ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING TAICHUNG COUNTRY TAIWAN

TAOYUAN TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

This airport is awesome because of the facilities that they have and the structure of the building is incredible. I don't have the photo of what it looks like outside but this airport looks like a modern temple outside. its super cool! We bought a local sim card to have a Wifi access while going around the city since we don't know the place. It's hard to communicate with the locals because some of them can't speak English. I think they can understand a little bit.

The roads around taiwan is constructed as sky highways and what the coolest part, some of the highways are constructed on top of the mountains and on top of a hill. We took a Ubus from Taoyuan to taichung which cost 280 TWD per person (Taiwan dollar). Its not that expensive and I enjoyed the ride since I saw a lots of mountains around and the bus is beautiful (they have charger sockets inside). The ride took us 2hrs from the airport to taichung country. 

TAROKO MALL

You might know Taroko because of the Taroko national park which is one the tourist spots in taichung. This mall has few branded shops and I don't know if you can see it but this mall has a beautiful design. We just bought some souvenirs since my mom is scared that she can't shop on our last day because we might spend all of our allowance. We bought a chicken and a egg fried rice and we also bought some groceries. 

TWINSTAR HOTEL

I booked a hotel room in booking.com and I found this good hotel which is close and adjacent from Taroko mall. Luckily, I could just pay on the hotel and I dont have to use a credit card to book this one. This is one of the cheapest hotel in taichung very close to taichung train station and taroko mall. I only payed 2,255 TWD (P3,898) or 73$ for 2 nights and 3 person with breakfast. 

OLD TAICHUNG STATION

Few steps from my hotel we found this england like structure that looks like a castle in London. This is the old train station located in Zhongshan rd. and part of the history of Second world war  1939-1945. This station was bombed and damaged by the USAAF in 1945. They're constructing a new taichung station serving for Taichung TRA (MRT or the normal train) and the Taichung HSR (Which is the Bullet train or High speed rail).

LAI LAI NIGHT MARKET

We've known taiwan with their night markets and good street or local food. Since taiwan is occupied by china before, they serve mostly chinese food. Locals in taiwan also speak mandarin like chinese. Taiwan is officialy the republic of china, known for modern cities, traditional Chinese temples, hot springs resorts and dramatic mountainous terrain. Taiwan, has a number of busy night markets. While I was walking around the street, I smell something gross and our friend told me that it is a famous Stinky tofu. I don't want to try it! The lai lai night market is located in Xingzhong st. Central discrict of taichung. We avail a E-card to ride the bus (it is really convenient if you avail E-card because you can also use it on riding a train. The fare is based on the distance of every station, from Zhongshan rd to Xingzhong. We took a bus 901 because in taiwan, they have different bus and different route station. 

Taiwan is famous with milk tea and I think every one knows that. You can't leave taiwan if you haven't drink or try their milk tea. I love milk tea so much and I enjoyed it as you can see on that photo haha. 

Okay do I need to explain this photo? I saw this stairs while I was looking for some clothes and you know how much I love korean dramas and korean actor. I was looking at it for a minute and I decided to took a photo and share it with all of you. I didn't go upstairs!

TAICHUNG TRAVEL TIPS:

1. Change your money already in the airport, don't exchange your money on Taiwan airport because they have low money change in Pesos to TWD. Might as well get a money change in your airport or you can go to money change outlet in any Taiwan malls. When we visit the exchange rate is 1.75 but in the airport its on 0.45. We change our 20,000 pesos and we only got 10,000 TWD. 

2. Airport have access in train station, so if you are going to Taipei you can ride a train located at the right wing of the airport. They also have a Bus station on the ground Floor which you can take a bus to Taipei, Keelung, Tainan, Changhua or Taichung. They have ticketing booths on the ground floor and the bus also arrived and leave in a exact time. (No Filipino time)

3. Buy a Local sim card on the airport, They have tons of shops around the airport that you can avail a local sim. One sim card cost 100 TWD, its more convenient to have a local sim card because you have a access of internet and search for the bus stations or schedule trip of the buses. 

4. Make sure you have a Itinerary or Tour already before going to Taiwan, if not make sure you have a friends around Taiwan because as I said you really need a interpreter because most of the locals can't understand or can't speak English. (or talk to them in English word by word or use common words that can easily understand don't exert more effort to came up a sentence because they can't understand)

5. Buy a E-card on 7 eleven around the street, its convenient to have one because you only have to tap your card in the machine inside the bus. E-card can also use in train stations. One E-card cost 100 TWD with 100 load which can last for 5 days.

6. Get ready with long walking because mostly people only walk around the city since some of the good destination is very near to each other. Also you have to walk to the bus stations which is a little bit far. (just wear some comfortable shoes or slippers)

7. Booked a hotel/room on the city proper make sure to look in the maps for more exact locations. Make sure its near in a bus stops or bus station, malls, tourist attractions or train stations. Use booking.com because they have good selections of rooms (Or Airbnb) some of the hotels accept payment on your arrival, you don't have to pay right away.

8. Don't throw your trash everywhere, taiwan is a clean country which you can't see any trash around the streets or around the corner. Just be a responsible tourist.

9. Make sure to try their street food or their sweet potato. Sweet potato is really expensive in Taiwan, its really delicious so you need to try it. Try to eat local delicacies and local food (You can also try the stinky tofu if you're not afraid to get spew)

10. Bought something in a night market, They have beautiful selection of clothes. The clothes around is really fashionable, I didn't get a change to buy one because my mom is freaking out with our allowance.

11. Drink gong cha or Milk tea. Don't leave the country without drinking milk tea. 

I can't give you a information about the plane tickets since I'm free in plane tickets (My dad works in airport and my mom too). You can check in skyscanner.com for the Trip schedules. Comment down below if you already visit Taichung and what is your favorite part or destination?

Watch my First day in Taiwan vlog over here: