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Taipei Metro and Railway Station
The best method to travel in Taipei is to use its well-developed Taipei Metro transit system (臺北捷運). It will be more convenient and slightly cheaper to get an Easy-card (悠遊卡). Vending machines are available at all Metro stations at TWD 500 per card, which includes a deposit of TWD 100 and usable value of TWD 400 (left photo below). Visitors can refund the TWD 100 deposit at any Metro station before leaving Taipei.
Went to Taipei railway station first thing in the morning to get our tickets to Hualien for next day (right photo below).
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (中正纪念堂)
After which, we took the Metro system to Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. Alighted at Metro CKS Memorial Hall Station (中正紀念堂站) and walked pass the magnificent Archway Entrance of 30-meters tall and 8-meters wide. As it was during the Chinese New Year period, there were displays of huge lanterns in the area. Needless to say that the theme was those cute "Piggies" since it was the Year of the Boar (photos below).
The Memorial Hall is white with four sides with a blue-octagonal double-eaves roof. Two sets of white stairs, each with 89 steps to represent Chiang Kai-Shek's age at the time of his death, lead to the main entrance (left photo below). In the main hall, a large statue of Chiang Kai-shek is located (right photo below).
Panorama view of the Memorial Hall Square could be seen from the main hall. The square is flanked on the north and south by the National Theater and National Concert Hall, respectively (photo below).
Also if time permits, do proceed down to the ground floor of the hall to view the exhibits of the late President Chiang Kai-Shek.
Lung Shan Temple (龍山寺)
Next itinerary, proceeded to Lung Shan Temple to see this more than 200 years old temple. Alighted at Metro Lungshan temple station (龍山寺站). Built in 1738, the Lungshan Temple features a roof with multiple eaves and exquisitely carved pillars and beams. Listed as a Class 2 historical site, it is the best preserved temple of its time in Taiwan (photos below).
Beitou Hot Spring Museum (北投溫泉博物館)
Took the Metro system and alighted at Xinbeitou station (新北投站). Walked along Zhongshan road (中山路) for about 5 to 10-mins and reached the Beitou Hot Spring Museum. Admission was free. The museum used to be a bath-house during the Japanese occupation but now was converted to a museum displaying the history of hot spring in Beitou area (photos below).
Geothermal Valley (地熱景觀公園)
We continued to walk for another 5 to 10-mins along Zhongshan road to this Geothermal valley (地熱景觀公園). This park is a natural hot sulfur spring where the water temperature can reach up to 100°C. Strong pungent smell of sulphur gave the impression of hell, which earned itself another name 'Hell Valley' (photos below). No admission fee was required to enter this park.
Here's the video captured from my camera to illustrate how steaming hot the pond was (video below).
Spring Spa Resort (水都北投溫泉會館)
Next we proceeded to this Spring Spa Resort to soak ourselves in the hot spring. This resort have both public (Indoor and Outdoor) and private pool (photos below). Do remember to bring along your swimming attires if you want to go to the outdoor public pool.
Tamsui Old Street (淡水老街)
After a quick lunch at one of the eateries near the Spa resort, we then took the Metro and alighted at Tamsui station (淡水站). Bought return-trip ferry tickets to Tamsui Fisherman's wharf (淡水漁人碼頭) at TWD 100 per pax (photos below).
The ferry had a sleek design (left photo below). At the wharf do look out for this unique lover's bridge, where it has a slanted cable tower that span across the harbor (right photo below). This bridge is a popular site for filming Taiwanese drama series.
Took the ferry back and walked along Tamsui Old Street (淡水老街). Had dinner at this restaurant 'Ye's Wonton' (百葉溫州大餛飩), where we ordered a bowl of dumpling noodles each and a roasted chicken drumstick (photos below). I did find the food simply delicious and money worth.
Tamsui Old Street is a boardwalk-like area full of shops, carnival games, restaurants, cafés, and snacks (photos below). Bought packets of Tihudashi Iron-eggs (醍醐大師鐵蛋) and Fish crisps (魚酥) back as souvenirs for friends and own consumption.
Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (中正纪念堂)
Took the Metro subway back to CKS Memorial Hall to see the lanterns light-up. Obviously these lanterns were more vibrant in color during the nights. These lanterns were all made by primary school children from all over Taiwan and only award-winning teams had the chance to display their work there (photos below).
Day Six
For easy reference in this blog, I've arranged the itinerary of Day 6 separately and combined Day 5 itinerary together with the rest of the days (Day 7 and 8) in Taipei. Do click here to view the itinerary in HuaLien.
Day Seven
Taipei Bus Terminal (台北客运总站)
After breakfast at the hotel, we proceeded to Taipei Bus Terminal. This bus terminal is a few minutes walk to the west of Taipei Railway Station (to the left and behind the station when facing the building from Zhongxiao West Road) (photos below).
Bought our bus tickets to Yehliu from the Guo Guang counter (left photo below) and each ticket cost TWD 92 (right photo below).
Yehliu Geo-Park (野柳地质公园)
The bus ride took about an hour to reach Yehliu Geo-Park. After alighting from the bus stop where there was a sign indicating the direction (left photo below), we took another 15-mins walk to its main entrance. Admission to this park was TWD 50 per person (right photo below).
This park is famous for the curious shapes carved by sea erosion, and several rock formations have been named for their shapes (photos below).
Had lunch at one of the eateries outside the Geo-park. After that, we walked across the road (opposite bus stop where first alighted for Yehliu) and took a Keelung Bus to the Keelung main station (final stop).
Jiufen Old Street (九份老街)
Then boarded a train from Keelung (基隆) train station to Ruifang (瑞芳) station. Hailed a cab outside Ruifang station, which cost TWD 140 (fixed price) to Jiufen (九份). Lot of shops selling snacks and souvenirs, and retro-style Chinese café teahouse could be found along the winding narrow streets of Jiufen (photos below). Its retro-style street was used as a model in the Japanese anime movie 'Spirited Away'.
Besides enjoying the retro-style settings, we had tried the famous food 'Grandma Lai's Yuyuan' (賴阿婆芋圓) at No.143, Jishan Street. These taro balls are cooked in green bean soup (left photo below). Separately I also bought some peanut candies. Right photo below shows the price list and expiry period of the peanut candies.
We also tried the Taiwanese meat roll covered in gelatinous rice sheath, or 'Rou Yuan' (紅糟肉圓) (left photo below) and some traditional fishballs (right photo below).
Took a cab back to Ruifang station (cab driver quoted us for TWD 200) and boarded a train back to Taipei station.
Shilin Night Market (士林夜市)
Decided to have our supper at Shilin Night Market. We alighted at Metro Jiantan station (劍潭站) and walked across the road to this hawker centre where the various eateries were located (photos below).
My recommendations are the Pepper biscuit (胡椒饼) (left photo below), Stinky Tofu (臭豆腐) (right photo below), "Coffin-bread" (棺材板) (bottom left photo) and Duck's Tongue (鸭舌头) (bottom right photo).
The stall selling Pepper biscuit often has long queue. Maybe the food had turned cold, the stinky tofu and duck's tongue were not that crispy after bringing them back to hotel.
Day Eight
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (國父紀念館)
Took the Metro subway and alighted at exit 4 of Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall station (國父紀念館站). The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall was opened in 1972 and able to hold 3,000 people in its auditorium for concerts and drama performances. It has become more of a recreational area and less touristy compared to CKS Memorial hall (photos below).
Change of guards could be seen everyday at fixed timings (photos below).
Taipei 101 (臺北101)
Boarded Metro subway to City Hall station (市政府站). There are 2 ways to get to Taipei 101 building: either walk 15-mins or take the free shuttle bus from City-hall station.
Had lunch at the food court located at the basement of Taipei 101, and ordered this set meal of Oyster Omelette, Fried Noodles and Pig's blood soup for TWD 150 (left photo below). After which, we bought admission tickets at TWD 350 per pax to the observatory deck (89th floor) of Taipei 101 (right photo below).
To prevent Taipei 101 from severe swinging during earthquake or typhoon, a large tuned mass damper of 660-tonne was constructed at the top of the building (left photo below). Creative marketing strategy had made this damper into a mascot of Taipei 101 (right photo below).
Interestingly whole of Taipei could be seen from this observatory deck (left photo below), including the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (right photo below).
Besides tallest building in the world currently, Taipei 101 also claimed to have the fastest elevator. The lift is able to ascend at 16.83 meters / second. Too hard to believe? I've managed to capture its descend from the elevator panel to support their claim (video below).
Xinyi District (信義區)
Large shopping malls are located in this Xinyi District, including Taipei 101 (photos below), Shin-Kong Mitsukoshi Departmental Store and New York New York Shopping Mall. Took almost half a day to "comb" through these malls.
Decided to have dinner at the 'New York New York shopping mall' (left photo below). Ordered a Japanese curry set at this Chitaka (知多家) restaurant (right photo below) located at the basement of this shopping mall. My rating for this restaurant: nice ambience and good food.
Mr. Brown café (伯朗咖啡馆)
Patronized this Mr. Brown café near our hotel to past some time before leaving for the airport. This is a café chain setup by the Taiwan coffee producer. One interesting gadget that I had encountered was this lighting device; it was issued by the cashier and will light up only when your order is ready for collection at the counter (left photo below). However, the taste of the coffee I've ordered tasted similar to the other brands of coffee (right photo below).
After collected our luggage from the hotel, we took the 'Free-Go' airport bus from the pick-up point opposite our hotel. The frequency of this bus was every 10 to 15-mins and cost only TWD 135 per pax for a single trip; definitely cheaper than hiring a cab to the airport. Had this crazy idea of sleeping in the airport to save one night's accommodation. However, regretted soon after and felt wasn't worth it to torture ourselves for resting on those hard plastic seats inside the extremely cold departure hall.
Day Nine
Since it was an early flight at 0710 hrs, flight check-in was available at around 5 am. We quickly check-in our luggage once the flight counter was opened and got into the transit area (left photo below) to have some wash-up. Had our last minute window shopping before departure inside the transit hall. Our flight SQ 27 took off on time (right photo below).
