I'm currently planning my Taiwan itinerary as well so I can answer some of the questions. I am using Route A for my trip.

From Taipei To Sun Moon Lake, you can take HSR to Taichung station. From Taichung, you can board a bus. Perhaps you can get more info about the buses here: http://www.ntbus.com.tw/033.htm or http://www.rybus.com.tw/travel_lines_135.html. From Taichung HSR -> SML, it might take 1.5 - 2 hours to get there via bus.

From SML->Cingjing, if i remember correctly, you'll need to take a bus from SML to Puli. From there you transfer to another bus from Puli->Cingjing. Should take atleast 1.5 hours depending on how long you need to wait for the bus transfer at Puli.

For my case, I'm making a day trip to Sun Moon Lake and then head to Cingjing. I've booked a driver for this.

For the route from Cingjing to Tarako, I think the best way is to book a driver. I've booked a driver, Mr Li 0937980512 (teming_li@yahoo.com.tw) from Cingjing to Taroko.

I was also deciding if i wanted to go from Taroko to Cingjing. But i decided not to since it'd take about 2.5 hours to get to Hualien from Taipei via train , about 5 hours around Taroko and then perhaps 4 hours drive to Cingjing. Our driver mentioned the route between Taroko and Cingjing is quite dangerous especially so when it gets darker.

For Cingjing, I am staying 2 nights. First night at Starry Minsu (http://starry.nantou.com.tw/l) and second night at Shangrila Hanging Garden Resort (http://shangrila-resort.hotel.com.tw/eng/). Starry Minsu for the top down view of Cingjing town and being closer to the stars (tho i heard people complain about the dangerous & narrow road to get there). Shangrila Hanging Garden Resort because its inside the town and for a different environment.

This post has been edited by GKilla: Aug 14 2011, 09:58 PM

Hey there.

I found 觀星園 Starry House's website here:-
http://starry.nantou.com.tw/?ptype=hotel

But the prices quoted in that website are abit outdated and when i emailed him, he gave me a higher price. BTW i emailed to him in English but he replied me in Chinese

Here's the weekday room price that Starry Minsu 李大哥 quoted me:-
6 persons room = NT$3840 per night
2 persons room = NT$1980 per night

Price above includes breakfast and Western style steamboat dinner.


I think most likely just around 清境农场 Cingjing farm, see sheep and walk around. I'm not really sure what else to in CJ do so will ask the Starry Minsu boss to recommend us when we reach there. Oh ya, if you got time , you can check out Lushan Hotspring. But i heard it's currently under going renovations. You can ask the Starry Minsu boss to find you a driver to get to Lushan Hotspring or you can board a bus yourself. If you hire a driver to Lushan Hotspring, i understand it might cost NT$650 per person which includes hot spring usage, return trip.

There are 6 of us, so our CingJing to Taroko driver asked for Nt$6000 (5-6 persons). If up to 4 persons, it's NT$5000. Pay additional NT$500 to include Qingshui Clif, which we should be covering as well. Our driver wont be sending us to Taipei after Taroko. The plan is to board the railway train to Taipei from Hualien. Train fare should be NT$284 to NT$441 per ticket per way, depending on the type of train, date and time. http://railway.hinet.net/etkind1.htm

This post has been edited by GKilla: Aug 20 2011, 09:38 PM

hey there.Sorry for the late reply.That time i went to Guilin and was busy during the raya week.

Not sure if Lushan Hot Spring is nice but if i might head there at night so i wont see much. Just go there to utilize the hot spring there

From CingJing to Taroko, it'll take 3-4 hours. Our driver said travelling time for his booking is about 8-10 hours.

Here's the info i got from my driver, hope you'll find this useful:


Your plan looks nice. You may want to reach Cingjing from SML abit early say noon time since their attractions close around 5pm and at night there's nothing much to do in Cingjing.


Cinjing>>back to Taipei...you may want to purchase the train ticket from Hualien to Taipei in advance just incase. You can do so when you reach Taipei or book online. i plan to buy Hualien->Taipei night train ticket at Taipei Main station on the first day. Alternatively, you can choose to stay one night in Hualien.

As for the CingJing -> Taroko driver, you can try to contact :-

OPTION 1: Mr Li Te-Ming (teming_li@yahoo.com.tw 0937-980512) - i booked this

OPTION 2:
Lu Lai Fu
Taxi # N2-459 (Drives a Toyota Wish )
Phone: 0928-569081
Overseas call or SMS +886-928 569 081

OPTION 3: Mr Looi [886 928 569 081]


I got the above info after checking tripadvisor forum and lowyat.net taiwan thread. Mr Looi was highly recommended but i couldnt find any email, so settled with Option 1 =)

This post has been edited by GKilla: Sep 5 2011, 06:24 PM

eh they have a One Piece theme park in taiwan? Where is it and how much per entry? Any website?

i tried to google but came back no result =(

Thanks! Might check it out if got enough time.

This post has been edited by GKilla: Sep 12 2011, 12:19 AM

oh darn! i'm only taking this train at night from Hualien to Taipei! Wont be able to see much at night :\

i went to MV yesterday. the money changer there was selling NT100 = RM10.83 (the one on the ground floor, next to some escalator).

I think 10.46 could be when you sell NT$ back to them.

If you dont want too much trouble, best to change RM to NT$ But if i can save like rm50++ (changing RM2K+), i'd prefer to use the method posted by stimx

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Added on October 9, 2011, 7:01 pmI plan to activate my ATM card for overseas cash withdrawal during my TW trip. Normally how much would they charge if I use this service in Taiwan? I heard there's a one time fee per withdrawal transaction every time we use it.

This post has been edited by GKilla: Oct 9 2011, 07:01 PM