Chiayi

The Taiwan High-Speed Rail is truly impressive — fast, efficient, and incredibly convenient. Traveling between cities was a breeze, and the trains arrived exactly on time. The seats were spacious and comfortable, with plenty of legroom, clean interiors, and smooth, quiet rides that made the journey relaxing. Buying tickets was simple, either online or at the station, and the staff were helpful and professional. I appreciated the clear signage and easy boarding process — everything was well-organized and designed with travelers in mind. What stood out the most was the speed. In just a short time, I was able to travel across Taiwan without any stress from traffic or long delays. It’s the perfect transport option for both tourists and locals. Highly recommended for anyone traveling around Taiwan. Efficient, reliable, and world-class — the Taiwan High-Speed Rail exceeded my expectations!

We took the 7322C Alishan route bus from in front of the Chiayi Railway Station. We originally missed the 8:10 AM bus, so we had to wait for the 8:40 AM one. Unexpectedly, the bus arrived at 8:30 AM. Passengers with physical tickets were allowed to board first, followed by those who scanned their QR codes, and finally passengers using EasyCards. It was a Saturday, but luckily there weren't many passengers in the morning, so my travel companion and I were able to sit together. After arriving in Alishan, we were also able to enter the Forest Recreation Area smoothly with our QR codes. For the return trip, we took the 3:40 PM bus. There were noticeably more people heading down the mountain, and my travel companion and I were forced to sit separately. However, if we didn't take this bus, we would have had to wait until 4:10 PM, so we settled for it (the last bus was at 5:10 PM). We arrived in downtown Chiayi as the city lights were coming on. The ride up the mountain took about 2.5 hours. Although the mountain roads were winding, the driver was experienced and drove steadily, allowing us to relax and enjoy the scenery or take a nap. Overall, the bus service was convenient and suitable for travelers who don't want to drive themselves.

I had fun exploring Southern Taiwan with this 3 day pass. Very easy to use, it comes with a booklet that you'll get from the HSR counter. You can book your HSR in advance through the website, can even change your time of departure when you go to the counter. My accomodation is in Taipei and the day trips in Taichung and Tainan was just a breeze. HSR also provides free shuttle bus between HSR station to the main city, just research for the bus number. You have to go through the staff at the gates to pass through, they will inspect the booklet. I'll comeback to explore more of South Taiwan!

The cruise shuttle bus is really a good friend for solo travelers! The tour guide was very friendly, switching between Chinese and English channels smoothly, and also shared tips on the Alishan itinerary! We stopped at the Eryanping Trail on the way, which is a staircase trail. You can enjoy the tea garden view at the second rest pavilion, with a wide and comfortable view.

Our lady driver Mdm Huang黄 is very considerate in ensuring the safety and walking for my elderly parents. She shared some tips and willing to accomodate to our itinerary changes along the way. Car (Mercedes) is very comfortable and spacious for 4 pax. Highly recommended 😊

The user-friendly purchase interface, diverse transportation options, and clear timetables and ticket displays make it so convenient that I never want to queue at the counter to buy tickets again. Klook has become my most practical and time-saving ticket purchase option.

I booked on Klook, and when I had a problem, I contacted the store via LINE. The store responded immediately and helped a lot. They were friendly and professional. I highly recommend renting a scooter here in Chiayi. It's super close to the Chiayi Transfer Station. You just walk a few steps from the station to the store, which is very convenient!

In September, the outbound trip departs at 17:15 (5:15 PM) during daylight hours, allowing for scenic photos. However, the return trip starts at 18:00 (6:00 PM) as it begins to get dark, making it nearly pitch black when entering the Erwanping Black Forest. It is said that the daytime schedule in October is preferable.

The driver was on time, courteous, and polite! Since public transportation isn't great in Chiayi, I tried a chartered car for the first time to explore. The entire trip was comfortable and convenient. I'm so glad I booked a car for my Korean family's visit to Taiwan! 🫶🏻