TAIPEI DIY TRAVEL GUIDE - ITINERARY 01

Taipei is probably the most tourist-friendly city for me so far. One thing that caught my attention is its mind-blowing transportation system not to mention the trains, might it be MRT, high speed, or the railway. If every city in my country, the Philippines, adapts this ingenious idea, for sure, every Filipino would not face the everyday hassle on getting on both  LRT and MRT that each has been experiencing up to this date due to innumerable rather abominable factors that even the government itself could not resolve for such a very long time. How I wish!

Anyway, with a well-planned itinerary and a pleasant mind-set, you can never go broke in Taipei. In fact, I stayed in the city centre for almost a week and I was able to visit most of the sites by only taking the advantage of MRT trains and a few rides on the city bus.

Generally speaking, spending your time around the metro for a few days would be enough; on the other hand, I needed to stay longer not just to fill my memories with picturesque places, but to get to know more about the locals well, taste both extraordinary and ubiquitous delicacies, and understand the culture deeper. But then I realized that there are still a lot to discover: their culinary diversity, well-preserved geo parks, several UNESCO heritage sites, and other night markets that I was not able to try and enjoy. Certainly, I am coming back. Soon!

Sample Itinerary:

08:00 am -  Start your tour

08:30 am – Arrive in Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. Have fun at the site.

10:30 am – Back to MRT for 228 Peace Park

Give your time for a stroll. 
Not too distant from the park, you can see the Presidential Building.
11:30 am - Back to MRT for Dalongdong Bao'an Temple

12:00 pm – Have lunch along your way to MRT

01:00 pm – Back to MRT for Martyr's Shrine

01:30 pm – Arrive in Martyrs' Shrine
Stay for about an hour and witness the changing of guards.
02:30 pm - Back to MRT for Longhsan Temple
03:00 pm - Arrive in Longshan. Stay for a few minutes.
03:30 pm - Back to MRT for Ximen Shopping District.
Shopping time

Free time until night.

Attractions:

1. Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

2. 228 Peace Park

3. Presidential Building

4. Dalongdong Bao’an Temple

5. Martyrs’ Shrine

6. Longshan Temple

7. Ximen Shopping District

01. Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

It is a huge complex also known as Liberty Square, but most people refer to this as Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. It is one of the renowned landmarks not only in the city but the entire country. This square contains a museum, a concert hall, a theatre, a huge park, and a sheer arc that welcomes the visitors. The place was built in honor of Chaing Kai Shek, a former president of the Republic of China and was available to the public in 1980 as a national park. The white building houses a large bronze statue of Chiang, guarded by military personnel which change every hour. This octagon-shaped structure is approximately 250 ft high with a very elegant roof, designed like the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

Time: 09:00 – 05:00 pm, daily

Admission fee: Free

How to visit:

1. Take MRT – RED line or GREEN line

2. Alight at R08 or G10

3. Use Exit #5 – C.K.S. Memorial Hall

4. The complex is just a few feet distant from Exit #5

Tips:

- The national park is pretty huge. Take some time to enjoy the place and discover more about the history by visiting its museum.

02. 288 Peace Park

This memorial park is located at the heart of the city, just a few feet from the Presidential Building and Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. It is named as 228 Peace Park in memory of the victims of the February 28 (2/28) incident.

After World War II, Japanese rulling had ended in Taiwan, and the administration is being transferred to China. After a couple of years of Taiwan’s repatriation to China, an issue had escalated causing the agents of Taiwan Monopoly Bureau to be sent to investigate the tobacco which resulted to confrontation of the locals and killing of one bystander. On Feb 28, activists gathered outside the Governor-General’s Office, protesting for the devastating event of the previous day. Since then, there were cases of rioting and violence all over country.

This oppresive period in Taiwan’s history, commonly known as ‘White Terror’ resulted to approximately 10,000 -  30,000 casualties.

Although, the city management ordinance is somewhat strict, there are still many things to enjoy in the park. This includes playground, ampitheatre, pavilion, some small ponds with arched bridge and dragons , and some sculptures. There are also some areas  that are worth-visiting namely Pergola, the Peace Bell, the Peace Sculpture, 228 Memorial Monument, and Cue Heng Chamber.

If you pay a visit to this historical landmark, pls bear in mind the following prohibitions by the city ordinance:

1. Littering

2. Swimming, bathing, washing, fishing, any activities that may pollute or poison the water or anything that harms the plants or animals.

3. Drying your clothes or other articles.

4. Driving or parking any vehicles without permission.

5. Cultivating fruits, vegetables, or other plants without permission.

6. Setting up tables, chairs, cabinets, or structure of any kind without permission.

7. Using recreational facilities in ways that don’t comply to the regulations and cause a threat to safety.

Mind you, the city government of Taipei is really serious about these ordinances mentioned above. Those who are caught and proven guilty are subject to a fine from NTD 1,200 to 100,000 or will be turned to the authority, depending on the degree of the violation,

Time: Open 24 hours, all year

Admission Fee: Free

How to visit:

1. Take MRT - RED line

2. Alight at R09 – NTU Hospital Station

3. Use Exit #1

4. Exit on the right side of Exit #1 and you’ll easily see the park.

Tips:

- Be mindful of the provisions beforehand before doing anything at the park.

- if you want to see some uncommon animals like squirrels, this park is the best for you.

03. Presidential Building

President Building is one of the most distinguished buildings in Taiwan. This Renaissance-inspired structure was constructed to serve as the Office of Governor-General during the Japanese regime. The building had faced several severe damages from bombings but was then restored after World War II. It started to serve as the presidential building after the Chinese Civil War.

Time: 09:00 am – 11:30 am, M-F

Admission Fee: Free

How to visit:

1. Take MRT – RED line

2. Get off at R09 - NTU Station

3. Use Exit # 1

4. Look for Jeisho Park and from there, you can easily see the Building.

Or

1. Take MRT - BLUE line or GREEN line

2. Alight at BL11 -  Ximen Station or G12 -  Ximen Station

3. Use Exit #3

4. Not too far from Exit #3, you can see this building.

Tips:

- You can visit this site and enjoy its well-decorated buidling with brilliant lighting on major national holidays.

- The building is well-guarded by several military personnel within the perimeter. Please keep an eye on your proximity to the building when taking some photos. Also, be aware of the designated areas where you can have your pictures.

- A perfect shot of the whole building can be captured actually in the middle of the road near Jeisho Park, but it’s too risky.

04. Dalongdong Bao’an Temple

Bao’an Temple is another must-visit place in Taipei, dedicated to Baosheng Dadi, a Taoist saint.  It was constructed in 1742 and faced numerous reconstructions or renovation to preserve the original structure. In 2003, UNESCO regarded this religious place as cultural heritage site for conservation, preserving some important elements such as different carvings and images of Gods made of stone, wood, and clay, windows using materials like stone and bamboo, columns with dragons, large images protecting the gates, murals seen almost every part of the temple, and the drum tower.

Time: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm, daily

Admission fee: Free

How to visit:

1. Take MRT - RED line

2. Get off at R14 – Yuanshan Station

3. Use Exit #2

4 Walk along Kulun St., then follow the street markers all the way to Dalongding Bao’an Temple.

Tips:

- Please pay respect to the people who worship and give some offerings inside the temple.

- Observe silence within the vicinity at all times.

- You can take pictures as long as you won’t create any disturbance.

05. Martyrs’ Shrine

Martyrs’ Shrine, officially known as National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine, was built in 1969 to honor the sacrifices of nearly 300,000 fallen Kuomintang soldiers during the war against the communists in mainland China. The complex contains the main shrine that houses approximately 400,000 spirit tablets, and some fascinating Chinese-inspired structures around the area.

One captivating attraction that everyone must pay attention to is the changing of entrance guards every hour performed by the real military personnel.

Time: 07:00 am – 10:00 pm, daily

Admission fee: Free

How to visit:

1. Take MRT – Red Line

2. Alight at R15 – Jiantan Station

3. Use Exit #1

4. Go out on the right side of the exit where you can find the bus that brings you to the shrine.

5. Take bus # 556, 902, and I3 (Other bus #s coming from different parts of the city: I2, 21, 208, 267, 677, 42, 247, 287, 646).

After approximately 5 minutes, get off at Martyr’s Shrine Bus Stop.

6. Across from the bus stop, you can see the entrance of the shrine, but be extra cautious toward the fast-moving vehicle even though you are using the pedestrian crossing or crosswalk on this particular area.

7. When going back to MRT – Jiantan Station, you can take Bus # 287 (or other bus numbers posted on the bus stop). By the way, you can see the bus stop a few meters from the right side of the entrance.

06. Longshan Temple

Longshan Temple is one of the oldest and largest temples in Taiwan with authentic traditional temple architecture. It was built in 1738 and preserved despite some natural calamities and bombings during World War II. Nowadays, the temple protects several important religious symbols or characters. These include Guanyin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercury and Mazu, the Taoist Goddess of the sea.

Courtesy of Wikimedia

Time: 06:00 am – 10:00 pm

Admission fee: Free

How to visit:

1. Take MRT – BLUE line

2. Alight at BL10 – Longshan Temple Station

3. Use Exit #1

Tips:

- Please pay respect to worshipers.

- Don’t create any noise or disturbance while inside the temple.

- Dress appropriately.

07. Ximen Shopping District
It is the shopping mecca of Taipei, commonly known as Ximending Youth Shopping District which resembles the Harajuku of Japan, famous for its vibrant and colourful streets. This site is located in Wanhua District, just west of Taipei Main Station. It used to be a recreation district during Japanese colonization and up to now, it has become a public symbol, where an inspiration is drawn from Japanese influence. Certainly, it is a destination sought after among tourists because of its great selection of restaurants or cafes which serve both local and international cuisine, countless fashion clothing and trinket shops, a few stores of hard-to-find souvenirs or commemorative items, and numerous unanticipated street performances and exhibitions seen most especially at the weekends.

Time:

Admission fee: Free

How to visit:

1. Take MRT – BLUE line or GREEN line
2. Alight at BL11 or G12
3. Use Exit #1 or Exit #3 
Tips:
- If you really want to enjoy the place with less congestion of shoppers, you can be there on daylight, probably early or late afternoon. 
- Give yourself ample time to explore this wide shopping spot. You can never go bored of wandering around or even just window-shopping.
- Prepare yourself for more instagrammable spots along your way.
- Wear comfortable footwear for more walking.
- Well, if you're fond of shopping, better find accommodation walking distance away from the area. You can check out my other blog about hotels or hostels around Ximen.
- I put Ximen on the last spot so you can enjoy this place from daylight 'till night. 

Ximen Shopping District

Next Topic: Taipei's DIY Travel Guide - Itinerary 02

10 ESSENTIALS IN TAIPEI TOUR

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

For tourists or travellers who will have a very limited time in Taipei, I came up with a travel plan that won’t eat a lot of your time. It’s hassle-free and easy to follow. But before you begin your tour, you should take note of the following essentials.

1. Itinerary

I divided these itineraries into 3 categories based on a handful of factors like proximity of the attractions, MRT line, and time when to enjoy a particular place. Certainly, each requires one whole day to accomplish this tour plan.

Types:

Itinerary 1 – DIY Travel Guide in Taipei, Taiwan

Itinerary 2 – When East Meets West

Itinerary 3 – The Lantern of Nature

Tips:

- Of course, you should have a copy of the itinerary I made because it contains the name of the attractions in particular order, instructions, time when the attraction is open, and MRT line to use. You may print it or download the pdf file on your mobile phones.

2. MRT Ticket

There are practical methods to enjoy MRT. One is by tickets, either by card or using token for one-time trips. The fare is usually determined by distance which ranges from NTD 20 to NTD 40 per ride. Just remember to check the balance when using the card. Another way is by having your Taipei Fun Pass. This card doesn’t only give you unlimited rides on MRT, but also on city buses (not including the bus with more than 4 digits) and five Taiwan Tourist shuttle routes within the validity period.

Variants:

1 DAY - $ 180 

1 DAY (Gondola version) - $ 250 

(allows 3 trips on Maokong Gondola)

2 DAY - $ 310

3 DAY - $ 440

5 DAY - $ 700

Tips:

- Purchase Taipei Fun Pass according to the number of days you will tour around Taipei. For me, this type of ticket is the most affordable and very practical for short-term travellers. It gives us less hassle of checking the load every now and then and queuing to re-load the card. It surely a money-saver because the rides are unlimited.  
- It is available at the airport on particular schedule. They are close at 10 pm.
- You can buy them in all MRT stations.

3. Navigation Tools

It would be better if you have wi-fi with you. You can rent a mobile wi-fi unit at the airport, but it’s a bit costly.

Using navigation apps like Google map, Waze, HERE Wego, and so on, is a very favourable tool to fulfill wanderlust. It vividly shows your current location, gives you simple direction, and indicates various ways to reach your destination. In the contrary, you don’t need to worry if you don’t have one. You can use a map which is available almost everywhere in the city free of charge, especially at the airport, MRT stations, convenient stores, and ticket office of most tourist attractions.

Courtesy of Google Map

Tips:

- Based on my experience, for a faster and greater ease of navigation, I used both. But most of the time, I tend to use the map so I am able to magnify the entire city and jot down some vital notes.

4. Money

Majority of the sites in Taipei has free admission, but bringing some extra money is a must.

New Taiwan Dollar (NDT)

Tips:

- You can practically make any transactions either by cash or credit card, but each has an advantage. If you are a type of person who shops a lot, then credit card is perfect for you. In the contrary, you still need to have some cash on hand. Some admission fees and small stores must be paid in and receive cash respectively.

5. Comfy Clothing

Another important thing you need to take into consideration wherever you travel is the appropriate attire. Taiwan has tropical climate with hot and rainy summer from May to September. It also has spring in April until early May, autumn from October to December, and mild winter in January.

Altonie and Princess wearing their trendy but comfy OTTD

Tips:

- It was summer and the weather was unpredictable when I was in Taipei. There were times that it was sunny in the morning then it would rain until evening, so a small umbrella is another essential.

- Wear light clothing preferably cotton fibre. Short pants and a shirt can do.

- You must wear a very comfortable pair of trainers or rubber shoes. Expect that you’ll do lots of walking on this tour.

- You can wear a cap and sunglasses whenever necessary.

6. Gadgets

Make sure that all of your gadgets are fully-charged so you won’t be missing anything. You can bring a power bank as well if in case socket is unavailable in some areas.

Tips:

- If you’re not using your wi-fi or mobile data in you smart phone, put it on airplane mode. By this way, it won’t run out of battery easily.   

7. Small Handy Bag

In any forms of travel activities, you never forget to bring a bag. Of course, you need to secure some of your stuffs like your wallet, passport, map, gadgets, and store something to bite and drink.

Tips:

- Remember! You won’t be carrying anything that adds up to your load. Again, you’ll be walking the entire day, so there’s no way for you to stop your journey due to carrying heavy things.

- Choose a multi-functional bag. When I say multi-functional, you can carry it with your hand, wear it with a crossbody strap, or just put it on your shoulder. There are numerous multifunctional bags out in the market now, some are available online.

- It should be water proof and expandable.

8. Sunscreen Lotion

There’s no doubt that you’ll be toasted under the heat of the scorching sun. Putting some sunscreen lotion or cream is essential to avoid sun burn and wrinkles. What I like about Taiwan’s sunny weather is its less humidity. You never go as damp and oily as easily compared to the Philippines.’

Tips:

- Nowadays, sunscreen lotions are in the form of spray. I prefer this one because it distributes the lotion on your skin evenly.

9. Energy Snacks

In case food is not present in few places such as temples and memorial shrines, bringing a handful of snacks is a brilliant idea. At least you have something to munch when you get exhausted or hungry during the tour.

Tips:

- There are some food that provide you instant source of energy whenever possible such as raisins, energy bar, peanut, and some oatmeal cookies with various flavours. You can easily see them in supermarket or convenience stores.

10. Open Mind

You will not be able to accomplish the itineraries I made without this in yourself. Basically, some travellers would be very eager to see new places, meet new people, and try authentic cuisine, but more often than not, they are ignorant of the custom or the culture that they will have to encounter. Unfortunately, they go home frustrated and dissatisfied because of unmet expectations.

Tips:

- Try to search do’s and dont's in meeting the locals. You can obtain them in Google.

- Go out and try new cuisine. There’s no harm in trying anyway.

- Learn a little bit of their language. A bit of hello or good morning in their mother tongue will surely brighten their day. You might not know, they can teach you their language without any extra cost. Surely, it will be useful in haggling at the market.

- Don’t compare their culture to anything when having a conversation with them. It’s a big no no or you may end up in big trouble.

- Don’t argue with some sensitive talks about religion, politics, sex, and gender. There’s always the right time and venue for that. You can talk about these topics discretely, but with your close Taiwanese friend.

Local Taiwanese food

Next Topic(s): 
Money Changer in Taipei
Taipei DIY Travel Guide - Itinerary 01

MONEY CHANGER IN TAIPEI

Taiwanese Dollars

One thing travellers or tourists must do when visiting Taiwan is to have their money exchanged into Taiwan Dollar or New Taiwan Dollar (NTD) before they start their tour around the country. There are plenty of ways to do this. One is to exchange it in your country particularly in some money changer counters or even in major banks. The only thing that sets them apart is that the bank usually asks for some requirements such as your passport and/or any valid IDs, e-ticket of your flight, and sometimes your dollar account with them. What I can advise you is before visiting a local money changer, you’d better call and ask them the specific requirements so you won’t be missing anything. Most of their contact information can be searched now in Google.

Money changer centres, commonly known as Foreign Currency Exchange Services in Taipei are few, and I had a hard time finding them even searching one in Google, so I what I did was to ask the receptionist of the accommodation where I stayed. The following are the locations where you can take advantage of this service which I personally visited as well.

1. Bank of Taiwan (Arrival Hall)

The currency exchange service is available at the Arrival Hall of Taoyuan International Airport (Terminal 1) round-the-clock. You can see this on right side after you pass through Passport Control (immigration check). In fact, I arrived at around 2 in the morning, and to my surprise, the counter was still open.

Schedule: Open 24 hours

Contact Information: 03-398-2213

Website: https://www.taoyuan-airport.com/english                     

Taoyuan International Airport

2. Bank of Taiwan (Departure Hall)

If you have some Taiwanese Dollar on hand and want to exchange them to USD, currency exchange service counter at the departure hall is there for you 24 hours. You can easily see it near Check-in Counter #1, on the left side of the escalator that brings you to the Boarding area. I suggest you to complete the check-in procedures first before exchanging your remaining Taiwanese Dollars to avoid any hassle before boarding.

Schedule: Open 24 hours

Contact Information: 0800-880-288

Website: https://www.taoyuan-airport.com/english

                 Courtesy of Taoyuan International Airport, Terminal 1

     

3. Taipei 101

The money changer service in Taipei 101 is handled by one of the concierge located at Basement 1 (B1) – Central Circle.

 Taipei 101 in Xinyi District

You can easily see it right beside the escalator, a few feet from the food court. Other services it caters include:

- customer inquiries

- tax refund

- redemption of gifts

- sales of e-voucher

- paging area

- lost and found

- first aid

- parking fee deduction

- application for membership cards

- usage of equipment free of charge: charging cable, power bank, stroller, wheelchair, blanket, and child locator.

Remember that this foreign currency exchange service is only for foreigners; thus, you must present your own passport. Besides, it can only exchange a few selected currencies to Taiwanese Dollars including AUD, SGD, HKD, RMB, JPY, EUR, and USD.

Entry way to the shopping mall

Schedule:

Sun – Thur, 11:00 am – 09:30 pm

Fri – Sat, public holidays (evening) – 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

Contact Information: +886-2-8101-8800

Website: https://www.taipei-101.com.tw/en/index.aspx

How to visit via MRT:

1. Take the RED line bound for ZIANGSHAN

2. Get off at R03 – Taipei 101 Station

3. Use Exit #1 – World Trade Center

Follow this marker and you’ll not get lost

4. Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Building 1 (Zhongshan Area)

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi is an 11-floor shopping mall (including the 2 floors of the basement) which sells chiefly branded international products from apparel to accessories, cosmetics, teas, electronic appliances, and arts and crafts, perfect for both genders from all ages.

Schedule:

Mon – Sun, 11:00 am – 09:30 pm

Contact Information: 02-2568-2868

Website: https://www.skm.com.tw/Foreigner/en/Foreign/Index

How to find via MRT:

1. Take RED line or GREEN line

2. Alight at R11 – Zhongshan Station or G14 - Zhongshan Station

3. Use Exit #2 – Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Building 1. The entrance of the mall is just several feet away from the MRT.

4. Take the elevator which can be seen on the left side, but outside of the building entrance. The foreign currency exchange is on the 9^th floor, located inside the VIP Centre. 

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi in Zhongshan District

This branch can only exchange USD, JPY, EUR, AUD, CNY or RMB, and HKD to Taiwanese Dollars. Again, you should bring your passport.

5. FE 21’

FE 21’ (Far Eastern) is another must-visit shopping mall when you are around Ximen shopping district. It has 8 floors with great selections of products to choose from including one floor on the basement.  What makes this place more distinct is it specializes in merchandise for female consumers. The mall has either imported or local products ranging from trendy clothing, jewelries, skin care, cosmetics, toys, and a lot more. In addition, it has VIP and breastfeeding rooms for their patrons.

 FE 21’ Paoching Branch in Zhongzheng District

Schedule:

Sun - Thur, 11:00 am – 09:30 pm

Fri – Sat, 11:00 – 10:00 pm

National Holiday’s eve – 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

Contact Information: 0800-231-022 / 02-2381-6088

Website: http://www.feds.com.tw/en/32/OverSea

How to find via MRT:

1. Take BLUE line or GREEN line

2. Alight at BL11 – Ximen Station or G12 - Ximen Station

3. Then use Exit #3. The mall is right beside the MRT exit.

4. The foreign currency exchange service or what some people call it money exchanger, is located on the 1^st floor, specifically at the information counter. Again, you have to show your passport when making any transaction here.

Information counter of FE 21’

Reminders & Tips:

* If you’ll arrive in Taiwan so late, you can have some of your money exchanged at the airport so that you have something to use for taxi or buying your stuff. Then exchange the rest of it in the malls I mentioned above. Service fee is included at the airport amounting to 100 NTD per transaction.

* Foreign currency exchange services in the mall don’t have any additional service fees. However, they are only open on certain hours.

* Like I always say on this article, you have to bring your passport wherever you go and make any transactions in Taiwan. 

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