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| Taiwan
Getting Around - Internal Travel |
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Air
The domestic airlines include Mandarin Airlines, Transasia Airways,
Far Eastern Air Transport and Uni Air
operating
from Sung Shan Airport, Taipei to local destinations.
Sea
There are several connections from local ports.
For more information, contact port authorities.
Rail
Taiwan Railway Administration provides services to destinations all over the island.
Major tourist routes are Taipei-Taichung-Chiayi-Tainan-Kaohsiung
(a top-class service), Chiayi-Alishan (with spectacular
mountain scenery), Taipei-Taichung-Sun Moon Lake
(with the last leg of the journey by bus) and Taipei-New
Hualian-Taitung (stunning coastal route).
There are air conditioned electric trains running
from Taipei to Kaohsiung every hour, and some have restaurant cars.
Children below the age of 3 travel free while children from 3 to 13 years of age pay
half fare. Travellers can buy train tickets at many major hotels in Taipei,
and also at the main railway station.
Road
There is sufficient road system connecting all main cities. Traffic
in Taiwan drives on the right.
A highway connects Taipei and Kaohsiung. A number of main
streets have English signs. Congestion can be a
problem, and mudslides may possibly obstruct mountain roads.
Bus
Both long distanceand local buses and coach services are available.
Taxi
Metered taxis are abundant and cheap.
The names of destinations might have to be written in Chinese for the drivers.
Car hire
Car hire is offered in all main towns.
Documentation
An International Driving Permit is essential.
Urban
There are numerous private bus companies providing wide-ranging
services in Taipei. An
incomplete Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)
system, a monorail train, serves Taipei and its suburbs. There are also many metered taxis in Taipei; tipping
is not usual, but it is starting to be common practice.
Travel times
The following chart gives estimated travel times (in hours and minutes)
from Taipei to other main towns and cities in Taiwan: |
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Air |
Road |
Rail |
Kaohsiung |
40
minutes |
5
hours and 30 minutes |
4
hours and 40 minutes |
Tainan |
40
minutes |
4
hours and 30 minutes |
4
hours and 10 minutes |
Taichung |
30
minutes |
2
hours 30 minutes |
2
hours 30 minutes |
Hualien |
30
minutes |
7
hours |
3
hours |
Taitung |
50
minutes |
10
hours |
5
hours and 30 minutes |
Sun
Moon L. |
- |
4
hours 30 minutes |
- |
Alishan |
- |
6
hours |
- |
Kenting |
- |
6
hours 30 minutes |
- |
Makung |
40
minutes |
- |
- |
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information
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