Originally Posted by
jpatokal
I'm heading over to Alishan with a friend a few months down the road. Our flight arrives at TPE around 5 PM, and we're planning to spend the night in Chiayi (250km south) and catching the morning train up the mountain.
So far, I've identified the following options:
1) TPE to THSR Taoyuan by bus, to THSR Chiayi by bullet train, then to TRA Chiayi station by bus
2) TPE to Taipei main station by bus, then to TRA Chiayi station by ordinary train
Option 1 would avoid the loop back into Taipei, but would require an extra transit at the Chiayi end. Option 2 would involve backtracking to Taipei and out, and the train would be slower (~3 hrs vs 1), but it would deposit us right at the center of the city. Which one is better? Can we board southbound ordinary trains at a station closer to the airport?
And oh yes, any hot Alishan tips would be more than welcome. We're currently planning to spend a night at Shermuh ("Godtree") Hotel, but Fengcihu/Ruili also sound interesting.
The fastest way to take shuttle bus from airport to HSR ChungLi station near the airport, then to Jiayi station and from there take a taxi to Alisan station
(ask Station help desk to write destination in Chinese if you do not speak Chinese).
The is also local bus (maybe same company the goes to HSR station) that goes to ChungLi (also spelled Jhongli)(city near the airport)TRA station near the airport, saves some time if you do not need go to Taipei city.
link:
http://www.taoyuanairport.gov.tw/CKS.../jhongli_e.jsp
Bus is cheapest, but there maybe no direct bus (they may say so, but sometimes depending on company you transfer somewhere). Again Chinese is helpful as bus will make more than one stop, so it is helpful to explain to the bus driver which bus stop you want.