Taiwan
Dec 27, 2024 → Jan 11, 2025 (16 days)
A west‑side Taiwan trip covering Taipei, Taichung, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, and Kaohsiung, with a mix of scenic hikes, cultural sites, lakeside villages, and night markets.
The Map
This map comes from Google Maps Timeline and highlights the places we visited throughout our trip.
The Journey
Taipei
Day 1 — Arrival and Ximending
- Arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
- Took the train from the airport to Shandao Temple Station
- Checked in at Hotel Cozzi
- Visited Ximending Walking District for the night market
Day 2 - Hiking and Gondola
- Hiked the Xiangshan Trail
- Rode the Maokong Gondola
Day 3 — Private Tour via OWNRIDES (Beitou District)
- Thermal Valley
- Beitou Hot Spring Museum
- Beitou Public Library
- Yangming Park
- Xiayoukeng Recreation Area
- Qingtiangang Grassland
- Lengshuikeng
- Dinner at Shilin Public Market
Day 4 — Private Tour via OWNRIDES (Yehliu, Jiufen, Shifen)
- Yehliu Geopark
- Jiufen Old Street
- Shifen Waterfall
- Shifen Old Street
- Dinner at Raohe Night Market
Day 5 — Taipei 101 & City Landmarks
- Morning visit to Simple Kaffa and the Taipei 101 observatory
- Visited the Pokémon Center
- Lunch at Din Tai Fung
- Chiang Kai‑shek Memorial Hall
- Liberty Square Arch
- Lungshan Temple
- Dinner at Huaxi Street Night Market
Taichung
Day 6 — Taipei to Taichung
- Took the THSR from Taipei to Taichung
- Checked in at 53 Hotel
- Visited the Cultural Heritage Park
- Walked through Taichung Park
- Stopped by Sunshine Plaza Outlet
- Dessert at Miyahara
Day 7 — Taichung
- Taiwan Sun Cake Museum
- Liuchuan Riverside Walk
- Taichung Literature Museum
- Painted Animation Lane
- Lunch at Chun Shui Tang Siwei Main Shop, the origin of bubble tea
- Rainbow Village
- KuoYuanYe Taichung Store, a pastry shop where we had tea
- Central Bookstore
- Malling in iFG Farglory
Sun Moon Lake
Day 8 — Taichung to Sun Moon Lake
- Took the 6670F bus from Nantou Bus Gancheng Station to Sun Moon Lake
- Checked in at Han Yan Design Hotel
- Walked through Meihe Park
- Visited Ci’en Pagoda
- Visited Wenwu Temple
Day 9 — Sun Moon Lake
- Bought a round‑trip boat ticket
- Took the boat from Shuishe Village to Xuanguang Temple
- Took the boat from Xuanguang Temple to Ita Thao Village
- Walked from Ita Thao Village to the Sun Moon Lake Cable Car
- Rode the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway
- Explored the Ita Thao Night Market
- Took the boat from Ita Thao Village back to Shuishe Village
Alishan
Day 10 — Sun Moon Lake to Alishan
- Took Bus 6739 to the Alishan Bus Station
- Bought entrance tickets at the Alishan Bus Terminal Building
- Checked in at Dafeng Villa
- Took short walks inside the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area
Day 11 — Alishan
- Took the shuttle to Zhushan to watch the sunrise
- Visited the Xiaoliyuanshan Lookout
- Walked to the Sister Ponds
- Continued hiking through the area, passing Chaoping Station
Kaohsiung
Day 12 — Alishan to Kaohsiung
- Bought the 7329A bus ticket to Chiayi HSR at 7‑Eleven
- Took Bus 7329A to Chiayi HSR
- Took the THSR from Chiayi to Zuoying
- Traveled to City Suites by Uber
- Checked-in at City Suites - Kaohsiung Chenai
Day 13 — Kaohsiung
- Visited the Spring and Autumn Pavilions
- Visited the Kaohsiung City Temple of Confucius
- Visited Sunfong Temple
- Stopped at Formosa Boulevard Station
- Walked through Kaohsiung Central Park
- Browsed Talee Department Store
- Visited the Kaohsiung Music Center
- Stopped at Kaohsiung Port Depot 410
Day 14 — Cijin Day Trip
- Took the ferry to Cijin
- Visited The Pier‑2 Art Center
- Explored Cijin Old Street
- Visited the Qijin Shell Museum
- Took the ferry back to Kaohsiung
Taipei
Day 15 — Kaohsiung to Taipei
- Traveled to Zuoying HSR by Uber and train
- Took the THSR from Zuoying to Taipei
- Walked to Lin Inn TMS
- Spent the afternoon at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taipei Xinyi Place A8
Day 16 — Departure
- Took the Purple Express Train from Taipei Main Station to Airport Terminal 1
- Flew out of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
The Costs
Note: Flights not included.
| Category | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | $3,646 |
| Food & Drinks | $1,319 |
| Activities | $726 |
| — Ownrides Yehliu–Shifen–Jiufen Private Tour — $293 | |
| — Ownrides Yangmingshan Private Tour — $220 | |
| — Alishan Activities — $85 | |
| — Sun Moon Lake Activities — $84 | |
| — Cijin Electric Pedicab Rental (2hrs) — $35 | |
| — Maokong Gondola — $18 | |
| — Sky Lantern — $12 | |
| — Yehliu Geopark Entrance Fee — $15 | |
| Transportation | $659 |
| Miscellaneous | $196 |
| Souvenirs | $167 |
| Total | $6,713 |