That area is not a suburb of Taipei City or even in the Taipei County (which surrounds Taipei City) area that is considered close (e.g. Chung-Ho, Yung-Ho). I know the city pretty well but am very unfamiliar with thart part (which most of us would not even think of part of the city).

I think that area was isolated by the mountains for years but now with the highway tunnels, it is starting to develp. I can't imagine it being a conversion (why would they have any hotels there). I believe it is further east of that big chimney with the giraffe on it. There is no MRT (nearest is probably the Mu Cha Zoo Station) and taxi is getting more and more expensive. It might also be hard to get taxis to go that far.

The distance might not be far by American standards but I think it is very inconvenient for those who have to do business in the city. Traffic might not be good going into the city because of all the MRT constructions in Xin-Yi Road (where the high way exits).

The price differential has to be huge for me to stay there.