It’s been a long time since I wrote a long novel. I never knew what to write about it. Suddenly I read about my past trip to Taiwan with Mr. L, and decided to write about my trip to Taiwan. In fact, this happened last year, written in hazy memories and past photos.
Go once and let your willfulness fly again.
Many people once asked me, why do you travel all day long, will your work not be delayed?
I didn’t know how to answer it at first. How should I put it? In fact, work needs to be relaxed and life needs to be empty.
This time, I won’t write too many details about visas and car bookings. I hope you don’t mind.
Actually, before we planned to go to Taiwan again, we thought about many places. We wanted to see nature, go abroad, and visit more places that we had never dared to think of. But during that time, we were all too tired. Four words can describe it: exhausted both physically and mentally.
It’s better to change the idea of traveling, instead of “collecting stamps”, it’s really just to relax and eat the delicious food you’ve been thinking about. However... I didn't expect that I would end up with half my life. But how rare it is to find a place that makes you sweat and love it.
I took the high-speed train from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Gongbei Pass, then took the Venetian free bus to the airport and arrived in Macau an hour and a half early. We were lucky enough to buy an EVA Air aircraft this time, and the experience was really great. From service to catering, everything can be rated full marks. You can also shop on the plane, which is even cheaper than the airport duty-free shop.
The fare from Macau to the airport will be less, but the number of transfers will be more. Especially for the return trip, you have to wait a long time at the Venetian for the free bus to the border gate. When you arrive in Zhuhai, you have to take the light rail or bus back to Guangzhou.
Passed the airport immigration check, got wifi, got Taiwan dollar cash, took the bus... Since this was not my first time traveling, everything was familiar to me. Because there were too many people waiting for the most famous bus, Guoguang Bus, we took a random bus to Taipei Station , which took about an hour.
Dragging a suitcase, I walked on a familiar street. The wind picked up and I wore less clothes. Some people on the streets in Taipei were wearing short-sleeves and some were wearing coats. No one was ready for the cooling.
We headed towards the awesome hostel we stayed in in Taipei last time - STAR Hostel. We walked through several small alleys and walked to the intersection. We saw a house decorated entirely with wood. We knew we were here!
I went downstairs to find some lively shops and ate some noodles and dumplings to satisfy my stomach.
Take the MRT to Zhongxiao Fuxing Station, especially Section 4 of Zhongxiao East Road, which is regarded as the golden section of Taipei. It is called the East District by Taipei people. It is the most fashionable place in Taipei, with various international and local trendy brand shops.
If the stations in Harry Potter are magical, then Taipei Station also seems to be enchanted. There are MRT, Taiwan Railway, high-speed rail, passenger transportation, and several shopping malls here. Miraculously, this house does not look so huge when viewed from the opposite road. No matter how many times we come here, we always get lost and take many wrong paths. I have no sense of direction and I am fascinated by the station. If there is a kind person who can draw a map, I would be really grateful.
Accommodation: STAR Hostel
Deposit: NT$390 Full amount: NT$1,300
By the way, STAR Hostel includes breakfast. You have to take care of coffee, tea and other drinks by yourself. You can clean and put them away after drinking, which gives you an illusion. This is another home.
Day1
had a perfect breakfast at the STAR Hotel, and the rampage journey officially started.
It takes about 90 minutes to take the Gemalan Bus from Taipei Main Station to Yilan . It is still raining today and I feel a little sad. After getting off the bus, we took a taxi and arrived near the Confucius Temple, where we were waiting for the owner of the B&B.In the morning, there were very few people in Yilan County city. We were the only ones on the whole street. Taiwan’s small “county towns” always lead such a lazy life. I really like this feeling!
When we see Xiaoju B&B, we might as well say it is a small villa. We live downstairs and a group of guests above live upstairs. The downstairs area is very large and decorated very much in line with the way I wanted to live. Japanese-style furniture, MUJI supplies, IKEA gadgets, a large row of bookcases, a small sofa, a small back garden...the owner also prepared yogurt for us. Bread, jam, etc. can be used for breakfast the next day.
In fact, Yilan is the most suitable for cycling. The hostess of the B&B revealed that you can even ride a bicycle from Yilan to Luodong, but it is a pity that the weather is not good. We were walking in the small streets of Yilan under umbrellas. It was almost noon, and there were very few people. We were surprised to see that the old-fashioned breakfast shop was packed with people. Breakfast and lunch are about the same time? Following the map hand-drawn by the owner of the B&B, I walked for about half an hour and got a long-lost surprise - I met Crescent Plaza, the only department store in Yilan. The square has MUJI, Eslite, and Uniqlo. I bought several pieces of clothing at Uniqlo here, and I almost relied on these clothes to protect myself from wind and rain during the rest of my trip. Yilan is really a blessed place.
Yilan Governance Memorial Hall , this is a house that has witnessed the track of Yilan's official governance for 200 years. The appearance is a Japanese and Western-style building. During the Japanese colonial period, this was the dormitory of the Yilan County Sheriff. The Japanese-style courtyard is very suitable for girls to take pictures. We took pictures for almost 20 minutes at the door of the house. It really has a Japanese filter effect. I took off my shoes and walked into the Japanese-style house. Inside, there were many cultural relics and historical materials from the Qing Dynasty, Japanese rule and the National Government period. Outside, there was a Japanese-style Zen courtyard. From the window, I could see the landscape of dry water.
Next to the Yilan Memorial Hall is the Yilan Literature Museum, which is also of a similar style. We just walked to the yard.
Jiaoxi Township
From Yilan to Jiaoxi Township, you still need to take the Taiwan Railway. Don’t think it’s far by train. In fact, it only takes 10 minutes. There are two stations. In Taiwan, it is best to take the Taiwan Railway because it is really punctual. .
The style of Yilan Station is very good. It is a few meters away.
When you walk out of the Taiwan Railway Station, you can feel the charm of a hot spring town. The mountains are in the distance. Walking along the road feels like climbing a mountain.
There are two major hot spring parks in Jiaoxi, namely Jiaoxi Hot Spring Park and Tangweigou Hot Spring Park. We decided to go and just meet one. I heard that after soaking in the hot springs, there is a hot spring ramen next to it that is very good. You can also eat ramen while soaking your feet.
There is an ancient hot spring bathing place near the park - Yuwei Furo. From the outside, it looks Japanese-style. There are fish bathing in hot springs outside, but you can’t see them inside.
The old aunt here is very enthusiastic. I was still hesitating whether to take a dip. The aunt has already taken me to the ticket window. Just when I was about to pay, the aunt told me that it was a naked soup. I took the money. I wanted to retract my hand, but the aunt had already collected the money and thoughtfully told me that a small towel would be given for free. I saw that it was only enough to wipe my face. A dip costs NT$150, equivalent to RMB 30, which is really cheap.
Just like that, I bravely tried to have a naked bath for the first time in my life. Haha, there is no picture of this. The soup pools were filled with old people, aunts and children, and there were no tourists. They were all locals who often came here to bathe. There were several soup pools with different temperatures. When I complained that I felt dizzy, the aunts were overly concerned about me and sent me to Cold Spring Pool... In the pool, I once again felt the enthusiasm of Taiwanese locals.
Tangweigou Hot Spring Park
After taking a bath in the hot spring, we seemed to be reborn, even our stomachs were in urgent need of something to fill our stomachs! So we walked back to the Leshan Hot Spring Ramen Shop and completed the standard meal after bathing in the hot spring: eating noodles.
After eating the noodles, we left Jiaoxi. We gave up going to Luodong Night Market and took a small train back to Yilan to check out the Dongmen Night Market.
Dongmen Night Market
Walking from the train station to the night market, Yilan seemed very peaceful at night. As I walked, I suddenly saw a ray of light, and the night market arrived. Although the Dongmen Night Market is not big, it is very lively. It is a night market that locals love to come to. A plate of stinky tofu and a cup of rice balls are already very filling.
After eating, sleep came. We returned to the "small residence", took off our shoes, read a book on the sofa, drank coffee, and listened to CD music. Time became very slow. Tonight in Yilan, I feel the peace of life again, and the speed of time suddenly becomes clear.
B&B: Yilan Xiaoju
Full payment: NT$2,600 (pay on collect)
Day2
I really can’t bear to stay in this small homestay, the quilt is so comfortable at night. At around seven o'clock, I took the Taiwan Railway to Chishang with my suitcase in hand. The itinerary was very tight, so this stop in Chishang was a "willful" move. Why do you say that?
In order to go to Chishang to experience the golden rice ears in autumn, we can only go to Chishang to play first, then take the Taiwan Railway back to Hualien, and start again from Hualien. This is the way back from Treasure Island. Because of greed and curiosity, we are willing to be so "stupid"
We dragged our suitcases and walked 5 minutes from the station. The town of Chishang is really small, and the Chishang Lunch Bun Story Museum is very big. I have to admire Taiwanese people who buy box lunches. A museum can be built anywhere!
The Story Museum has an eye-catching logo. There is a figure who looks like a train conductor on the outside. There are two blue trains on both sides. You can eat on the train. The Story Museum has two floors, and you can also eat. We bought two boxes of rice bags, chicken drumstick rice and classic flavor. The chicken drumsticks are big and crispy, great!
Classic ancient breakfast flavor, with pork as the main ingredient, this should be the closest to the ancient rice dumplings. Speaking of the story of rice bags, we have to start from the 15th year of the Showa era, which is more than 70 years ago. The founder said this: "Meal bags are for outsiders to eat, and they must be made with care."
At that time, the Huadong Railway took about 8 hours from Hualien to Taitung , and all the passengers arriving at the station were hungry. At that time, our ancestors were I sold sweet potatoes in front of the station to serve passengers. Later, out of sympathy for the hard work of outsiders, I started making rice bags and selling them on the platform.
Today’s rice bags are packed in wooden boxes. Opening the paper packaging is like opening a gift. After seeing the exquisite presentation inside, your appetite will be full. Looking at the rice fields and eating crystal clear rice, I am full of happiness.
After dinner, the sun was shining brightly, and there was a green tree outside extending towards the story museum. We took a taxi and headed towards the B&B we were looking forward to. At that time, I was attracted by this B&B in the rice fields of Chishang. I thought it was very remote. The driver said it was not very far, only 10 minutes.
The Taiwanese driver was as enthusiastic as ever, introducing us to the beautiful scenery outside along the way: "It's better to take photos in that fenced area!
We agreed with the driver to pick us up at six o'clock tomorrow morning and take us to the train station. The B&B is here. It’s so beautiful! There are flowers and plants everywhere outside the house. In fact, there is no garden, because the house is integrated with the wild!
An enthusiastic old lady took us inside Room - Green Story House. This B&B only has five rooms. I almost couldn't book it at the time. Looking back now, it was really worth it. We lived in a simple American style. We lived on the first floor. The most beautiful thing about the room was the view from the room. Looking out of the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can see the countryside scenery, which is close to the earth. There is a small corridor outside with two chairs and a table, which is a bit cozy. I made a reservation with the owner of the B&B for dinner tonight. The menu is different every day, and pork is served today. Rice and beef rice. Another expectation!
The most common means of transportation on the tour is by bicycle. We rented two bicycles at the B&B for NT$100 each. The wind, for the first time, rides on the concrete road between rice fields, open and exciting.
Riding and riding, I found that the rice fields here are like scenery in oil paintings, one after another, and the road in the middle is also in a unified posture, winding, and you can't see the edge. There are not many tourists in Chishang, and it is not a must-visit town for tourists, but there is one place that is very famous, and that is Brown Avenue, which is famous for the Brown Coffee commercial. We rode for a while and got here. .
Brown Avenue is a pastoral road in Chishang Township, , Taitung County. There is no telephone pole on both sides of the straight road. The road divides the fields on both sides into two halves. It is known as a "green paradise road."
We rode our bikes and started to travel around Chishang. There was almost no one on the road from the avenue to the narrow path and then to the green lane. Seeing that the driver told us that it looked like a specially built tourist boardwalk, we parked our bikes below and climbed up here. The wind was strong, and my hair was blown greasy. The panoramic view of the rice fields in front of me was really beautiful, and it was really endless.
I rode until I reached the town where I got off the bus just now. I got off the bus and bought a package of salted crispy chicken. In the happiest moments in Taiwan, while enjoying the beautiful countryside, FamilyMart and 711 stores will appear. They save our stomachs and sublimate the travel experience.
On the way back, the rice fields and sky dyed red were so beautiful that people were speechless. We always walked for a few minutes and then stopped to take pictures.
No matter where in Taiwan we were, Apple Navigation still It was very reliable. We arrived at the hotel on time. It was getting dark and the glass house was breathtakingly romantic. We walked into this glass house to dine, surrounded by green plants. In addition to us, there was a group of guests dining, which was quiet and comfortable.
After filling my stomach, I hung two pieces of washed clothes and socks to dry on the two chairs by the door, and prepared to sleep. There was a meow jumping on the chair to lick its fur. I prefer meow, and I started a story with meow in the quiet night, haha.
Accommodation:
Life.21 House (just next to Brown Avenue)
Full price: NT$2,300
Day3
At 6 o'clock in the morning, the driver picked us up on time. It was a bit cool on the pool in the early morning. The driver saw that it was still early, so he took us to have a look nearby. This lake is really beautiful. There were only a few people here and there in the early morning. The clouds were very low, and the lake was connected to the mountains. I thought to myself, I don’t know when I will see you again. Here it is, Chi Shang.
Chishang Station is so small that there are many students going to school. They have breakfast to warm their stomachs and bask in the sunshine before setting off for the next stop.
Here comes something that needs explanation:
What is Taiwan 11 line?
Provincial Highway 11 is called the Coast Highway, with a total length of 168 kilometers. It passes through towns such as Changbin, Chenggong, and Donghai in Taitung County.
Currently, there are about a dozen large and small recreational areas or scenic spots in the county. It is the best way to visit this route, and some people will choose to take the Taiwan Railway that passes through this coastline.
After comprehensive consideration, we chose this route ↓↓↓
Hualien → [Shitiping] → Tropic of Cancer → Baxian Cave (depending on time and weather to decide whether to stay) → [Sanxiantai] → [Royal Beef Noodle Lunch] → Shuiwang Upstream → [Xiaoyeliu] or Jialulan (depending on time and weather, decide whether to stay) → Kenting
Shitiping
Arriving at Shitiping, I was stunned by the coastline surrounded by strange-shaped rocks.
Looking at Shitiping, you can see the seashore covered with gray and white strange rocks. Strange rocks can be seen everywhere along the coast. There are many round holes on the raised coral reefs. It is said that this is a place for crabs and tropical fish to live and swim. In addition, due to the impact of waves, there are many potholes on the sea erosion rock platform, with different sizes and depths, and there are often smooth gravels sliding inside. Many coastal plants grow on the rock platform in the Shitiping area, such as cacti, Ma Andeng, etc. Alas, how could it be so ridiculously beautiful?
We listened to music and looked at the scenery of the coastline outside. Every frame was a wallpaper. Next to the winding road was the endless sea. At first glance, our car was racing on the horizon. We were looking forward to the next stop.
Sanxiantai
It is said that three of the Eight ImmortalsLi Tieguai, Lu Dongbin and He Xiangu passed by this island and rested on the island, hence the name - Sanxiantai. Sanxiantai Island became an offshore island due to seawater erosion. There is a walking trail around the island, which takes about 2 hours to browse. You can enjoy pot holes, sea caves, sea caves and other special terrains, as well as rare seaside plants. Due to time constraints, we did not take the arched bridge trail, which was a bit regretful.
Because November is the off-season, there were not many people, so I took pictures at the beach for a long time.
At noon, we all had a bowl of Royal Beef Noodles. I opened a can of Taiwan beer and ate a... side dish that looked like cold tofu...
Xiao Yeliu
Although I was riding in the car, I was probably knocked out by the sea breeze and fell asleep. You have to live and die. In a daze, we arrived at Xiaoyeliu. The Xiaoyeliu landscape area is composed of sandstone and is famous for its rich sea erosion rocks. The huge coral reefs are twists and turns, and there are banyan trees growing on the rocks.
The Green Island opposite is the Prison Human Rights Island, where there are also first-class seawater hot springs - one of only three underwater hot springs in the world. You can soak in the hot springs and enjoy the smell of the sea, and you can also use the hot spring water to boil eggs, corn, and shrimps. Unfortunately, everything has to wait until later, after all, the waves in November can make people vomit from the bumps.
Duoliang Station
The station site was originally a hillside with tunnels at both ends. The Nanhui Railway Engineering Office specially designed the station as an elevated one. Standing on the platform, you can have a bird's eye view of the Pacific Ocean.
When we went there, we all thought we had missed the last bus. Unexpectedly, when we finished watching, a car whizzed by overhead! Ahhhh, I just missed the most beautiful scene. Here we met another meow. It seems that I am really destined to be a meow! Haha
We arrived at Hengchun Town at 7:30 in the evening and found a B&B. It's getting late, what we need to do now is rent an electric car and have dinner.
After filling my stomach, I rode a small electric car through the darkness and cold wind. I couldn't wait to go back to the white house I had reserved and experience the ultimate taste of petty bourgeoisie.
Since we were running around all day, we lay down on the warm bed very early and fell asleep soundly.
That’s it for this trip. Since it’s really hard to organize photos and recall details, my little brain is overloaded. I’m looking forward to the next article!
