Haley & Corey

See the Complimentary Lodging section in the Events section for details on free temple lodging.

IMPORTANT CHANGE: Please book your own hotel if you are not taking advantage of our Complimentary Lodging option! Book ASAP and cancel (usually for free) if needed -- hotel space can get REALLY limited around this time of year.

Recommendation closest to the temple:

Royal Gold Hotel No. 288號, Section 1, Guotai Road, Fengshan District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 830

http://www.royalgoldhotel.com/index.html

Closest 4-star hotel to the temple (around a 15-20 minute walk). Well outside of downtown Kaohsiung. Expect a room to cost around $100 USD.

Recommendations close to the MRT Orange Line (direct transfer to Fengshan Station) within Kaohsiung city:

Chateau de Chine Hotel No. 82號, Zhongzheng Road, Xinzhuang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 242

https://xinzhuang.chateaudechine.com/en/index

A 4-star hotel just 3-blocks away from the Orange Line MRT. Within downtown Kaohsiung. Expect prices around $80 USD.

FX Inn No. 81號, Zhonghua 3rd Road, Qianjin District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 801

http://www.fxinn.com.tw/en/index.php

A 3.5-star hotel just a 4-block walk to the Orange Line MRT. Within downtown Kaohsiung. Expect prices around $65 USD.

Both Taipei (TPE) and Kaohsiung (KHH) are valid choices. However, flights directly into Kaohsiung tend to be more limited and more expensive (up to $500 USD more). Since most people will most likely tour Taipei anyways, we recommend flying into Taipei and taking the High Speed Rail (HSR) down to Kaohsiung. HSR tickets are around $50 one-way per person, and the trip takes around 1.5 - 2 hours. See the HSR section for more details.

For those willing to shell out some extra $$$, I recommend EVA Air. Second choice is China Airlines. Third choice is Cathay Pacific, which tends to have longer layovers.

Start looking in March (not all flight options are out in February so prices may be inflated). Expect to see prices ranging between $1300 USD - $1800 USD. Christmas/New Years flights naturally tend to be more expensive, so prices will shoot up very quickly.

However, if you buy tickets far in advance, be absolutely sure to double check for any schedule changes at least 1 month before your flight. We have had the unfortunate experience of a schedule change being messed up by a third-party vendor and being stuck with an 'illegal' flight connection. Be sure to check specifically on the airline's actual website (American Airlines, United, EVA, China Arlines, etc) and not with your third-party vendor (Orbitz, Expedia, Chase, etc).

Taiwan's High Speed Rail is a super fast train that goes from the north end of Taiwan to the southern end and makes stops at several key cities.

We recommend booking your tickets ahead of time online to ensure you have a spot. https://irs.thsrc.com.tw/IMINT/

If you're already in Taiwan, you can also purchase tickets at any 7-Eleven.

The easiest way is to take the metro from either Airport Terminal 1 or Airport Terminal 2 to the Taoyuan HSR Station and the HSR from Taoyuan station to Zuoying station. From Zuoying HSR Station, it's a relatively inexpensive Uber (<$300 NTD or <$10 USD) to anywhere in Kaohsiung.

When taking the commuter metro from TPE > Taoyuan HSR Station, take the metro heading towards Zhongli Train Station. The first metro is at around 5:57 AM and the final metro is around 11:55 PM from Airport Terminal 1 Station. You must take the commuter train, not the express train.

Check the latest timetable here: https://www.taoyuan-airport.com/english/taoyuan_metro

When taking the HSR, buy your ticket for Zuoying station, which is the final stop. The first train out of Taoyuan is at 6:49 AM and the final train is at 11:21 PM. Trains run every 15 minutes or so.

To return back to TPE, simply reverse the trip!

Note: You'll most likely be buying an unreserved seat, so make sure to sit in one of your train's designated unreserved cars. When in doubt, sit in one of the last cars of the train.

Check latest timetable here: https://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/TimeTable/SearchResult

An overview of the trip can be found at the website link below.

Take an Uber (or MRT -- see the MRT section below) to the Zuoying THSR Station. From there, buy a HSR ticket to Taipei Main Station, which is the heart of the city. However, depending on what your final destination is, you may want to stop anywhere between Taoyuan Station and Nangang Stations.

Option 1: Use your current cell phone plan. Typically your carrier will have some sort of "deal" for international cell service. For example, AT&T lets you use your current plan internationally (both data and cell service) for a flat fee of $10/day. It's worth investigating this option since it is the simplest way to get cell service. But it's also the most expensive, so if your stay is relatively long, take a look at Options 2 and 3.

Option 2: Buy a SIM card and a data plan in Taiwan. This is easier than it sounds -- just take your phone to any of the little mobile phone shops at the airport and they will take you through the steps. You'll be able to make Taiwan-based phone calls and use whatever cellular data your plan allows. These cellphone plans tend to be a lot cheaper than US/Canadian plans. More details can be found here: guidetotaipei.com/article/cell-phones-and-sim-cards

Option 3: Rent a personal wifi unit. This is by far the cheapest option. These personal wifi units can be rented from any airport and can provide unlimited 4G LTE Data for up to 5 users for just $100 NTD a day ($3 USD)! However, as you can probably guess, the range can be limiting, the wifi unit is a pain to carry around (about the size of a hard drive), and the connectivity can sometimes be spotty. Still, it's a price and service that's hard to beat for those who don't plan on making any phone calls! More details can be found here: guidetotaipei.com/article/cell-phones-and-sim-cards

Your Uber app works in Taiwan, and I highly recommend downloading it and using it. Taxi drivers in Kaohsiung do not speak English for the most part, so being able to input your destination ahead of time is a huge plus. From my experience, no trip should really cost you more than $300 NTD ($10 USD).

Kaohsiung has an extensive and reliable metro system called the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). The closest MRT stop to the Fengshan Lotus Temple (the ceremony location) is Fongshan Station, which is a 1km (12 minute) walk away. For those flying directly into KHH, you can opt to use the MRT to get to Fongshan Station from the KHH to save (literally) a couple dollars.

Prices average at around $30 NTD ($1 USD) per trip.

How-to-Ride Guide: www.krtco.com.tw/EN/guide_ride.aspx

Check the latest timetables here: www.krtco.com.tw/EN/guide_FirstandLastTrain.aspx

Check the station map here: www.krtco.com.tw/EN/StationGuide_map.aspx

If you are staying at a hotel and you wish to take a taxi, speak to the receptionist at the front desk in English. They will be able to hail a taxi and tell the taxi driver where you want to go.

All taxis in Taiwan should be metered. Make sure the meter is running and don't get scammed.

See the Kaohsiung Tour event for additional places to visit, especially if you're not joining us for the day.

A must visit for anyone who likes xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) or has yet to try them. Pricing is moderately high, especially if you go for the truffle flavored ones. This restaurant does not take reservations, and the wait can get quite long. Visit the Hanshin Arena department store while you're there!

Asia is renown for its shopping experiences, and for good reason. Avoid "western" brands and you'll find some amazing clothing styles, household products, and food native to Taiwan. Here is a list of Kaohsiung's premier department stores:

1. Hanshin Arena: The bigger, newer, and better Hanshin. Stop by Din Tai Fung while you're there! Moderate to high prices.

2. Dream Mall: Ride the elevator to the roof and hop on the Kaohsiung Eye for a grand view of the city. Comes equipped with some carnival games and a movie theater. Moderate prices.

3. Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Zuoying Store: Attached to Zuoying THSR Station. Perfect for before/after high speed rail trips. Moderate to high prices.

4. Hanshin: The original Hanshin. Smaller than Hanshin Arena, but still good! Moderate to high prices.

5. Talee: Mostly high end designer stuff here. Probably only worth a stop by if window shopping.

6. FE21 Mega Far Eastern: Several stories of moderate to high priced clothing with a theater on top.

7. Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Sanduo Store, President, and President Wufu: We haven't personally visited these, but feel free to stop by and let us know if they're any good!

The size of this market feels "just right". Crowded, but not packed as tight as sardines. Good balance of games vs food options. Very recommended!

More sprawling than Ruifeng but debatedly more shopping and store options surrounding this night market.

Take the ferry over to Cijin Island! Take the MRT to Sizihwan station and walk to the Gushan Ferry Station or directly Uber over. Take the ferry over to Cijin Island and immediately stumble upon the Cijin Night Market, famous for its fresh seafood!

www.google.com/maps/place/Gushan+Ferry+Pier+Station/@22.619728,120.2685786,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x346e03f5b2c223d7:0x16ac67dbd4eb76ca!8m2!3d22.619728!4d120.2707673

The Times Square of Kaohsiung.

Historical landmark off the beaten path. Learn how red tile is fired and bring home a neat souvenir.

Not the greatest art museum in the world, but has its own style. Worth a visit if you're an art buff.

Taiwan's capital city. Much more hustle and bustle than Kaohsiung, and a surprising number of people speak English.

Iconic skyscraper in the middle of Taipei. It's a tourist trap, but heading up the observatory is still worth it at least once. Super expensive department store attached.

The Beitou district is famous for its myriad of hot springs. Each spa has its own style -- some require bathing suits, and some don't. A completely naked hot spring experience may not be for everyone, so make sure to do a bit of research before deciding which one to commit to. The distance is a bit far and requires metro and bus rides, so I recommend this mostly for the particularly travel savvy and adventurous.

This out-of-the-way (ie. requires a full day trip) mining town inspired the setting from Spirited Away.

Probably the most impressive museum in Taiwan. Full of ancient Chinese artifacts and history. We highly recommend stopping by!

Small shops and restaurants amongst historical buildings. Worth a couple hours if you're looking for souvenirs.

Din Tai Fung may be an international chain today, but there's always a first. Visit for additional excuses to eat xiaolongbao.

Packed like sardines and not for the claustrophobic. Probably the biggest night market in all of Taiwan. Visit any of the other night markets for a bit more breathing room.

Raohe and Shilin are on the top of the list for Taipei's best night market. Visit both and decide for yourself!

Spend an afternoon hiking up this gorgeous mountain for a stunning view of the city.

Taipei's Times Square.

Oldest city in Taiwan, and Taiwan's old capital. See the Tainan Tour event for additional places to visit, especially if you're not joining us for the day.

Purchase the translated guided tour and leave 2 hours later with a deep understanding of Taiwan's complex history.

Opening some time late 2018, this art museum looks extremely promising!

Taiwan's first department store and built by the Japanese. Old, small, and full of local crafts. Enjoy some antique architecture while shopping!

Supposedly an amazing museum and worth a visit for just its architecture. Perfect for those who can read ancient to modern Chinese.

This street really shows Tainan's age. Stop by if you're already in the area for something else, but don't go out of your way.

Take a short cruise through the mangrove trees and snap some cool nature shots.

The most beautiful area of Taiwan. Note that, being a protected and native area, there are restrictions in visiting some areas of Taroko Gorge. 

When people say Hualien, what they really mean is Taroko Gorge, nestled inside Taroko National Park. Nowhere else in the world can you see magnificent cliff sides like these! We 100% recommend visiting if you have the time and the means, but do so with a reputable tour guide. Find plenty of options on Trip Advisor or other travel sites. www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g297907-Activities-c42-Hualien.html

This huge and sprawling night market will have you wandering for hours. If visiting Taroko National Park, stop by here for dinner.

Local craft shops, restaurants, and shows. A nice place to stop by if you're in the area.

The Adagio in Hualien: www.theadagio.com.tw/zh-tw/space/more?sid=6

This quaint little place is truly unique. Organized in the Japanese style, you sleep on futons, enjoy a miniature garden, and eat a Japanese bento breakfast in the morning. Must call for prices and reservations.

太魯閣晶英酒店 Silks Place Taroko in Taroko National Park: http://www.silksplace-taroko.com.tw/

A grand 5-star hotel experience. Sit by the pool-side fire enjoying the marbled relief of Taroko Gorge. Aboriginal concerts are held on the rooftop every evening. Luxurious buffets are offered downstairs. All at a premium, of course.

Famous for its many beaches! See the Kenting Tour event for additional places to visit, especially if you're not joining us for the day.

Note that it is around a 2 hour drive to get to Kenting and the area is not easily accessible by HSR. You can instead take an express shuttle down to the area and hire a taxi or Uber to take you around.

Another nice beach to stop by for water sports and swimming.

Feed and frolic amongst deer in this small deer park. Minor fee to get in and purchase some carrots.

A nice view of Sail Rock from this relatively small beach. Some areas of lava rock are accessible for climbing on.

This preserved and pristine beach is not accessible to tourists, but you can [carefully] climb across the lava rocks in the area to snap some nice photos. A small museum talks about the different types of sand found at Kenting's various beaches.

The more protected hiking areas of Kenting require advance reservations to visit. Be sure to check out the website to apply.

Never visited personally but is supposedly pretty great. Stop by if you're an aquarium type of tourist.

Beef Noodle Soup

A Taiwanese staple. Of all the beef noodle joints I've eaten at, the one that stood out has to us is this one (in Taipei):

Liu Shandong Beef Noodle No. 2號, Lane 14, Section 1, Kaifeng St, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100

Soup Dumplings

Most famously at Din Tai Fung, but can be found at many dumpling stores. Try saying "xiaolongbao".

Night Market Food

If it looks good, eat it. Our favorite snack is Taiwanese fried chicken (which look like normal chicken nuggets with salt dashed on them), but we're also a fan of fried quail eggs, steak on a stick, fried crabs, etc etc etc.

Fried Sandwich (optionally dipped in soy milk)

A traditional Taiwanese breakfast item. It's pretty much fried dough sandwiched between a pan-fried Chinese pancake, hence the name. There's a shop open in the mornings near the temple: No. 272, Sanmin Road, Fengshan District

The HSR is a great option to move between all of Taiwan's major cities (other than Hualien), so I really recommend taking advantage of it to visit any of the cities on its other stops.

Haley's recommendation for a busy 11-day visit:

Day 1 (Thu, Dec 26): Depart for Taipei in the early morning. Time change will eat up this entire day plus some of the next day.

Day 2 (Fri, Dec 27): Land in Taipei. Visit the National Palace Museum and any night market of your choosing before heading to your hotel.

Day 3 (Sat, Dec 28): Take a day trip to either the hot springs or Jiufen (or just tour whatever else sounded interesting in Taipei) before heading down to Kaohsiung via HSR in the evening. If not too tired, stop by Ruifeng night market on the way to your lodging.

Day 4 (Sun, Dec 29): Wedding.

Day 5-7 (Mon-Wed, Dec 30-Jan 1): Complimentary tour bus trip of Southern Taiwan (see Events section for more details).

Day 8-10 (Thu-Sat, Jan 2-4): HSR back to Taipei to either fly to Tokyo, Japan or take a tour of Hualien, Taiwan. There are many flight options that use Narita Airport as a layover point, so if you'd like to visit Japan, work with your travel agency to plan for a couple-day layover. Hong Kong and Seoul are other convenient options due to natural layovers and no visa requirements for Americans or Canadians.

Day 11 (Sun, Jan 5): Last minute touring before flying back home. Time change should keep this to a one-day affair.

If any other Taiwan gurus are out there, feel free to post recommendations in the Guestbook tab for the rest of us to see!