How to choose transportation in Taiwan

So there is absolutely no need to worry about traffic problems in Taiwan, but rather consider how to choose the best means of travel to save money and be convenient.

1. MRT is the first choice in big cities

Both cities in Taiwan, Taipei and Kaohsiung, have MRTs. The transportation is fast and convenient. Most of the city’s attractions are located on MRTs. Around the station, so in the two big cities of Taipei and Kaohsiung, taking the MRT is the most popular and affordable first choice.

There is an MRT station next to Taipei's Songshan Airport

The Taipei MRT operation is more complete and more user-friendly than that of Kaohsiung. If you stay in Taipei for more than three days, it is recommended that you spend NT$500 to buy an EasyCard, which can be used on the MRT and buses. It can be said to be "one card to travel around northern Taiwan cities", which saves the need for coins to buy tickets, There is no hassle of finding change, and there are discounts on transportation fees. The most important thing is that you can return the card and get the remaining balance after three days of use, which is very practical.

If some scenic spots cannot be reached by MRT, you can take the MRT station closest to the scenic spot, and then choose to take the supporting bus or take a taxi. This is the most economical and fastest way. You must know that urban highway traffic is relatively congested, and it is the least cost-effective to take a taxi directly. So during this trip, many Taiwanese people were surprised that we used the EasyCard so skillfully. In their impression, Hong Kongers and mainland tourists love to hire taxis for sightseeing. They only want it to be simple, convenient and worry-free, but they cannot understand the essence of the city and have to pay expensive transportation fees.

Kaohsiung’s MRT carriages

If you are in Kaohsiung, you can also consider riding a bicycle. Kaohsiung is the most bike-friendly city in Taiwan. There are more than 250 kilometers of bicycle lanes in the city. Public bicycle rental points can be found everywhere. There are also a number of coin-operated public bicycles. The first hour is free. Used, very cost effective. For example, in Xiziwan, there are many attractions there, so the best solution is to take the MRT to Xiziwan Station, and then rent a bicycle to visit the major attractions in Xiziwan. It is absolutely cost-effective and easy.

Coin-operated public bicycles in Kaohsiung

2. Prioritize railways between cities

Taiwan Island itself is not big, and the transportation is very convenient. If Wherever railways can reach places, priority should be given to railways. Taiwan is a hilly area, and although road transportation is well developed, some road sections are very dangerous. For example, the East-West Crossing Highway and Suhua Highway are mostly dug out of cliffs. Although the scenery along the way is beautiful, it is full of dangers. It is safer and more secure to take the railway.

Taiwan’s railways operate very well, which is very different from the crowded railways in mainland China, where train tickets are hard to come by. First of all, Taiwan's main island has a dense railway network, which is divided into east and west lines, forming a railway network around the island, passing through major cities in Taiwan; secondly, the trains are very dense, and you can basically buy things as you go without making reservations in advance, which is very convenient; the third carriage The comfort level is no less than that of the cabin. Whether it is the Taiwan Railway or the high-speed rail, the cabin is comfortable and clean. There is an aisle in the middle, and there are two to three seats in each row on both sides. The position design is very user-friendly. The seats are soft-covered and between the seats. It is very spacious, the backrest can be adjusted, and some seats have footrests in front of them, making it very comfortable to sit on. There are manual electric doors to separate the carriages from each other, and there are electronic screens that constantly remind you of the places you are passing through and the upcoming stops. When it’s time to eat, lunch boxes are sold on the train. Train lunch boxes in Taiwan are not expensive. A box costs NT$80, which is equivalent to just over 10 yuan in RMB. They are clean and hygienic and taste good.

Train carriage seats

Compared with Taiwan Railway, Taiwan’s high-speed rail is much faster, with a maximum speed of 315 kilometers per hour. The fastest time to take the Taiwan Railway from Taipei to Kaohsiung is 4.5 hours, compared with only 1.5 hours by high-speed rail. However, the high-speed rail stops at fewer stations and the fare is much more expensive, but it greatly increases people's travel choices.

Taichung High Speed ??Rail Platform High Speed ??Rail Car 3. Emerging tourist destinations with a small population can choose to charter a bus

For second-tier tourist cities with dense tourist attractions, although some attractions are also accessible by bus, it is difficult to take a bus It is time-consuming and labor-intensive to get up, and there is no way to fully play. At this time, you must choose to charter a car to have a full time. For example, Hualien and Kenting, two emerging tourist destinations in Taiwan, have small populations and rich natural landscape resources. It is very difficult to travel completely on your own. The best way is to choose a chartered car or join a local tour. I joined the local tour in Hualien. Except for the group tour to Taroko, the half-day tour of Qixingtan and the one-day tour of the East Rift Valley Mountains and Seas are actually chartered cars, especially the East Rift Valley Line and the Mountains and Seas Line. , without a local guide, it would be impossible to play.

When traveling to Hengchun Peninsula in Kenting, many scenic spots do not have bus routes. Mainland group tours of Kenting only made short stops at the two main attractions, Eluanbi Park and Maobitou. They were unable to experience the essence of Kenting, just like a dragonfly touching the water. We rented a car with a local as our guide, and it was a very compact tour for four and a half hours. We only focused on visiting Kenting’s unique and varied coastal landforms. We still had no time to get close to Kenting National Forest Park and Hengchun Ancient City. contact.

4. It is best to travel to outlying islands by plane

In addition to the main island of Taiwan, the surrounding islands such as Penghu, Green Island, Orchid Island, Kinmen and Matsu are also beautiful and distinctive. , there are ships going back and forth between these outlying islands and the main island of Taiwan, but the frequency is less, the sea is rough and the waves are strong, and it is greatly affected by the tide, and it takes a long time.

If you are traveling, it is best to fly. These outlying islands have small airports with frequent flights, making travel to and from them extremely convenient.

Kaohsiung Airport Waiting Room