Taiwan Travel Guide - Webjet.com.sg

Taiwan, formerly called Formosa which means beauty, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia. Taiwan is increasingly drawing travellers of all stripes - from spiritual seekers looking to experience the island’s religious heritage to gourmands in search of the perfect night-market meal to computer geeks scanning the horizon for the latest high-tech gadgets. Taiwan offers visitors a hypermodern skin, an ancient Chinese skeleton and an aboriginal soul. And more than that, Taiwan has some of the world’s warmest people filled with rénqíng wèi (which, roughly translated, means ‘personal affection’) that few who come to Taiwan a stranger leave that way.

Getting there and around

Airports & airlines

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE; www.taoyuanairport.gov.tw/) is Taiwan’s main international airport located in Dayuan, 50km (40 minutes), west of central Taipei. TPE handles traffic from around the world.

Siaogang Airport (KHH; www.kia.gov.tw) in Kaohsiung and Cing Cyuan Gang Airport (RMQ; www.tca.gov.tw/English/Introduction.htm) in Taichung are Taiwan’s other international airports. Most of the international traffic into and out of Siaogang Airport and Cing Cyuan Gang Airport comes from Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

Getting Around by Train

If you want to get from the north to the south of the island in the least amount of time, it is more convenient and time saving to take the Taiwan High-Speed Rail travelling from north in Taipei all the way south in Zuoying in 90 minutes. Besides the Taiwan High-Speed Rail, there are the regular trains run by the Taiwan Railway Administration. While this second set of trains is slower, you can conveniently book their tickets online.

Discover Taiwan

Home to bustling metropolises, breathtaking alpine and coastal scenery, mouth-watering cuisines and some of the world’s friendliest people, Taiwan is an ideal destination. No matter which season you arrive in, you are sure to make special memories while traveling around Taiwan. The magnificence of the island nation’s national parks and scenic areas; the colors, sounds, and flavors of its many holidays; and a few surprises await each and every visitor!

Here are some of the famous attractions not to be missed while in Taiwan:

	Taipei 101 So far, Taipei 101 is the highest building in the world. You can visit the indoor observatory on the 89th floor and overlook all direction view of Taipei City.
	National Palace Museum National Palace Museum, with its antique collection amounts to nearly 700,000 pieces whose age range over covers almost the entire five-thousand-old Chinese history has made itself the greatest and priceless treasure house regarding Chinese art on earth.
	Yangmingshan National Park Yangmingshan National Park is renowned for its wealth of unusual volcanic features and topography. Being so accessible and close to Taipei City, the park attracts a very large number of visitors every year.
	Shi Lin Night Market Shi Lin Night Market is one of the most famous night markets in Taipei, making it a long-time favorite among residents and tourists, locals and foreigners. The food there is just simply too delicious to pass up. Almost any imaginable product, not to mention any kind of food, can be found there.
	Taipei Lungshan Temple Taipei Lungshan Temple was originally built nearly 270 years ago. The temple used to serve as the place of assembly and worship for ancient people settled in Wanhua district which is one of the first commercially developed areas in Taipei. Lungshan Temple is famous for its exquisite woodcarvings, as well as for its stone sculptures. It is not only a temple and a sightseeing attraction, but also a Grade II historic site designated by Taipei City Government.
	Hualien Taroko National Park Hualien Taroko National Park located on the east coast of Taiwan, is named after the Taroko Gorge, one of the most awesome natural wonders of the world. It is famous for precipitous canyons and spectacular mountains that create the most mesmerizing landscape on the island of Taiwan.
	Sun Moon Lake Sun Moon Lake, the largest lake in Taiwan as well as a popular tourist attraction, is situated in Yuchih, Nantou. The area around the lake is home to the Thao tribe, one of thirteen aboriginal tribes in Taiwan. Surrounded by green mountains, Sun Moon Lake is the pearl of Central Taiwan. The Eastern part of the lake is round like the sun, while the Western part is shaped like a crescent moon, hence the name "Sun Moon Lake".

Climate in Taiwan

Taiwan seems to be spring all the time and the annual average temperature is stable. Taiwan is located in the subtropical climate zone, but the island is surrounded by oceans and the ocean breezes, therefore the weather in Taiwan is humid. And we have a raining season, during April to May, and the typhoons reach the island during summer. During these periods, we strongly suggest you to keep an eye on the weather reports before you start your journey.

Average Data	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June
Average High (℃)	19	18	21	25	28	32
Average Low (℃)	12	12	14	17	21	23
Rain (in)	3.4	5.3	7	6.7	9.1	11.4
Rain (mm)	86	135	178	170	231	290
Average Data	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average High (℃)	33	33	31	27	24	21
Average Low (℃)	24	24	23	19	17	14
Rain (in)	9.1	12	9.6	4.8	2.6	2.8
Rain (mm)	231	305	244	122	66	71

When to Visit Taiwan's Beauty and Splendor

Best Months

Taiwan has wet weather from January to March. Subtropical climate and monsoon rains are regular experiences. The southern part of Taiwan has more pleasant winter months than the northern part. The northern part can be uncomfortable for people who are not used to cold temperatures. The best time to go is during the months of September to November. During these months, you can enjoy sightseeing more because the weather will not be as humid as in the summer. Most tourists visit Taiwan during summer months because of the dry weather, but it can be humid.

Outdoor Activities

Beach enthusiasts can visit during the months of May to October or June to November for sightseeing. Take safety precautions, however, because the weather is sometimes erratic. You may want to carry an umbrella regularly. During winter months, you can visit the southern parts of the island where you can still take part in outdoor events. If you plan to visit, choose September to November because prices will be lower, and the local attractions will not be as crowded as in the summer. Finding lodging will also be easier. The Chinese New Year is a great event to witness, but it is difficult to find a hotelunless you have reserved somewhere in advance.

Taipei

Taipei has long been underrated as a destination for tourists, as a week or two here will surely prove. The city houses quite a number of excellent museums, galleries, and historical sights that are well worth visiting. Also, Taipei has a long established reputation as a gourmet's paradise, boasting cuisine from every region of China. It is also home to new boutique hotels and trendy bars that have sprung up in a flurry of construction culminating in the opening of the former 'world's tallest building', Taipei 101.

The constructing of parks and much-needed infrastructure in also underway. Perhaps a result of this growth, Taipei's cultural scene has blossomed giving local sculpture, art and architecture a distinctly Taiwanese edge.

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Getting there & away

Visitors tend to come into Taipei straight from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. If you’re taking a Free Go Bus (a wise and money-saving choice indeed), you’ll be let off either around the Taipei Main Station, at Songshan Domestic Airport in the north end of the city or in front of one of the hotels along the way.

Getting out of Taipei is about as easy as getting into it, and intercity travel in Taiwan is now even easier thanks to the completion of Taiwans High-Speed Rail (THSR), which can traverse (nearly) the length of the island in a mind-bending 90 minutes. The HSR leaves from Taipei Main Station and makes a stop in Banqiao (MRT Banqiao) before heading south. Of course, the regular-speed rail (TRA) is always an option. Trains leave from both the Taipei Main and Songshan stations, with the latter being a good choice for trains heading north and down the east coast. TRA schedules are online at new.twtraffic.com.tw/TWRail_en.

Buses are also a good intercity option. Several companies run buses ranging in luxury and price, up and down both coasts of the island. Generally speaking you’ll never have to wait more than an hour (usually less) for a bus to any city in Taiwan, though you may have to wait longer over the holidays. Kuo Kuang Hao buses leave from the city bus station a block west of the Taipei Main Station, while the luxury bus companies operate from the terminal about a half a block past that. The luxury bus companies (Aloha and Ubus are two popular ones) have wider seats, movies, and occasional light refreshments. They’re also priced about 15% higher than the government-run buses and have a somewhat dicey reputation for being lax when it comes to road safety.

Getting around

Fast and easy to use, the Taipei MRT makes Taipei city one of the easier Asian capitals to navigate. Another cool bonus of MRT travel is that every station has bilingual wall maps pointing out the neighbourhood’s attractions. Compass-toting travellers beware, for whatever reason, some stations have maps in which south is facing upwards. Make sure to line their north arrow with that of your compass. In addition to operating the MRT, the Taipei Rapid Transit Association (TRTA) also runs many of Taipei’s public bus routes and private bus lines that crisscross the city. Nowadays most buses have English as well as Chinese route signs. You can find fares, route maps and lots of other information at www.dot.taipei.gov.tw.

Attractions

Taipei is a hectic and crowded city, with plenty of attractions including museums, parks and Chinese theatres to tempt you. The best parks to visit are outside of the city where you can enjoy hot springs and climbing or walking in the fresh air.

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

This memorial hall is dedicated to the memory of Chiang Kai-shek, the former president of the Republic of China.

The National Theater and Concert Hall (www.ntch.edu.tw) are also on the grounds of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.

National Theatre

The National Theatre is one of the most famous public buildings in Taiwan. It has two buildings (the other being The National Concert Hall), which compose the National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center. Demonstrating the artistic concepts of classical Chinese architecture, The National Theatre is modeled on the beautiful palace Ta-ho Hall. The dazzling theatre offers celebrated opera and theatre performances year-round

Taipei Financial Center (Taipei 101)

Taipei 101 is a landmark skyscraper in Taipei. With a massive 60-foot spire inspired by Twaiwan's native bamboo plant, the Guinness Book of Records certified Taipei 101 as the world's tallest building until 2009 when it was superseded. Located on floors 89 and 91, the observation decks include the highest restaurant in Taiwan. Two high-speed elevators reach a maximum speed of 1,010 meters/minute (55 ft./second) when traveling to the 89th floor. The multi-story retail mall on the lower floors is home to hundreds of fashionable stores, restaurants, clubs and other attractions.

National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum houses the world's largest collection of priceless Chinese art treasures, one which spans China's nearly 5,000-year history. Most of the museum's 620,000 art objects were part of the Chinese imperial collection, which began over 1,000 years ago in the early Song dynasty

The Martyrs' Shrine

The Martyrs' Shrine, resting on the slopes of the Qing Mountain and overseeing the Keelung River, is located right next to the Grand Hotel.

Worth mentioning are the military police officers who guard the main gate, and who have been rigidly trained to stand like expressionless statues. Tourists alike are amazed at this display of composure and flock to see the ceremonial changing of the guards.

Things to do in Taipei

Shihlin Night Market

The Shilin Night Market is a night market in the Shilin District of Taipei, Taiwan, often considered to be the largest and most famous and popular night market in the city. The night market is formed by many prosperous shops on Wenlin Road, Dadong Road and Danan Road, etc. Among them, Shilin Market is famous for various snacks and eatery. You can come to Shilin Night Market to enjoy the delicious foods, such as large pancake enfolding small pancake, hot pot on stone or Shilin sausage. Shilin Night Market has become a renowned place for great foods.

Beitou Hot Springs Region

Broadly speaking, the Beitou hot springs region refers to an area covering the Hell Valley, Longfeng, Fenghuang, Hushan Village and Xingyi Road. In a narrow sense, the region mainly refers to an area consisting of Zhongshan Road, Guangming Road, Xinmin Road and Quanyuan Road surrounding the Beitou Hot Springs Waterside Park. The hot springs hotels in this area are larger both in scale and number, and the natural and humanities resources are also the most plentiful here

Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung is the second largest city in Taiwan and is located in the south of the island. Kaohsiung is known for its harbor, although more for commercial than tourism reasons. Hence it is also known as the Harbor Capital (港都) of Taiwan. Its year-round fine weather and the low cost of living makes Kaohsiung the place to visit.

It has stayed abreast of Taiwan's recent progress and prosperity; expanding and modernizing, the city strides into the 21st century as a newly emerging international metropolis. Beginning centuries ago, Kaohsiung was called "Dagou," transliterated from the name of local aborigines. Disturbed by the violence of pirates in the area, in 1563, the "Daguo" tribe eventually moved to the site of present-day Pingtungcity. This name persisted until 1920, when the city's name was changed to Kaohsiung.

To enjoy the beautiful scenery, book flights to Taiwan at Webjet.

Getting there & away

There are two international airports in Taiwan: Taoyuan International Airport (located about 40km from Taipei City) and Kaohsiung International Airport. These airports offer direct flight service to and from most major cities, making it easy to reach Taiwan from anywhere in the world. Most international flights are served at Taoyuan Airport, with regional service accounting for most of the direct international flights at Kaohsiung Airport.

Since Kaohsiung International Airport (IATA: KHH) is very small and cannot compete with other international airports around the world. International flights from Asia arrive daily, with frequent connections between Taoyuan International Airport and Kaohsiung. The airport is on the MRT Red Line and is also easily accessible by scooter, car or taxi.

Getting around

By MRT

The Kaohsiung MRT opened in 2008, with two lines. The Red Line runs from north to south, offering a handy route from both the THSR Zuoying station and the airport into the downtown core, while Orange Line runs across the city from the Port of Kaohsiung in the west to eastern suburb of Daliao. The Metro Line is very clean and offers a convenient way to quickly move within the city. However as the metro is rather young the network is yet not very dense and often you have to walk few minutes to the next station. Operation of the MTR stops as early as about 11:30 p.m. (at least an hour earlier as compared to Taipei).

Feeder buses are available to bridge network gaps and provide better access to the metro lines. The MRT stations are all well connected to the city bus lines for further transfers.

Attractions

There are several Tourist Attractions in Kaohsiung which you cannot visit in one day so if you have to devote a substantial amount of time for this purpose. Kaohsiung is a thriving city in southern Taiwan. The picturesque city of Kaohsiung is growing rapidly. Kaohsiung being one of then most advanced and well planned cities in Taiwan includes a number of tourist attractions in Kaohsiung. Following are some of the major Kaohsiung tourist attractions that you must visit during your Kaohsiung Travel.

The Kaohsiung Harbor

If you ever feel bored or lonely while in Kaohsiung, head for the harbor. It's such a lively place! You can see people walking, cycling, sipping a drink by the water, ships loading and unloading containers... Gushan Ferry Pier is particularly vibrant on weekends.

Lotus Lake

Lotus Lake is a man-made lake and popular tourist destination in Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan. While touring Kaohsiung in Taiwan, you'll have to take at least half a day to check out Lotus Lake -most beautiful in the late afternoon, when the setting sun is reflected in the water. Nearby are the ruins of the Fongshan County walls and gates, which have been designated a first-grade historic.

Heart of Love River

Located at the junction of Bo-ai 1st Road and Tongmeng 1st Road, in the upper reaches of the Love River between East Lake and West Lake. In between these lakes, there is a heart-shaped bridge. The beautiful bike routes and beautiful lakeside landscape here have become a quality leisure space for all in Kaohsiung.

At night, the magnificent lights look like a diamond necklace, sparkling in the night.