Taichung: Some 'Seriously, Skip These!' Bits – Your Detailed Plan is Non-Negotiable!
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Sure, no problem! I'll help you modify this post to make it more suitable for foreign friends to read while maintaining your straightforward style!
Traveling from Taipei all the way down to Taichung? The experience...ah, difficult to describe in words.
It's worth mentioning that my impression of Taipei was quite pleasant.
However--------------
Upon reaching Taichung (a matter of personal opinion), the experience wasn't really that exciting:
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Struggling with the Trash? Harder Than Finding a Partner!
- Seriously, get ready to carry your garbage in hand from morning till night. I only found an appropriate trash bin in the hotel, at last.
- (Friendly tip for foreign friends: In order to promote environmental protection, there are relatively few public trash bins on city streets in Taiwan. People usually dispose of their garbage once they return home for sorting. Thus, it is recommended to bring your own small trash bag when you go out.)
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Public Transportation - Well, It's Rather Fleeting and Unpredictable...
- There is often inconsistency between the information provided by the bus schedules and map apps or smartphone applications! Some buses are either canceled or late, making you wait forever.
- It turns out that based on what the map has shown, you might expect to reach your destination in 3 minutes, but it could take you 40 minutes just to spot a bus. Haha, I am impressed!
- (Suggested travel advice for foreign friends: When going to several places within a short period, consider getting a taxi or using ride-hailing apps such as Uber. If you prefer taking buses/ trains, though, make sure to leave enough time buffer, or consult some local residents beforehand.)
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Sightspotting? The "Done-in-an-Early-Time" Kind?
- After struggling to catch a bus and arriving at a reputed scenic spot, one may finish touring the entire place within ten minutes. Moreover, commercialization in these areas tends to be fairly intense, with venues similar to the Auditing New Village.
- (Small reminder for foreign friends: Some famous venues may not match well with expectations inferred from photographs, or only offer a very short tour. Keep track of different reviews and arrange reasonable tourist itineraries accordingly.)
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Service attitude - Mediocre and Generally Unfriendly.
- Speaking to local residents, you may find that they can detect a slight accent coming from mainland China, causing them to appear less warm-hearted toward you. This contrasted with the "sincere friendliness" I've seen about Taichung online.
- (Interpretation: There are historical and cultural differences between Taiwan and mainland China, which may occasionally lead to subtle distance between people due to their accents. Nevertheless, most Taiwanese are still very friendly. This case might be considered as just an extreme view.)
All in all, the experiences and perspectives above are merely based on my personal views. However, if you're short on time, fewer trips or skipping Taichung altogether may be an alternative.
Update on April 25th:
Having taken the time to read comments and taking an organized tour to Qingjing Farm and Sun Moon Lake today, it was really amazing!
Hence, taking everything into consideration, the places I would recommend visiting in Taichung include: Taichung University, Gao Mui Wetland, Yi Chung Shopping Center, Qingjing Farm, and Sun Moon Lake, as they yield positive and interesting experiences.
I also want to clarify some opinions posted under the section regarding critique: Thanks to everyone's suggestions, absolutely no animosity was intended here; instead, the posts were composed purely from the viewpoint of a regular tourist, expressing sincere feelings. Perhaps my perceptions about Taichung after my trip from Taipei caused me to feel somewhat disappointed. In case I may have been rude by using offensive remarks in the post, I wish to apologize wholeheartedly as I have already done revisions on the titles. Also, continuing discussions to improve the post will always be welcome – but keep it civil, please.
As someone commented: "You must have the generosity to accept criticism and self-reflection." What a profound point indeed. I sincerely apologize to those who may have felt offended, and to those who offered valuable feedback, I thank you as well!
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Taichung is a very livable city, but it offers a different kind of experience compared to Taipei or Kaohsiung. It's not the 'disaster' you claim... perhaps the issue lies with you.
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Your comment is quite unusual. Take a look at what most others are saying in the comments section. Your attitude is exactly like the worst service staff I've encountered, which is truly exasperating.
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Do you even know how vast Taichung is? Have you been to the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall, Dajia Zhenlan Temple, Park Lane by CMP, Zhongxiao Night Market, Wuqi Fishing Port, or Fengyuan Miaodong? I seriously doubt where you actually went.
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Could you elaborate on what's so special about Wuqi? It took me 60 bus stops to get there.
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You were using the wrong tool. You should use an app like 'Taiwan Bus Tracker' (台灣等公車). It tracks the bus's GPS accurately, often down to the minute. Google Maps can be way off for that.
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It's so hard to find trash cans sometimes, I really feel like swearing.
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Oh, you'd be driven mad in Tainan then. The buses there operate on 'Tainan time' – take it or leave it. They show up when they feel like it, the bus that arrives might not be the one you need, and the one you need might never show up.
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Waiting for buses in Tainan takes forever.
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I find this 'what to avoid' post really helpful. People planning a trip to Taiwan are often unsure how many days to spend in Taipei, Taichung, or Tainan. After reading this, I've decided to spend one less day in Taichung. So what if Taichung is a 'livable city'? That doesn't really concern us tourists...
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Exactly!
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Taichung has tons of great food and fun things to do! Many restaurants are upscale but not overly expensive. For transportation, yeah, you'll probably end up taking taxis most of the time. And yes, it's incredibly frustrating not being able to find trash cans – Kaohsiung is the same.
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For transportation, it's either driving yourself or riding a scooter.
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I was in Taichung two weeks ago, and personally, I didn't experience any bad service attitudes. In fact, during my 6 days in Taiwan, I felt that the Taiwanese people were very friendly and welcoming towards us.
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That's a bit much! You actually went to 'Wanwan' (Taiwan) for a holiday?
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3 minutes on the map turning into 40 minutes walking? That sounds like quite an exaggeration, don't you think? Could it be you didn't select a mode of transport on the map? You usually have to specify that.
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Actually, I did select it. But when I got there, the service was either delayed or cancelled outright, so I ended up just waiting there for a solid 40 minutes.
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Taichung is a city more suited for living or slow travel, not really ideal for a short tourist visit.
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The attractions are quite spread out.