Travelling by Train in Taiwan

Photo: Flickr/Jiadolol

Singaporeans love Taiwan for its affordability, famous street food, beautiful scenery and shopping variety. Many packages offer trips, however, only to Taipei. There’s a lot more to Taiwan than just Taipei, so why not check out other popular Taiwanese cities like Kaohsiung, Keelung, Hualien and Taitung? These cities are easily accessible from Taipei by train, both conventional and high-speed.

Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung (高雄) is a great city to go to for cheap food and great shopping.

Zipping to Kaohsiung was made easier in 2007, when a high-speed railway link with Taipei was completed. The trains run every 15 minutes and the journey takes a total of 1 hour 40 minutes. Passengers have the choice of travelling unreserved economy, economy or business and tickets begin at S$60.

Photo: Flickr/Joe Lewis

The train stops at the New Zuoying station (左營車站), which is located near the northern outskirts of Kaohsiung. Complete your journey by hopping on a taxi, bus or the MRT (red line).

Check out the Cijin (旗津) District near the harbour for some fresh and delicious seafood. To get to Cijin, take a merry ride on a ferry – if weather permits, be sure to cycle around Cijin (you can rent a bike from the ferry terminal for a few dollars) and enjoy spectacular sea views. Also, hop off your bike and take pictures at the Cihou Lighthouse (旗后燈塔) and Fort, which have both undergone massive restoration work.

Photo: Flickr/Debbs

Keelung

Hop on a train from Taipei to Keelung (基隆) on the Tze Chiang express train (自強號). Keelung is famous for the Miaokou Night Market (庙口夜市). Its cuisine revolves around seafood, and some must try items at the market include baked crabs and fishball soup. (Read here for Taipei Night Market.)

A special feature of Keelung is Lovers Lake, located near Dawulun Mountain. This is a romantic and scenic spot, with full amenities. Many guys still propose to their girlfriends here, so those looking for a beautiful place to pop the question might want to consider it.

Other attractions in the city are mostly historical – there are plenty of forts to keep history buffs coming back for more.

The Scenic East

Taiwan’s eastern railway line offers some of the most breathtaking views of the country. Although the train is not high-speed (it’s often referred to as putongche, 普通车, which means very slow), you’re guaranteed a refreshing and relaxing experience.

The train passes through Fulong（福隆) (famous for Fulong lunchboxes – a tasty treat of pork, rice and vegetables) and chugs alongside cliffs, harbours and villages.

Photo: Flickr/Yusuke Kawasaki

The route passes Jiaosi (礁溪) – Jiaosi is famous for its hot springs and attracts a large number of tourists every weekend. Taiwan’s tourism board named it one of the country’s top 10 small tourist towns in 2012. Accommodation is affordable and aplenty, so consider spending a night here.

Yilan（宜蘭）City is another spot worth considering, especially for foodies. The city is famous for its smoked duck and other local delicacies.

Other scenic routes include the Neiwan Line (內彎線), which passes the crystal clear Youlou river, the Pingxi Line (平溪線), which passes the towering Shifen waterfall (十分大瀑布), and the Jiji Line (集集線), which is alongside the Big Jiji Mountain. Special travel tickets for these lines can be purchased from major railway stations.