Taipei Transportation

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I came here from Kuala Lumpur with air asia and the round ticket was about 230€. I really enjoyed Taipei airport, it's small but many international airlines fly there. The duty free was not as cheap as we had been told, it was even expensive to be a duty free.
Kids will love this airport as it has many Hello kitty's areas, telephones and lounges.

Though we chosed a hotel because it was said to be near the MRT main station, we never got to find the station whcih was not so close apparently. So we moved mainly by taxis which are not expensive and above all are pretty honest, we never had to ask to switch on the meter. Most taxis have a small tv screen on the back of the seat but it's mainly advertisements, but it can be funny for kids.

this is just a google search
http://www.toandfromtheairport.com/taipei.html

there is no train station at the airport. you'll have to either take a bus to taichung or take a bus to the train station. i don't know which route is quicker.

if you click on the link, scroll down and look at the gray bar on the left side of the screen that says "by bus to the rest of taiwan" and you will see several companies that get you to taichung.

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The Metro system is quite good, with 1, 2, 3 (NT$ 440, also for most buses in Taipei county) and 5 day passes, but some lines have been built primarely as atomic bomb shelters with many long staircases and few elevators. 
Metro exits have numbers, ask in your hotel witch Metro exit is best to take for going to a place, it will save you from a lot of stair climbing.
For Longshan Temple use exit 1, for Taipei 101 (Taipei City Hall station) exit 2, Shilin nightmarket (Jiantan station) exit 1, C.K.S. Memorial Hall exit 6.

Taiwan's high speed rail train serves the west of Taiwan stretching from Taipei in the north to Taichung, Tainan and terminating at Kaoshiung in the south. The whole journey is supposed to take 90 minutes.

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HSR system opened newly in October 2006.
It connects Taiwan's South and North.
Max. speed 300KM/HR It's revolution for Taiwan transportation.
for example Taipei-Taichung by normal quick train 2hr20min, but by it 50min only.
However, ticket cost changes from NT$450 into NT$700 one way.

HSR is now popular among businessmen.

We flew with China Airways from Frankfurt to Taipei, then from Taipei to Sydney. Was happy with the airline. Comfortable, good food and interesting films. The Chiang Kai Chek Airport is a place where you can walk in circle or rather a square. There are two floors, and one monorail linking one square side to the other. We godt lost a several times during those hours we were wandering around here...

The shuttle buses are the answer fro transportation from the airpot . There is a ticket counter inside the airport in the arrivals area and the buses stop in convenient locations all over the city.
The price is less than $5.00.