Day 1 ~ Kuala Lumpur to Taoyuan, Taipei
Day 2 ~ Yehliu Geopark - Ningxia Night Market
Day 3 ~ Jiufen - Jinguashi (Gold Mine Museum) - Keelung Night Market
Day 4 ~ Tamsui / Danshui (淡水) - Fisherman's Wharf (渔人码头) - Beitou HotSpring (北投温泉) - Shilin Night Market (士林夜市)
Day 5 ~ Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall (中正纪念堂) - Shifen (十分) - Roaohe Night Market (饶河夜市)
Day 6 ~ Taipei to Taichung
Day 7 ~ Cingjing Farm - Fengjia Night Market
Day 8 ~ Taichung to Taoyuan Airport
Day 1: Kuala Lumpur - Taoyuan, Taipei
Evening flight 5.45pm arrive at 10.25pm, not recommended for late flight as you will be wasted half a day but because of some reason therefore we have no choice but to choose evening flight.
We took cab from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Main Station as we booked a studio apartment. More info on the Taipei accommodation that i choose, click here.
Day 2: Yehliu Geopark（野柳） - Ningxia Night Market （宁夏夜市）
- Destination : Yehliu Geopark
- Transport : Bus "Guo Guang Ke Yun" (国光客运）
- Journey : About 1h45mins
- Bus Fare : NT96 / person
- Entrance fees : NT80 / person
Yehliu Geopark is a cape in Wanli District, New Taipei. The best knows rock at this park is "Queen's Head) which is an iconic image in Taiwan and some other formation such as "Ginger Rocks", "Fairy Shoe", the "Beehive" and "Sea Candles" and etc.
The entrance fees to this park is NT80 / person. We spent about 3 hours at the park and took bus back to Taipei Main Station.(Wait at the same place that you alight from the bus, the bus stop is actually at the mini market shop) If you are relying on the public bus, its advisable to leave before 7pm. We settle our dinner at Ningxia Night Market, we took cab to night market after we arrived at Taipei Main Station (TMS) and we walked back from night market as its not so far from TMS.
Day 3: Jiu Fen (九分) - Jinguashi (金瓜石) - Keelung MiaokouNight Market (基隆庙口夜市）
- Destination : Jiu Fen
- Transport : Taipei TRA Station (train station) - Rui Fang Station, bus from Rui Fang Station - Jiufen
- Journey : About 1h05mins
- Train Fare : NT49 / person
From TRA station purchase train ticket to Rui Fang Station. (P/S : there are two types of ticket, NT49 is a free sitting like those MRT, and we had an awful experience because throughout the journey we have to stand and it was so pack in the train. So remember to get a ticket with a seating number just at NT59 otherwise you will be suffer like me.We didn't know that there are two types of ticket selling at the counter, that's why!
You have to alight at Rui Fang Station then take the bus to Jiufen, the journey is about 15 minutes, and if you prefer convenient way you may take a cab from the train station. But because Mr D and I was on budget trip so we have decided to take bus, the taxi fare from Rui Fang Station to Jiu Fen is NT180 while the bus fare is NT15 / person. You need to cross the road then turn left all the way straight for about 200 meters and you will see the bus stop which is next to the police station.
Jiu Fen is a beautiful mountain view old village, you can google it for more information :)
Things to do at Jiufen?
Have a cup of cuppa and enjoy the fascinating scenery of the old village, try out the yummy street foods (i personally recommended the FRIED MUSHROOM, you can spot it at your right side along the way).
We spent about 3 hours exploring Jiufen, then we continue with the second destination which is the Gold Mine Museum ---> Jinguashi.
- Destination : Jinguashi
- Transport : Bus from Jiufen
- Journey : < 10 mins
- Train Fare : About NT15 / person
How to spot for a famous foods in a night market?
Very simple, just see which one with the long queues, that's the answer!
Recommended the CRAB SOUP WITH GLUTINOUS RICE for NT55 (soup) and NT25 (rice).
After settle our dinner at the night market then we took TRA from Keelung back to Taipei, train fare is NT41 / person.
Day 4: Tamsui / Danshui (淡水) - Fisherman's Wharf (渔人码头) - Beitou HotSpring (北投温泉) - Shilin Night Market (士林夜市)
- Destination : Tamsui
- Transport : TRA Red Line (Tamsui Xinyi Line to the north)
- Journey : About 37 minutes (From Taipei Main Station)
- Train Fare : NT50 / person (Single journey)
Last minute homework, i google and found a famous breakfast shop at Ximen so we purposely took TRA from Taipei Main Station to Ximen station which is just one station away for the price of NT20 / person.
We do not know the actual location of the breakfast shop, so we just walked and asked around until we reached YONGHE DOUJIANG (永和豆漿). This is a traditional Taiwan breakfast such as homemade soya milk, steam bun, carrot cake and etc.
Then we took TRA back to Taipei Main Station and change to Red Line to the north. It takes about 37 minutes from Taipei Main Station.
Tamsui is a sea-side district in New Taipei City in northern part. It's popular as a site for viewing sun setting and the old street with good scenery and various local foods along the street. The famous snack is dried braised eggs aka IRON EGGS (Tie Dan 铁蛋), if you are curious about this you may try it. I personally don't like it, i prefer fresh eggs :) And oh ya, another famous foods is AH GEI'S TOUFU & FISHBALL.
We took a ferry for NT60 / person from Tamsui to Fisherman Wharf. Nothing much to explore beside taking photo and then we took a bus back to Tamsui train station. You can skip this and move to the next destination, and my next destination was awesome!
- Destination : Beitou Hotspring
- Transport : TRA Red Line
- Journey : About 16 minutes (From Tamsui Station)
- Train Fare : NT30 / person (Single journey)
We head up to Beitou hotspring, take the red line which is 7 stations away from Tamsui station, the journey takes about 16 minutes for NT30 / person. And be prepare to walk again as it's kinda far to the hotspring, i mean the park is huge! One of the must visit area in Beitou is Thermal Valley. It's open from Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5pm free entrance, and by the time we arrive there was already 5.09pm but there are some visitor still hanging around in that area. This area is full of sulfur smell as it's a natural sulfuric hot spring water, it was an amazing experience to see this!
Dinner - Shilin Night Market. (Alight at the Jiantan Station, red line). And one of the street foods that you must try is the yummy CHEESE POTATOES! It's a mashed potato taste crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside and stuffed with your choice of ingredient such as hard boiled egg, bacon, ham, turkey corn, broccoli, mayonnaise and the generous and the overflowing of cheese!!! If not mistaken it cost like NT65, worth it because it was so super duper delicious!
Day 5: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall (中正纪念堂) - Shifen (十分) - Roaohe Night Market (饶河夜市)
Then we took TRA back to Taipei Main Station and from there we took the train to Rui Fang Station again just to discover Shifen. And this time we bought our ticket with the seating number after the horrible first experience whereby we have to stand until we reach Rui Fang Station. Alight at Rui Fang station then take another train to Shifen.
Day 5: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall (中正纪念堂) - Shifen (十分) - Roaohe Night Market (饶河夜市)
- Destination : Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall
- Transport : TRA Green line (toward the South) - CKS Memorial Hall Station
- Journey : About 3 minutes (From Taipei Main Station)
- Train Fare : NT20 / person (Single journey)
- Admission Fees : FREE
CKS Memorial Hall has its own train station so it's very convenient and accessible. The scene outside of the building is beautiful for photography, and please do not forget to visit the flower garden. I was told that there is a changing of the guard that happens every hour but i missed it. So don't miss it and catch up the guard marching in their way! Inside the hall had a lot of historical information and art gallery, definitely a place for anyone that love to discover the history of CKS.
Then we took TRA back to Taipei Main Station and from there we took the train to Rui Fang Station again just to discover Shifen. And this time we bought our ticket with the seating number after the horrible first experience whereby we have to stand until we reach Rui Fang Station. Alight at Rui Fang station then take another train to Shifen.
- Destination : Shifen
- Transport : Train from Rui Fang Station - Shifen
- Journey : About 35mins
- Train Fare : NT19 / person
The famous activity in Shifen is the sky lantern, people believe that by writing your wishes on the lantern and release it to the sky then your wishes will come true! Well, what do you think? The sky lantern are selling from the range of NT100 to NT150 depending on the number of color chosen and apparently each of the color are representing a wish. But i did not try it as i do not want those paper lantern end up fall into the jungle and create more trash! Dream come true huh? i wish too :)
So after seeing people play with the sky lantern, we decided to visit Shifen Waterfall. I thought it was very near, end up we walked for more than 30 minutes from Shifen Railway :( This scenic waterfall is the broadest waterfall in Taiwan, beautiful!
And we have to walked back to Shifen train station and head back to Rui Fang Station.
Dinner on Day 5, we settled it at Raohe Night Market. Alight at Songshan station and follow the crowd then you will come to the night market. And again, when you see there is a long queues, then that is the famous and yummy street foods!
BLACK PEPPER BUN! At the entrance near the temple, you can spot the first stall at left side with a long queues, really worth it! i queues again for the second bun, powerful! And the weather was so pleasant to have a bowl of mutton soup, randomly picked a stall and that's it! Delicious!
Day 6: Taichung
- Destination : Taichung
- Transport : Bus (Ho-Hsin 和欣客运)
- Journey : About 1h40mins
- Bus Fare : NT200 / person
Next, we heading to Taichung for 3 days 2 nights. You can get the bus ticket at Taipei Main Station.
After the journey for about 1 hour and 40minutes, we arrive in Taichung and took cab to our budget hotel. We had booked a budget hotel which is a walking distance and accessible to Fengjia Night Market.
Fengjia Night Market is located next to Feng Chia University and it was claimed as the largest night market in Taiwan! It were establish along Wen Hua Road and later expand it to Fengjia Road (逢甲路), Fuxing Road (福星路), Xi'an Street (西安街) and etc.
So the activity for day 6 is visited Feng Chia University and the night market :)
After the journey for about 1 hour and 40minutes, we arrive in Taichung and took cab to our budget hotel. We had booked a budget hotel which is a walking distance and accessible to Fengjia Night Market.
Fengjia Night Market is located next to Feng Chia University and it was claimed as the largest night market in Taiwan! It were establish along Wen Hua Road and later expand it to Fengjia Road (逢甲路), Fuxing Road (福星路), Xi'an Street (西安街) and etc.
So the activity for day 6 is visited Feng Chia University and the night market :)
Day 7: Cingjing Farm
- Destination : Cingjing Farm - Fengjia Night Market (逢甲夜市)
- Transport : Nantou Bus 南投客运
- Journey : About 2h34mins
- Bus Fare + Entrance Fees : NT600 / person
We took bus from Fengjia area to HSR Train Station, and from there we took Nantaou Bus to Cingjing. The ticket counter not only sell the bus ticket, they have a package for bus and entrance fees of Cingjing Farm which is more worth it compare to purchase it separately..
Cingjing Farm is a wide grassy land and it's pretty scenic, it's a very beautiful place and kids will have lot of fun! During my trip, cherry blossom can be seen all around the farm. Apart from that, sheep are all around the farm and they are OVER friendly, just get their foods from the vending machine and the sheep will comes to you! They are like forever hungry!
Besides feeding and closer interaction with those cute and funny sheep, there is a sheep shearing show that only available or Saturday and Sunday at -0930 and 1430. Besides that, there is a horse show which is available everyday at 1045.
We spent our Day 7 in Cingjing Farm and that's it! And not to forget we visited again Fengjia Night Market for dinner.
Day 8: Taichung - Taoyuan Airport - Kuala Lumpur
- Destination : Taoyuan Airport
- Transport : HSR (High Speed Rail)
- Journey : About 40 mins
- HSR Fare : NT540 / person
High Speed Trail is something interesting to try! The 2 hours journey can be shorten to about 40 mins, wow!!! And of course the price is almost double up if you compare with bus, so we choose to try this train on our last day in Taiwan so that we can catch up our flight on time.
And if you have no time to get your meal before the train arrive, don't worry! You can easily purchase a delicious meal set and get your quick lunch / dinner inside the HSR yeah!
That's all for my Taiwan Trip Itinerary :)
Drop me a message if you would like to know other information, and i hope that i can help a little on your trip.
Have a beautiful and pleasant trip yeah!! XOXO
