6 Days in Taiwan: 台北 Taipei, 淡水 Danshui, 高雄 Kaohsiung, 桃園 Taoyuan

[Pangu]

6 Days in Taiwan:
台北 Taipei, 淡水 Danshui, 高雄 Kaohsiung, 桃園 Taoyuan

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We spent 6 days in the Taipei area which includes a one-day tour down south in Kaohsiung via the High Speed Rail. After spending 6 days in Taiwan, we flew down to Vietnam and spent another 6 days there. Photos of our Vietnam trip here.

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Arrived at the Taoyuan International Airport. I noticed they marked different sections of the waiting area with labels so it's easier for people to agree on where to meet for pick-ups.


Going down to the underground parking lot.


A nice new (to me at least) mural down below.


We got to Taipei and on the way we stopped by Ximending as we've never seen it during daytime before.






An older building that seems to have been abandoned.




Passing by the Presidential Palace.


Bus driver names are now displayed outside the bus. This gives the bus drivers a sense of ownership and they tend to take care of their buses better.




A shot from our teahouse at Maokong. You can see the Maokong Gondola station to the left that is not in use while they repair a pillar that was damaged by the typhoon.


View of Taipei city from Maokong.


An old map of Taipei from the Taiwan Story Land.


An ad for the 黑人牙膏 Darklie Toothpaste.


Old slogan warning people of "communist spies".


Chiang Kaishek Memorial Hall.




















Our hotel room in Taipei, which was conveniently located right across from the Taipei Main Station. It's not exactly big but very comfortable.


We got a corner room so we had two views, this is the one of the building right next to us.


This is the view of the back of the building. You can see the Shin Kong tower from here.


Dr. Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall.




Xinyi District.




Taipei 101


View from the top of Taipei 101












View of Xinyi District from Taipei 101's Mall.


Ximending at night.




Views from the MRT going toward Danshui.
















Having A-gei in Danshui.


Danshui street scene.


Taking the ferry to Fisherman's Wharf.


View of Danshui from the ferry.


Arrived in Fisherman's Wharf.


Our ferry.


Stinky tofu at Fisherman's Wharf.


People taking wedding photos at Fisherman's Wharf.


We took another ferry to Bali right across from Danshui and took bike rides along the bank.


View of Danshui from Bali. The yellow roof building is the Danshui MRT station.




We heard a loud cheer while we were waiting for our grilled squid along the Danshui boardwalk. We turned around and saw a group of children lining up for ice cream.


Children enjoying their ice cream.


Leaving Danshui.


Taking the Xin Beitou line to hot springs.




Xin Beitou.










Shilin Night Market




Jiannan Road MRT Station, right across from the Miramar Mall.


Ferris wheel at the Miramar Mall.


View from the top of the Ferris wheel.


Views of inside the Miramar Mall.




Taking the High Speed Rail from Taipei to Zuoying (Kaohsiung).


Views from the HSR.








Arrived in Kaohsiung.






Cijin Island.








Solar-powered lamps.




Coast Guard patrol ship.


Gushan-Cijin ferry.


Kaohsiung MRT station




Does anyone know about this building?


Inside the Dream Mall.


Views of Kaohsiung from the Ferris wheel above the Dream Mall.




A small theme park at the top of the Dream Mall.


The Ferris wheel.


Tuntex Tower.


Ai He (Love River)


Getting on the Love Boat for a ride up and down the river.








Grilled mushrooms at Liuhe Night Market.


View of Taoyuan city.




Custom at the Taoyuan International Airport. Unlike in the U.S., you don't feel any tension here, probably due to a lower threat of attack from terrorists. The custom officers were all very friendly and actually smile at you.


Free wi-fi throughout the whole airport in addition to desktop computer stations.


Our flight to Saigon happens to be at a gate with a Hello Kitty theme




See you later, Taiwan.


Views of Kaohsiung from the plane.

[asahi]

Wow! Great photos, bring back good memories
What's with the museum-like-MRT train to Xinbeitou? I didn't see it last year. Looks nice :-)

[Pangu]

Originally Posted by asahi

Wow! Great photos, bring back good memories
What's with the museum-like-MRT train to Xinbeitou? I didn't see it last year. Looks nice :-)

I'm not sure when they did it but the train going between Beitou & Xin Beitou station are decorated to promote hot springs and tourism. It's pretty neat and even before getting to Xin Beitou, we already had the hot spring-feel

[pierre-laurent]

blue sea, night urbanscape, taiwanese tapas...those pics are really too cruel to me...

and you can find a answer to your question about this kaohsiung building here.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...=156523&page=2

[ukiyo]

Excellent thread, I need to go to Taiwan someday.

[vogriphach]

Did you go during Feb? It's not that often that you get blue skies in Taipei during that time of the year. Lucky you!

[nemu]

I believe this the China Steel's new HQ

[Pangu]

Originally Posted by vogriphach

Did you go during Feb? It's not that often that you get blue skies in Taipei during that time of the year. Lucky you!

It was during middle of January. I was pretty lucky because it was raining the week before and after I was in Taiwan.

[Awesome.e]

I was there at the same time!!! its like middle of winter but HOT as hell!!! I love Taiwan!! nice photos

[Pangu]

Originally Posted by Awesome.e

I was there at the same time!!! its like middle of winter but HOT as hell!!! I love Taiwan!! nice photos

It was about high 50's, low 40's when I was there. I wouldn't consider that "hot as hell"

[Zorobabel]

Very nice set of pictures. Thanks.

[Pablo]

wow..thanks for sharing...
may i know what hotel r u staying in taipei?

[Pangu]

Originally Posted by Pablo

wow..thanks for sharing...
may i know what hotel r u staying in taipei?

I stayed at the 新驛旅店 CityInn. There are actually two now, I stayed at the older one which is more conveniently located (IMHO) right across the Taipei Main Station on the side of the Shin Kong tower. The newer one is also across the Taipei Main Station but on the other side.

I definitely recommend it for comfort, price and location.

[Pablo]

thanks..will take consider ...any place that i shouldnt miss to visit?

[Pangu]

Originally Posted by Pablo

thanks..will take consider ...any place that i shouldnt miss to visit?

Hmm, depends on what you like to do when you travel. Sight-seeing, shopping, eating, going to the beaches, climbing mountains... etc.

[ericyong]

the hot springs of xin bei tou =)

http://eforericyong.blogspot.com/201...gs-taipei.html

[Ganplosive]

Loved your photos, I swear to god I took 15 of the exact same ones a month earlier hahaha