One of the major reasons was to try out Taiwan's high speed rail line which opened in 2007 and to see how it compared to Japan's Shinkansen. Unfortunately, at the time, Taiwan High Speed Rail did not offer a rail pass for tourists like Japan and other European countries, but luckily the ticket prices were not so expensive, compared to say, that of Japan's.
Also we wanted to see how other cities in Taiwan looked like outside of its capital of Taipei. Since our hotel booked for the week was in Taipei, we had to pick some destinations which would work for a day trip. From the guidebooks it seemed like Taichung and Kaohsiung would be interesting places to visit...
The high speed trains of Taiwan with the distinctive orange stripe. What is interesting is that the only other places that uses Japanese Shinkansen trains for high speed rail are Taiwan and China, with Taiwan using the newer model while China uses the slightly older one. The trains that Taiwan uses are actually a derivative of the trains that run on the Tokaido Shinkansen line in Japan.
The high speed rail tickets.
Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung with respect to their geographical locations.
View Taichung and Kaohsiung in a larger map
First on March 31, 2013 we headed to Taichung from Taipei via the high speed trains.
The one way ticket for the 1 hour journey only cost NT$675 (US$22.30), which I thought was quite reasonable.
At Taichung station.
Unfortunately, the Taichung high speed rail station is located in the outskirts of Taichung and you had to take a free shuttle bus for around 45 minutes to get to the actual city! The time to take the shuttle bus was almost as long as the travel time from Taipei!
Once we got to Taichung, we unfortunately discover that Taichung is more of an industrial city rather than a city with tourist attractions. We thought that we could easily walk to the few tourist attractions by foot, but it seemed like the city was not designed for walking. Outside of Taipei, the motorbike is still the main mode of transportation for most people.
The city centre of Taichung, almost deserted except for people on motorbikes!
Plenty of spaces to park your motorbike though.
Taiwan's cities really need a makeover to reflect the fact that it is not a 3rd world country anymore!
Near the city centre of Taichung. By this point we were getting really tired of walking in this hostile environment.
A canal or river? Completely reinforced with concrete on all sides like in Japan!
After eating KFC (of all things), we looked at our tourist guide to see if there was anything worth visiting. There were some temples listed as a tourist attraction but to access those temples required a taxi ride and we determined that it wasn't worth a taxi fare to visit some temple on purpose. So we decided to head back to Taipei instead as we thought that there were more interesting things to see and do there.
Back to the Taichung high speed rail station in the middle of nowhere!
Leaving Taichung and going back to Taipei!
Back in Taipei, we spent the rest of the day wondering around and browsing shops and restaurants and we ordered this shaved ice dessert from some "famous shop". (It seems that almost every single food shop in Taipei has some sort of award or has been recognized by some TV programme)
Verdict on Taichung, not worth visiting as a tourist!
On the next day, on April 1, 2013, we took the high speed rail again, this time for Kaohsiung, the 2nd largest city in Taiwan on the southern tip of the island.
The 1.5 to 2 hour journey (depending on the type of train) from Taipei cost NT$1445 (US$48.84) one way.
Like Taichung, the high speed rail station in Kaohsiung is not actually located in the centre of the city, but north of the city in a place called Zuoying. Luckily, unlike Taichung, there is a metro line connecting Zuoying station to the city centre.
This was the first high speed rail train ever to be used in Taiwan!
Compared to Taipei station which is basically located underground, Zuoying station is open and airy!
Although I ate breakfast, I wanted to try one of the Taiwanese-style railway bentos (台鐵便當). Unlike Japanese-style bentos, Taiwanese-style bentos are hot and feature an overflowing amount of meat, like the giant pork chop placed on top of the rice!
The Zuoying high speed rail station was conveniently located next to one of the attractions of Kaohsiung, the Confucius Temple.
The local markets near the temple. Like Taichung, motorbikes everywhere!
The Confucius Temple, we were among the handful of visitors there.
The Conficius Temple is actually located near a man-made lake and tourist attraction called the Lotus Pond (蓮池潭) which also feature other Chinese-style temples.
The Pei Chi Pavilion.
Some other temple which I have no idea what it is called.
The lotus pond in detail.
View of one of the other temples (among many) from the back.
We saw this person fishing in the pond, is there anything to catch?!
Next, we took the metro and headed to the actual city centre of Kaohsiung.
The railway station in the centre of the city. Again, like Taichung, where are all the people?
Apparently, to get around in Kaohsiung, you are supposed to rent a motorbike, as evidenced by the large number of motorbike rental shops near the station and the giant billboard.
Near the station, there was also a traditional market, so we decided to check it out.
Traditional family owned Chinese-style stores still exist in abundance in Taiwan.
Afterwards we made our way to one of the temple attractions listed in the guidebook. Like all temples, once you visit one, you have seen them all...
A typical deserted sidewalk of Kaohsiung.
What is interesting here is NOT what is above the ground, but what is below ground.
Below ground is actually an interchange metro station, but it is also home to the "Dome of Light", one of the world's largest stained glass installations, created by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata.
The actual metro station, on the other hand, is not quite so impressive. Again, even the metro seems deserted!
Riding the metro, we went to the waterfront area because there was a "Fisherman's Wharf".
On the way, there was the "Takao Railway Museum".
Not much of a museum...
The road to the Fisherman's Wharf. It was kind of dangerous, because there were no sidewalks anywhere and large trucks were moving in and out.
The tallest building in Kaohsiung, the Tuntex Sky Tower, in the background.
As we entered the Fisherman's Wharf, there were almost no other tourists around either!
Next, we headed to the "Love River", supposedly a place where you can "enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kaohsiung" and enjoy various cafes and etc.
The actual "Love River" was a disappointment because there was nothing to see, admire or do!
Run down buildings do not add any charm to this supposed tourist attraction.
After being disappointed by the "Love River", we walked to the city centre of Kaohsiung.
Passing by the city museum.
Passing by the Bank of Taiwan building.
The tallest building in Kaohsiung, the Turex Tower, up close.
Nothing but cars and motorbikes.
Finally we see some people!
The motorbike is so ingrained into the local culture that they just ride their motorbikes right up to the street food stalls, buy their food and leave, all without ever dismounting!
Verdict on Kaohsiung: a one time visit just to say that you have been there is enough.
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