This is my 18th trip to Taiwan
Speaking of which, my first trip in the Year of the Pig was to Taiwan. Before the 15th day of the first lunar month, I was going to celebrate the Lantern Festival with local friends in Kaohsiung. My relationship with Taiwan can be said to be quite deep, from north to south , I have visited almost all the popular attractions, even some niche destinations that people don't want to get. Talking about Taiwan with many friends, many of them have been there, but most of them are so-called "island tours". Looking at the 15-day period on the Taiwan entry permit, if you want to really understand the interesting Taiwan, where is it enough?
This time the itinerary is mainly concentrated in Kaohsiung in the south of Taiwan. The scope of Kaohsiung is really large. In addition to the well-planned urban areas, Pingtung, Liugui and Maolin in Greater Kaohsiung have many interesting points worthy of praise. Let me come together~
Brief itinerary
D1 Shanghai-Kaohsiung CI584 20:35-22:50
Su Han Lai Hotel
D2 Kaohsiung-Donggang-Liuqiu-Pingtung Lantern Festival
Sudonggang Amalfi Royal Homestay
D3 Donggang - Maolin - Dona Tribe - Handmade Love Jade - Baolai Hot Spring
Su Baolai Leisurely Villa
D4 Baolai-Taichung-Audit Village-Taichung Flower Expo-Mitsui OUTLET
Overnight in Taichung Taichung
D5 Taichung-New Taipei Pinglin-Taipei
AMBA Zhongshan Pavilion
D6 Taipei-Shanghai CI503 16:45-18:28
Since the first day was a night flight, the focus of the itinerary was the service of China Airlines and the Grand Hi-Lai Hotel in Kaohsiung. China Airlines did not have many flights to and from the mainland, but I insisted on taking China Airlines because of the delicious meals provided on the flight. As soon as I got on the plane, I felt like I had arrived in Taiwan. The meals were also prepared with all kinds of Taiwanese delicacies, such as braised pork rice, pork ribs rice, fried noodle...all of which are my favorites. The friendly broadcast in Taiwanese, at the first Time has warmed up Taiwanese businessmen who frequently travel between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Another great point is that most of China Airlines uses large planes. Although the flight time is not long, it is enough for me to discover good dramas. I went to Japan on the turntable to watch "Sixties Boys Turned into Adults", which was popular in Taiwan at the time, and this time I found out "Your Child Is Not Your Child" produced by PTV.
Kaohsiung: Sleep by the River of Love tonight
It takes only 15-20 minutes to drive from Xiaogang Airport to the center of Kaohsiung. The location of Grand Hi-Lai Hotel is very good. You can see the River of Love when you open the window. Great for family trips. It coincides with the Spring Festival, and the lobby of the hotel is decorated in a lively manner. From many details in the room, we can see the caring service of the hotel, such as the footrest in the bathroom, the USB port next to the bed and the Simplified material. Downstairs of the hotel is a high-end department store with many world-renowned high-end luxury brands, which shows that the boss of Hi-Lai attaches great importance to the overall brand and quality.
Xiaoliuqiu: Snorkeling for 60 yuan to see green sea turtles! super cost-effective!
The next morning, we set off to Xiaoliuqiu. This beautiful island is about half an hour away from Kaohsiung East Port by boat. The environment is very good, the air is very fresh, and because it is very convenient in the past, many Kaohsiung people will come here for vacation , Many homestay, catering and activity projects have also emerged as the times require.
The snorkeling we experienced in Xiaoliuqiu this time was great! For beginners, it is a good choice to go to Taiwan to try snorkeling. The water quality is clear, and there is no language barrier in the learning process. The snorkeling equipment is very complete. The owner of the dive shop is very nice and very patient. It makes people who are a little afraid of water I broke through my own obstacles, and most importantly, the price is very affordable. From renting equipment to guiding snorkeling to taking pictures underwater, the whole set only costs 300 Taiwan dollars, which is about 60 yuan in RMB! You must know that snorkeling in Sanya costs at least nearly 300 RMB! Not counting the sky-high priced dive shops that cheat people, in short, the snorkeling in Xiaoliuqiu is worth a try~
You can go to several major scenic spots in the island tour of Xiaoliuqiu, such as the lighthouse and Vase Rock, but in fact, the scenery on the road is the most beautiful. It is recommended to hire a small car to go around the island and stop to take pictures when you see the beautiful scenery. Strolling in the sunshine, listening to the sound of the waves hitting the reef, and searching for delicious local snacks, this is the ultimate meaning of vacation.
Pingtung Dapeng Bay: Turn every Lantern Festival into a carnival
The 30th Anniversary Taiwan Lantern Festival was held for the first time in Pingtung in the south, and it was also the first time that the main lantern image used local specialties instead of this year's zodiac shape. Walking in the main exhibition area of the Lantern Festival, you can see many lighting sets carefully crafted by designers , and on both sides of the trail are self-made lamps from primary and secondary schools in Pingtung and surrounding areas. Many local tourists who come to visit are looking for the works of their alma mater.
In addition to the colorful lantern show, there are also bazaars and night markets selling local specialties. You can see their vigorous promotion and introduction of the local tourism industry everywhere. They take advantage of the opportunity to sell the good things in Pingtung. The lantern festival is like a A very rich and exciting small trade fair. Taiwan's serious marketing of local culture is worth learning.
We were fortunate to participate in the rehearsal for the opening of the Lantern Festival. We saw the scene where the fireworks took off and bloomed, and the main lanterns were lit. With the persistent pursuit of economic development, I believe that the future of Kaohsiung Pingtung will be more promising!
Maolin: Those purple butterfly butterflies that are constantly spinning and flying among the trees
Before coming to Maolin, she had almost no knowledge of this place. She will neither be arranged in the itinerary of the group tour, nor will she be the first choice for independent travellers. What is there to do in Maolin? The most famous is the purple butterfly that flies to the south every year for the winter. Our guide is a local aborigine and the uncle of the famous singer Liang Wenyin. Only then did he know that many powerful singers have aboriginal blood, and their musical attainments are in the same line.
To be honest, I was shocked when I saw the purple spot butterfly flying among the flowers. It is rare to see such dense butterflies appearing at the same time. I saw a few sporadically in other places before, and they were far away. Flying away, the butterflies in Maolin are different. When you walk to them, they remain motionless and concentrate on pollination, so that I have the opportunity to take a few close-ups. The "purple spot" of the purple spot butterfly is actually a bright purple color on the wings, which can only be seen when the wings are opened.
Dona Tribe: Slate houses, millet wine and Aboriginal hospitality
The aborigines of Taiwan were collectively referred to as "Gaoshan people" in our previous impressions, but in fact they are divided into more subdivisions, and there are more tribes and nationalities, such as the Amis and Paiwan people. The tribe belongs to the Rukai tribe. Their eyes are big and beautiful, their skin is dark, and their facial features are three-dimensional. In order to welcome us as guests, the local guide sister enthusiastically took out the millet wine at home, as well as the national costumes worn by my family and myself, and let us change into the experience and take pictures.
Because the tribe is located in a deep mountain, most of the houses of the aborigines are made from local materials. There are exposed gray-black slate and shale everywhere in the mountainous area of southern Taiwan, which is very convenient to use. The black slate houses are built one by one with local stones. of. Now many local families have started their tourism business. I drank latte mixed with horse pepper (mountain pepper) in the cafe, ate snowflake cakes with red millet, and saw the young lady on the side of the road barking A token of love given by a young Rukai man to a woman he likes... The Dona Tribe is a quiet small village, and in many details, there is a bit of literary and artistic atmosphere.
Hand-washed love jade: Wash wild love jade into a big ingot!
I often eat Aiyu ice in Taiwan, but this is the first time I experience making Aiyu by myself. The material is wild Aiyu fruit that looks very ugly. Put the small seeds on it into fine stockings and knead them in the water with your hands. You can squeeze out the viscous material inside, pour the prepared Aiyu stock solution into the corresponding mold, and let it stand for a while before you can pick it up and eat it! Aiyu itself has no taste, and her good companion is sweet and sour lemon juice or plum juice, which is very delicious when paired~ Eating a bowl in hot weather will immediately eliminate all worries.
Audit New Village: Old House, New Atmosphere
In order to promote cultural creativity, there are revitalization projects for old buildings all over Taiwan. Old factories and dormitories have been transformed into cultural and creative districts. Audit Village in Taichung is one of them. Although the entire cultural and creative area is not large, there are quite a few well-known small shops, such as the "Little Days", a literary magazine, and many small cultural and creative objects that are constantly being introduced. Looking at the dazzling array of shelves, I I want everything, and finally bought a sun-dried notebook in the entanglement, intending to see which one will darken faster under the hot sun, me or the paper~
Flower Expo: After hearing the sound of flowers blooming, let’s look at the handsome horse
This is the second time I have come to the Flower Expo. I went back to the Flower Dance Hall and the Forest Park. They are all recommended attractions to visit. They are beautiful, colorful, and rich in varieties of Taiwanese orchids. Everything related to horses, including plant-shaped horses, and the treasures of the National Palace Museum in Taipei are also here, and the dynamic display of treasures is done very carefully.
There are many families who come to visit the Flora Expo. The Taichung Flora Expo has specially designed many interactive sessions for children. Taiwan’s attractions generally cater for the preferences of all age groups, so they are especially suitable for family travel.
Mitsui outlet in Taichung: Good products with high cost performance are here
The newly opened large-scale discount shopping street in Taichung is located in the Taichung Port area. It is a bit far from the urban area, but there is a light rail to get there, and tourists without cars can come here. The discounts of various brands are very strong, there are many 20% off and 30% off, and Alipay also gives a lot of coupons. If the total price is not high, use Alipay to scan the code to pay, and the 10% off is the same as free gift. I noticed that Eslite Life also has several stores here. Although there are not many discounts, they can be accumulated together with other categories. As long as all the products reach NT$2,000, you can go to the service center counter to apply for a tax refund form. When you leave the country, you can go to the airport. Cash back directly on presentation or to credit card.
Pinglin Tea Township: Fresh Tea Garden, Leisurely Town
Pinglin, located in New Taipei City, is a niche tourist attraction for Taiwan travelers. It is very close to Taipei, and it is a good place to get out of the urban life circle during holidays. The young handsome guy and his wife who took us to experience the city walk this time are both very powerful designers. It was a chance to travel to Pinglin to relax, so I fell in love with the tea town, so I stayed here and worked with the local young farmers. Eco-tourism, a small-town hike, a tea-themed lunch, and a tea-picking experience in a tea garden... It is a very good short-distance travel opportunity for urbanites who are eager to get in touch with the original ecology of nature.
Designers who understand aesthetics are extraordinarily beautiful in everything they do. Jingua No. 3 is made warm and cute by them. They also run a youth hostel. Volunteers who come to change places will also leave their traces here. dream feeling. There are too many places to visit in the town. Baozhong tea and Oriental beauty are the specialties here. Almost every tea shop sells them. There are also popsicles of the same taste, hot soy milk steamed buns and tea eggs, which we collected along the way. delicious.
Mr. Qingnong Bai from the tea garden told us the story of his family’s tea planting, picking tea and making tea. Now tea picking has basically used semi-automatic technology, and the tea-making machines have also been upgraded from generation to generation. The plaques are by no means in vain, they still retain the original tools to facilitate telling us the difference between the two.
Spot Taipei & R79: Children who like literature and art will love it
Because Spotlight Taipei is opposite the hotel where I stayed this time, I discovered this good place. Lightpoint Taipei screens different literary films every day (in mainland cinemas, you either watch 3D or special effects, because few people will spend money to watch literary films, so they are generally taken off the shelves quickly). Of course, the downstairs is the one that matches its literary identity. Cafes and cultural and creative shops. This small white building used to be the consulate of the United States in the Republic of China, and now it has become a favorite place for young artists in Taipei.
The predecessor of R79 was Zhongshan Book Street. From Shuanglian to Zhongshan, there are bookstores of different categories on both sides. The original discount bookstore no longer exists, and the bookstores that can be seen now belong to Eslite. There are occasional photography exhibitions or art exhibitions in the middle section, and the whole street is full of strong literary and artistic atmosphere.
Accommodation recommendation:
1- Donggang Amalfi Royal Homestay
A very cozy homestay, Amalfi Royal Homestay, the name sounds very domineering, the family room layout is very cute, the public area is fully equipped, free snacks are provided, and the detailed information of the Lantern Festival is also thoughtfully sent, come to Taiwan , Be sure to stay in a homestay once to feel the enthusiasm of the boss and the pure local life.
2- Baolai Leisurely Villa
Baolai's hot springs are quite famous. This resort has a Santorini-style decoration design. They have two very spiritual parrots, which left a deep impression on me. Each room on the first floor has a private hot spring pool. The room and bathroom are super large, suitable for the whole family to travel. There are hot spring pools with massage, swimming pools and saunas outside, and swimsuits are required to enter the public areas.
3- Taichung Dayi Master Hotel
I have lived in Tainan's Lao Ye Traveler before, it is really great! This time I stayed in this new Taiyi Master Hotel in Taichung, and I felt an inexplicable sense of intimacy. The design is full of artistic sense and integrated with local elements. There are art exhibitions on each floor, and the storage in the room needs to be searched carefully. Drawers, every detail makes people feel intimate and warm. The location and view of the rooms are also good. I have always admired the concept of Laoye Travellers, and I look forward to staying in more Laoye Travelers in the future.
4-AMBA Zhongshan Pavilion
Amba in Taipei is very distinctive. It turned out to be a new brand of the Ambassador Hotel. The background is quite good, and the overall design is very novel. The decoration is a bit similar to the North Gate where I stayed before. There are many old-fashioned drinks and drinks in Taiwan. snack. Read it, save it, play it...the "bar" in the room is everywhere, the meals are Western-style, and there are indeed many European, American and Japanese guests. The introduction is very detailed, and the spare parts are for sale~ The location is superb, Not far away are Spotlight Taipei, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, and the culturally rich Zhongshan Book Street...
Food recommendation:
Xiaoliuqiu-No Menu Cuisine
There are no menu dishes in many places, just out of trust in restaurants and chefs, so that they have more room for freedom. The lunch in Xiaoliuqiu uses the freshest ingredients of the day, and the cooking method is unique and careful. All of them are freshly prepared. Although the serving is a bit slow, isn’t that what vacations are like? Take a leisurely time to savor the banquet carefully presented for us.
Maolin-aboriginal no-menu cuisine
Aboriginal no-menu dishes are great! Every way is unique, the boss's mother steamed the pumpkin herself, the hunter rice bun with solid rice grains and rich content, the roasted pork neck with a rich taste, and the pork rib soup seasoned with bananas... the portion is super large! It is said that the owner is Wu Baochun from Maolin, and the baking here is also a must, it is really delicious!
Bora-Mountain Love
I must praise this champion dish! The 5,000 NTD set meal of Baolai Mountain Love has been officially recognized by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau~ The presentation of the appetizers is quite special. The cold boar skin is very chewy, and I love the plum and taro ribs. The sweet and sour taste is delicious, and the meat is also special thick! The pumpkin fried rice is also good, fragrant and super tempting. The shrimp is hot and sour in Thai style. Almost every dish is a little sweet, which is in line with the characteristics of the south! ~
Taichung - Karuizawa
Taiwanese really love to eat hot pot, and they also make a small hot pot for one person to the extreme. There are unlimited refills of black tea, and their own dishes are hot. When I came to this Karuizawa hot pot restaurant in Taichung, the retro and elegant decoration style attracted me. As soon as I walked in, I wanted to ask "will it be expensive", but when I saw the menu, I found that the price was very reasonable, no wonder there are often long queues. The sukiyaki soup base and side dishes I ordered are a little different from others. You can add water and soy sauce to taste, which is very interesting.
Taipei - horse spicy
It is said that many foreigners come to Taiwan to eat horse spicy food by name. Indeed, it is not easy to eat such a rich and authentic hot pot for more than RMB 100, and it is almost the only one here. A pile of thick sliced beef and mutton was served, as well as various meatballs and other side dishes, plus famous brand dessert ice cream. At the end of the meal, I could only walk against the wall. I was still a little bit reluctant, thinking about what to do next time time to come again~
Dry goods strategy
1- How to go to Taiwan?
Direct air tickets from major cities in the mainland to Taiwan are around 1000-2000 all year round, and occasionally there are special offers, which are even more cost-effective than the stable price of the mini-three links. There are many options for departure from Xiamen, and the air tickets are cheap. Another way is to transfer from Hong Kong, which will be cheaper than the direct flight.
2- How to apply for a certificate?
If you want to go to Taiwan, you need to go to the immigration center at the place of residence to apply for a travel permit to and from Taiwan, whether you are traveling in a group or on your own. It used to be a pink book, but now it is changed to a card similar to an ID card, just like the travel permit to and from Hong Kong and Macau. A lot more convenient. After obtaining the permit from the mainland, you also need to obtain a permit from Taiwan. To apply for a Taiwan entry permit, you must go through a travel agency or an online agency. The Taiwan entry permit can be divided into single and multiple times. If you have been to Taiwan twice or more within a year, You can apply for multiple entry permits.
3- How to surf the Internet in Taiwan?
(1) Open mobile phone roaming directly, China Mobile and China Unicom have global packages, the price is more expensive
(2) Using mobile WIFI, this time I still use my old friend Roaming to surf the Internet, the speed is fast and the performance is stable
(3) Buy a local mobile phone card. Both Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile have launched all-you-can-eat data packages. If you stay for a long time, you can also buy a special WeChat card. NT$250 can be used for 15 days+, including 1G data and 100 TWD call fee (if you don’t make frequent calls, it’s really enough)
I always feel that the fate with Taiwan can be even deeper. I am grateful to my colleagues along the way for their help, as well as the hospitality and service of the bosses from all sides. The most beautiful thing in Taiwan is its people. No matter how many times I come here, the experience is very deep.
