Taiwan is a favourite tourist destination among Singaporeans.
Having a DIY trip to Taiwan is probably the way to go for a trip there. The only hindrance to a successful journey is travelling between cities and attractions. Some may book a driver for the day or the entire trip. While this is ideal, finding one that would fit your schedule may not be possible.
We decided to go to Taichung and Taipei with the aid of Klook. Instead of having one driver with us and planning our own route, we book our activities via Klook and let them prepare for us. This way, it is hassle-free as it means that we simply turn up and enjoy. Since we are travelling in a group of 10, ages 9-70, we had to plan for activities that will cater to everyone.
Our One Week holiday in Taiwan consists of the following activities booked via Klook.
The itinerary went smoothly for most parts of the trip. Here is a glimpse of our one-week holiday in Taiwan.
Day 1
Highlights: Taichung Fengjia Night Market, Street Food and Claw Machines
As there were no direct flights to Taichung from Singapore, we had to take a flight to Taipei and transfer to Taichung. Our private transfer was booked from Klook. As we were travelling in a large group, we wanted a fuss-free transfer, and this was the best option as the cars brought us to our hotel doorsteps. The journey took about 2 hours to complete.
If you travel alone or in a smaller group, you might opt for alternatives such as the THSR.
On the same note, hailing a taxi on the road is nearly impossible. Most of the time, you either use their local app or ask for help from the hotel. With that in mind, it might be better to hire a private driver for your trip.
Fengjia Green Hotel 台中逢甲葉綠宿旅館 No. 287號, Section 2, Xitun Road, Xitun District, Taichung City, Taiwan 407
Green Hotel Taichung
Our Hotel chosen for Taichung was theGreen Hotel. We choose the Hotel due to its proximately to Fengjia Night Market, Taiwan's largest Night Market (less than 10 mins walk). It's a 3-star hotel providing affordable accommodation with rooms under $200 per night for a quadruple room.
Green Hotel Room
The rooms were simple yet modern and clean. Breakfast was not included, but there are plenty of spots around to have a meal. There is a basement pantry and play area too for guests to unwind.
There are fancier hotels in the vicinity, but most were booked on our dates. We do suggest you make an early booking. if you are planning a trip there.
Fengjia Market (Feng Chia Market) is our next stop. Located in Xitun, next to Feng Chia University, it lays claim to be the biggest night market in Taiwan. There is more than one street to explore as it encompasses the shopping district in Xitun.
Feng Jia Night Market
Night markets are the highlights of any Taiwan Trip. For this trip, we probably visited the Markets almost every night!
Flame on
The street food is a must-try. It's fresh, inexpensive and delicious. We had large chunks of beef for NT $200, super large Fried Chicken Steak for NT $100, smelly tofu for NT $60 and many more!
Beef Cubes
If you would like to shop, you could find t-shirts for as low as 3 for NT $500. That is about SGD 7.5 apiece. It's pretty decent, given the excellent material used.
Shop till you drop
The other thing that caught our eyes was the claw machines. It is hard to resist the lure at NT $10 (SGD 45 cents) a play. For the record, playing in Singapore would cost twice as much.
Claw Machine Wins
In case you do not know, we are huge claw machine fans; check out our wins from Fengjia Night Market.
Day 2
Taichung attractions - Zhongshe Flower Market, Rainbow Garden, Chun Shui Tang, Mirayahara, Sun Moon Lake
The next morning, we stepped into a traditional Taiwanese breakfast shop aptly named Taiwan Chuantong Breakfast Restaurant to sample the breakfast. The shop is located only a few steps away from the Green Hotel. Breakfast was delightful as we wolfed down the delicious Taiwanese snacks from the shop.
Price-wise, it's very pocket-friendly!
Traditional Taiwanese Breakfast
After a hearty meal, it's time to set off for our Taichung custom tour. Instead of sourcing high and low for drivers, we found a Private Sightseeing car charter from Klook*. We chose the destinations, and the drivers took over from there. With their experiences, they managed to cover all we wanted to do for the day.
We planned to visit ZhongsheFlower Garden, Rainbow Village, Miyahara, Chun Shui Tang (Taiwan's first bubble tea) and Sun Moon Lake. With only 10 hours to cover 5 destinations, it was amazing how our drivers managed to plan it efficiently. Also, they double up as tour guides by providing us with a running commentary on the places we visited, Book Private Sightseeing Car Charter from Taichung here
Our first stop was Zhongshe Flower Garden. This is a big flower market that is popular as a photography stop.
Are we in Holland?
You would have plenty of Instagrammable photos of the lush landscape of flowers.
Beethoven
If you are looking for a place to take picture-perfect family portraits, Zhongshe Flower Market would be a choice destination. If you are not planning to travel or have more time, you could visit this place together with a visit toLIHPAO Discovery Land, the biggest theme park in Taichung.
Zhongshe Flower Market
Since we had only a whole day to tour Taichung, we decided to skip the theme park and explore general tourist attractions instead.
Rainbow Village 彩虹村 408, Taiwan, Taichung City, Nantun District, 春安路56巷25號
The next stop, Rainbow Village, is a place that tops Instagrammers' list when they visit Taichung. Rainbow Village was created by a former soldier, Huang Yung Fu (affectionately known as Rainbow Grandpa). He began painting houses here to save them from demolition. His colourful artwork worked, and Rainbow Village eventually became a designated cultural area and a popular tourist hotspot.
The paintings on the walls are colourful, and you could find different Chinese good luck charms on them.
Not Rainbow Grandpa
If you are lucky, you might find Rainbow Grandpa when you visit. Even if you cannot find him, you could still indulge in snacks such as Tea Eggs and Rainbow Ice cream while you are there.
Rainbow Ice Cream @ Rainbow Village
Chun Shui Tang 春水堂創始店 No. 30號, Siwei Street, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403
Our next stop is Chun Shui Tang Original Store in Taichung. This is hugely recognised as the birthplace of Taiwan's famous bubble tea. You could have a meal there but the wait is very long.
First Bubble Tea
We decided to just order the bubble tea and try it. It may not be the best bubble tea we tasted, but it was the first one invented in the world!
The first bubble tea.
Miyahara Ice Cream宮原眼科 No. 20號, Zhongshan Road, Central District, Taichung City, Taiwan 400
People come here for 2 things, Ice cream and to look at the interior. This Harry Potter-inspired ice cream parlour is famous due to its extensive decor. If you choose to visit, try to stay on a weekday. We went during the peak hour, and the queue for ice cream was too long for us. We did catch a glimpse of the impressive decor within.
Miyahara
Sun Moon Lake 日月潭 Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan 555
Sun Moon Lake Ropeway
It was lunchtime when we headed to the outskirts of Taichung to Sun Moon Lake. If you plan a trip to Sun Moon Lake, it will be easier to visit via Taichung than from Taipei. We stopped at a local restaurant recommended by the drivers to sample the popular Emperor Fish.
If you are not in a rush, we recommend a one-day tour from Taichung. It will be a much more relaxing tour this way.
As we had only 3 hours to explore Sun Moon Lake, the best way to do so was via ferries. There are 3 main stops at Sun Moon Lake- Shioshe, Syuanguang Pier, and Ita Thao Pier. There are a few ferry operators there, so the best way to look out for your ferries is to remember which dock you alight.
Sun Moon Lake Ferries
There is no time limit to how long you can spend at each stop. However, the last ferry departs around 5 pm during winter, so remember to watch your time.
Jin Men Grandma Tea Eggs
Our first stop was at Syuangguang Pier; at this stop, you have to try the famous Jin Men Grandma's Tea Eggs flavoured with Assam tea leaves. Take a short hike up, and there is a temple and one of the more popular Sun Moon Lake rock to pose for a photo. There are 5 Sun Moon Lake Rocks in the vicinity, and this particular one is popular with tourists from China.
Sun Moon Lake
Our next stop is Ita Thao Pier to visit the Ita Thao Village. This is a small town with stores selling local street food and souvenirs. We tried the local wild boar bun upon recommendation by our drivers.
Wild Boar bun
If you have time and this is your first time at Sun Moon Lake, you could plan for a day tour to Sun Moon Lake. You could explore the trails, Wenwu Temple and even the ropeway. There is also the Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village to explore.
Unfortunately, time was insufficient for our trip, and we had to miss all that. Soon it was time to catch the last ferry back.
Our drivers dropped us at our hotel, and we arrived within the stipulated time. Our compliments to the drivers were that they managed to plan our itinerary efficiently and were also very courteous during the trip. We would not hesitate to book via klook the next time we return.
Before we headed back to our hotel, we took a stroll to Fengjia Night Market to fill our stomachs.
Angel Chicken Steak - Fengjia Night Market
Day 3
Alishan
Alishan 阿里山鄉
Chiayi County, Taiwan 605
Alishan
It had always been a wish to visit the famed Alishan forest. The song Alishan girl was a familiar tune back in the 70s and 80s and had been ringing in my head. However, planning a trip to Alishan would not be easy due to the location.
Alishan Tea
When we discovered that Klook provides an Alishan Forest Railway Day Tourfrom Taichung, we decided to take it up. This organised tour will bring you to Alishan and back to Taichung in a day. The tour picked us up from the hotel and transferred us to THSR station to switch to a bigger bus. It took us about 2 hours to reach our first stop, an Alishan Tea house, to sample the famed Alishan Tea. Book your Alishan Forest Railway Day tour here
Cheers
With long winding roads up the mountain, it is best to take motion sickness medication before your trip. Keep your eyes peeled outside during the ride, as the scenery can be breathtaking when passing through valleys. Our tour guide's language skills were impressive as he effortlessly switched between Chinese, English and Japanese.
Alishan
After 3 hours, we stopped at Alishan hill for a meal at the local restaurant. The meal was a decent 9-course meal comprising Taiwanese dishes such as roast pork, fish and soup.
After lunch, we were transferred to the forest trail via minibuses.
Mini Bus
It was a scenic walk through the forest, where we saw several ancient trees and trees resembling particular objects and animals. From the photo below, can you tell which animal did we spot?
Elephant Tree
There was a stop at the museum to learn about the history of Alishan and the Japanese connection. The Japanese completed the Alishan Forest Railway, which developed Alishan into a logging industry. It stopped in the 70s, and Alishan has been converted into a national scenic area since 2001.
The walking trail took slightly over an hour with a few stops. It was a relatively easy walk. We have elders that are 70 years old in the group, and they managed to walk the trail without much issue.
Why are we posing on railway tracks!
The highlight of the trip would be a short ride on the Alishan Forest Railway.
Trainspotting
The ride itself lasted less than 10 mins. At least, we can say we had been to Alishan and had taken the railway. The only regret ... We did not see any Alishan girl in traditional gear.
Alishan Railway
Our last stop for the day would be the Eternity Suspension Bridge. At that stop, a local snack store serves free coffee and snacks. Do pop in and try the delicious Taiwanese snacks made there.
Eternity Suspension Bridge
It was another 3-hour drive back to Taichung; we slept most of the time on the bus and were refreshed to head out to the Night Market once again.
Bubble Tea
This time, we sampled the local bubble tea there. The bubble tea drinks sold for about NT 40 to 50. It's a steal; compared to the prices in Singapore!
Day 4
THSR, Chaing Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Shilin Market
Today, we will be switching cities and heading to Taipei. Our day started with Breakfast at Laya Burger, a fusion Taiwanese Burger joint.
THSR
THSR Tickets
We had pre-booked our Taiwan High-Speed Rail (THSR) from Klook. The reason why we did this was that we are staying at Ximending in Taipei. It's much easier and faster to travel by THSR to Taipei compared to a car.
There were several rides to Taipei every hour. We managed to get seats on the train without prior booking. Luggage is welcome on board, and there are spaces to place them. In terms of comfort, the ride was smooth, but the cabin could use an upgrade. The ride into Taipei took about an hour.
When we reached Taipei, we switched to the subway for a one-stop ride to Ximending. Even with luggage, it was a much better experience than hiring a car. It also costs lesser than the car, with each ticket costing less than SGD 14.
For our stay in Taipei, we will be here for the next 4 days and 3 nights.
Rainbow Hotel Ximending 長虹大飯店 No. 36, Hanzhong Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Rainbow Hotel
Due to its ideal location, we settled on Ximending as the base for Taipei. Rainbow Hotel, situated at the Heart of Ximending, was perfect as it was located minutes from the MRT. It provided a great value for less than $200 per night for a 2 bedroom given its location.
Rainbow Hotel
Some of the hotel rooms were newly renovated, and we were lucky to get one just recently upgraded through booking.com. Given the location and the price, we were pleased with what we got.
Jin Feng Restaurant金峰魯肉飯 No. 10, Section 1, Roosevelt Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Jin Feng
The first thing we did in Taipei was to fill our stomachs. We headed to the famous Jin Feng Restaurant to try their braised pork rice. For NT 100-200, you could order rice, soup and vegetables. The food was warm and delicious though the servings can be quite small for a small bowl. There was a queue while we were there, but it did move pretty fast.
Braised Pork Rice
Cheng Kai-Shek Memorial Hall 中正紀念堂 No. 21號, Zhongshan South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall
After a hearty meal, we headed to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. This imposing hall is probably Taipei's most famous national monument. Built in the memory of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, it is located in Zhongzheng District. A fun fact, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is literally translated from Chung Cheng Memorial Hall in Chinese.
Interestingly, there is a Singapore connection here. In Singapore, Chung Cheng High School was named after him. Chung Cheng High School students might also find the national gazetted entrance oddly familiar to the one at their school compound.
The monument is surrounded by a park. On top of the Monument, you would have an impressive view of the grounds.
Inside the monument, you will be greeted by a large statue of a sitting Chiang Kai-Shek. This is also where the ceremonial changing of guards takes place every hour on the hour.
After the guard's ceremony, visit the mini-museum on the ground floor to learn more about the history of Taiwan. The hall is open from 9am to 6pm daily save for Chinese New Year Eve, Chinese New Year and maintenance days.
President ride
Shilin Market 士林市場 111, Taiwan, Taipei City, Shilin District
Shilin Market
It was another night market in the evening. This time we head to the famed Shilin Market to try its street food. We tried the number one street food - Fried Chicken from Wellyyen. It's the number one street food due to the longest queue you could find in Shilin Market for street food.
We had a go at the claw machines at Shilin Market. Our experiences were not as good as the ones at Feng Jia Market. We did not even manage a single win for the evening.
Feeling disappointed, we came across a street filled with carnival game stalls. Having watched numerous youtube videos on Shilin Carnival games, we just had to try it out for ourselves.
This time, we did much better and walked away with a handful of plushies. The carnival games cost NT 100 (SGD 4.5) per play. It may cost more than claw machines, but the win rate is much higher.
Check out our carnival wins here
Since we had street food in the last couple of nights, we decided to head to the indoor basement food court to search for food instead.
Food Court
To our surprise, the food offered here is similar to street food. No complaints, though as we can enjoy the food in aircon comfort.
Taiwan Oyster Egg
Day 5
Yehlie Geopark, Juifen, Shifen, Shuttle Bus
Klook Tour
Planning a trip for a large group can be daunting. Today we decided to take it easy with a day trip to Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen and Shifen with a day tour from Klook.The cost of the tour was very affordable at $20 per pax. If we had booked a car and set the itinerary, it would cost at least twice as much.
Yehliu Geopark 野柳地質公園 207, Taiwan, New Taipei City, Wanli District
Princess Rock @ Yehliu Geopark
The first stop was Yehliu Geopark, a landscape of mushroom rocks eroded by the sea. This is like the Pinnacles in Perth. There are interesting rock formations that resemble a particular object or animal. The most famous one would be the Queen's head. The stop here lasted about an hour.
You need tickets to get to the park; we suggest booking them via Klook to skip the queue.
Jinshui Road, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 224
The Golden Waterfall was our next stop. It was known as Golden Waterfall due to its golden hue. The water is toxic due to the nearby gold mining facilities. There may be gold there, but do not attempt to touch it!
Jiufen 九份老街 Jishan Street, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 224
Jiufen
Jiufen is our next destination. Jiufen is a mountain town known for its narrow alleyways filled with teahouses, street food, and souvenir stalls in an old town vide.
Spirited Away to Jiufen
It is also popularly known as the village that is said to have inspired Spirited Away, a popular Japanese Animated Show. Although. the director Hayao Miyazaki had denied it; the similarity between the show and the place is eerily uncanny. The Stairs, the streets lined with lanterns, and the teahouses are all trademarks of the show.
Amei Tea House 阿妹茶樓 224, Taiwan, New Taipei City, Ruifang District, 市下巷20號
Amei Teahouse
The stop here lasted only 2 hours. To maximise our trip, we booked a tea session at Amei Teahouse from Klook. Instead of heading inside the small alleys and squeezing our way in, we took the back lanes and reached the teahouse in less than 15 mins ( do ask for directions from your guide)
Our experience at Amei Teahouse includes classic Taiwanese Snacks and Oolong Tea.
Taiwanese Snacks
The staff there showed us the correct way to make tea during the experience.
Oolong Tea
Having tea with a breathtaking view was pretty relaxing.
View from Amei Teahouse
Due to time constraints and unfamiliar with the streets, we had to leave early to head back to our meeting point. Since this was a shutter bus, the guide would not wait too long if you were late. Navigating through the meandering streets was a challenge since we did not arrive at Amei Teahouse in the same way. For a moment, we were walking in the wrong direction. Thankfully, we decided to ask for recommendations and made our way back in time.
Streets of Jiufen.
To be on the safe side when you travel, always get a wifi connection in case you get lost.
Shifen Waterfall 十分瀑布 226, Taiwan, New Taipei City, Pingxi District
Suspension Bridge
The next scenic stop was Shifen Waterfall.
Shifen Waterfall
Personally, we thought that Shifen Waterfall was more impressive than Golden Waterfall. If you have only time for one Waterfall, we suggest you choose Shifen Waterfall. Besides the Waterfall, there are shops where you can grab a souvenir.
Shifen Lanterns
Before we reached Shifen, we could order a sky lantern from the guide. We suggest you take the guide's offer as it was slightly cheaper than compared to the shop. Different coloured lanterns have different meanings, so choose the one you would like to have your wishes granted. Lantern costs from NT 140 (SGD 6.3) onwards.
Shifen Old Street 十分老街
226, Taiwan, New Taipei City, Pingxi District
Shifen
When you reach the shops, they will give you time to pen your wishes on the lanterns. We had seen this in movies, and it was a surreal experience letting the sky lanterns go in the middle of the railway tracks. In hindsight, it may not be the most environmentally friendly thing to do, so we hope there will be a biodegradable version on the horizon.
Sky Lanterns
In case you are wondering, it is a working railway track. When the trains come, everyone needs to get off the track. No fret, though, as the train moves slowly, and there are ample warnings when it arrives. There is still time to check out the shops along Shifen Old Street after the Sky Lantern experience.
Real Working Tracks
It was back in Taipei after the trip. This was probably the best trip we had in Taipei due to its experiences and one for which we would give an A*.
It's time for a day trip to Taipei. You could plan a trip via the MRT. However, if you are travelling with older folks, there will be too much walking, which may be inconvenient. To save time, we opt for a Private Car Charter instead.
When you are in Taipei, you have to visit Taipei 101. Taiwan's tallest building was officially the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2010. We got tickets from Klook and managed to skip the queue by collecting the tickets at the self-service kiosk. Klook Skip the Queue Taipei 101 Tickets
Mist
The view would have been spectacular if it was not a cloudy day. It was sunny all the way during our stay in Taiwan ... until the day we visited Taipei 101. What a bummer!
Taipei 101 ball
While you are there, check out this amazing golden globe. This device is said to be the one to stabilise the building from strong winds and earthquakes.
Who's taller, Taipei 101 or us?
Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 101店 110, Taiwan, Taipei City, Xinyi District, City Hall Rd, 45號台北101購物中心B1
Din Tai Fung
Since we were at Taipei 101, we had to try the famous Din Tai Fung. On a typical day, it would be impossible to get a spot there due to the long queues. Since we were there early, we stood in line 30 minutes before the opening and snagged ourselves a spot. Naturally, Xiao Long Bao was on our menu.
Xiao Long Bao
Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf 淡水漁人碼頭 251, Taiwan, New Taipei City, Tamsui District
What you do when you see a love sign
With a private charter, you can explore further. We head to Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf to take photos of the famous Love sign and the bridge.
Love Bridge
Tamsui Old Street 淡水市場 No. 45之1號, Qingshui Street, Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 251
Tamsui Old Street
After the obligatory photos, we head to Tamsui Old Street, about 10 minutes away.
30cm tall ice cream
This is another market where you can find Street food and souvenir stores. The must-try food here is the 30 cm tall ice cream (!) and the crispy squid. If you are looking for bags, we saw a couple of deals at only NT 100 (SGD 4) for a backpack!
Popular Squid from Tamsui Market
It seems like claw machines have now taken over some of the shops. 6 years ago, there were hardly any of these around. Today, they are at every corner!
Claw Machines Tamshui
Ximending 西門町夜市
No. 127號, Hanzhong Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
It was back to Ximending. Ximending does not have a typical 'night market' where you would see rows of street food. It is more like a shopping paradise with pockets of street food. There is a lane that caters to street food, but it is relatively small compared to Shilin Market.
Ah Zhong Mee Sua 阿宗麵線
No. 8-1號, Emei St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Ah Zhong Mee Sua
Notable food includes the Ah Zhong Mee Sua (Ay Chung Flour Rice Noodle), Mango Shaved Ice and more. Ximen Mango Shaved Ice 西門町芒菓冰
Coincidently the former 2 are just steps away from our hotel - Rainbow hotel.
Modern Toilet Restaurant 便所主題餐廳 西門店
2f, No. 7號, Lane 50, Xining South Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Modern Toilet Restaurant
Ximending does have exciting shops, such as the Modern Toilet Restaurant.
It was also our dinner location. Everyone needs to order one item from the menu for a meal there. It could be a side dish or drinks.
Toilet Bowl
Food is just ok, but how many times can you say I ate out of the toilet bowl while sitting on a toilet bowl AND be totally cool with it.
Toilet Bowl booth
Day7
Ximending Graffiti Street, Claw Machines
Ximending Graffiti Street @ Taipei Cinema Park 臺北市電影主題公園 No. 19, Kangding Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
It's our last day in Taipei. Since our flight was in the afternoon, we wandered around Ximending.
Joker
We stumbled upon the infamous Ximending Graffiti Street. Located around Taipei Cinema Park, you can see several interesting graffiti on the walls around the buildings.
Astro Boy
There is even a Godzilla made of bricks and cans in the park!
Godzilla
The only shops that were open early in the morning at Ximending were the claw machine shops. We had tough luck at the claw machines during this trip, but it was hard to resist the temptation...
Catch me
Lo and Behold, we hit the jackpot and won 6 boxes of One Piece figures from one machine. Check out our wins here.
One final meal before we depart from Taipei. We settled on Taiwanese Western Food. It was a steal at less than $10 for a steak meal!
Taiwanese Western food
Last but not least, we head to a nearby snack shop to stock up.
Taiwanese Snack shop
We booked the airport transfer for Taoyuan Airport Transfer to bring us to the hotel. It was fuss-free as the driver provided excellent communication before meeting with us. You can select transportation for up to 8 pax per vehicle. It will be more worthwhile if you are with a bigger group than taking 2 taxis. Book your airport transfer here.
Soon it was time to head home. Given the vast landscape of Taiwan, a week there is not enough to cover Taiwan. We will surely be back soon!
Heading home.
A special thanks to Klook for making this an easy trip to plan.
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