Taiwan mit dem Zug: Taipei, Taichung, Kaohsiung & Stopover in Hongkong

About the destination: Taipei is the largest city and capital of Taiwan. Surrounded by the Xueshan Range and the Datun Mountains, it offers everything from beautiful scenery and rich culture to excellent food. Taipei is a cosmopolitan, vibrant city that blends Chinese and Western influences. Temples, parks, memorials, and modern buildings fill the city and invite endless exploration. There is a lot to see in Taipei. Highlights include the Shilin Night Market, the National Palace Museum, Da’an Forest Park, Yangmingshan (Mt. Yang-ming), the hot springs in Beitou, Taipei 101, Chiang Kai-shek (CKS) Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, and the remaining historic city gates. Taipei is exciting and full of energy, with plenty to offer on its own, and it’s also an ideal base for exploring the rest of Taiwan—a country of dramatic mountains, deep gorges, white-sand beaches, lush forests, national parks, ornate temples, and scenic offshore islands.

About the destination: Taichung, officially known as Taichung City, is a special municipality located in west-central Taiwan. With a population of over 2.7 million people, it is the third-largest city on the island after New Taipei City and Kaohsiung. On December 25, 2010, Taichung County merged with the former provincial Taichung City to form the special municipality. The city’s motto is “economic, cultural and international city.”

About the destination: Kaohsiung City is a special municipality in southern Taiwan facing the Taiwan Strait. It is the largest municipality by area, at 2,951.85 km² (1,139.72 sq mi), stretching from Mt. Jade to Taiping Island, and the second most populous city proper in Taiwan, with a population of about 2.77 million. Since its beginnings in the 17th century as a small trading village, Kaohsiung has developed into the political, economic, transportation, manufacturing, refining, shipbuilding, and industrial center of southern Taiwan. It is classified as a global city with ‘sufficiency’ status by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (2012). Kaohsiung International Airport is the second-largest airport in Taiwan. The Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s largest harbor, is located adjacent to but not officially within Kaohsiung City. Freeway 1’s southern terminal is in Kaohsiung. For north–south rail travel, the city is served by the Taiwan Railways Administration’s Western Line and Pingtung Line, and the Taiwan High Speed Rail offers fast, frequent connections to Taipei. The Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), the city’s subway system, began operation in early 2008. Kaohsiung hosted the 2009 World Games, a multi-sport event featuring disciplines not included in the Olympic Games. The city also houses the Republic of China Navy’s fleet headquarters and naval academy.

About the destination: Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. This bustling harbor city is one of Asia's primary financial hubs. It is composed of Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, the New Territories, and over 260 smaller islands. Hong Kong Island, with its striking skyline, is the main attraction for most visitors. Hong Kong is a blend of the ocean, islands, modern skyscrapers, ancient temples, and fishing villages. The city's heart is Victoria Harbor, which both separates and unites Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. The most renowned view of Hong Kong is from Victoria Peak, the highest point on Hong Kong Island, accessible via the Peak Tram. Other key attractions in Hong Kong include the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island, the old colonial buildings of Central juxtaposed with the uniquely modern and mirrored towers, intriguing museums, the densely populated areas of Kowloon and Mong Kok, and the scenic, tranquil areas of Stanley and Aberdeen. A city brimming with energy and spirit, Hong Kong provides a buzzing atmosphere, a lively cultural scene, delectable cuisine, shopping, thrilling nightlife, and many more surprises that will astonish even the most discerning tourist.