Taiwan is a place that should be explored not just with public transportation (as convenient as it is). If you only take public transportation everywhere you go, you are missing out on a huge part of Taiwan. You could take taxis everywhere to see these sights, like a rich Chinese person, or you can take the cheaper option and rent a vehicle. Many of the scenic and rural sights of Taiwan can’t be experienced except by hiring your own vehicle.
Renting a Vehicle in Taiwan: Taiwan is the scooter capitol of the world. Driving a scooter is dangerous, but scooters are fun. They are also pretty easy to learn how to operate; if you can already drive a car and/or ride a bike, picking up riding a moped shouldn’t be that hard. There’s not much better of way to experience Taiwan than cruising down the streets like everyone else with the wind blowing in your face. However, if you are looking to get around the island faster, are travelling with multiple people, have lots of luggage, or you are afraid that scooters are dangerous, I would suggest renting a car. Car Rental Fast Facts: Where? Car rental places can be found next to most airports and in all major cities. But don’t expect them right next to every small train station. Pricing? Cheap would be $1000-1500 a day, average would be $2000+ a day, and expensive would be $3,000+ a day. Discounts are often given for multiple day rentals and for weekdays. Do I need a local license? No. However, you should get an international driver’s permit. If you don’t have an international driver’s permit there is no guarantee that you can rent a car. Check with the rental agency beforehand and make necessary preparations. How do I get a local Taiwanese licence? Check out our guide on getting a driver's licence in Taiwan here. Does Taiwan have Uber? Yes but its just as expensive as a Taxi. Uber was banned and fined multiple times because their business model was deemed illegal. Uber drivers were required to have a professional driver’s licence. Now they work with local rental car companies to keep the app going in Taiwan. What side of the road does Taiwan drive on? The Right side. How much is the price of gas? As of March, 2018 it is around 27 NT per liter for 95 octane gas. Anything else I should be aware of when driving in Taiwan? Yes!
Do you have any recommendations? Yes! We have rented before with Car 880 超省錢租車. They are so far the cheapest car rental company we have found. Their rates start at 880 NT on weekdays: http://www.car880.com.tw/. We are not getting paid by advertising for them by the way. Also be aware they are not English capable. Knowing a little Chinese could save you some money. Summation of Rental Car Companies in Taiwan: (please note this is not a complete list. Other discounts and offers can be found on each company's website) Car 880 超省錢租車 website: http://www.car880.com.tw/
Good Cars website: https://www.goodcars.com.tw/
Avis Taiwan 安維斯租車 website: https://www.avis-taiwan.com/us/
HLC 和運租車 website: https://www.easyrent.com.tw/English/
Jinfeng Car Rental 進豐租車 website: http://www.1car-rent.com.tw/service.php
Budget website: https://www.budget.com/en/locations/tb
CarPlus 格上租車 website: https://www.car-plus.com.tw/EN/ugC_AboutUs.asp
Renting a Scooter? Check out our blog about scooter rental in Taiwan here. Feel free to contact us with any specific questions about car or scooter rental in Taiwan, and please like, comment, and share! -FiTW
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Full Moon Waterfall (Manyue Waterfall) lies in Sanxia's Manyueyuan National Forest Recreation Area in New Taipei. It's a beautiful waterfall and an easy family hike.
滿月圓瀑布位於新北市三峽區的滿月圓國家森林游樂區，是一個美麗的瀑布且容易的步道。 I actually recommend not going until the new tourist information center and Virgin Waterfall are opened up. That's right, Virgin Waterfall, the biggest waterfall in the park, is not even accessible, but you can still see Manyueyuan Waterfall for a discounted price. 其實我建議等到處女瀑布開放之後再去。對了，處女瀑布關閉了，整個公園最大的瀑布。但是滿月圓瀑布有優惠哦！ To get there, the only way is by taking your own vehicle or taxi. According to the recreation area website, there are no buses to get there. See a map of the waterfall below: 去那邊只能開車或搭計程車。本地區的網站說沒有公車。請參考以下的地圖：
Before we get into hiking just let me tell you about the parking situation here. If you go on a weekend, especially on a long holiday weekend, parking is going to be competitive. There is some free parking near the entrance to the trail, if you buy some vegetables. So what happens if you don't buy some veggies before your hike? You get yelled at by the kid next to the sign and by the people selling them. We were afraid that people would scratch our car while we gone out of spite, but we also didn't want to haul a bunch of potatoes up a mountain.
我開始討論爬山之前，奇偶想要分享這邊停車的情況。如果你周末去的話，特別連假，你會發現停車很競爭。有些“免費”停車場在步道入口附近，但是你要買菜。你不買菜怎麽辦呢？你會被旁邊的小男生罵，而且被賣菜的老闆罵。我們跟他們說：回來再買可以嗎？整個爬山的過程我們很怕他們會把我們的車子刮傷，但是我們也不想把一大堆菜帶上山。 There is an entrance fee, which is normally 100 NT per person. However, because Virgin Waterfall was closed on this day, the fee was only 50 NT per person. Yipee! 門票原價100，但是因爲處女瀑布關閉我們享有50塊的優惠，黑皮黑皮！ 
View of the trail entrance as we began our way up. There's even a map in English!
步道入口居然有英文地圖！ 
This day in January was rather chilly and windy (you can tell how far behind we are on posts for this blog).
我們一月去的天氣有一點冷，風有點大 （你可以發現我們的部落格已經不是更新的很好） 
From the get-go, there were signs that this nature trail had little nature. Besides the smelly bathrooms, the trail was a paved asphalt path, and you can see the river below has a rock wall.
一開始我們發現這個大自然的地方沒什麽大自然。除了很臭的厠所之外，還有泊油路和河邊的石頭墻壁 。 
Oh, the rock wall reduces the impact of the stream water?! Really!
哦，挑流工的石頭墻可以減緩河流的影響嗎？真的嗎！ The sign says" Piled stones are used to reinforce the riverbed. The arch principle and watertight construction methods are used to reduce the impact form the water in areas where the waterway curves even large stone pile-ups may not be able to withstand the long-term erosion of the water. In these locations, adding a spur dike can achieve the goal of protecting the shores." 標識牌說：中文看的到吧？ 
Let's protect nature against getting destroyed by nature by building walls all over nature!
我們不可以讓大自然破壞大自然，所以要在大自然蓋一個很醜的墻壁！ 
There are large stones in the river due to erosion!
有巨石在河流裏是因爲土石流的關係！ 
This is probably the prettiest part of the trail, even though it is completely man made. A nice stop for selfies from everyone walking by.
這邊應該是整個不到最美麗的地方，雖然整個都是人造的。每個人在這邊一定要自拍。 
Further up the trail, we find a pavilion that has truly become one with nature.
在更上面，這邊的涼亭真的變成與大自然合一。 
Here is the tourist information center that is still under construction. It will probably be a cool place once its finished, so come back in few months or a year and check it out.
這邊的游客中心還在施工中，所以我才會建議幾個月后或明年再來。 
My perfectly balanced photo of the park ranger lodge.
我的完全平衡的國家森林員工木屋之照。 
Is this the Full Moon Waterfall? Nope, its a man made waterfall that you can barely see through the bushes. Keep walking.
這是滿月圓瀑布嗎？不是，是個幾乎看不到的人造瀑布，繼續走。 
If you are sick of nature halfway through the hike, you're in luck because there is a restaurant right at the halfway mark so satisfy your hunger for man-made consumables.
如果你走到一半就受不了大自然，你很幸運因爲在半途中有一個餐廳，所以你可以好好滿足你對人造的消耗品的渴望。 
You can also learn about nature from these cool flippy signs.
你也可以從這些開開關關的標識牌學到大自然的東西。 
Soon you'll be able to memorize the Latin name for almost every plant in the forest!
很快你可以把森林裏的每一個植物的拉丁名稱背起來！ 
A glimpse of the river below before the waterfall.
去瀑布之前可以看一眼河景。 
Just before the waterfall, there is a trail to the left that leads to a pavilion overlooking the waterfall.
去瀑布之前，左邊有一個步道，走到底有一個可以看到瀑布的涼亭。 
It's a beautiful view! On the day we went there seemed to be quite a lot of people, so we couldn't sit and stare for very long.
真的是很漂亮的風景！那天人很多，所以我們不能站在那邊發呆太久。 
Below the waterfall is a bridge from which you can see the lower part of the waterfall.
瀑布下面有一座橋，從此処可以看到瀑布的下方。 
So you can't see much here and there are a few branches in the way, but that's what nature is all about.
從這個位置幾乎什麽都看不到而且樹枝多，但是這就是大自然。 
Closeup of Full Moon Waterfall. There happened to be a full moon that night! It was destiny that we visited this magical waterfall.
更接近滿月圓瀑布。那天晚上真的是滿月！我們真的有緣看到這麽有魔力的瀑布。 The whole hike took less than two hours, and was really easy and flat. You could bring young children here and hike to the end with no problem. 整個爬山過程不到兩個小時，都是很平很簡單。你可以帶你的小朋友來河邊爬整個步道沒問題。 After our hike down, we bought a bag of sweet potatoes for only 45NT and headed down the mountain. The traffic was quite bad going down the mountain to Sanxia Old Street. 下山后，我們在停車場買了一袋地瓜45元，就開走。開下山到三峽老姐很塞車。 
It took a while to find parking, but we eventually found a spot under the elementary school nearby. That night we ate some sausages, ice cream, stinky tofu, and we bought some Ox Horn Bread for our relatives because apparently that is the delicacy of Sanxia.
找到停車位花了一點時間，但是我們終於找到在國小下面有空位的停車場。那天晚上我們買了香腸，魚丸，冰淇凌，臭豆腐，和三峽的特產：牛角面包送給我們親戚。 Sanxia Old Street is beautiful and one of the best Old Streets in greater Taipei. Be sure to follow our Instagram! 三峽老街很漂亮，真的是大臺北最好看的老街之一。記得發嘍我們的IG哦！
Thanks for sharing this obscure family friendly hike in Taiwan with us, and be sure to follow and like so you can see our next adventures!
謝謝讓我們分享這個家庭步道，記得按讚和發嘍所以你可以知道我們下次的冒險！ 
Rainbow Bridge Near Raohe Street Night Market in Taipei
Foreword: Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of questions. This is meant to only give a basic overview of Taiwan's tourist sites to those who have never been there. Also, the following "best" lists are based on our opinions based on years of experience as foreigners living in Taiwan only, and are not necessarily fact.
What to do in Taiwan?/ What is there to do in Taiwan? Hiking, mountain climbing, eating at a night market, shopping, surfing, snorkeling, river tracing, cycling, jogging, sight-seeing, paragliding, parasailing, and much much more! What is the best time to visit Taiwan? In our opinion summer is the best time to visit Taiwan, because that is when there is the most sunshine and the cold winds coming off the Taiwan Strait subside. However, many people cannot stand the Taiwan heat, which can reach 39 °C °F and 100% humidity. Also, if you want to do outdoor activities, river tracing is safest in the winter when there is less rain, but wind surfing is best in the winter when the winds are strong. Whatever you plan to do in Taiwan, the weather is usually bearable and there should be a time of year that suits everyone’s fancy. For more info, please visit our weather and climate FAQ. Where to visit in Taiwan?/ Where should I visit in Taiwan? Taipei: Taipei 101, National palace museum, Taipei Zoo and Gondola, Night markets, Beitou hot springs, Yeliu queen’s head, Pingxi Railway, and Jiufen. Taichung: Fengjia and Yizhong Street night markets, Tunghai University, Dakeng hiking trails, and Rainbow Village. Central Taiwan: Alishan, Jade Mountain, Sun Moon Lake, Lukang, and Anping Castle. Kaohsiung: Qijin Beach, Xiziwan Beach, Shoushan hiking trails, Buddah Light Mountain, Chengching Lake, Maolin Butterfly Valley, and Tianliao Moon World. Kenting: Kenting main beach, Baishawan, Kenting night market, Kenting national park, Kenting Aquarium, Xiaoliuqiu, and Jialeshui. Eastern Taiwan: Jiaoxi hot springs, Suao surfing, Tarako Gorge, Sanxiantai, Luye hot air balloon platform, rift valley rice fields, Jhiben hot springs. Outer Islands: All the outer islands! What should I eat in Taipei? Taiwan has some of the best food in the world, and it’s a big reason why foreigners like us love coming back. A lot of these foods cannot easily be found elsewhere, which makes leaving Taiwan that much harder. Our top 10 most delicious Taiwan foods are as follows: 1. Hot Pot Buffet 火鍋吃到飽 2. Roast Duck 烤鴨 3. Fried Chicken 炸鷄 4. Taiwan Lunchbox (Bento) 自助餐/便當 5. Bubble Milk Tea 珍珠奶茶 6. Red Bean Soup 紅豆湯 7. Dumplings and Fried Dumplings 水餃/鍋貼 8. Steamed Buns 包子 9. Fruit Shaved Ice 水果冰 10. Onion Pancake 葱抓餅 How much is the Taipei zoo? Adults – 60 NT Students – 30 NT Preschoolers and disabled persons – Free Groups of 30 or more – 30% discount What time does the zoo open/close in Taipei? 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM What times do night markets open/close in Taiwan? Around 6:00pm – Midnight. What are the best night markets in Taipei?
What are the best night markets in Taiwan?
What are the best old streets in Taipei?
What are the best old streets in Taiwan?
Why is Taiwan the heart of Asia? From a purely geographical perspective, Taiwan lies in a central location in East Asia, between China, Kong Kong, Macau, Japan, Korea, and is also close to the Philipines, and other southeat Asian countries, making it a prime spot for an Asian hub. Taiwan also is highly influenced culturally by other East Asian nations, such as China, Japan, and Korea. Please observe the map below:
How should I tour Taiwan?
My Taiwan tour or Taiwan tour bus. https://www.mytaiwantour.com/ https://www.taiwantourbus.com.tw/C/us/home Why visit Taiwan?/ Why go to Taiwan? Taiwan has friendly people, a safe environment, nice weather, good food, cheap cost of living, and tons of things to see and do! Why live in Taiwan? Taiwan is one of the best countries in the world with one of the best qualities of life. Taiwan boasts delicious food, great weather year round, amazing tourist sites, friendly people, cheap cost of living, and economic opportunity. Where is the Taipei 101? On Xinyi road in Taipei, on the red MRT line Taipei 101/World Trade Center station. See below for a map:
How many days does it take to tout Taipei? How many days should I tour Taipei?
This depends on how much time you have, I have been touring Taipei for 2 years already! What should I do in Taipei? Where should I travel in Taipei? 1 day tour: Morning: National Palace Museum Afternoon: Taipei 101 Night: Shihlin Night Market. 3 day tour: Day 1: National palace museum, Taipei 101, and Night markets. Day 2: Beitou hot springs, and Jiufen. Day 3: Yeliu queen’s head and Pingxi Railway. How do you pronounce Taipei? Tie Pay. Who is Chinese Taipei? What is Chinese Taipei? It is the name of Taiwan used in sporting events such as the Olympics as to not upset its bully neighbor the PRC (China). What should I buy in Taipei? Where should I shop in Taipei? If you are looking for cheap food, delicious snacks, and souvenirs, go to one of the many night markets in Taipei. If you are looking to buy expensive brand named items, go to an outlet or mall such as Sogo. How many national forest recreation areas are there in Taiwan? 18. Click here for a full list. Are there casinos in Taiwan? No. Gambling is prohibited in Taiwan, with very few exceptions. Where should I buy electronics in Taiwan? Online (PC Home and Shoppee), at a night market, at Carrefour, Cankun, or Guanghua Digital Plaza in Taipei. Where should I buy clothes in Taiwan? Pretty much everywhere. Cheap clothes can be found at night markets, Net, Uniclo, and Carrefour. If you want more expensive brands, go to an outlet or mall. Where is Taipei on a Map? Taipei City is located in northern Taiwan, laying in the middle of the Taipei Basin surrounded by New Taipei City. Please refer to the map below:
What is New Taipei City?
New Taipei city is the area surrounding Taipei city, and was formerly known as Taipei county. Where is New Taipei City? New Taipei City (formerly Taipei County), is located in northern Taiwan, surrounding Taipei City. Please refer to the map below:
How Many Islands does Taiwan have?
38! We counted. But there are many other offshore rocks, as well as disputed territory claimed by the ROC but controlled by other countries. For more information, click here. How many cities does Taiwan have? 23. For a full list of cities, click here. Why visit Taipei? Why Taipei? Taipei has friendly people, a safe environment, convenient public transportation, nice weather, good food, cheap cost of living, and tons of things to see and do! Where should I stay in Taipei? There are hundreds of hotels around Taipei the cater to different traveler interests and needs. I recommend Agoda.com as the best hotel search website. You can also try Aribnb. What is the Taipei 101? It was the highest building in the world from 2004-2010. It was designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners, and also had the fastest elevator in the world until 2016. It is an icon of Taiwan’s technological advancement. How is Taipei 101 earthquake proof? How does the Taipei 101 withstand earhquakes? The Taipei 101 is reinforced by concrete piles driven 80 meters below the ground and 30 meters into bedrock. In addition, it made of high strength reinforced steel and flexible materials. How much does the Taipei 101 sway? The most that the Taipei 101 damper has ever swayed was during Typhoon Soudelor, swaying 100 centimetres (39 in). How much did the Taipei 101 cost? NT$ 58 billion (US$1.934 billion) How does the Taipei 101 damper work? The damper works by offsetting strong wind gusts, absorbing the forces and turning them into kinetic energy, moving the damper. How was Taipei 101 built? The Taipei 101 was built in a period of 5 years from 1999-2004. The Taipei 101 is reinforced by concrete piles driven 80 meters below the ground and 30 meters into bedrock. In addition, it made of high strength reinforced steel and flexible materials. It was designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners, and also had the fastest elevator in the world until 2016. How is the Howard Plaza Hotel in Taipei? It’s a high end, 5 star hotel in Taipei, with just about all the amenities you can think of. What time does the MRT/Metro open/close in Taipei? The Taipei and Kaohsiung MRTs close at 12:00 AM midnight. They open again at 6:00 AM. The last train at the MRT usually leaves from 11:00PM-12:00AM midnight. To search for exact times for the last train, click here. What time does the Taipei 101 open and close in Taipei? The Taipei 101 Observatory is open every day from 9 AM to 10 PM. What time does the National Palace Museum open/close in Taipei? The museum is open 8:30 – 6:30 on weekdays and 8:30 – 9:30 on weekends year round. Where does the Taiwanese president live? The Taiwan president Tasi Ing-wen lives in the Presidential office building, a red brick structure originally constructed by the Japanese. Have any more questions about Taiwan's tourist sites, or have any suggestions for more sites to see in Taiwan? Please leave them in the comments below, and we might just add them to the list! Please like, follow, and share to help everyone know that Taiwan is a friendly and inviting place to travel year round! |
Author 作家We are US Expats that have extensive experience living and working in Taiwan. In our day, we had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But we have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. Our blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. We are just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Archives 檔案
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