Seeking suggestions on a 4 day visit.

I know 4 days are not long enough to do any indepty travel for Taiwan, but that is all we have, as this is one segment of a 11 setments trip so we try to make the most out of it.

We will fly from HKG to TPE to arrive on a Saturday afternoon (06/13 2:15PM), and leave for ICN on a Wednesday late afternoon (06/17 5:10PM).

Our original thought was to take the HSR to Taichung immediately after our arrival. However, after some consideration, we now decide to spend the first night at Taipei, and leave our rolleraboards at the hotel or at train station locker, if there is such facility during our train trip to the South.

Given our tight schedule, we dont plan to visit SML or Tairoko, but not sure whether Kenting is worth an overnight - beach is not an attraction to us given where we are from, and the places we would have travelled before hitting Taiwan (New Zealand and Australia) - so unless Kenting has something other than beach to offer...

Your suggestions on the following itinerary are highly appreciated:

Day 1 - arrive at 2:50PM, head to Taipei. Visit 淡水老街 and 士林夜市. Not sure if 新光三越 is also possible in this time slot. If 新光三越 is just a big shopping / dept store, then it is no big deal if we skip it. Overnight at Taipei, preferrable at hotel near Taipei Train Station. Recommendations welcome.

Day 2 - Take morning HSR to Taichung, spend a few hours at Taichung. Then take HSR to Kaoshung. (I know HSR does not go direct to Kaoshung but very near - need additional train or bus to Kaoshung town.

Overnight at Kaoshung. Recommendations for hotels welcome.

Day 3 - Take train from Kaoshung towards East Coast, and go North all the way back to Taipei. This is to see the East Coastal area of the island. I have not figured out which train is the right train to go this direction?

I dont think we could afford to stay in 花蓮 for the night, because we want to spend Day 4 in Taipei for National Palace Museum. So we need to return to Taipei for the night.

Day 4 - Taipei, National Palace Museum, evening to 陽明山 for the Sunset and night view of Taipei. I haven%26#39;t figured out where exactly it is, the ';Lover%26#39;s Slope';, supposedly the best place to view the lights of Taipei.

Day 5 - since our departure is in late afternoon, we can still explore places such as 天母, 敦化南路, XMD...

I believe both 天母, 敦化南路 are at the Eastern part of Taipei - are they close to each other?

Head for Taoyuan Airport at 2:00pm for the 5:10pm flight - would this be enought time? Or we need to start the bus trip at 1:00pm?

I understand this is a trip just the surface views. However it seems doable now with HSR. If I would have to give up Round the Island trip, I would still do the Eastern Railroad trip just for the scenery.

Thanks a lot for anyone%26#39;s suggestions!

Seeking suggestions on a 4 day visit.

Kenting is basically a beach thing, there are some geographic attractions and temples, but if you have only four days, would suggest you skip it as journey there eats up too much time.Taichung and Kaoshiong has got relatively less to offer as compared to Alishan, SML and Taroko; but these are scenic sights , if city is more your thing, then the original itinerary would be OK.Mitshigushi is indeed only a shopping mall.

Seeking suggestions on a 4 day visit.

Where do you plan to visit in Taichung? If you dont have any place in mind, in my opinion, you do not need to stop in Taichung. In addition, there is 20 minutes travel time from HSR station to the city of Taichung. FYI You may already know this-Weekend days are busy days to travel on HSR with much higher fare.

I dont have any particular place to see in Taichung. It just seems to be a natural spot on the way down to Kaushung.

My idea is just an Island Circular on the train - and hopefully the train-ride itself would offer a glimpse of the countryside of Taiwan.

Regarding SML, I look at its pictures on the official website, and feel it is more or less like the lakes in so many national / state parks in North America, with the surrounding mountains being LESS attractive.

Also it seems to and from SML from the main highway is a few hours each way - that is another consideration.

If Taichung and Kaoshung, and even Tainan, have not much to offer, may be we should concentrate in the East Coast?

Does Tairoko always require hiring a guide with car?

How about self-drive by renting a car from Taipei, and do the East Coast at our leisure?

Thoughts?

Kaoshung, Tainan and Hualien have more places to see than Taichung. Most people stop in Taichung on the way to SML. SML is a very touristy place and commercialized. Taroko is a natural marble gorge park with breathtaking scenery. Yes, you have to be in a car to visit the park. I would recommend hiring a cabby in Hualien. You can even leave Taipei to Hualien early early in the morning and return to Taipei the evening. In the train between TPE and Hualien you will see country side, pacific ocean and Taiwan central mountains.

Do consider to visit CKS Memorial Hall in Taipei. It is like everyone has to visit Lincoln Memorial once in Washington D.C..

In this case, should we nix Kaoshung and Tainan, and just concentrate in Hualien and the Tairoko nat%26#39;l park?

Should I research this forum to find rec for reliable cabbies?

I wonder if having a rental car would be more convenient - drive the east coastal highway and to the mountain park.

If we have time to spare in Taipei, we would pay a viait to the CKS Memorial. The Nat%26#39;l Palace Museum remains the top priority.