Taiwan, the beautiful island, is a place many people yearn for. I also love Taiwan, because I’ve been watching Taiwanese idol dramas since I was a child, and many of my favorite singers are from there. So what are the routes and tips for traveling from Beijing to Taiwan? Let’s follow me to have a look!
A free tour around Taiwan has been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. But besides the fact that I didn’t have time to get the Taiwan Travel Permit and Entry Permit, the more important reason was that I didn’t have enough money to support a long trip, so I kept putting it off.
Until this year, when I had both the money and time, I finally made up my mind to embark on a solo free tour around Taiwan.
Some say that dreams are just something you dream about. But if you don’t take the first step, you’ll never know that your dreams can come true.
Travel routes and tips from Beijing to Taiwan:
Time: December 15, 2017 – December 24, 2017 (10 days and 9 nights)
Route: Beijing – Taipei – Ruifang (Pingxi Line) – Hualien – Kenting – Kaohsiung – Taipei – Beijing
Expenses: Excluding pure shopping (cosmetics, souvenirs), a total of 7400 yuan RMB was spent.
Clothes: 1 trench coat, 1 thin sweater, 1 fleece leggings, 1 shirt, 1 sweatshirt, 1 pair of jeans, 1 dress, 1 set of thermal underwear, 4 sets of underwear, 3 pairs of socks, 1 pair of Martin boots, 1 pair of flats.
Transportation: Use the EasyCard to take the MRT, book Taiwan Railway and High Speed Rail tickets on Mafengwo. The MRT, Taiwan Railway and High Speed Rail in Taiwan don’t require security checks, you can just walk in with your bags. Tickets for the Taiwan Railway from Taipei to Hualien are hard to get, it’s best to book them in advance on Mafengwo, tell the merchant your Entry Permit number and you can book directly.
Accommodation: No. 1 Inn on Nanyang Street in Taipei (2 days), Purple House in Hualien (2 days), Ocean Sunny Days in Kenting (2 days), Shanwen’s Cottage in Kaohsiung (1 day), Lion City Business Hotel in Taipei (2 days). Reviews are down below.
Documents: Taiwan Travel Permit and Entry Permit (please search directly on Baidu).
The Taiwan Travel Permit is processed at the Exit and Entry Hall in your city. Because different cities may have different requirements, Beijing requires you to make an appointment in advance and go with your ID card and a printed application form. You can take photos in the hall, and having the staff take the photos for you will be more compliant with the requirements.
If you’re applying for the Taiwan Travel Permit for the first time, it will be a card. You can use this card to pass through customs self-service at the airport, no need to queue. But for the first time you need to go through the manual channel to have your fingerprints scanned. When you return to Beijing you can go through customs directly by swiping your card.
The Entry Permit is reviewed by the Taiwan Immigration Service, and can only be applied for through official designated mainland travel agencies with qualifications for going to Taiwan. Mainland agencies receive and review the application, and then pass it on to Taiwanese agencies, which will apply online to the Taiwan Immigration Service, pay fees, buy insurance and other procedures. So you can find travel agencies that can handle it on Taobao, Mafengwo, etc. I found China Youth Travel Service on Mafengwo at the time, they will send you an email with the required documents, just prepare them according to the instructions. You will usually get a reply within a week.
The Entry Permit needs to be printed by yourself, and it must be printed in color with a laser printer. Ordinary A4 paper can be used. It can be folded and put in a bag. But pay attention to the QR code at the top, it must not be folded or smeared.
It is essential to apply at least one month in advance because you may not be approved and need to supplement documents, and air tickets can be purchased before the Entry Permit is issued.
APP:
Baidu Maps. Many people told me to download Google Maps for navigation, but they said Baidu Maps doesn’t work well in Taiwan. I used Baidu Maps and it worked perfectly, but Google Maps was directing me the wrong way and I couldn’t find my way.
Alipay. You must have Alipay, you will get discounts in many places! Jack Ma is awesome!
Mafengwo. Check out strategies, travelogues, book tickets, etc. Many people told me to download the Taiwan High Speed Rail and Taiwan Railway ticket booking apps, I didn’t use them, I just found merchants on Mafengwo to book tickets for me. Take the email information and go to the train station to pick up the tickets at the manual window.
QQ Mail. Use it to receive emails. Many scenic spot tickets, High Speed Rail tickets, Taiwan Railway tickets, if you find a merchant online to help you book, they will send the ticket pick-up information directly to your email. Of course, you can also follow QQ Mail on WeChat to get email notifications, and emails can be opened directly in WeChat.
Others:
Umbrella. Winter in Taipei, the rain isn’t just a song.
Stamp Book. There are many scenic spots in Taiwan that offer stamps, literary youth can prepare a blank book, you’ll be sure to have a full collection. If you don’t want to hand over your ticket to the staff, you can have it stamped and keep it yourself.
Power Bank. Bring one that can be taken on the plane.
Medicine. If you have a weak stomach or are prone to getting sick from the change of environment, it’s best to bring those kinds of medicines. If you get motion sickness, it’s also best to bring some motion sickness medicine.
Coin Purse. There are many places in Taiwan that require cash, such as night markets, underground shopping malls, so be sure to prepare a coin purse to store loose change.
Storage Bags. I hardly washed any clothes, I only washed socks. In the strong wind in Hualien, I hung them on the balcony for a whole day but they still didn’t dry. If you don’t want to go to the laundry to have your clothes dried, if you want to air dry naturally, it may not be possible in time, so it’s better to bring a few storage bags to hold unwashed clothes or small items that have been washed but not dried.
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