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Leisure trip at a glance
Country / Region: Republic of China (Taiwan Region)
Period: 02 Sep to 06 Sep 2019
Flight timings:
02 Sep: SQ 878, SIN–TPE, ETD 1155 ETA 1640
06 Sep: SQ 877, TPE–SIN, ETD 1420 ETA 1855
Airline Package: SGD 890.34 (inclusive of hotel and return flight tickets with taxes)
Accommodation:
CityInn Hotel Plus Fuxing N. Rd Branch – 新驛旅店 • 復興北路店 (02 to 06 Sep)
Currency exchange rate:
TWD 100 = SGD 4.42 (Sep '19 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 950 including flight tickets, transport, food and hotels, excluding personal expenses.
Day One
Took a grab car to the Airport Terminal 3 in the morning.
Kopitiam @ T3 Changi
Decided to have breakfast in the food court located at basement of Terminal 3 (left photo below). Got myself a bowl of "Kway Chap" with some side dishes at SGD 5.70 (right photo below). Taste was acceptable for this meal.
Jewel Changi AirportAfter which, walked to Jewel to admire the rain vortex during the day (left photo below). And this was followed by visiting the Pokémon center to check out its latest promotion and any new arrivals (right photo below).
Singapore AirlinesGlad that SQ 878 took off on schedule at 1155 hours (left photo below) and I was served with snacks and drinks soon after take-off (right photo below).
During inflight meal serving, I selected 'fillet with potatoes' (left photo below). Ice-cream of local taste 'gula melaka' was distributed out to every passenger as dessert (right photo below).
Taoyuan Airport MRT Line (桃園機場捷運)
Taoyuan Airport MRT is a rapid transit line that connects the municipalities of the capital Taipei, Taoyuan and New Taipei with Taoyuan International Airport. Having a total length of 51.33-km with 22 stations, the Airport MRT was commenced on Mar 2017 (left photo below).
Unlike in most MRT, train cars in this Airport Line are installed with comfortable cushioned seats and have metal shelves for depositing big luggage (right phot below).
Fares were paid using the Easy-card (悠遊卡) which was convenient for me without having to purchase additional tickets. It took about 38-mins from the Terminal 2 of Taoyuan Airport to reach the Taipei Main Station.
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 the 'Zhongshan Junior High School' metro station (中山国中站) of Wenhu Line within 2-mins walk. The Standard Room for four nights without breakfast was part of the promotional package.
The room design was bright and simple with modern décor (left photo below). In addition, a standard working desk with complimentary bottled water together with tea and coffee sachets were available in this room (right photo below).
Two pieces of biscuits were even given to guests as welcome gifts (left photo below). Hotel lobby was bright and spacious enough for impractical but aesthetic-looking decoration (right photo below).
However its entire second floor is dedicated to common-use purposes with free flow of hot beverages and self-service washing machines available to guests.Formosa Chang (鬍鬚張滷肉饭)
Formosa Chang is a restaurant chain that serves traditional home cooked Taiwanese food and famous especially for its braised pork rice. Had my dinner in one of its outlets located near to the hotel (left photo below). Ordered a bowl braised pork rice with chicken drumstick at TWD 119 (right photo below).
The braised pork was fatty and complimented well with the savory sauce and the rice.| ✍ Update: |
|---|
| The Formosa Chang outlet at Jinzhou Street is closed permanently. |
After my satisfactory dinner, I then proceeded to Xinyi district for some window-shopping. After which took metro back to hotel.
Day Two
Simple Breakfast
Bought these breads from 'Bread & Deli Saison du Soleil Yamazaki' the previous day at a total cost of TWD 119 (left photo below). Had my simple breakfast with the breads and a pack of Papaya milk drink bought from the convenient store at TWD 26 (right photo below).
National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院)
The National Palace Museum, or 'Taipei Palace Museum' to differentiate from 'Beijing Palace Museum', has a permanent collection of nearly 700,000 pieces of Chinese artifacts and artworks, where many were moved from Beijing Palace Museum as well as five other institutions in mainland China during the Republic of China (ROC) retreat. This museum shares its roots with the Beijing Palace Museum whose extensive collection of artworks and artifacts were built upon the imperial collections during Ming and Qing dynasties.
Treasured Masterpieces
- The museum is so huge that visitors can take several hours just to explore its whole collections. Following are the highlights on some of its treasured and beloved masterpieces.
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| Period: Western Zhou (1046 - 771 BC) Material: Bronze Dimensions: 53.8 cm x 47.9 cm Significance: Longest inscription of 500 characters (in 32 lines) among ancient Chinese bronze inscriptions. Together with the 'Da Ke Ding' (大克鼎) in Shanghai Museum and 'Da Yu Ding' (大盂鼎) in National Museum of China, the 'Mao Gong Ding' is considered one of the 3 most important bronze vessels from ancient China. |
Period: Eastern Jin (317 – 420) Material: Paper Scroll Dimensions: 23 cm x 14.8 cm Significance: One of the three "rare treasures" collections by Emperor Qianlong. The scroll is considered a masterpiece of Chinese calligraphy by Wang Xizhi (王羲之). It is noted that this calligraphy was a fine copy from the Tang Dynasty. |
Period: Northern Song (960 – 1127) Material: Paper Scroll Dimensions: 34.2 cm x 199.5 cm Significance: Known to be part of the "Three major running scrip calligraphies in the world". It was written by the famous scholar: Su Dongpo (苏东坡). The words are obviously filled with pathos and emotion, and the lines of the words change rhythm according to different mood swings in words. |
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| Period: Northern Song (960 – 1127) Material: Porcelain Dimensions: 6.9 cm x 23 cm x 16.4 cm Significance: One of the fewer than 80 surviving ceramics from Ru Kiln (汝窑) in the world. It was estimated its price was worth the construction cost of the whole palace museum. The ceramic color is rare and exactly what the Song Dynasty people wanted to pursue: "the tranquil and cheerful beauty like the sky blue after rain". |
Period: Northern Song (960 – 1127) Material: Porcelain Dimensions: 10.5 cm x 16.2 cm Significance: One of the fewer than 80 surviving ceramics from Ru Kiln (汝窑) in the world. The glaze surface is densely covered with fine cracked patterns. It is a representative work of the perfection of Ru porcelain craftsmanship in the Northern Song Dynasty. |
Period: Northern Song (960 – 1127) Material: White Porcelain Dimensions: 18.8 cm x 31 cm x 13.2 cm Significance: Superb shaping and decoration skills of Ding Kiln (定窑) porcelain. There are only three similar baby pillows known in the world and the one in this museum is the most beautiful. The bottom of this pillow is engraved with an imperial inscription by Emperor Qianlong. |
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| Period: Yuan (1271 – 1368) Material: Paper Scroll Dimensions: 33 cm x 636.9 cm Significance: One of China's top ten famous paintings. Painted by Huang Gongwang (黄公望), the painting was split into 'lishan' scroll (剩山图) and 'wuyongshi' scroll (无用师卷) during Ming dynasty. 'Wuyongshi' scroll is kept in Taipei Palace Museum while 'lishan' scroll is now kept in Zhejiang Provincial Museum. |
Period: Qing (1644 – 1911) Material: Jasper stone Dimensions: 5.73 cm x 6.6 cm x 5.3 cm Significance: Exquisitely carved into shape of a piece of 'Dongpo' pork (a popular Chinese way of cooking pork belly). A popular object with museum-goers. However, it is lesser value and rarity to be categorized as national treasure. |
Period: Qing (1644 – 1911) Material: Jadeite Dimensions: 18.7 cm x 9.1 cm Significance: Exquisitely carved into shape of Chinese cabbage head with a locust and katydid camouflaged in the leaves. A popular object with museum-goers. However, it is lesser value and rarity to be categorized as national treasure. |
Directions to the Museum
- 1. MRT Tamsui-Xinyi Line to Shilin station (士林站).
2. Take Exit 1 of the station and walk to the bus stop on Zhongzheng Road.
3. Board the bus number "Red 30" (紅30).
4. After approximately 15 minutes, the bus will reach B1 entrance of the National Palace Museum.
5. Bus schedule for departing bus is displayed at the bus stop (left photo below).
Museum Admission
- Tickets can be bought at the building ground floor. Got my general ticket at TWD 350 (right photo below).
| 🎫 National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院) | |
|---|---|
| Website: | https://www.npm.gov.tw/ |
| Access: | Take 'Red 30' bus from Shilin or Jiantan metro station, or 'Brown 20' bus from Jiannan Road metro station |
| Opening Hours: | 0830 to 1830 hours (Sun to Thurs); 0830 to 2100 hours (Fri & Sat) |
| Admission: | TWD 350 (adult) |
Gourmet Wanton (老虎酱 温州大馄饨)
Saw this dumpling store 'Gourmet Wanton' while walking towards the entrance of Shilin station (left photo below). Thus decided to have my late lunch there. Was rather hesitant on what side dishes to take from the plates of various vegetables and tofu (right photo below).
Finally got a braised tofu (left photo below) and a bowl of dumpling noodles (right photo below) at TWD 110.
Loved the home-cooked taste at an affordable price.
| 🍔 Gourmet Wanton (老虎酱 温州大馄饨) | |
|---|---|
| Address: | No. 32, Lane 235, Zhongzheng Rd, Shilin District, Taipei City |
| Access: | Shilin metro station |
| Operating Hours: | 1100 hours to 2200 hours; daily |
Carrefour Guilin Store
After some window-shopping in Ximending area, I then walked to the Carrefour Guilin Store for about 10-mins. This is a shopping complex that has Decathlon, Carrefour supermarket, and several eateries and restaurants. Managed to get some items from Decathlon store, and some snacks and groceries from Carrefour.
Mazendo restaurant (麻膳堂)
Had my dinner in this Mazendo restaurant located on the ground floor of Carrefour Guilin Store (left photo below). Ordered a braised beef noodles at TWD 200 (right photo below).
Taste was good especially the soup but felt that its price was on the high side.
| 🍔 Mazendo restaurant (麻膳堂) | |
|---|---|
| Address: | 108, Taiwan, Taipei City, Wanhua District, Guilin Rd No. 1, Carrefour Guilin Store, Ground Floor |
| Access: | Ximending metro station |
| Operating Hours: | 1100 hours to 0200 hours; daily |
Bought some breads at TWD 170 in Uptown Pastry shop before heading back to the hotel.
Day Three
Had the breads bought from the pastry shop. After which took metro to Songjiang Nanjing station.
Miniatures Museum of Taiwan (袖珍博物館)
The Miniatures Museum of Taiwan is the first museum to display miniatures in Asia (photos below).
Founded on Mar 1997, this private museum showcases mostly on miniature doll houses at a scale of either 1:12 or 1:24 collected from Europe and North America (photos below).
Following were the photos taken in the museum (video below).Spent about one hour in this museum.
| 🎫 Miniatures Museum of Taiwan (袖珍博物館) | |
|---|---|
| Website: | https://www.mmot.com.tw/ |
| Access: | Songjiang Nanjing metro station exit 5 and walk about 8-mins |
| Opening Hours: | 1000 to 1800 hours (Tue to Sun); closed on Mondays |
| Admission: | TWD 200 (adult) |
Gloria Outlets (華泰名品城)
Gloria Outlets is the largest American-style outdoor shopping mall in Taiwan. Its opening hours is 1100 hours to 2100 hours (Mon to Thurs) or 1100 to 2200 (Fri to Sun).
The Mall
- The development consists of three phases where its first phase was opened on Dec 2015 and its final phase 3 was opened on Aug 2017 with a total of more than 280 brands. The outlet is connected by shopping malls spanning from two to three storeys (photos below).
- Had my lunch in the food pavilion located on its second floor (left photo below). Ordered a beef curry rice set for TWD 237 (right photo below). Looking at the word "smail" written using the sauce, I had no idea what it actually meant on the plate. Taste was acceptable for this set meal.
- There are two fast ways to travel from Taipei Main station to Gloria outlet:
- Taoyuan Airport MRT – about 1 hour ride and cost TWD 150 per trip
- High Speed Rail (HSR) - about 35-mins ride and cost TWD 155 per trip
A-Kuan Hotpot Restaurant (阿官火鍋)
Decided to have hotpot in A-Kuan Hotpot located at the basement of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi. Instead of the usual soup base, I opted for a "Preserved egg and coriander leaves" broth (皮蛋香菜湯底) (left photo below). Got myself a "xshacha sauce" (沙茶醬) which was my favorite in this restaurant (right photo below).
Total cost for this meal was TWD 350.
| ✍ Update: |
|---|
| A-Kuan Hotpot outlet at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Place A8 is closed permanently. |
After a satisfactory dinner, I then went back to hotel for a good rest.
Day Four
Jiufen (九份)
Jiufen is located on a seaside mountain area in Ruifang District. Aside from the "Spirited Away" vibes, the village is also famous for its many teahouses perched on the mountain side overlooking the village.
Transportation to Jiufen
- Took metro to Taipei main train station (left photo below) and got a local TRA train ticket at TWD 76 departing from Taipei Main station to Ruifang station (right photo below).
After which took Bus Number 1062 from the bus stop at a civic square outside the Ruifang train station. It was drizzling during the 15-minutes bus journey ride to Jiufen Old Street (left photo below). Could not determine the exact cost of the bus ride as I used the EasyCard to pay. Alighted from the bus stop and walked towards the 7-eleven convenience store where the narrow street besides it is the start of the Jiufen old street (right photo below).
- Located on the mountain side, the view from Jiufen was stunning with the neighboring villages and faraway shorelines and mountains (photo below). The fresh air after the rain and the mountainous landscape did make me feel relaxed looking at it for several minutes.
- The old street began from a narrow alleyway with little sunlight (left photo below) to bright passageway with a mountainous view at the end of the path (right photo below).
The old street is filled with all kinds of stores, from traditional food stalls and teahouses to handicrafts and souvenir shops (left photo below). Here was where I bought several fridge magnets of various Taiwanese attractions as souvenirs. Avid shutterbug can also capture the various attractions from its lanes and alleys in Jiufen from different angles (right photo below).
- There are two famous stores in Jiufen that sell the taro balls, namely A-Gan-Yi Taro Balls (阿柑姨芋圆) and Lai-Ah-Po Taro Balls (赖阿婆芋圆). I had tried Lai-Ah-Po Taro Balls during my visit back in 2014, so this time got to try the A-Gan-Yi Taro Balls.
The store can be easily located by turning left at the T-junction towards the end of the old street (left photo below). Followed the uphill steps and the signs of the store until near the end of the path (right photo below).
After gotten a bowl of taro balls, just followed the signs to the spacious eatery with an invincible sea view (left photo below). A-Gan-Yi Taro Balls have three different flavors, including Azuki beans (紅豆), Mung beans (綠豆) and kidney beans (花豆). Bought a cup of assorted flavors with shaved ice at TWD 50. The taro balls were chewy and was less watery compared to Lai-Ah-Po Taro Balls (right photo below).
- Took Bus 1062 from the bus stop diagonally opposite the 7-evelen convenience store. While the bus was crossing the Jieshou Bridge (介寿桥) over keelung river, the buildings along the river banks caught my attentions. Perhaps were the effects from the bus window sun filter and the rainy weather; these added a rusty tone to the photos which make them so picturesque (photos below).
Had my late lunch in the food court located at basement two of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Xinyi district. From the fifteen over food vendors (left photo below), I ordered 'Oyster Omelette with fried bee hoon' set at TWD 140 (right photo below).
The omelette and soup were flavorful and its portion was rather small.
| 🍔 Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A8 Food Court (新光三越A8馆美食街) | |
|---|---|
| Address: | Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taipei Xinyi Place A8, Basement 2 |
| Access: | Taipei City Hall metro station Exit 5 |
| Operating Hours: | 1100 hours to 2130 hours (Mon to Thur & Sun); 1100 hours to 2200 hours (Fri & Sun) |
Eslite Bookstore
Proceeded to the 24-hour flagship Eslite Bookstore (誠品) at Xinyi district to browse at its wide selection of books.
| ✍ Update: |
|---|
| Unable to renew its lease, Eslite Bookstore at Xinyi district is closed permanently on 24 Dec 2023. However Eslite's Songyan outlet will continue to stay open 24-hour. |
Eslite Xinyi Food Court (信儀誠品食堂)
Decided to have my dinner in this Eslite Xinyi Food Court located on basement floor. Saw the Formosa Chang that has a stall in this food court (left photo below). Ordered a braised pork rice set at TWD 125 (right photo below).
Taste was good especially its Taiwanese sausages.| ✍ Update: |
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| Eslite Xinyi Food Court is temporary closed. |
Raohe Street Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市)
This is a 600-meters long night market street in Songshan District located at the east side of the Ciyou Temple (松山慈祐宮). The most iconic feature of this night market is the impressive Chinese-style entrance gate located on both ends of the street (left photo below). There are two lanes marked by the shops within the buildings and temporary stalls along the Raohe street (right photo below).
Fuzhou Pepper Buns (福州元祖胡椒餅)- This stall is located in the center row and first one under the entrance gate (left photo below). Each bun was hand-made and bake inside the 120 °C hot canisters for about 30-mins. So at least 20 to 30-mins of waiting time can be expected in the queue. Bought a pepper bun to try at TWD 50 (right photo below). The peppery taste was satisfactory and complemented well with the savory pork fillings.
- This is a family run business of over 20 years (left photo below). Customers can opt to dine on its second floor or have take-aways. The squid was first boiled and then dressed in an incredibly flavorful sauce, with chillis, garlic and fresh basil. Bought it at TWD 120 and the squid was tender and tasty (right photo below).
Bought these snacks as supper and had them inside the hotel room.
Day Five
Transport to Taoyuan Airport
Took metro to Beimen station (北門站) then walked for about 10-mins to the Taipei Main station of Taoyuan Airport MRT line. After which took the line to Airport Terminal 2 station.
Taoyuan Terminal Two Food Court
Had lunch at 'Liu-Bao Wonton Noodle' shop located at the basement of Airport Terminal 2 (left photo below). Ordered a bowl of wonton noodle set at TWD 168 (right photo below). Taste was acceptable for the noodles.
VAT RefundThe VAT refund counter was located on the second floor of the terminal. Managed to get back TWD 200 of refund after deducting additional 14% handling fee.
SunnyHills store (微熱山丘専櫃)
Saw this SunnyHills store on second floor of Terminal 2 once I walked from the VAT refund counter (left photo below). As these pineapple tarts had short expiry dates, I only bought a box of 10 packs at TWD 420 (right photo below).
Glad that the flight took off on time (left photo below). Selected 'chicken pasta' as my inflight dinner (right photo below).
The flight SQ 877 landed safely on Singapore. With this, it ended my 5-days trip to Taipei.