Taiwan Tales: Unveiling the Treasures of Formosa

Updated - October 1, 2022

Who would have thought that one day, I'd get the chance to visit the Milktea Capital of the world: Taiwan. Actually, we were skeptical about this vacation because unfortunate things happened weeks before our flight however that didn't stop us from visiting Formosa.

Taiwan is located North of the Philippines and its capital Taipei is the largest metropolitan area. Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan, and Touyan are the other major cities.

Taiwan is now one of the top destinations of many Filipinos, thanks to the Taiwan Government; Filipino Passport holders can now experience the rich culture of Taiwan visa-free for 14 days from *November 1, 2017, until July 2020, a display of Taiwan's amity with the Philippines.

The duration of the 14-day visa-free is not extendable and begins on the following day of arrival in Taiwan. Are you planning to visit Taiwan? You might wanna read the following conditions:

MAKE SURE THAT YOU COMPLY WITH ALL THE CONDITIONS BELOW

Possess an ordinary/regular Philippine passport with a remaining validity of at least six months from the date of entry.
Show the confirmation of the hotel reservations or the address and contact details for their stay in Taiwan.
Hold a confirmed return plane or boat ticket, a confirmed plane or boat ticket, and a valid visa for an onward destination.
No criminal record, as verified by immigration upon arrival at an airport or seaport in Taiwan.

COVID-19/PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS

According to Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control, all travelers who undergo the self-initiated epidemic prevention must follow the “one person per room”.

For more information about the latest quarantine policy of Taiwan please refer here.

SEASONS IN TAIWAN

The best months to visit Taiwan are between April - June, and September - November because the weather during these months is pleasant, and the tourist season isn't at its peak. While December - March is the low season, this is when to visit Taiwan if you want to travel on a budget.

March to May: Spring Season

June to August: Summer Season

September to November: Autumn Season

December to February: Winter Season

TIMEZONE IN TAIWAN

There is no time difference between the Philippines and Taiwan. The time zone is in UTC+08:00.

HOW TO GET TO TAIWAN FROM THE PHILIPPINES?

Located 1,205 km from the Philippines, traveling to Taiwan through-plane will take you almost 2 hours and airlines such as Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, Eva Air, China Airlines and Philippine Airlines fly to Taiwan regularly. Prices of flights vary on which airline you prefer.

GOING TO TAIPEI CITY FROM THE AIRPORT

From Taoyuan International Airport use the Taiwan Airport MRT because this is the fastest way to reach Taipei, you'll reach the city in less than 45 minutes.

You can book/buy/reserve your Taoyuan Airport MRT One-Way Ticket through KLOOK.

*Buy your EasyCard inside the airport. The cards cost NTD 100 (non-refundable) and top-up any amount (refundable). I topped up NTD 500.

I suggest you buy a 4G SIM card Package (with a Free Easy Card) because it'll come in handy. Taiwan's internet connection is strong and reliable. You can use this to check the nearest attractions, restaurants, and happenings, and of course, it'll also help you to update your social media accounts.

GETTING AROUND TAIPEI

I was amazed at how convenient, comfortable, and efficient Taiwan's transportation is because the MRTs are easy to understand and the buses are always on time.

People always suggest the MRT and they're right! This is the best way to travel around Taipei because the majority of the tourist destinations are near the stations.

MODES OF TRANSPORTATION IN TAIWAN

-MRT (Metro-Mass Rapid Transportation)

-THSR (Taiwan High-Speed Rail)

-Buses

-Taxis

-Ferries

-Planes

-Private Cars

CURRENCY

New Taipei Dollar (NTD/NT$) is Taiwan's currency which is about 1.68 PHP. You can exchange your Philippine Peso at the airport and at selected Taiwan banks. You can also withdraw money in some ATMs with debit cards, make sure that your card is allowed to do international transactions, and don't forget to inform your bank regarding this to avoid future problems.

Check Conversion Rates Here: https://themoneyconverter.com/TWD/PHP.aspx

TOURIST SPOTS & ATTRACTIONS

Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall

Location: Xinyi District, Taipei

Entrance Fee: none

This is one of my favorite places that we visited. The memorial hall shows the life and story of the Republic of China's National Father - Dr. Sun Yat Sen. The memorial hall was completed in 1972, it also serves as a multi-purpose social, educational, and cultural center for the public.

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

Location: -Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

Entrance Fee: none

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

National Theater & Concert Hall

Liberty Square

This massive structure is also known as the CKS Memorial Hall; it is considered the most famous historical landmark in Taiwan. It was built in memory of the former president of China: Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.

Taipei 101

Location: Xinyi Special District, Xinyi District; Taipei

Entrance:

General Ticket: NT$600

Student (present valid ID): NT$540

Child (under 115cm): Free

The 9th tallest building in the world formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center. This super-tall skyscraper is home to financial services and vibrant shopping malls and is considered one of the most photographed tourist destinations in Taipei.

Elephant Mountain

Location: Xiangshan

Entrance: Free

Afternoon view of Taipei

Taipei City in the evening

Also known as the Nangang District Hiking Trail, this mountain offers the best view of Taipei City. I suggest you hike late afternoon so you can witness the sunset and see the beautiful nighttime view of Taipei.

The hike takes around 20 mins before you reach the view deck.

Yehliu Geopark

Location: Yehliu Village, Wanli District, Taipei

Entrance: NT$80

The Leopard Rock Formation

Side view of The Queen Rock Formation

This premier tourist destination is located along the north coast of Taiwan and is popular for its captivating rock formations like the Queen's and Princess' Head, Sea Candles, Fairy Shoe, and Ice Cream Rock.

Jiufen (Jioufen/Chiufen)

Location: Ruifang District, New Taipei City

Entrance: Free

This old mining town is one of Taiwan's top tourist destinations because of its rich history and culture.

Dalongdong Bao'an Temple

Location: Datong District, Taipei

Entrance: Free

Often called the Taipei Baoan Temple, this Shenism temple was built by the clan members in Tong'an, Xiamen, and Fujian.

Taipei Confucius Temple

Location: Datong District, Taipei

Entrance: Free

Hallway inside the temple

Confucious

The Confucian temple is adjacent to Dalongdong Bao'an Temple.

Martyr's Shrine

Location: Zhongshan, Taipei

Entrance: Free

National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine

Known as the National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine, this tourist destination was built to give honor to all the dead soldiers during the war against China.

Beitou Hot Springs

Location: Xinbeitou, Beitou District, Taipei

Entrance: Free

If you wanna relax and enjoy the authentic thermal hot spring then you must visit Beitou Hot Springs. This tourist destination is packed with history and offers must-try restaurants and tea houses. You can also find resorts, inns, hotels, parks, museums, and public baths inside the area.

Shilin Night Market

Location: Shilin District, Taipei

Entrance: Free

It holds the title of the largest and most famous night market in Taiwan. If you are a foodie, you must visit the underground food paradise: Shilin Night Market Food Court at the western edge of the market. The market opens around 4:00PM and closes around 2:00PM.

Lungshan Temple (Bangka Lungshan Temple)

Location: Wanhua, Taipei, Taiwan

Entrance: Free

Also known as the Lungshan Temple of Manka, Mengjia Longshan Temple, was built-in 1738 for Chinese folk religious deities and is the most well-known temple in Taiwan.

Bopiliao Historical Block

Location: Wanhua District, Taipei

Entrance: Free

It was opened to the public again in 2009, and the government of Taiwan established the Heritage and Culture Education Center to protect the rich history and legacy of Bopiliao. This tourist destination not only provides knowledge of history and culture but also great photo opportunities; Bopiliao shows the old architectural styles in the modern world.

Red House Theater

Location: Chengdu Road, Ximending, Wanhua District, Taipei

Entrance: Free

Often called the Hong Lo Red Play House, inside the theater you'll see small shops that sell souvenirs while outside has a large number of outdoor bars, shops, and restaurants. Tagged as the main LGBTQ district, the Red House is the location of the annual Gay New Year’s Eve countdown, the Taipei Pride, and the Mr. Gay World Taiwan pageant.

THINGS TO DO IN TAIPEI

Try and enjoy the street food