Taiwan Trip Done. Hong Kong's Awesome-Meter? Still Climbing!
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Hong Kong is definitely very convenient, but it's hard to compare them on the same level. As a travel destination, it's almost impossible to talk about 'value for money' for its food and accommodation. Plus, for a supposedly modern city, last time I was at a 'cha chaan teng' (tea restaurant), there was a 'No Smoking' sign on the wall, yet a whole table of ladies next to us were smoking heavily as if no one else was there—in an air-conditioned indoor space! I was completely dumbfounded.
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That must be a very isolated incident. Hong Kong's indoor smoking ban is generally well-enforced; I haven't encountered a situation like you described in the past decade. If you do encounter it, you can speak to them or report it to the police. By the way, I actually find Taiwanese food in Hong Kong more suited to my taste than the authentic dishes in Taiwan, though there's a lack of taro paste delicacies.
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How can people from mainland China travel to Taiwan these days?
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Usually through third-party channels. However, Shanghai has recently reopened for travel to Taiwan.
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I'm just saying, don't build up too much of an idealized image of Tainan, or you'll likely face an 'expectation gap.'
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Perhaps I really did have too much of an idealized view. An unforgettable experience ten years ago, riding a bike from a guesthouse to the Chimei Museum, is why I decided to stay for three full days this time.
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It's because you're a tourist in Taiwan. In Hong Kong, you might have a place to stay and possibly your own transportation, so of course, the experience will feel different.
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If you want WiFi, why not take the Airport MRT? There are 30-minute and 40-minute options to Taipei Main Station, and WiFi is available throughout the journey. Hong Kong isn't that big; if this is an issue, how would you adapt to larger places elsewhere?
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Hong Kong's airport buses are indeed much more convenient than Taipei's. One reason might be that Hong Kong's Airport Express is just too expensive.
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Excuse me, if I'm entering Hong Kong from Taiwan with a mainland Chinese passport, do I need to prepare any specific entry documents?
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I'm not too sure about that. You should probably search on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) for more info.
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When I visited over a decade ago, I thought Taiwan was great. Going back after all these years, it felt like it wasn't the same Taiwan anymore. Perhaps it's our perspectives that have changed, while Taiwan has remained largely the same.
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So true! Wonderful memories from a trip ten years ago motivated me to visit again. I didn't realize how much the world had changed, while Taiwan itself hasn't changed much.