Travel and Transport Informations
===
:::info
**Important Announcement:** -*Sep 3, 2019*
Please be informed that some of the information on this page is currently outdated.
I'll try my best to update it ASAP. For now please just take it as a reference and do your own research on it.
UPDATE DONE:
:::
:::info
- **Table of Contents**
1. How to get around Hsinchu City.
2. How to go to the other cities/counties.
3. Recommended apps/websites for travelling around.
4. Places recommended by Taiwanese friend.
5. FAQ
- **What will not be mentioned in this post**
- Details about the tourist spots.
- You can easily get more informations from Google. (Feel free to ask us if translations are needed.)
- **Last updated:** Jul 15, 2019 11:23 PM (GMT+8)
- **Contact for any correction or suggestion:** Zu Lin or Jia Ying at *<jamesewe.eed06@nctu.edu.tw>* / *<jiaying.eed06@nctu.edu.tw>*
*Prepared by Jia Ying and Zu Lin*
:::
## How to get around Hsinchu City
### School Shuttle Bus
***Only Operates on Weekdays***
1. **Hakka-THSR Line**
- This Line is useful if you want to go to the other cities by taking THSR (Taiwan High Speed Rail).
- *Note: free of charge*
[**Pickup and Dropoff points**](https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-5A0EvBbXCo-vIP7g5gL2H2S-BQTjYWn)
2. **Kuangfu-Boai Line**
- I don't think you guys need this but I have included it just in case.
- *Note: We are now in Student Vacation, free of charge*
[**Pickup and Dropoff points**](https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_3pWImLBSJpoQlW6SQUTahdzerqbwrcr)
### Hsinchu Science Park Shuttle (小紅巴/Little Red Bus)
***Only Operates on Weekdays***
- **Remember to wave to let the driver knows that you want to get in.**
- **free of charge**
- Apps: (English available)
[**Pickup and Dropoff points**](https://drive.google.com/open?id=17U3JEIPvk-QExna0FExZPLSJEwhtvb-N)
### Hsinchu City Bus (市内/市區公車)
- Can use 悠遊卡 EasyCard.
- Many routes. Usually I use Bus+ app and/or Google Maps to see which route I need to take.
- Bus+
- [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hearsilent.busplus&hl=en)
- [IOS](https://apps.apple.com/tw/app/bus-%E5%85%AC%E8%BB%8A%E5%8B%95%E6%85%8B-%E8%87%BA%E9%90%B5-ubike-%E6%9F%A5%E8%A9%A2/id967861325)
- I will only list a few related routes here.
- Route 2 (2號)
- From/To NCTU Bamboo Lake to/from Hsinchu Train Station
- [Link](http://www.hcbus.com.tw/big5/information-2.asp?select=2&button=%E9%80%81%E5%87%BA)
- Route 182
- From/To Beida Bridge to/from THSR Hsinchu Station via NTHU (National Tsing Hua University)
- You need to take this if you need to go to THSR station on weekends.
- The station is near NTHU main gate, under the pedestrian bridge. (To THSR)
- [Link](http://ibus.hsinchu.gov.tw/Public/Mobile/MRouteQueryDetail.aspx?branch=0&city_route_no=182)
- 藍1區
- From/To Hsinchu Train Station to/from Zhuzhong via NTHU
- You need to take this if you missed the last Route 2 bus of the day.
- The station is opposite NTHU main gate. (To Train Station)
- [Link](http://www.hcbus.com.tw/big5/information-2.asp?select=1&button=%E9%80%81%E5%87%BA)
### Taxi
- UBER
- Taiwan Taxi (Yellow Cab/小黃)
- Service hotline of Taiwan Taxi is 55688.
- [Info](https://www.taiwantaxi.com.tw/EN/en_services.html)
- Price is usually higher compared to UBER.
### Ubike
- Website: [YouBike](https://www.youbike.com.tw/intro.html)
- Ubike is a bike rental service in several cities in Taiwan.
- The nearest station is just in front of Graduate Dormitory 3. (There are 3 stations in NCTU)
- Just swipe your EasyCard to rent.
- Station Map: [https://hccg.youbike.com.tw/station/map](https://hccg.youbike.com.tw/station/map)
- Note that you need to register your 悠遊卡 EasyCard on the machine (available on every stations) first before you can ride.
## How to go to/get around other cities/counties
### Buses
- How Tai Bus to Taipei
- Route 2011B
- From/To Taipei Main Station to/from Chung Hua University via NCTU South Gate
- **Important: When returning from Taipei, DO NOT take Route *2011***
- **Take note that Route 2011 also have a stop called NCTU(交通大學站）. But it actually stops outside of NCTU and not inside. So, remember to take Route 2011B or ask if the bus will stop at NCTU South Gate(交大南大門站) or not.**
- Station inside NCTU (Most convenient way to go Taipei)
- Station at the Parking Lot near basketball courts.
**Important: Summer timetable (7/15-8/31)**
**Regular Timetable**
[**Link**](https://i.imgur.com/S1yRy0Q.jpg)
- Buses Companies in Taiwan
豪泰客運 www.howtai.com.tw
新竹客運 www.hcbus.com.tw
阿羅哈客運 www.aloha168.com.tw
國光客運 www.kingbus.com.tw
苗栗客運 www.mlbus.com.tw
統聯客運 www.ubus.com.tw
首都客運 www.capital-bus.com.tw
和欣客運 www.ebus.com.tw
### Train
- Website: https://tip.railway.gov.tw/tra-tip-web/tip
- Normally train is used to travel to rural area/countryside.
### High Speed Railway
- Website: http://www.thsrc.com.tw/index_en.html
- Really fast
- Relatively expensive
### MRT
- Taipei: https://english.metro.taipei/
- Kaohsiung: https://www.krtco.com.tw/en/
- Taoyuan: https://www.tymetro.com.tw/tymetro-new/en/index.php
**Note:**
- Some of the buses need to swipe your EASYCARD when boarding; some both boarding and exiting.
- The EASYCARD can be used on bus, MRT, and train; **but NOT High Speed Railway.**
- Please ensure the amount in the card is enough especially when taking the bus.
## Recommended Apps/Websites for Travelling Around
### Apps
1. Bus+ [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=hearsilent.busplus&hl=en) [IOS](https://apps.apple.com/tw/app/bus-%E5%85%AC%E8%BB%8A%E5%8B%95%E6%85%8B-%E8%87%BA%E9%90%B5-ubike-%E6%9F%A5%E8%A9%A2/id967861325)
2. Google Maps [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.maps&hl=en) [IOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-maps-transit-food/id585027354)
3. Some of you may need Google Translate [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate&hl=en) [IOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-translate/id414706506)
4. Taiwan Weather [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.cwb) [IOS](https://apps.apple.com/tw/app/id439181175?l=en)
- Weather forecast by Central Weather Bureau(中央氣象局)
- Alert about storms/typhoon/earthquake
5. 科學園區行動精靈2.0 [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tw.gov.nsc.mobileApp.NSCApp_ns)
- All bus information in Hsinchu, including Red Bus
### Tourism Websites
1. Tourism Bureau, Republic of China (Taiwan)
- https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/
2. Hsinchu Travel
- https://tourism.hccg.org.tw/english/About_list.php
5. Kaohsiung Travel
- https://khh.travel/
6. Taichung Travel
- https://travel.taichung.gov.tw/en-us
### Miscellaneous sites
1. [Taiwan Old Street — Top 7 best old streets in Taiwan](https://livingnomads.com/2018/03/taiwan-old-street/)
2. [Taipei Top 10 Attractions](https://www.tripadvisor.com.tw/Attractions-g293913-Activities-Taipei.html)
## Places recommended by Taiwanese friend
### Place (Description, Recommended time needed)
1. Alishan National Scenic Area + Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum (famous tourist spot at Chiayi, 2 days. You can watch sunrise here!!)
2. Kenting (can take into consideration and is quite far, suitable for group, diving and water activities available, 2 days)
3. Yilan International Children’s Folklore & Folkgame Festival (https://www.yicfff.tw/ Yilan, 1 day)
4. National Palace Museum + Taipei 101 + some famous temple (Taipei famous tourist spot, strongly recommended, cultural, 1 day)
5. Taroko (strongly recommended, 2days)
**Days mentioned are estimated**
## FAQ
**1. Fast Facts**
- Population: about 23.58 million
- Area: 36,193 square kilometers (about 13,974 square miles)
- Language: Chinese is the official language.
- Credit Card: Credit cards are commonly. American Express is not very popular while Eurocard and Carte Blue are not available here.
- Currency: NTD, New Taiwan dollar.
- Voltage: 110 V, some hotels offer 220 V.
**2. Emergence Number**
- Police: 110
- Fire: 119
**3. EASYCARD**
- How to top up?
**Service provider**
Value recharged each time: ***Unlimited***
- The information center of each station at the Taipei Metro
- The information center of each station at the Taoyuan Metro
- Convenience stores with the EasyCard mark on the doors (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, OK Mart, and I-MEI Foods) throughout Taiwan
- [**EasyCard customer service center**](https://www.easycard.com.tw/en/service)
Value recharged each time: ***NT$100 or its multiples***
- The information center of each station at the Kaohsiung Metro
**Add-value machines**
Value recharged each time: ***NT$100 or its multiples***
- Add-value machines at each station at the Taipei Metro and some car parks
- Ticket vending machines/Add-value machines at each station at the Taoyuan Metro
- Ticket vending machines/Add-value machines at Kuo Kuang Bus stations (at the East Gate of Taipei Main Station, Nangang Transfer Station, Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1, and Taoyuan Airport Terminal 2)
Value recharged each time: ***Unlimited***
- Single journey ticket vending machines on the EasyCard add-value platform at the Taipei Metro
- Add Value/ Automatic Ticket Issue Machine
- How to get refund?
Is better to finish the credit inside the card if you are staying for short term. In the case that you would like to refund it is needed to contact [**the customer service of the EasyCard Corp.**](https://www.easycard.com.tw/en/service) Do take note that **it may takes up to 2 weeks to complete the refund process and collection of the letter at the school department.**
Website: https://www.easycard.com.tw/en/introduction?id=3
**4. Weather**
Keep an eye on the weather.
June to October is the typhoon season in Taiwan.
The months with the most rainy days are in plum rain season in May and June. Thundershower mostly came in the afternoons in summer.
Website: https://www.cwb.gov.tw/eng/index.htm
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