Travel - Internal
Air
Far Eastern Air Transport, Mandarin Airlines, Transasia Airways and Uni Air are amongst the domestic airlines that run services to local destinations from Sung Shan Airport, Taipei.
Sea
There are reasonable connections from local ports. For details, contact port authorities.
Rail
Services are provided to destinations all over the island by the Taiwan Railway Administration (website: www.railway.gov.tw). The main tourist routes are Taipei-Taichung-Chiayi-Tainan-Kaohsiung (a top-class service), Taipei-Taichung-Sun Moon Lake (with the last leg of the journey by bus), Chiayi-Alishan (with spectacular mountain scenery) and Taipei-New Hualian-Taitung (scenic coastal route). Air-conditioned electric trains run at least hourly from Taipei to Kaohsiung; some trains have restaurant cars. Children under three travel free; children aged three to 13 pay half fare. Train tickets can be purchased at many major hotels in Taipei, as well as at the main railway station.
Road
Traffic drives on the right. There is an adequate road system joining all major cities. A highway links Taipei and Kaohsiung. Some main streets have English signs. Congestion can be a problem, and mudslides may block mountain roads. Bus: There are both local and long-distance bus and coach services. Taxi: These are plentiful and inexpensive (metered). The destination may have to be written in Chinese for the driver. Car hire: This is available in major towns. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required.
Urban
A number of private bus companies provide extensive services in Taipei. An unfinished Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, a monorail train, serves Taipei and its suburbs. Metered taxis are available in Taipei; tipping is not expected, but it is starting to come into practice.
TRAVEL TIMES
The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Taipei to other major cities/towns:
| Air | Road | Rail | | Kaohsiung | 0.40 | 5.30 | 4.40 | | Tainan | 0.40 | 4.30 | 4.10 | | Taichung | 0.30 | 2.30 | 2.30 | | Hualien | 0.30 | 7.00 | 3.00 | | Taitung | 0.50 | 10.00 | 5.30 | | Sun Moon L. | - | 4.30 | - | | Alishan | - | 6.00 | - | | Kenting | - | 6.30 | - | | Makung | 0.40 | - | - |
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