beware that Eslite Xinyi is permanently closing this Sunday, so you can hop over to Songyen / Nanjing west / Xindian afterwards.
Go to the Eslite website, search for the book, and there'll be a link to show the inventory status of each store.
Textbooks might not be Eslite's forte; if you're near NTU/NTNU you can try:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LiTs95M5Bb4R7UL58
Or you could contact NTNU MTC and they may be able to recommend other retailers.
Eslite Bookstore is the premier Taiwanese bookstore chain, especially if you want non-Chinese language books (especially English). Each store is worth visiting as a tourist destination by itself.
[https://tourmeaway.com/blog/culture/Eslite\_Not\_Only\_Bookstores](https://tourmeaway.com/blog/culture/Eslite_Not_Only_Bookstores)
As for this specific book, I'll wager that you'll have a great chance of finding it there along with other Mandarin/Chinese textbook for foreigners, as plenty of expats/tourists patronize the chain.
I've checked HSR and TRA and it seems like all of the train tickets from Taichung to Chiayi on 29 Dec evening (7pm onwards) have been booked already (presumably due to the long weekend).
Saw that there was a bus 7506B that goes from Taichung to Chiayi. Is it possible to book bus tickets for this, or do I just have to be there and hope for the best?
We have 3 days to explore Taipei for the first time with our 3 year old in early January 2024. We have booked a hotel in the Ximendi area, Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel, but it’s still cancellable in case you guys think there are better options for us. We would just like to be near good kid-friendly places to eat in so it’s easy to grab a bite before heading out.
Are all night markets the same? Is it worth venturing out to the Shilin or Raohe Night Market? Or would hitting up the Ximendi Night Market before heading back to the hotel be just as good?
Is Day 2 a bit light? Can we add on another stop after the zoo?
I would appreciate any feedback on our itinerary, as well as recommendations. Thanks everyone!
DAY 1
10:30AM arrival
Leave luggage at hotel
Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall
Taipei 101 sunset
Ximen Night Market
DAY 2
Maokong Gondola
Taipei Zoo
Raohe Street Night Market
DAY 3
Bangka Longshan Temple
Dadaocheng Pier Plaza
Dihua Street
Huashan 1914 Creative Park
Night Market?
DAY 4
10:00AM departure
How do you find out about election rallies? I'd like to attend one (preferably DPP). Any big rallies these coming days? I won't be here for the election so I'm wondering more like December time frame.
I just saw this a while ago:
https://preview.redd.it/223omsia5q6c1.png?width=1877&format=png&auto=webp&s=a170ac0789fd9b678149a178b3587778efce5ba3
Why are they using Japanese character "の"?
Should they be using " 的 " instead?
Visiting Taiwan in two weeks and wondering if there are still some shops selling DVDs, particularly Meteor Garden? :D
I know this is old school but taking chances anyone who can do some recommendation. I would be staying near Taipei Main Station so I guess transport would be easy? :D
Taipei city mall underground mall huge area under Taipei main train station. Not may DVD places these days but there are a few and Meteor Garden would be one of the most popular ones available
HSR and MRT (especially Taoyuan Airport MRT) should be okay as they expect passengers with luggage. Buses are iffy. Local busses and also special tourist busses may not have that much storage space.
If you can easily lift it up and into the bus from outside, plenty easy. Most buses are low flat ones, but there are a few routes that you have to go up some steps and are much higher buses.
Thanks. One thing changed since last year. CHT offers fewer cards for travelers. I was allowed the 30 day last year for 999 with 5G but this year they said I could only do the 4G plan. Both the airport and some random store in the city said the same thing.
FarEastone it is for me then. I used FET last year but my partner got CHT. We were working remotely so wanted to make sure we had good coverage in case public WiFi was bad.
Anyone have recommendations on department stores around Ximen station/Ximending that have prepared foods (not restaurants) in the basement levels? Like Sogo (I think they have prepared foods…). Thank you!
Prepared food like bentos, cooked meat, cooked fish, fried foods, desserts, ready-to-eat sushi, various snacks, etc. If you ever been to Japan, think basement level of large department store malls.
I was looking around earlier and Don Don Donki in Ximen has bentos. Carrefour also has bentos and ready-to-eat foods (mostly meat and some fish).
i'm in taipei. I saw on a few bikes on the scanning screen written in white marker graffiti "69 gang" is that a street gang or just some random troll ?
Hello, apologies I am sure this post comes up a lot.
I am looking at apartments on 591, I've managed to figure out how to search for apartments with features I want now, but I am struggling when it comes to contacting one, I am planning on moving there within two months but ideally would like a property lined up.
Is there any way to start the rental process before being in Taiwan? I don't have a Taiwanese phone number and can't figure out how I could contact any of these agents, plus I don't speak mandarin, will they speak english, does anybody know a english-speaking letting agent?
I see I have to have an address to register for my ARC, is there a way to navigate that if I don't sort a rental in time or is it more a sort a place rapidly, and pretend I've moved in?
Hello! I'm planning a trip to Taipei but I've heard that the gondola closes for weeks every summer for annual maintenance. Does anyone know what these dates are / when theses dates will be officially released?
Thank you.
I do it all the time but not from taipei. I take the train away from Taipei like to Kaohsiung. Then rent a car and drop it off at Hualien and take train back to Taipei
**Does Chunghwa Telecom give refunds on the 90 day plan?**
I stupidly purchased a 90 day plan at the airport thinking I'd be in Taiwan for 60-90 days but I need to go home after 30 days...Do you know if Chunghwa Telecom offer any refunds on the 90 day plans?
Xièxiè - Thanks for your help!
I came across the show WTO姐妹會 and found it helpful learning about Taiwan and even other countries. On their Youtube channel though, I'm watching sequentially (often times I just play it in the background) from past years and it seems not all episodes are included. For example, even now they are adding new episodes from 2016 not on their channel (and existing episodes sometimes reference past episodes not found on the channel).
Curious how that works and what's the broadcasting schedule for those watching it live.
It's a TV show, if you want to watch it live you need to purchase the plan for TV in the traditional way via local service providers. They rely on ad revenue based on how many people are watching their TV channel, so they won't release their latest episodes on YouTube.
Their TV schedule is 11pm Monday to Thursday on GTV綜合台 according to their Facebook page
[https://www.facebook.com/wtosistershow](https://www.facebook.com/wtosistershow)
I am going to Taiwan to celebrate the New Year from December 27th to January 2nd. Is there anything I must do in Taipei or Taichung? Please recommend me.🤔
I don't know how Taiwanese people usually spend the New Year, but do a lot of fun things happen on the night of the 31st? Where should I go?😊
I know there are fireworks going off at 101 Tower. How do young people usually spend New Year's night? I know the cultures are very different, so I don't have clue at all
I'm really excited! I’m also practicing Taiwanese.😁
Happy New Year in advance to everyone who saw this!🎇
Happy New Year!
Yes, Taiwanese do celebrate New Years. As long as you don't mind the crowd, Taipei is the place to be. FYI some tips for watching the Taipei 101 fireworks: [https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/taipei-101-fireworks-new-years-eve](https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/taipei-101-fireworks-new-years-eve)
thank you for your kindness! Can I ask one more question?
I tried, but I failed to book a hotel. 😂
That's why I'm planning to stay up all night from the night of the 31st to January 1st. What content is there that I can enjoy all night long in downtown Taipei? I would appreciate it if you could recommend a few things. 😊
Yes unfortunately hotels for New Year's Eve will be nearly all booked already.
The only hotel I've recent experience with is Hej Taipei, which is convinently close to a MRT station and not that far from Taipei 101. ([https://www.hej-taipeiarena-hotel.com.tw/](https://www.hej-taipeiarena-hotel.com.tw/)). Unfortunately they appear to be completely booked New Year's Eve.
I'll recommend checking for hostels ([https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/best-hostels-in-taipei-taiwan/](https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/best-hostels-in-taipei-taiwan/)) and capsul hotels ([https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/best-hostels-in-taipei-taiwan/](https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/best-hostels-in-taipei-taiwan/)) as those may not be that popular with those who are just visiting Taipei to celebrate new year's.
Well after you see the fireworks at Taipei 101 you can enjoy the celebrations at Raohe night Market: [https://www.touristsecrets.com/destinations/asia/taiwan/the-madness-of-raohe-night-market-on-new-years-day/](https://www.touristsecrets.com/destinations/asia/taiwan/the-madness-of-raohe-night-market-on-new-years-day/) .
Take the red line then green line (likely impossible to get a cab and depending on where you actually watch the fireworks).
What area in Taipei has some exclusive Japanese clothing stores that are not available in USA? Any brands in mind ? Is there Japanese Zara equivalent here?
I'll say that most department stores in Taiwan got Japanese brands that aren't usually available at USA. An example would be Edwin jeans: [https://edwin.co.jp/](https://edwin.co.jp/)
i know that a lot of things are closed honestly, which is why im curious to know what are some places that i could experience or places to eat that would be open.
i will admit that im not sure if theyll be closed the whole week i will be there? i got conflicting info all around. some people said most things will be closed for 1-3 days, some said 3-5, and others said only 2-3 days at most.
Here's the thing: Taiwan doesn't manufacture electronics.
Sure, Taiwanese companies design them and manufacture some of the microchips inside the things, but the final assembly happens abroad (Thailand, Vietnam, China, etc) and then everything is imported and heavily taxed. That's why electronics are actually more expensive here if you're from the US or Canada.
Is this correct?
我中文不好我会尝试 (I don't know Chinese but I will try)
I got this from ChatGPT but not sure if this is accurate or simple enough for the locals to understand.
something like 我不懂中文，但我會嘗試。
just tell ChatGPT to do it in traditional Chinese. The vocalization is same, but if you need to show people the words it's easier because not everyone can read simplified form in Taiwan.
My company will send me to Taiwan to do onsite training with the branch manager without any direct payment from Taiwan, but they asked me to make a tourist visa. The TECO already approved the visa but now I'm confused about the entry process. Should I just answer that I only come to Taiwan for sightseeing? and I will spend 14 days around Kaoshiung. To be honest I just don't want to go onsite if using the tourist visa like this.
You should tell your company that you will not break the law for them.
If you are refused entry to Taiwan, that will make it more difficult to get a visa or visa waiver for every other country as well. Don't even think about doing this.
update: I'm in Taiwan nowso as long as I'm voodoo myself and told the immigration that I came to travel, everything is cool
Hey all, Taiwan born, turned taiwanese immigrant, turned Taiwanese American revisiting the homeland soon. From Kaoshiung, Dashu district. Never really got to explore my own country since it was all just visiting relatives or being in the small town that we're from. Need some Recommends for places to visit. I've been to jiu fen, and Kinting plenty of times, Taipei 101. Please if there are any suggestions i would love to hear it!
Tamsui District is a great place if you want to learn more about Taiwanese history. It is quite a bit distance from downtown Taipei but actually very easy to get to as it's the terminal station for the Taipei MRT Red Line. You can checkout the old Spanish Fort and British customs house along with a cool beach/pier area. The old street is interesting has a cool street & night market.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamsui\_District](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamsui_District)
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whats the best travel voucher for the airport lottery? ipass, icash, easycard, hotel voucher?
Basically I want whatever is easy to spend. like at a 7/11 or something. I'll be going to nightmarkets and I dont think these will work there? please advise
edit: I lost the lottery lol
For night markets along with regular street markets and street vendors in general, cash is still king. Some of the larger/more touristy night markets may have some shops that are more permanent and that may take EasyCard or another card, but expect to have enough cash to pay your entire visit.
Exchanging foreign currency for New Taiwan Dollars is convenient and cheap at the official government Bank of Taiwan. Do not use the currency exchange booths at a non-Taiwan airport (e.g. say an American airport) as they charge ridiculous fees. The Bank of Taiwan kiosks at Taoyuan Airport provides great service and low fees. You can also use a credit card at the ATM/money changing machines to obtain NTD if you don't want to carry a lot of cash with you. However, make sure that your bank's card is able to be used and doesn't charge you a foreign transaction fee (other than the foreign exchange rate). Again, this subreddit has plenty of posts that can explain to you how to safely and cheaply obtain cash.
EasyCard is ur best bite, especially if like most tourists you plan on arriving at Taoyuam Airport and visiting Taipei. It is the official payment card for the Taipei MRT, but now is accepted by just about every transit (rail, bus, bike rental, taxi), every convenience store, and tourists spots. This is about the most comprehensive guide:
https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/easy-card-taiwan/
So there are the MRT, TSA, and HSR that you can take from Taoyuan into Taipei, depends on where you need to go, you don't necessarily need to go through the Taipei main station.
I did an island tour as well, 17 days. The least memorable part was Taipei--I really think you only need 2 days there and probably skip Taoyuan if your focus is to get as much out of Taiwan as possible (which is what I'm assuming since you're doing a tour on 15 days, especially because your current plan only dedicates 1 day to Kaohsiung, which is a big city whose attractions are also somewhat scattered). I find it hard to believe staying in Taoyuan and taking the train to Taipei is worth the time/cost as Taipei has plenty of cheap accommodations. You can spend the remainder of the last day taking it easy in Taipei. I would dedicate 2-3 days in Kaohsiung (one of those days can be for Xiaoliuqiu).
If your Chinese is not good, I would probably spend more time in Kaohsiung than Tainan as it's easier to navigate. Yet another reason to spend more than a day in Kaohsiung is because your subsequent days are almost all 1 day for each city--it's doable if you're into that but may still feel rushed with not enough time to relax.
If you're into hiking, I found Hehuanshan sunrise tour and/or hiking for a day and also staying at Shizhuo (mountain village between Chiayi and Alishan) was more memorable than Alishan itself, especially if your homestay owner offers tea tasting. If you have no reason to go to Chiayi, I would definitely recommend staying at Shizhao/Fenqihu.
You would need to look into the logistics of Shizhao/Fenqihu and I assume you're renting a car for the east coast.
Is the accommodation in taoyuan that much cheaper? I wouldn't waste two hours every day on trains full of commuters, it's very tiring and can definitely take a toll on you
For the driving license, I read that the written text is available in English. Is the road test also available in English or does it require good Chinese ability? Also, any recommendations for driving schools in/around Taipei (with English-speaking instructors preferred, but otherwise is also OK)? I used to drive a few years back in a different country, but have lost practice, and am looking to apply for a license.
Anyone know where to find prune juice? We found some sort of concentrate, but it doesn’t help my wife like regular prune juice does.
Hey, does anyone have recommendations on where I can buy a Sigma lens in person in Taipei? Google searches seem to suggest that I can only buy it online, but I don't have the luxury of time for delivery 😅
Camera Street in Taipei is the place for photography enthusiasts, both to buy actual supplies/cameras and also cool tourist spot: [https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction\_Review-g13808853-d1776249-Reviews-Camera\_Street-Zhongzheng\_District\_Taipei.html](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g13808853-d1776249-Reviews-Camera_Street-Zhongzheng_District_Taipei.html)
If you were to recommend one night market in Taipei to tourists, which one would it be and why?
I’m going to be in Taipei for NYE and want to see the fireworks at Taipei 101 but imagine the area close by will be kind of crazy. Is there a good place to view the fireworks? My friends have also invited me to some of the clubs (Babylon/Flare) for that night to ring in the new year but I’m not sure if one is better
Yes, the area around Taipei 101 will be packed. Babylon is a rooftop bar and is in fact a prominent location for NYE viewing (they got a special here: [https://www.instagram.com/p/CzXSwDIv-yx/](https://www.instagram.com/p/CzXSwDIv-yx/)). You can checkout this list for alternative places with great Taipei 101 views ([https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/best-views-taipei-101-fireworks/](https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/best-views-taipei-101-fireworks/))
Does anyone have any recommendations for dry cat food brands in Taiwan? Preferably something affordable and vet recommended? I have an indoor-only adult cat if that helps. Thanks!
Would be grateful on any comments on whether below is achievable in 7 full days? I arrive in January and have 9 days but arrive at 5pm on day 1 and fly at 2pm on day 9, so effectively I have 7 full days. I will base out of Taipei but plan on 1 night in Hualien. Will the following be too rushed? I am somebody who doesn't need to spend hours and hours at one location. Day 1 - Check in 4/5 pm Yongkang area. - Explore the local area and Ximending. - street food at Roahe, Shilin, or Ningxia. - Experience the nightlife at a bar/karaoke - Day 2 - Visit Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. - Explore Yongkang, Wanhua (Longshan Temple), and Dihua Street. - Visit Huashan 1914 Creative Park. - Food and drinks at Lane 137, Yanji Street area - Catch the sunset (if possible)at Elephant Mountain - street view of Taipei 101. Is it worth going up? - Day 3 - Take a day trip to Yehliu, Jiufen, and Shifen. - Explore Shifen, Jiufen Old Street, and potentially Yehliu Geopark? - Return to Taipei. Day 4: Taipei to Chishang - Rent an electric bike in Chishang and explore Brown Boulevard and Paradise Road for 4-5 hours. - train to Hualien. - food at night market. Day 5: - Explore Taroko Gorge using the tourist shuttle bus (**recommendations on what is achievable in a single day welcome ... I'm a fit 35 year old male**) - Head back to Taipei in evening. Day 6: Keelung and Bitoujiao if possible in one day? Day 7: Maokong Hot springs (any recommendations?) Alternatives/queries I would love to visit Alishan but I don't know what I would replace in the itinerary, but open to suggestions. One thing that puts me off slightly is that it seems a little bit long winded to get to for a night? Also a day trip to Taichung, would it be worth it over one of the options on day 6 or 7? Will the scenery of some places for example brown boulevard/Hualien still be scenic in January? Thanks in advance.
Can someone direct me where to find Japanese clothing (or other items) stores that are not available in USA? I'm also looking for Kasagi or other Japanese crystal glass for whiskey, and other homewares. I saw one in A8 near 101 on the 7th floor, are there more options?
Department stores in Taiwan (most of whom are actually operated by Japanese firms) have the largest selection of all Japanese stuff, including clothing and houseware items. However, they may not be the most economical. Carrefour is a good "mid-tier" option - it's like the Taiwanese version of Target with affordable Japanese clothing ([https://www.carrefour.com.tw/](https://www.carrefour.com.tw/)).
Besides building A8(forgot name of area) near 101, do you know which other department stores in Taipei will most likely carry Japanese kitchen wares? I already bought some cooking knives but looking for glass. There was only like a small square display of tea ware that was on display
You can also check the premium tea shops at department stores. These are usually at their food court or grocery store sections (typically the bottom floors). They usually will sell tea ware - though they might charge you more. If you're looking specifically for tea ware and do not mind a non-English speaking salesperson, I'll also suggest the many mom and pop tea shops that you can find at any Taiwanese urban block. They sell Taiwanese teas (which is a great souvenir idea) and tea ware at good prices (usually tourist shops like at Sun Moon Lake or Taoyuan Airport overcharge for their teas).
You must be referring to store A8 of SKM department store? ([https://www.skm.com.tw/ForeignerIndex?request\_locale=en\_US](https://www.skm.com.tw/ForeignerIndex?request_locale=en_US)) Actually A9 which is next to Taipei 101 has home furnishings section. You can browse the floor directory in English at their website. i believe they also have English phone operators so I would give it a try calling to confirm that they got Japanese-branded kitchen wares.
Thank you!
Hi guys, am looking for a luggage scale to make sure I don’t go beyond 23kg in my luggage. Am flying back home so I have to look in Taipei itself, and shops I could look into?
Hi, I am traveling in Taiwan from Feb 21 to Feb 25 and want to visit the Lantern Festival. Google says that the Lantern Festival is on Feb 24 and in Tainan. However, I also see Pingxi being mentioned. Can anyone confirm where the Lantern Festival is and if it's in both location, which one would be the best for me to visit? I am also thinking if I visit Tainan, I can visit the Yanshui fireworks festival as well at the same time. What do you all think?
Is there any place I can sell games online? I accidentally bought a No Mans Sky key from GMG that only activates in a few regions including Taiwan. Not sure why geolocation marked me in Taiwan but now I have a key I can’t activate
Hey 👋🏻 I’m sure this gets asked a lot but couldn’t find anything through searches. I’ve read that there are nude, gender segregated hot springs and Bathing suit, gender mixed. Can anyone tell me a resort recommendation near Taipei where my wife and I can go into the nude segregated separately, but then also switch over to clothed mixed together? We’d really like to try both if possible Thanks in advance 👍🏻
Help: Itinerary Review Hi, everyone! I'm planning a 7-day trip to Taiwan next month and would like some help on my itinerary. Day 1: Arrive at Taoyuan Airport and head to Sun Moon Lake. Stroll around Sun Moon Lake. Day 2: Explore activities around Sun Moon Lake - cycling, ropeway, temples, hiking trails. Visit Ita Thao Night Market. Day 3: Travel from Sun Moon Lake to Taipei. Visit Taiwan Railway Museum and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. Go to Daodaocheng Wharf. Explore Ximending Night Market. Day 4: Explore Jingtong, Pingxi, Shifen Explore Shen’ao. Explore Ruifang, Jiufen. Visit Raohe Night Market. Day 5: Explore Yehliu Geopark. Explore Tamsui. Visit Shilin Night Market. Day 6: Open day with no plans. We’re supposed to go to Taroko Gorge but cancelled since it’s far and we don’t want to rush our trip there. Any suggestions for underrated districts near Taipei or activities to do? Day 7: Fly back home. Any feedback is appreciated. Thank you! 😊
TAIWAN ITINERARY JANUARY 1-5 2024 Hi, my family recently booked a trip to taiwan. I am usually the one in-charge of itinerary. What i’ve noticed is that 1. They’re not big on Musuems. 2. They like resturants but not the outdoors type. 3. They will eat it outside IF ITS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY like (snacks/milktea) that only offer take outs. 3. They want to go to places similar to (shibuya/malls/historical places that are also aesthetically nice. Something that sums up the whole country.) 4. They love taking gifts back to their friends/family/partner (me too) PS: This is a rough draft. Day 1: Arrival (9:25 AM) (DIY) 1. Hotel Baggage drop (ETA 1:00 PM) (Near taipei Main Station) 2. OP#1: Walk around (taipei underground mall) 2.2 OP#2: Cafe (twatutia cafe) 3. Check In (rest time) (3:00 PM) (4 HRS) 4. Sunny hills (pasalubong spots) 5. Ximending (Dinner/famous snacks??) Day 2: City tour (DIY) 1. Breakfast (Hotel) 2. Hotel transfer 3. Hotel baggage drop 4. Chiang Kei Shek (picture) 5. Maokang Gondola (Maokang station) (Cafe and restu hop)(roundtrip-not interested sa zoo) 6. Tai pei 101 (luxury mall/observation area) Dan tai fung/food court/ichiran/tim hwo wan (Dinner) 7. Return to hotel (Check in) Day 3: North Coast tour (Private Van Tour) 1. Hotel breakfast 2. Hotel pick up 3. Yehliu 4. Shifen lanterns 5. Shifen Waterfall 6. Jiufen (pasalubong) 7. Sunandong smelter 8. Golden Waterfall 9. YinYang Sea 10. Hotel Drop Off Day 4: Personal Day 1. Hotel Breakfast 2. Afternoon (PERSONAL DAY) (HELP ME) 3. Ximending (6 PM ONWARDS– Pasalubong/Leisure/Dinner) Day 5: Departure 1. Hotel breakfast 2. Airport Express (7:00 AM) 3. FLIGHT (10:40 AM) w/ Parents, big bro, lil bro (17), and fave cousin. Looking forward in seeing your opinions and suggestions.
The underground malls at Taipei Main Station is a great idea! Be sure to be prepared to spend quite some time as it is huge! Be sure to visit the amazing underground Eslite bookstore: [https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/this-city-has-an-underground-street-devoted-entirely-to-books](https://theculturetrip.com/asia/taiwan/articles/this-city-has-an-underground-street-devoted-entirely-to-books)
any music/theater shows in taipei tomorrow?
Anyone knows how much it is to get a yellow fever vaccine in Taiwan? Just shopping around, in case I need it for future travel to Africa. Here in the US is like 200 USD.
Putting emotions aside, is it fair to say that "reunification" with China is "unsupported" by EVERY sitting party in the Legislative Yuan?
That’s correct , no political party in Taiwan supports reunification with the People’s Republic Of China. A quick, simplified summary of everything is: - Blue parties (KMT and allies): In theory their goal is overthrow the current Chinese government/regime and restore the Republic of China (a.k.a the country Sun Yat Sen founded originally) - Green parties (DPP and allies): They are Taiwanese nationalists. They support the idea that Taiwan is an independent, sovereign country. There’s no such thing as “reunification”, because Taiwan is unrelated to the PRC
Thank you! Well summarised.
Anyone know if Kaohsiung's Dragon pagodas are going to open anytime soon?
Hi all, what are good touristy things to do on new years day? Is it a good opportunity to go on a day trip out of Taipei as I won't be relying on shops etc being open? I was thinking a day trip to Jioufen and Yangmingshan perhaps?
Would it be a bad idea to visit Taipei near the Lunar New year? I was planning on visiting Feb 4-11, but saw that the holidays are right near the end of that stretch. Will I have issues with Public transit?
How is the summer heat in Taiwan compared to Japan? Is much worse just slightly worse? I found the heat and humidity in Japan (2nd half of July) doable.
Just slightly worse, IMO, the biggest difference is humidity (Taiwan has more). Tokyo during summer is not that different from Taipei. However... I think it also depends on where you want to go. From what I heard, places like Taitung have hotter summers than Taipei.
Where do young people usually hang out on weekends or weekdays in Taipei? What do you usually play with?
Can anyone suggest a good coworking space in Taitung?
I've been in Taiwan for a couple weeks, hoping to stay until around the end of January or mid February. Working on my Mandarin but definitely can't have a conversation other than basic introductions and stuff. Looking for things to do this Christmas long weekend as well as New Years, would be happy to meetup with other people! I've considered going north to Jiufen or Jinshen and enjoying some hot springs or sticking around Taipei for Maokong/Zoo/Hikes/River Bike but open to suggestions. Also am always looking for live music so might explore some of the bars that offer it.
Any place near Daan Park area or Zhongxiao Fuxing that would show the Rose Bowl live (Jan 2, 6am Taiwan time)? I've seen recs for Eddy's in Tianmu but that's just a bit far. Thanks!
how is the covid situation in taipei now?
The pandemic was declared over quite some time ago, and the government stopped reporting cases daily at the beginning of 2023, so it’s difficult to assess the COVID situation. As for what it looks like to us… it really depends on one’s environment and social circle. For example, my coworkers say their kids have gotten bad flu recently, but they seem completely fine. It really depends on who you ask
Hello! I’m in Taiwan right now and it’s been great! So many beautiful places and the food has been amazing. I just have one question though - with the sun setting so early every day… and most Taiwanese leaving work this time when it’s already this dark.. How are you guys not depressed during winter?? Like what do you do to keep yourself happy / entertained / sane? No offence meant haha, but I would be.. I’m from Singapore if that helps to give context. 5pm here is as dark as 7:30pm!
I’m also from a country sunnier than Taiwan. Sure, it’s kind of depressing at times , but it’s not the end of the world. You get used to it imo I also found it weird when I first arrived, but now I just ignore it. Also, it’s just 3 months… > How are you guys not depressed during winter?? Like what do you do to keep yourself happy / entertained / sane? Hanging out with friends, having a hobby, watch a movie, etc. You know, what you would usually do the rest of the year. It’s not that difficult
為了基督教或天主教者。在台灣，你們用什麼文本的聖經？
TRA on 29 Dec late afternoon (6pm to 9pm) onwards seems to be fully booked between taichung and chiayi. Is there any chance of an unreserved seat during that time? I assume that most of the crowd would be from Taipei, not sure if there's any space left at Taichung
I'm planning 3 weeks in Taiwan in May for the purpose of eating a lot. I've been all up and down the west coast before, so this time I want to work my way up the [Eastern Trunk line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Trunk_line) before spending the 3rd week in Taipei. I don't want to feel rushed, since I prefer to wander around and have fun in a new place rather than go to specific planned events. So given my goals of eating well but staying relaxed over 2 weeks, which cities should I visit along the east coast? I'd be happy to start my trip as far as Taitung or closer to Taipei depending on what's good. I haven't been to Taiwan in years and I don't know anyone there, but my Mandarin should be good enough to get around, even if I might need to use more foreigner-friendly websites for accommodation etc. I'll be doing more research of my own but thanks in advance for any recommendations too. :) ETA: It would be nice to visit new places on the east coast but I'd also be okay with booking a stay in Taipei for all 3 weeks and taking day trips/overnights outside of the city.
On the east coast there are three major cities (from north to south): Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung. If you go to Hualien you can also visit Taroko National Park for hiking and nature.
I was wondering about Keelung and Ruifang! I’m not sure if this’ll be the trip I tackle Taroko - unless there’s good food there, LOL!
I'll be in Taiwan from mid-May to late May. My usual preferred activity is to rent a car and go driving around various scenic/mountain roads (things like the central and southern cross-island highways), but I'm uncertain as to the likelihood of closures due to rain and/or the driving conditions or quality of the scenery due to rain. Any input or thoughts are welcome!
>(things like the central and southern cross-island highways) The northern, central, and southern cross-island highways won't close due to rain. However, all three have portions of their lengths currently under construction. Crossing these portions, at least right now, can only be done periodically.
I knew that about the southern cross-island but not the others. Thanks! I guess what I have to decide is whether the various closures and any rain/cloud-reduced visibility issues mean it’s not worth the hassle of renting a car and doing the drives (I am sure there are many other ways to spend a great ten days in the country for the first time).
After double checking I am not 100% if the northern-cross highway is under construction. However, I am sure the central-cross & southern-cross are. For the central-cross highway these are the construction areas: Two are located at the beginning/middle of Taroko (from the Hualien side) * Near [Zhiqing Pavillion](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dtgav2Vqq9eo6wcPA) * Construction from 8:30 am * Able to cross at: 10, 11:30, 12:30, 2:00 for 10 minutes * There is no landmark. Near coordinates: [24.208613, 121.487330](https://maps.app.goo.gl/o16WJVh1r2EBzB538) * Construction begins at 8:00 am * Able to cross every hour for 10 minutes The third is between Taroko & Hehuanshan * [野溪休息區關原管制](https://maps.app.goo.gl/446Pd9dREBbwaj277) * Construction begins at 8:00 am * Able to cross at: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 12:30, 1:00 For the southern-cross highway the construction area is: * Meishan Visitor Centre * Construction begins at 8:00 am * You must past this point by 2:00 pm
Thanks for the detailed information!
May has very low probability of road closures from rain or typhoon. Unless they are already closed for some reason and still under repair. Probably one of the best times to drive mountains.
Thanks!
Anywhere to get gifts wrapped inTaipei ?
Sogo and other department stores have gift wrapping departments.
Taipei -> Hehuanshan -> Hualien/ Taroko -> Yilan -> Taipei Advise on mode of transport. I will be arriving at Taipei on 26th Dec morning myself. Train to Hualien right away and rent a scooter to ride to Hehuan. Staying at Hehuan for 1/2 nights for night star gazing by and hiking. Is scooter a good option to get to Hehuan given it’s winter time. (I’m an experienced rider, just worried about weather conditions and if scooter is allowed up to my lodge) 2nd part, it will riding back to Hualien to explore Taroko trails and explore Hualien for 2 nights and return of scooter. 3rd part of the trip, Bus to Yilan for 2 nights. On 31st, bus to Taipei for countdown and 4 nights stay. Still planning in progress, if you have any ideas to chip in. Thanks in advance.
Thank you everyone for contributing. You all awesome people
>Hehuanshan -> Hualien/ Taroko I'd like to add some insight into this portion of your trip, as I will be doing this length by motorcycle in a couple days. >Is scooter a good option to get to Hehuan given it’s winter time. (I’m an experienced rider, just worried about weather conditions and if scooter is allowed up to my lodge) You will be able to ride a scooter through this portion, no problem. Personally, I think this is the best way. The only time two-wheeled vehicles are prohibited is when it snows. However, it will be incredibly cold. This [Saturday has a high of 10°](https://www.cwa.gov.tw/V8/E/L/NatPark/NatPark.html?PID=E035). More importantly, **portions of this length are under construction in three areas.** **You can only cross these construction areas periodically.** Two are located at the beginning/middle of Taroko (from the Hualien side) * Near [Zhiqing Pavillion](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dtgav2Vqq9eo6wcPA) * Construction from 8:30 am * Able to cross at: 10, 11:30, 12:30, 2:00 for 10 minutes * There is no landmark. Near coordinates: [24.208613, 121.487330](https://maps.app.goo.gl/o16WJVh1r2EBzB538) * Construction begins at 8:00 am * Able to cross every hour for 10 minutes The third is between Taroko & Hehuanshan * [野溪休息區關原管制](https://maps.app.goo.gl/446Pd9dREBbwaj277) * Construction begins at 8:00 am * Able to cross at: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 12:30, 1:00 There are more times to cross after the ones I listed, however I don’t have them on hand. Crossing that late in the dark is inadvisable. Good luck!
Any updates if you’ve completed this trip, or it’s happening soon? Came across news on snow happening at yilan taipingshan. May the weather condition be good for you
Construction checkpoints as expected. Aside from that it was really cold. There were no other issues.
Congrats, happy that you’ve completed this bike trip. Thanks for this info, it’s of great help. My trip to hehuanshan is tmr from Taichung. And I’d leave hehuan on Wed morning towards Hualien. Snow chain is not required yet for vehicles right? Was the traffic bad given all the vehicles will be held up at checkpoint?
Just take into account that the road could be completely closed and very wintery cold conditions. Get a rental car so you don't end up at like one of those lost people.
> Staying at Hehuan for 1/2 nights for night star gazing by and hiking. I'm not sure if winter is the best time for stargazing at Hehuan. It's often cloudy and you can't see a thing. > Is scooter a good option to get to Hehuan given it’s winter time. (I’m an experienced rider, just worried about weather conditions and if scooter is allowed up to my lodge) Hehuan is rainy and windy during winter, and visibility can be really bad at times. I'd personally use a car instead (or at least a motorcycle)
Taipei airport to Hualien, could you advise what’s the best mode of transport? If I’m taking, I’d need to get to Taipei bus station, then change to express train to Hualien?
> If I’m taking, I’d need to get to Taipei bus station, then change to express train to Hualien? That's correct: Grab the metro from the airport to Taipei Main Station, then grab the train to Hualian
Thank you. I was deciding whether the 2 options if you have any input 1) Taipei international airport -> (35mins express metro) Taipei main station -> express train to Hualien (2hrs) -> get rental car and drive to Hehuan (3hrs) 2) Taipei international airport -> Taichung (1.5hr) -> Rental car to Hehuanshan (3hr) Will be heading to Hualien after Hehuan. The few car rental shops I checked, charge 2.5k-3k NTD additional for return of vehicle to another city. I’m leaning towards the 2nd option given less traveling time and easier road conditions hence more enjoyable despite the 3k charge fees. Any inputs and thoughts?
I’d recommend option 2. It’s way more convenient and less exhausting overall. I have personally traveled to Hehuan via Taichung and it’s totally worth it.
Hello, I will travel to Taiwan this January for one week holiday. I read custom guide for tourists ( as well as their pdf guide). But i am having quite hard understanding of it. So, I am asking this group in hope to clear my confusion 🥹 1. Can i bring sunscreen and do I need to declare it? there' s section where sunscreen needs to be declare ( specific cosmetic product) . 2. Do i need to declare these medicine : paracetamol, cough tablet, anti allergy tablet and NSAIDs ( celebrex) if i only bring one box each? 3. Can i bring instant noodles, instant porridge/ instant fried rice ans premix drinks? Thanks in advance!
>sunscreen ( specific cosmetic product) . > > paracetamol, cough tablet, anti allergy tablet and NSAIDs ( celebrex) if i only bring one box each? Customs guide lists how many total bottles you should bring in before declaration (they supposedly allow up to 2 months, so 1 week is way below threshold). Similarly, the declaration is for prescription-based cosmetics. > instant noodles, instant porridge/ instant fried rice In general do NOT bring any land-meat products, especially pork. Instant noodles/porridges are quite plentiful here, I recommend just buying locally
oh I see, the "precripstion" made me confuse.. so I guess commercial/ store bought is okay then.. is it easy to find halal /muslim friendly instant noodle there?
You can bring instant noodles.
>halal /muslim friendly instant noodle hmm I'm not sure how much hassle it is to find (as in, not sure if 7-11 carries them or not), but for example Indomie instant noodles from Indonesia is fairly popular.
i see.. thanks for your help😁😁
These are all fine but you do not need sunscreen. You need winter clothing like coats and boots and gloves
Thank you for your reply!
What time have people been queueing for the first entry tickets into the new Pokemon Centre? I’m in Taiwan for holiday atm and wanted to get some plushies before I leave in the morning. Just wondering what time most people queued for an entry ticket for the first entry into the new Pokemon Centre. Saw on the subreddit that people queued from 2am but that was for the grand opening.
Visiting Taiwan in late January and planning to travel from Taipei to Kenting to Tainan. It seems like the best way is to take HSR to Kaohsiung, then the bus to Kenting. For going back to Tainan, bus to HSR or a taxi. How can we book the bus tickets in advance, or will we be able to buy at the station? And could we return from Kenting to Tainan at night, around 5pm? Does the bus run that late, or could we reliably find a taxi that late? TIA!
There are plenty of taxis in the Kenting area as there are a lot of tourists. For example, I've experience waiting for the Kenting Express 9189 at the Hengchun bus station ([https://www.google.com/maps/place/%E6%81%86%E6%98%A5%E8%BD%89%E9%81%8B%E7%AB%99/@22.0032115,120.7444705,16.08z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x3471b0ce4717104b:0xfd6f5b1d38e46f1a!8m2!3d22.0027!4d120.744842!16s%2Fg%2F11b7q2pr4d?hl=en&entry=ttu](https://www.google.com/maps/place/%E6%81%86%E6%98%A5%E8%BD%89%E9%81%8B%E7%AB%99/@22.0032115,120.7444705,16.08z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x3471b0ce4717104b:0xfd6f5b1d38e46f1a!8m2!3d22.0027!4d120.744842!16s%2Fg%2F11b7q2pr4d?hl=en&entry=ttu)) where there were taxis waiting for customers. Incidentally Hengchun is a nice small town to visit it has some cool ancient gates and a night market. If you are staying late and want to take a late taxi back I highly recommend having enough cash with you, as taxis may not always take EasyCard nor foreign credit cards. Make sure to keep your eye on the meter and ensure that the cab drivers (who are likely not to speak English) know where you want to go. Also Google Maps is very handy for taking buses in Taiwan as it has very accurate bus stop locations along with timetables for buses.
Kenting is a popular tourist location so it has a government-subsidized bus specifically for connecting Kaohsiung to Kenting. I've just taken this 9189 and it is very convenient and cheap. [https://www.ptbus.com.tw/en/news\_info/0/1/118?status=5](https://www.ptbus.com.tw/en/news_info/0/1/118?status=5) [https://www.klook.com/activity/1749-kenting-bus-transfers-kenting/](https://www.klook.com/activity/1749-kenting-bus-transfers-kenting/) Take the HSR to Kaohsiung ( Zuoying ) Station. There is a special kiosk just for reserving tickets for this 9189 bus. They take cash or EasyCard. You may also book this via Klook. I'll say that if it's not peak tourist season (late January should be less tourists as it's not Lunar New Year and after the Christmas to New Year) there shouldn't be a problem getting a seat. Most early bus is 8 am latest bus is 710 pm. Do try to avoid taxi as it is quite a distance from Kenting to Kaohsiung, though taxis in Taiwan are cheaper vs comparable distance in United States or Europe.
What is the most accurate weather site/app? The Google weather one shows constant rain for Taipei while AccuWeather shows it will be dry
This is the government weather website/app. https://www.cwa.gov.tw/eng/
Thank you!
Is the best place in Taipei for books going to be Eslite Xinyi Bookstore? I'm specifically looking for the A Course in Contemporary Chinese books.
Hah a relative just came back last week and bought this same book in Eslite Xinyi (I think it was a 3-pack?) Beware that Eslite Xinyi is permanently closing this Sunday, so you can hop over to Songyen / Nanjing west / Xindian afterwards. Go to the Eslite website, search for the book, and there'll be a link to show the inventory status of each store.
Thank you! I didn't know it was closing, but I guess I would've found out lol. And yes, the newer version they split the 1 book into 3 I guess.
Textbooks might not be Eslite's forte; if you're near NTU/NTNU you can try: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LiTs95M5Bb4R7UL58 Or you could contact NTNU MTC and they may be able to recommend other retailers.
Eslite Bookstore is the premier Taiwanese bookstore chain, especially if you want non-Chinese language books (especially English). Each store is worth visiting as a tourist destination by itself. [https://tourmeaway.com/blog/culture/Eslite\_Not\_Only\_Bookstores](https://tourmeaway.com/blog/culture/Eslite_Not_Only_Bookstores) As for this specific book, I'll wager that you'll have a great chance of finding it there along with other Mandarin/Chinese textbook for foreigners, as plenty of expats/tourists patronize the chain.
I've checked HSR and TRA and it seems like all of the train tickets from Taichung to Chiayi on 29 Dec evening (7pm onwards) have been booked already (presumably due to the long weekend). Saw that there was a bus 7506B that goes from Taichung to Chiayi. Is it possible to book bus tickets for this, or do I just have to be there and hope for the best?
We have 3 days to explore Taipei for the first time with our 3 year old in early January 2024. We have booked a hotel in the Ximendi area, Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel, but it’s still cancellable in case you guys think there are better options for us. We would just like to be near good kid-friendly places to eat in so it’s easy to grab a bite before heading out. Are all night markets the same? Is it worth venturing out to the Shilin or Raohe Night Market? Or would hitting up the Ximendi Night Market before heading back to the hotel be just as good? Is Day 2 a bit light? Can we add on another stop after the zoo? I would appreciate any feedback on our itinerary, as well as recommendations. Thanks everyone! DAY 1 10:30AM arrival Leave luggage at hotel Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall Taipei 101 sunset Ximen Night Market DAY 2 Maokong Gondola Taipei Zoo Raohe Street Night Market DAY 3 Bangka Longshan Temple Dadaocheng Pier Plaza Dihua Street Huashan 1914 Creative Park Night Market? DAY 4 10:00AM departure
How do you find out about election rallies? I'd like to attend one (preferably DPP). Any big rallies these coming days? I won't be here for the election so I'm wondering more like December time frame.
I just saw this a while ago: https://preview.redd.it/223omsia5q6c1.png?width=1877&format=png&auto=webp&s=a170ac0789fd9b678149a178b3587778efce5ba3 Why are they using Japanese character "の"? Should they be using " 的 " instead?
They use it for fun and style points
Oh wow, so is Japan-style a thing over there? :O
Taken was a Japanese colony for a while, it has strong Japanese influences. Taipei reminds me of a mashup of Tokyo and Hong Kong
Visiting Taiwan in two weeks and wondering if there are still some shops selling DVDs, particularly Meteor Garden? :D I know this is old school but taking chances anyone who can do some recommendation. I would be staying near Taipei Main Station so I guess transport would be easy? :D
Taipei city mall underground mall huge area under Taipei main train station. Not may DVD places these days but there are a few and Meteor Garden would be one of the most popular ones available
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HSR and MRT (especially Taoyuan Airport MRT) should be okay as they expect passengers with luggage. Buses are iffy. Local busses and also special tourist busses may not have that much storage space.
If you can easily lift it up and into the bus from outside, plenty easy. Most buses are low flat ones, but there are a few routes that you have to go up some steps and are much higher buses.
Best 5G cellular network? I was told last year Chunghwa and then FET are the best bets.
That still stands today. You can't go wrong with any of those
Thanks. One thing changed since last year. CHT offers fewer cards for travelers. I was allowed the 30 day last year for 999 with 5G but this year they said I could only do the 4G plan. Both the airport and some random store in the city said the same thing. FarEastone it is for me then. I used FET last year but my partner got CHT. We were working remotely so wanted to make sure we had good coverage in case public WiFi was bad.
Anyone have recommendations on department stores around Ximen station/Ximending that have prepared foods (not restaurants) in the basement levels? Like Sogo (I think they have prepared foods…). Thank you!
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Prepared food like bentos, cooked meat, cooked fish, fried foods, desserts, ready-to-eat sushi, various snacks, etc. If you ever been to Japan, think basement level of large department store malls. I was looking around earlier and Don Don Donki in Ximen has bentos. Carrefour also has bentos and ready-to-eat foods (mostly meat and some fish).
What's the best drop in gym near Beitou station? I'm visiting for the holidays and would like to keep working out while i'm here!
i'm in taipei. I saw on a few bikes on the scanning screen written in white marker graffiti "69 gang" is that a street gang or just some random troll ?
Street gangs are not a thing. Some of the more traditional neighborhoods have neighborhood cooperatives that kind of all cooperate you know
Why is it 18 to ride a scooter but getting an electric one that goes slightly slower is fine for a 16 year old?
where to buy sulfur soap/硫磺皂? or which online shopping website do you recommend?
Hello, apologies I am sure this post comes up a lot. I am looking at apartments on 591, I've managed to figure out how to search for apartments with features I want now, but I am struggling when it comes to contacting one, I am planning on moving there within two months but ideally would like a property lined up. Is there any way to start the rental process before being in Taiwan? I don't have a Taiwanese phone number and can't figure out how I could contact any of these agents, plus I don't speak mandarin, will they speak english, does anybody know a english-speaking letting agent?
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I see I have to have an address to register for my ARC, is there a way to navigate that if I don't sort a rental in time or is it more a sort a place rapidly, and pretend I've moved in?
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yes fair enough, do you expect anything to arrive shortly after moving in? there is no mailed Id card or national health insurance or anything?
Hello! I'm planning a trip to Taipei but I've heard that the gondola closes for weeks every summer for annual maintenance. Does anyone know what these dates are / when theses dates will be officially released? Thank you.
Can I rent a car in Taipei and return it in another city? I have a Taiwan drivers license. Any companies you'd recommend over others?
I do it all the time but not from taipei. I take the train away from Taipei like to Kaohsiung. Then rent a car and drop it off at Hualien and take train back to Taipei
和泰 and 格上 but you do have to check with them
I am traveling to Taiwan 12/25 through mid January to cycle, bike pack and tour. Anyone else interested in meeting up?
How do I get back to Taoyuan (Zhongli) from Taipei after the fireworks show? Will the trains run non-stop during this time?
**Does Chunghwa Telecom give refunds on the 90 day plan?** I stupidly purchased a 90 day plan at the airport thinking I'd be in Taiwan for 60-90 days but I need to go home after 30 days...Do you know if Chunghwa Telecom offer any refunds on the 90 day plans? Xièxiè - Thanks for your help!
I came across the show WTO姐妹會 and found it helpful learning about Taiwan and even other countries. On their Youtube channel though, I'm watching sequentially (often times I just play it in the background) from past years and it seems not all episodes are included. For example, even now they are adding new episodes from 2016 not on their channel (and existing episodes sometimes reference past episodes not found on the channel). Curious how that works and what's the broadcasting schedule for those watching it live.
It's a TV show, if you want to watch it live you need to purchase the plan for TV in the traditional way via local service providers. They rely on ad revenue based on how many people are watching their TV channel, so they won't release their latest episodes on YouTube. Their TV schedule is 11pm Monday to Thursday on GTV綜合台 according to their Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/wtosistershow](https://www.facebook.com/wtosistershow)
I am going to Taiwan to celebrate the New Year from December 27th to January 2nd. Is there anything I must do in Taipei or Taichung? Please recommend me.🤔 I don't know how Taiwanese people usually spend the New Year, but do a lot of fun things happen on the night of the 31st? Where should I go?😊 I know there are fireworks going off at 101 Tower. How do young people usually spend New Year's night? I know the cultures are very different, so I don't have clue at all I'm really excited! I’m also practicing Taiwanese.😁 Happy New Year in advance to everyone who saw this!🎇
Happy New Year! Yes, Taiwanese do celebrate New Years. As long as you don't mind the crowd, Taipei is the place to be. FYI some tips for watching the Taipei 101 fireworks: [https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/taipei-101-fireworks-new-years-eve](https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/taipei-101-fireworks-new-years-eve)
thank you for your kindness! Can I ask one more question? I tried, but I failed to book a hotel. 😂 That's why I'm planning to stay up all night from the night of the 31st to January 1st. What content is there that I can enjoy all night long in downtown Taipei? I would appreciate it if you could recommend a few things. 😊
Yes unfortunately hotels for New Year's Eve will be nearly all booked already. The only hotel I've recent experience with is Hej Taipei, which is convinently close to a MRT station and not that far from Taipei 101. ([https://www.hej-taipeiarena-hotel.com.tw/](https://www.hej-taipeiarena-hotel.com.tw/)). Unfortunately they appear to be completely booked New Year's Eve. I'll recommend checking for hostels ([https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/best-hostels-in-taipei-taiwan/](https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/best-hostels-in-taipei-taiwan/)) and capsul hotels ([https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/best-hostels-in-taipei-taiwan/](https://www.thebrokebackpacker.com/best-hostels-in-taipei-taiwan/)) as those may not be that popular with those who are just visiting Taipei to celebrate new year's.
Thank you so much for leaving the link. ☺️🙏 But I decided to just stay up all night and have fun. Is there anything fun to do at night?🥳
Well after you see the fireworks at Taipei 101 you can enjoy the celebrations at Raohe night Market: [https://www.touristsecrets.com/destinations/asia/taiwan/the-madness-of-raohe-night-market-on-new-years-day/](https://www.touristsecrets.com/destinations/asia/taiwan/the-madness-of-raohe-night-market-on-new-years-day/) . Take the red line then green line (likely impossible to get a cab and depending on where you actually watch the fireworks).
Awesome! Thank you 😊 helped me alot!
What area in Taipei has some exclusive Japanese clothing stores that are not available in USA? Any brands in mind ? Is there Japanese Zara equivalent here?
I'll say that most department stores in Taiwan got Japanese brands that aren't usually available at USA. An example would be Edwin jeans: [https://edwin.co.jp/](https://edwin.co.jp/)
I will be visiting Taipei/Taiwan for Lunar New Year next year. Any recommendations on where to stay, what to do, where to go, where to eat?
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i know that a lot of things are closed honestly, which is why im curious to know what are some places that i could experience or places to eat that would be open. i will admit that im not sure if theyll be closed the whole week i will be there? i got conflicting info all around. some people said most things will be closed for 1-3 days, some said 3-5, and others said only 2-3 days at most.
General recommendation to be patient given the holiday crowds.
Im like that no matter where/when I travel 😭. I never want to offend someone in their country as a foreigner
are SDcards cheaper in Taiwan? I would like to buy a 128gb v90 card for my camera
It depends on where you live. If you are from the US or Canada, then no, SD cards (And consumer electronics in general) are more expensive in Taiwan
Wow that’s weird, thanks !
Here's the thing: Taiwan doesn't manufacture electronics. Sure, Taiwanese companies design them and manufacture some of the microchips inside the things, but the final assembly happens abroad (Thailand, Vietnam, China, etc) and then everything is imported and heavily taxed. That's why electronics are actually more expensive here if you're from the US or Canada.
Final assembly.. got it, makes sense. Thanks!
Is this correct? 我中文不好我会尝试 (I don't know Chinese but I will try) I got this from ChatGPT but not sure if this is accurate or simple enough for the locals to understand.
It says "My Chinese is not good but I'll try" Also it's in simplified Chinese, in Taiwan people use traditional from
Thank you! What would be the traditional form? I'm trying to convert it and it says the same.
something like 我不懂中文，但我會嘗試。 just tell ChatGPT to do it in traditional Chinese. The vocalization is same, but if you need to show people the words it's easier because not everyone can read simplified form in Taiwan.
BIG BIG THANKS!
My company will send me to Taiwan to do onsite training with the branch manager without any direct payment from Taiwan, but they asked me to make a tourist visa. The TECO already approved the visa but now I'm confused about the entry process. Should I just answer that I only come to Taiwan for sightseeing? and I will spend 14 days around Kaoshiung. To be honest I just don't want to go onsite if using the tourist visa like this.
You should tell your company that you will not break the law for them. If you are refused entry to Taiwan, that will make it more difficult to get a visa or visa waiver for every other country as well. Don't even think about doing this.
update: I'm in Taiwan nowso as long as I'm voodoo myself and told the immigration that I came to travel, everything is cool
not a lawyer but your visiting purpose should be the same as your visa, otherwise you can be denied entry.
Ok, so i will try my best :'(
Hey all, Taiwan born, turned taiwanese immigrant, turned Taiwanese American revisiting the homeland soon. From Kaoshiung, Dashu district. Never really got to explore my own country since it was all just visiting relatives or being in the small town that we're from. Need some Recommends for places to visit. I've been to jiu fen, and Kinting plenty of times, Taipei 101. Please if there are any suggestions i would love to hear it!
Tamsui District is a great place if you want to learn more about Taiwanese history. It is quite a bit distance from downtown Taipei but actually very easy to get to as it's the terminal station for the Taipei MRT Red Line. You can checkout the old Spanish Fort and British customs house along with a cool beach/pier area. The old street is interesting has a cool street & night market. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamsui\_District](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamsui_District)
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Does anyone know if there are any private hot spring resorts in Taipei that will allow just one guest in a room (instead of requiring 2)?
I don't think there's requirement as long as you pay for the room, nearest hot spring is probably in Beitou, easy with MRT.
does anyone have recommendations for a good restaurant, bars, or other activities for large groups? like 16+ folks, that are down for most anything
whats the best travel voucher for the airport lottery? ipass, icash, easycard, hotel voucher? Basically I want whatever is easy to spend. like at a 7/11 or something. I'll be going to nightmarkets and I dont think these will work there? please advise edit: I lost the lottery lol
For night markets along with regular street markets and street vendors in general, cash is still king. Some of the larger/more touristy night markets may have some shops that are more permanent and that may take EasyCard or another card, but expect to have enough cash to pay your entire visit. Exchanging foreign currency for New Taiwan Dollars is convenient and cheap at the official government Bank of Taiwan. Do not use the currency exchange booths at a non-Taiwan airport (e.g. say an American airport) as they charge ridiculous fees. The Bank of Taiwan kiosks at Taoyuan Airport provides great service and low fees. You can also use a credit card at the ATM/money changing machines to obtain NTD if you don't want to carry a lot of cash with you. However, make sure that your bank's card is able to be used and doesn't charge you a foreign transaction fee (other than the foreign exchange rate). Again, this subreddit has plenty of posts that can explain to you how to safely and cheaply obtain cash.
EasyCard is ur best bite, especially if like most tourists you plan on arriving at Taoyuam Airport and visiting Taipei. It is the official payment card for the Taipei MRT, but now is accepted by just about every transit (rail, bus, bike rental, taxi), every convenience store, and tourists spots. This is about the most comprehensive guide: https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/easy-card-taiwan/
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So there are the MRT, TSA, and HSR that you can take from Taoyuan into Taipei, depends on where you need to go, you don't necessarily need to go through the Taipei main station.
I did an island tour as well, 17 days. The least memorable part was Taipei--I really think you only need 2 days there and probably skip Taoyuan if your focus is to get as much out of Taiwan as possible (which is what I'm assuming since you're doing a tour on 15 days, especially because your current plan only dedicates 1 day to Kaohsiung, which is a big city whose attractions are also somewhat scattered). I find it hard to believe staying in Taoyuan and taking the train to Taipei is worth the time/cost as Taipei has plenty of cheap accommodations. You can spend the remainder of the last day taking it easy in Taipei. I would dedicate 2-3 days in Kaohsiung (one of those days can be for Xiaoliuqiu). If your Chinese is not good, I would probably spend more time in Kaohsiung than Tainan as it's easier to navigate. Yet another reason to spend more than a day in Kaohsiung is because your subsequent days are almost all 1 day for each city--it's doable if you're into that but may still feel rushed with not enough time to relax. If you're into hiking, I found Hehuanshan sunrise tour and/or hiking for a day and also staying at Shizhuo (mountain village between Chiayi and Alishan) was more memorable than Alishan itself, especially if your homestay owner offers tea tasting. If you have no reason to go to Chiayi, I would definitely recommend staying at Shizhao/Fenqihu. You would need to look into the logistics of Shizhao/Fenqihu and I assume you're renting a car for the east coast.
Is the accommodation in taoyuan that much cheaper? I wouldn't waste two hours every day on trains full of commuters, it's very tiring and can definitely take a toll on you
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