Taichung - Tainan - Kaoshiung - Taipei.

*edited on 27/9/2015

I went for a summer exchange programme for 25 days at Asia University, Taichung. In this 25 days, I manage to travel the main attractions of the whole of Taiwan from Taichung - Tainan - Kaoshiung - Taipei. Below are the list of places I've been and I will update them from time to time. If you are really eager to travel the local-like experience I had, do drop me an email and I shall send you my personal itinerary or comments / opinions! :)

Places I visited so far:

*Places I visited more than once
#Places I did not visit but recommended since it is just nearby

Taichung

General:

Buses in Taichung are relatively cheap if not free. Basically, within 10km rides are free with an Easy Card. Basically, it's like our local Touch n Go, only used more commonly even in 7-11 and Family Mart. Hence, it's a card you must own if you are visiting Taiwan.

1. Whole day trip: Toroko National Park (Hehuanshan) - Qing Jing (Green Green Grassland) Basically, Hehuanshan is located at the peak of the mountains which is really cold but it has a great view. Mind you, if you are light-rider like me, it's gonna be a dizzy ride up there. As you head your way downhill, Qing Jing will be your stop and you will be pleased by fresh air and nature where sheeps will be freed by noon after the sheep show (There is 2 time slot for the show: 9am / 2.30pm local time) Overall, I visited these places by booking a driver with a car that able to fit 6 person (7 if tiny for 4000TWD
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Whole day trip: Grandpa Rainbow Village It's a small village painted by a retired uncle in rainbow colours. You will be able to spot the rainbow mask ranger very often whom is well-know for his selfie skills with tourists. - Dong Hai University Well know for its chapel architecture and it's very own dairy production. Must try: Yogurt, milk and ice cream especially if you are visiting during summer. - Shenxing Old Railway Station (Hakka Village) This place is pretty much like Shifen and Ping Xi , only without the lanterns but an addition of local hakka village. This place is pretty lively and you should head on to try their handmade muachi. - Gao Mei Shi Di A must visit place during the evening to witness a beautiful sunset by the beach accompanied by windmills. Overall, these places I manage to visit in a day by booking a driver with a car that able to fit 6 person (7 if tiny) for 3500TWD. The driver I had on this day was superbly kind. When we were at Dong Hai, he went over to the Art Street and bought us some local icy-cool desserts for free knowing that we are students. Unfortunately, I lost his contact :(
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Whole day trip: Sun Moon Lake - *Feng Chia Night Market This trip was sponsored by my university hence, I am unaware of the transportation cost. But as we were in a large group, we were unable to really enjoy Sun Moon Lake thoroughly. I will recommend you to go in small groups or probably, spend a night there to fully enjoy this place. It's recently rated number 1 place to visit in Taiwan. We visited Feng Chia after that on our way back to our university. Feng Chia is a paradise of food and shopping combined. If you walk around and spot the right shops, you will be able to buy clothes  for a very good quality and design at 100 yuan.Your routine shall adjust accordingly to where you stay.
   
   
   
   
4. Whole day trip: Lin's Family Garden Museum in Wufeng (I really enjoyed the Taiwanese version of red tea here! Cooling and refreshing, especially after the tour!) - National Science Museum - *Taichung Main Station (nearby attractions: Miyahara(sellings traditional biscuits and please be prepared to queue for their ice-cream, various shops selling Sun Biscuits) Yet another trip sponsored by my university hence, transportation cost remains unknown. Lin's Family Garden is quite well-known in Taiwan including the one in Taipei. Basically, you will have a tour guide guiding you around and you will have a tea session in between which I really enjoyed. National Science Museum entrance fees varies from what you want to enter.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Whole day trip(Local-route): Xin Guang Shan Yue (Mall) - Lunch: Chun Yung Tsun (If you are there during the summer, MUST TRY: Dried Longan Congee which is cold and dessert-like to cool down your summer!) - Carrefour (just around the corner) - Walk over to *Feng Chia Night Market You will need to look for buses that will head out of central Taichung to go to Xin Guang Shan Yue (I took bus 51). For lunch, you need to look for this restaurant reachable by walking for about 15 minutues to Chun Yung Tsun to try their special delicacies during summer.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Half day trip: Chung You Bai Huo (A traditional looking yet luxury mall - Their themed toilets, I tell you..) - Chun Shui Tang - *Yi Zhong Night Market At Chung You Bai Huo, you can find the famous Chen Ping bookstores which really has a very book-ish environment, Shida Night Market famous polo bun (you will find it on the left of the main entrance) and do try the very worthy Sushi Express at the food court(basement) for 30 yuan per plate. It's really worth the money. Chun Shui Tang is the first bubble milk tea invented. While I find their pearls relatively chewy and soft, I don't find the drink fascinating. Finally, Yi Zhong Night Market is just nearby and the later it is, the livelier it will be. So if you are not rushing on buses, you can stay there till midnight. It is the 2nd largest night market at Taichung after Feng Chia and most of my friends really enjoyed the varieties at Yi Zhong.
   
   
   
7. Night: Dong Hai Night Market (Try to fit this into your day schedule if you are not going there as long as I am but there isn't much compared to Feng Chia and Yi Zhong. The specialty here is the cold chicken feet and the red bean ice cream!!)
   
   
   
   
   
   

Tainan - Kaoshiung - Beimen

1. Whole day trip: Anping District - Dadong Night Market Anping District is well known for its Anping Gu Bao(Anping Historical Site-Paid Admission) and Anping Old Street. Near Anping Gu Bao, you will be able to find many tourist attractions namely the Anping Treehouse(paid admission) and further down the road, it is the multi-colour Japanese salt house(free admission). Basically, all these admissions aren't superbly expensive and if you have a student card, you will be entitled to a discount. Dadong Night Market has a huge variety of food, way more than Yizhong and Feng Chia but it is not even the largest night market yet in Tainan. Thus, be patient, spot the ones that has long queue and looks different from others to satisfy your taste buds. One of them being the Pai Ku Su (Fried Slice Pork Chop) For a whole day, the transportation costs is less than 100TWD but mind you, buses are hard to get at Tainan. But don't worry, taxis are relatively cheaper.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Whole day trip: Alishan - Fenqihu - Chiayi Personally, I really enjoyed Alishan because I really love the weather and nature. As aforementioned, I am a light-rider which means the ride up hill makes me puke. However, once up there, the fresh breath just makes it worth it. The mini train at Alishan is 50 yuan per ride but I'd suggest you to take a stroll rather than cramping into the small train where there really isn't much to see. Also, if the entrance fees is about 100 yuan per person if you are a student and if I'm not mistaken, 200 yuan for adults. On your way down, Fenqihu is another famous old street in Tainan where its Railway Bento(Tie Lu Bian Tang) is the highlight. However, something contrary to Malaysian culture, if you dine in, you will have to pay an extra 20 yuan which makes the whole set of bento 120TWD (one of the most expensive I ate so far) But it was worth it. It has a whole chicken leg and a pork chop which was a huge portion. However, do make sure you got the original shop which is near the 7-11. Before heading off to Chiayi train station, you can head on to Chiayi shopping district as well as the famous waterfall chicken rice (Pen Shui Chi Qi Fan) We booked a car for half day for 3000TWD.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Whole day trip: Beimen Crystal Church - #Jingzaijiao Salt Field - Fo Guang Shan(Buddhist Monastery) - Dream Mall - #85 Sky Tower  This is another trip sponsored by my university hence, transportation costs is unknown. Basically, the church is close on any other days except for Sunday so you can only stand about 300m away to grab a pic. I didn't manage to visit the salt field but if you have the time, why not. It's really nearby but you probably need to ask around for the bus. The Buddhist Monastery is really huge and if you are a lover of culture, you probably need to spend lots of time here. Dream Mall is just another mall like those in KL, only with Taiwan fusion. If you want to, Sushi Express is available here too. As for the sky tower, it is another one that I missed.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Taipei

Transportation at Taipei is basically much costly but if you have a local student card, you are entitled to 20% discount on rides. Otherwise, if you are a tourist that travels to many places in one day, I will recommend you to buy a whole day unlimited pass.

1. Day 1: *Tamsui - *Wufenpu - Shi Da Night Market - *Ximending Tamsui is well-known for its old street facing the ocean. From Tamsui MRT, you can take a bus to the Fisherman's Wharf where the famous lovers' bridge is located. At Tamsui, it is highly recommended you try the Algae (Taufu stuffed with glass noodles), Hong Dou Bing (Dorayaki - The one at the entrance of Tamsui Old Street, beside the ice cream stall is the best!) and if you are a fan of cheap branded shoes, there is shoes shop that easily located at the corner where you will notice their Keds is always on sales. Other brand of running shoes there are relatively cheaper too. Wufenpu is a place to visit in the evening which you can choose to proceed to Raohe Night Market which is nearby. Mind you, this is a shopping paradise for girls but you will need patience to find the right fit for you. Shi Da Night Market is a place where the Ping Huo Polo (Ice Fire Polo Bun - Basically, a whole slice of cold butter insert into a freshly baked polo bun). Ximending is a paradise for anime lovers. While things here a pricier, you should definitely visit this place at night to experience its youthful vibes. Not forgetting, Taipei beauty stores such as Watsons sell a greater variety of brands of masks compared to the ones in Taichung and Tainan.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Day 2: Songshan Cultural Park - Gongguang Commercial Area - *Taipei 101 - *Shilin Night Market This park basically is like an outdoor exhibition centre which caters to various events such as new music industry up to Hello Kitty and Melody World Tour. Gongguang Commercial Area is basically a shopping district but the highlight is the brown sugar bubble milk tea. The long queue despite the heavy rain when I was there, you will not miss this shop. It has an old uncle face on the white signboard which is at the end/beginning of the long stretch F&B road. Being a lover for bubble milk tea, you gotta trust me when I said this is the best one I drank throughout my stay in Taiwan and it only costs 35yuan. Taipei 101 is the famous skyscraper in Taiwan which in my opinion, highly overrated. While the queue to the upper deck is long and expensive (around 550twd for adults and 450 for students), the view is just normal if you ever visited skyscrappers in KL or Bangkok. This is because Taiwan is well-known to being environmental friendly and night view there isn't exactly spectacular. But for experience sake, I went. Alternatively, I will recommend you to visit the Starbucks which near Taipei 101. It is situated at the office buildings where at entrance, you will see a few smokers and security guards. Head on the ATM machine look-alike and key in Starbucks, it will give you a token to head up to one of the highest Starbucks in the world. From there, you will be able to enjoy the view of Taipei 101 instead. Lastly, the very well-known Shilin Night Market which I highly DO NOT RECOMMEND on eating fruits from the first stall at the entrance. It charges an unreasonable price. As you walk on in, you will see several fruit stalls with price boards on them and you will regret. One of the famous chicken requires me to wait for about an hour but it's okay, you can walk around and come back for it later. The shop has chairs outsides for waiting and it is in black signboard. Don't worry about the name, you will notice it. The shaved ice is along a tiny road but you will find it by asking around just by saying 'zhi ping' (eat ice) and they will lead the way. Be prepare to queue!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Day 3: Jiufen - Shi Fen - #Ping Xi Jiufen in my opinion is overrated. It's just another old street although they do sell some good and famous nougat and hakka delicacies. Other than that, it's just an old street slightly up the hill which has a moderate view of sea and hill. Moving on to Shi Fen, the train is crazily crowded. The lanterns are crazily expensive. I will recommend you to head on to Ping Xi instead. They are less crowded there according to my friends and equally beautiful. We were forced to take a taxi back to Ruifang Train Station because the train to Shi Fen and Ping Xi only operates on hourly basis.

Just like ferris wheel, life keeps making rounds.