Taiwan (Nov '15) - Overview

Traveled to Taiwan from 13 Nov (Fri) to 18 Nov (Wed). Months before the travel dates, was browsing through a travel book and realized that I had missed out some of the historically rich places in Tainan back in 2013. Thus, decided that I had to revisit Tainan again. Besides Tainan, I also found out that there were some interesting museums in Taipei which were worth the visit. Therefore, these regrets and anticipations enabled me to plan most of the itineraries in this trip.


Leisure trip at a glance

Country / Region: Republic of China (Taiwan Region)
Period: 13 Nov to 18 Nov 2015
Flight timings:
13 Nov: 3K 721, SIN–TPE, ETD 0710 ETA 1155
18 Nov: 3K 724, TPE–SIN, ETD 1755 ETA 2245
Air tickets: Return tickets at SGD 318.54 (inclusive of airport taxes)
Accommodations:
Fundi Guest House - Fundi 民宿 (13 to 15 Nov)
CityInn Hotel Plus Fuxing N. Rd Branch - 新驛旅店 • 復興北路店 (15 to 18 Nov)
Currency exchange rate: TWD 100 = SGD 4.47 (Nov '15 period)

There is no time difference between Singapore and Republic of China (Taiwan) as both are in GMT +8 time zone. Total damage was about SGD 900 including flight tickets, transport, food and hotels, excluding personal expenses.

Here's the overview of the trip itinerary:

Day 1 – Morning flight 3K 721 to Taipei. Took shuttle bus to HSR Taoyuan station. Boarded High Speed Rail to Tainan HSR station and then regional train to Tainan station. Checked in to the Fundi Guest House. Next explored Chihkan Tower and snacks in Hai'an Road.

Day 2 – Had breakfast in ICI café and then visited Koxinga Shrine, Eternal Golden Castle, Milkfish Theme Museum, Anping Treehouse, Anping Old Fort and Yanping Old Street. Had dinner in Garden Night Market.

Day 3 – Deposited luggage at Tainan train station. Visited National Museum of Taiwan History. Took HSR from Tainan to Taipei. Checked in to the CityInn Hotel Plus. Explored Xinyi District and had dinner there.

Day 4 – Visited Taipei Zoo in the morning, Tamsui Old Street in the afternoon and Raohe Night Market in the evening.

Day 5 – Visited National Taiwan Museum and Land Bank Exhibition Hall. Lunch at Maji Square. Window shopping at Main Train Station area and dinner in Yong Kang Beef Noodles eatery. Explored Ximending and Shilin Night Market.

Day 6 – Window shopping in Xinyi District and Eslite Bookstore. Took shuttle bus to Taoyuan International Airport and had dinner there. Boarded flight 3K 724.

Taoyuan International Airport (桃園國際機場)

The Taoyuan International Airport is an international airport serving Taipei and northern Taiwan. The IATA code for this airport is TPE.

No further introduction is required for this airport as there were already several write-ups in my blog. What impressed me in this trip was the availability of a food court at the basement of its Terminal One building (left photo below). A wide variety of food, ranging from fast-foods to local foods, could be selected. There was even a bakery besides the food court (right photo below). Based on my observations, the price in this food court was much lower compared to those restaurants within the transit area.
Transportation

Airport Shuttle Buses

Taoyuan Airport to Taoyuan HSR station

Bought UBus (統聯客運) ticket to Taoyuan HSR station which cost TWD 30 (left photo below). The shuttle bus was comfortable and spacious with bright colored seats (right photo below).

Taipei Main Station to Taoyuan Airport

Shuttle Bus to Taoyuan Airport could be taken at the Taipei West Bus Station Terminal A (台北西站A栋). First operated in 2010, the terminal was connected with the Taipei Main station underground passage Exit K12 (left photo below). The terminal building was extensive enough to accommodate 10 bus berths and a high ceiling (right photo below).
Similar to my previous trip, I took Bus No. 1819 to Taoyuan Airport which cost TWD 125.

✍ Update:
Taipei West Bus Station Terminal A is no longer in operation since Oct 2016.

Taiwan High Speed Rail (台灣高鐵)

Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) is a high-speed railway in Taiwan consisting of a single line that runs approximately 350-km from its capital Taipei to southern city of Kaohsiung. This railway system needs no further introduction as I took take it several times during my previous visits.

Clear signage was presented in front of the station to indicate directions (left photo below). Transit hall was large enough to eliminate the claustrophobic feeling (right photo below).
Non-reserved seats are cheaper compared to the reserved seats and only available in cabins 10 to 12 of the train. In addition, these non-reserved seats are sold on the day of the ride. Following were my train rides during this trip.

From Taoyuan to Tainan

Took the HSR from Taoyuan to Tainan on first day which cost TWD 1265 (photos below).

From Tainan to Taipei

Took the HSR from Tainan to Taipei on third day which cost TWD 1435 (photos below).

Taiwan Railways Administration (台灣铁路局)

Due to the two different transportation systems, the stations between Tainan HSR station (高铁台南站) and Tainan railway station (台南車站) are several kilometers apart. As such I had to take a TRA train from Tainan railway station (left photo below) to Shalun railway station which connects to the Tainan HSR station. Train seats are arranged in two rows facing each other where a large area in the middle can be available for standing passengers (right photo below). This connecting train cost TWD 25.
Tainan Railway Station (台南車站)

Situated in center of the old town square, the Tainan Railway Station has one island platform and one side platform. Opened in 1936, the station building is a typical design in Taiwan which has a rather plain façade compared to most European train stations (left photo below). Besides ticketing facilities, there was also a luggage deposit service available (right photo below). Took this service to deposit my luggage on the third day after checked out from the hotel and before my trip to Nation Museum of Taiwan History. It cost only TWD 30 for this luggage deposit.
Tainan City Bus

There are several bus operators covering an extensive network in Tainan.

Sightseeing Bus

Most visitors to Tainan will take the Sightseeing Bus services, namely number 88 and 99, operated by Yun Bus (雲端公車). The number 88 is designated as 'Fucheng Circuit Line' connecting to most tourist sites in old Tainan city while the number 99 is designated as 'Anping Platform River Line' connecting to several attractions at the outskirts of the city.

Similar to the bus 99 I took during my Tainan trip in 2013, the bus number 88 was modern in design (left photo below) with air-conditioned and comfortable seats (right photo below). The fare can be paid using the EasyCard (悠遊卡) at a standard fare of TWD 18 per ride for adults.

City Bus

Operated by Tainan City Bus (府城客運), these services are more for the locals. Similar to the sightseeing buses, the bus I took was air-conditioned with comfortable seats (left photo below). However, during my trip, the bus number 18 did not follow the schedule (right photo below) and stop at the bus stop in front of the National Museum of Taiwan History. In the end I had to wait for the next bus. Similarly, the standard fare was TWD 18 per ride for adults.

Accommodation

Fundi Guest House (Fundi 民宿)

Fundi Guest House located near to the Tainan Train station within about 5-minute walking distance (left photo below). The famous landmark, Chihkan Tower, is also within a 10-minutes walk from this guest house. Being a budget hotel, simple bed with a table and chair were provided in the room (right photo below).
Booked this hotel online only in less than a month before the actual date for SGD 121.70 of two nights without any breakfast.

Basic hotel amenities such as a concierge and a guest lobby could be found (left photo below). Stacks of business cards from various attractions and restaurants were obtainable from the stone table besides the water dispensing machine (right photo below).
CityInn Hotel Plus Fuxing N. Rd Branch (新驛旅店 • 復興北路店)

CityInn Hotel Plus Fuxing N. Rd Branch is located near to the Zhongshan Junior High school MRT station (中山国中站) within 2-minute walk. Booked this hotel online for a Standard Room at TWD 6,240 of three nights without breakfast.

The room design was bright and simple with modern décor (photos below).
A standard work desk satisfied my daily needs. Complimentary bottled water together with tea and coffee sachets were supplied daily (left photo below). Two pieces of chocolate were even given to guests as welcome gifts (right photo below).

On the second floor, the hotel had the entire floor dedicated to common-use space for meeting, working, eating, and even complimentary laundry for all hotel guests. Comfortable lounge seats (left photo below) and glossy dining table (right photo below) were available.
In addition, self-service bar offering free beverages (left photo below) and washing machines with washing powder and dryer available to guests without charge (right photo below).
Interesting Observations

• One would surely feel more at home where there were 'house shoes' provided in the guest house (left photo below). All guests were required to take off their street shoes in exchange for a pair of house shoes before entering the 'room area'. This is a common practice in East Asia families, which extended to guest houses too.


• It can be 'lucky' to spot some famous artists in Ximending area. Saw two artists for their film promotional show during the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival period (right photo below).
  
• Several statues of Zheng Chenggong (鄭成功) could be seen in Tainan old city where he first established his regime in this city (photos below). Zheng Chenggong is regarded as a national hero and worshipped as religious figure in Taiwan. There is even a temple dedicated to him and his mother in Tainan city.
  
  


• Noticed that the souvenir passport stamps have become a popular souvenir or as a good confirmation that an individual has visited the place. It was even more 'aesthetically desirable' that the admission tickets and ink stamps were standardized in design (photos below).
  

Some useful links:

• Tourism Bureau Ministry of Transportation and Communications:
  http://www.taiwan.net.tw/
  
  
• Taipei Travel:
  https://www.travel.taipei/
  
  
• TaoYuan International Airport:
  https://www.taoyuan-airport.com/
  
  
• Taiwan Railway:
  https://www.railway.gov.tw/