First trip to Taiwan

[Hyphos]

Hi everyone! I'll be going Taiwan for the first time this September for 10 days (6 days with parents, 4 days solo). I have already planned to tour around Taipei (2-3 days), Nantou (3-4 days), Alisan (1-2 days) and the Northern coast +Guanyinshan (1-2 days). So far I did a little research on Nantou, will probably visit Cingjing farm, Sun Moon Lake, Hehuanshan, Jiji town, Aowanda national forest and Yushan National Park.

I would just like some recommendations from you guys on what are the places to visit in Taipei and the Northern Coast. My main interest is in natural scenery. I have no interest in cultural stuff so no museums or temples (unless they are really beautiful). I like to keep shopping to a minimal so I'll only allocate half a day to shopping in Taipei. I love good food, will probably spend two nights in Taipei to visit the night markets. If the view is worth it and close enough, I might even make a 1 day detour from the above places I mentioned. Thanks in advance, really looking forward to Taiwan!

 

[calkel20]

Hi everyone! I'll be going Taiwan for the first time this September for 10 days (6 days with parents, 4 days solo). I have already planned to tour around Taipei (2-3 days), Nantou (3-4 days), Alisan (1-2 days) and the Northern coast +Guanyinshan (1-2 days). So far I did a little research on Nantou, will probably visit Cingjing farm, Sun Moon Lake, Hehuanshan, Jiji town, Aowanda national forest and Yushan National Park.

I would just like some recommendations from you guys on what are the places to visit in Taipei and the Northern Coast. My main interest is in natural scenery. I have no interest in cultural stuff so no museums or temples (unless they are really beautiful). I like to keep shopping to a minimal so I'll only allocate half a day to shopping in Taipei. I love good food, will probably spend two nights in Taipei to visit the night markets. If the view is worth it and close enough, I might even make a 1 day detour from the above places I mentioned. Thanks in advance, really looking forward to Taiwan!

If u have a car with u, think u can try to do all that.

Northern coast, is mainly Nanya rocks, 黄金瀑布(not shifen waterfall),九份，金瓜石。

Good food which is queueing up right now is 上引水產. Haven't got a chance to try that, but i have 2 hkg friends who stand by this. And of course, u need to queue to get in. Unless your parents are willing to queue, if not high chance you need to miss this.

 

[sgtaichung]

you can visit my FaceBook page for more information about places/itineraries around taichung.

drop me a msg there if you're interested in hiring a driver too!

 

[Hyphos]

This is my rough itinerary, let me know how can I improve on it, especially if there may be transportation issues:

19 Sep
Morning
Taipei -> Chiayi -> Alishan
Afternoon, Evening
Alishan
Stay overnight in Alishan

20 Sep
Morning
Yushan
Afternoon, Evening
Sun Moon Lake
Stay overnight in Sun Moon Lake

21 Sep
Morning
Cingjing to drop luggage
Afternoon
Aowanda
Evening
Cingjing
Stay overnight in Cingjing

22 Sep
Morning
Sunrise at Hehuanshan
Afternoon
Cingjing
Evening
Cingjing
Stay overnight in Cingjing

23 Sep
Morning, Afternoon, Evening
Lishan
Stay overnight in Lishan

24 Sep
Morning, Afternoon
Taroko Gorge
Evening
Reach Taipei

25 Sep
Morning, Afternoon, Evening
Jiufen + Keelung (haven't plan where to go)

26 Sep
Morning, Afternoon
Yangmingshan national park
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
National Palace Museum
Evening
Shihlin Night Market

27 Sep
Morning, Afternoon
Yeh Liu Geo Park
Elephant Mountain

Evening
Raohe Street Night Market

28 Sep
Morning, Afternoon
Ximending
Taipei 101
Evening
Airport

 

[fireworks79]

This is my rough itinerary, let me know how can I improve on it, especially if there may be transportation issues:

19 Sep
Morning
Taipei -> Chiayi -> Alishan
Afternoon, Evening
Alishan
Stay overnight in Alishan
wat time reach TW? if too late,den will reach alishan even later meaning u tried n pointless to go alishan

20 Sep
Morning
Yushan
cant make it cos distance too far
Afternoon, Evening
Sun Moon Lake
Stay overnight in Sun Moon Lake
cant make it cos distance too far. stil need to factor in ur alishan sunrise unless u wanna skip tat

21 Sep
Morning
Cingjing to drop luggage
Afternoon
Aowanda
Evening
Cingjing
Stay overnight in Cingjing

22 Sep
Morning
Sunrise at Hehuanshan
Afternoon
Cingjing
Evening
Cingjing
Stay overnight in Cingjing

23 Sep
Morning, Afternoon, Evening
Lishan
Stay overnight in Lishan

24 Sep
Morning, Afternoon
Taroko Gorge
Evening
Reach Taipei

25 Sep
Morning, Afternoon, Evening
Jiufen + Keelung (haven't plan where to go)

26 Sep
Morning, Afternoon
Yangmingshan national park
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
National Palace Museum
Evening
Shihlin Night Market

27 Sep
Morning, Afternoon
Yeh Liu Geo Park
Elephant Mountain

Evening
Raohe Street Night Market

28 Sep
Morning, Afternoon
Ximending
Taipei 101
Evening
Airport

comment in blue
the rest dun need to comment liao cos if u dun change plan, the rest wont b able to make it

 

[Hyphos]

Thanks for the quick reply fireworks.

We'll reach Taipei airport early morning (before 6 am). Is Yushan too far even if we rent a car? Just intend to drive around there and admire the landscape, my parents are too old to go hiking. Thanks!

 

[fireworks79]

Thanks for the quick reply fireworks.

We'll reach Taipei airport early morning (before 6 am). Is Yushan too far even if we rent a car? Just intend to drive around there and admire the landscape, my parents are too old to go hiking. Thanks!

reaching TW at 6am, rush to taoyuan train stn by cab n reach chaiyi ard 10am. n go up to alishan ard noon. this is the best (done by Gixxerfied in mar this yr)
mayb u can reach alishan earlier by own drive but I dun recommend cos mountain roads in TW can b very dangerous eps if u r not familiar wif left hand drive (unless u did left hand drive b4)

alishan, yushan, cingjing, aowanda, lishan n taroko all r sightseeing area all mountain areas. distance from 1 place to another is very far. (haven't factor in car sickness n high mountain sickness esp u got elderly in ur gp)

my suggestion is took 1 or 2 places n tat it. for the rest, hang ard at tpe n jiufen area

 

[Gixxerfied]

reaching TW at 6am, rush to taoyuan train stn by cab n reach chaiyi ard 10am. n go up to alishan ard noon. this is the best (done by Gixxerfied in mar this yr)
mayb u can reach alishan earlier by own drive but I dun recommend cos mountain roads in TW can b very dangerous eps if u r not familiar wif left hand drive (unless u did left hand drive b4)

alishan, yushan, cingjing, aowanda, lishan n taroko all r sightseeing area all mountain areas. distance from 1 place to another is very far. (haven't factor in car sickness n high mountain sickness esp u got elderly in ur gp)

my suggestion is took 1 or 2 places n tat it. for the rest, hang ard at tpe n jiufen area

Literally sit from 0055H all the way till reach Alishan minsu about 12hr later..

 

[fireworks79]

Literally sit from 0055H all the way till reach Alishan minsu about 12hr later..

more than tat....b4 boarding, alrdy sitting inside waiting area liao

 

[Gixxerfied]

more than tat....b4 boarding, alrdy sitting inside waiting area liao

Sit and slp...On the plane and on the train, cab to TRA still early, sit and wait for train..On train then sit and slp again..

 

[Hyphos]

reaching TW at 6am, rush to taoyuan train stn by cab n reach chaiyi ard 10am. n go up to alishan ard noon. this is the best (done by Gixxerfied in mar this yr)
mayb u can reach alishan earlier by own drive but I dun recommend cos mountain roads in TW can b very dangerous eps if u r not familiar wif left hand drive (unless u did left hand drive b4)

alishan, yushan, cingjing, aowanda, lishan n taroko all r sightseeing area all mountain areas. distance from 1 place to another is very far. (haven't factor in car sickness n high mountain sickness esp u got elderly in ur gp)

my suggestion is took 1 or 2 places n tat it. for the rest, hang ard at tpe n jiufen area

I see... I had intended to use Cingjing as base, I thought there are local tour guides around to bring us to each of these places for 1 day tour. Anyway I am ok to sacrifice 1 day in Taipei area to explore more of Nantou. I am also ok to give up Lishan if really cannot make it...

 

[Hyphos]

Alright, my parents got a driver who will bring us around Nantou, Hualien and some parts of Taipei in the first 5 days, so I only need to plan for 24 - 28 Sep:

24 Sep
Morning
Breakfast in Taipei, take bus to Jiaoxi
Wufengchi Falls
Linmei Shipan Trail
Afternoon
Whale watching, depart from Wushih Harbor
Evening
Luodong Night market


25 Sep
Morning, Afternoon
Tai Ping Shan
Evening
Go back to Taipei, likely stay in Rainbow hotel
Shihlin Night Market

26 Sep
Morning
Cat Village Houtong
Afternoon
Jinguashi
Evening
Night market either nearby Jiufen or Taipei, any recommendations?

27 Sep
Morning, Afternoon
Taipei Zoo
Taipei 101 (if got time)
Hiking at Elephant Mountain, try to target sunset view
Evening
Raohe Street Night Market

28 Sep
Morning
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
Afternoon
Ximending
Evening
Airport

This should be less rush than my original itinerary. Any further advice?

 

[calkel20]

26th night, Keelung 廟口夜市。 how to get there?
Best way, either straight bus from jiufen or jinguashi to Keelung or if you are coming via shifen, change to bus outside ruifang station side to any bus that writes to Keelung. Do not cross over the road as the other side is to head up to jiufen/jinguashi.

Pretty much summarize your F&E trip!

 

[fireworks79]

Alright, my parents got a driver who will bring us around Nantou, Hualien and some parts of Taipei in the first 5 days, so I only need to plan for 24 - 28 Sep:

24 Sep
Morning
Breakfast in Taipei, take bus to Jiaoxi
Wufengchi Falls
Linmei Shipan Trail (nothing much, look more like a man-make trail for ppl to walk ard n relax only)
Afternoon
Whale watching, depart from Wushih Harbor
depend on lick, sometimes no whale.
Evening
Luodong Night market


25 Sep
Morning, Afternoon
Tai Ping Shan
Evening
Go back to Taipei, likely stay in Rainbow hotel
Shihlin Night Market
abit rush but still can do-able. however I dun recommend it

26 Sep
Morning
Cat Village Houtong
Afternoon
Jinguashi
Evening
Night market either nearby Jiufen or Taipei, any recommendations?
keelung miaokou nm

27 Sep
Morning, Afternoon
Taipei Zoo
Taipei 101 (if got time)
Hiking at Elephant Mountain, try to target sunset view
Evening
Raohe Street Night Market

28 Sep
Morning
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
Afternoon
Ximending
Evening
Airport

This should be less rush than my original itinerary. Any further advice?

comment in blue

 

[calkel20]

No whale then ur only other animal will be dolphins liao.

 

[Hyphos]

Thanks for the tips guys! Question on whale watching, must book beforehand or can go the harbor there book a ride? If must book beforehand do you guys have any company to recommend? Thanks!

 

[chunxi]

book no book also same.
last year i booked, but when reach there, they say the trip change, but can try to put us in another ferry.
when you reach the harbor, alot of people also selling ticket.

unless you want to go onto the island, then must register first.

 

[Hyphos]

Can anyone advise how to get to Taiping Shan from Luodong? I just read online that there is no public bus service during weekdays?