12 D's and anyone heading east?

Hi.

I%26#39;ve booked my trip for 12days.. but i%26#39;ve only planned 3 of them. i.e. 30th dec - 1st jan.

Planning to head down to illan, hualien, taitung, Kenting, then back up the west coast.

Just want to know what%26#39;s the best way down the east coast. Train? or Bus? Are there any stops in between worth stopping down for? Where can I find black tuna?

Also, anyone interested on this route? I%26#39;m a lone traveller, wouldn%26#39;t mind if there%26#39;s someone to hang out with.

Cheers

12 D's and anyone heading east?

The convenient and economical way to travel from Taipei to Hualien city is by railway trains. Fare: NT$287 ~ NT$445 Travel time: About 2 ~3.5 hrs depending on type of train. From Hualien to Taitung city, continue either by railway trains taking the route further inland or by regular buses plying the coastal highway no. 11.

Two fishing ports/markets along the east route Nan-fang-ao and Chenggong (Cheng Kung) are known for shark and yellow fin tunas. Nan-fang-ao is located between Taipei and Hualien. Chenggong is located between Hualien and Taitung. Tungkang (Donggang) fish port/market (東港魚市場), in Pingtung County is famous for Sakura shrimp (櫻花蝦), blue fin tuna also called black tuna (黑鮪魚) and oilfish (油魚子).

This thread has some details on fish ports/markets along the east coast: tripadvisor.com/…9055063

12 D's and anyone heading east?

Hi thanks

What if I want to skip hualien and I%26#39;m starting off from Yilan..?

I actually want to go from Illan to Rueisui, I%26#39;m assuming I need to pass by Hualien. How long should that take me?

Then, head to Taitung. I assume there%26#39;s buses from Taitung to Kenting? Buses from Kenting to Donggang?

Am I able to go straight from Taitung to Donggang?

Thanks

Board a railway train from Yilan to Rueisui, passing Hualien along the way. Travel time: About 2.5~3.5 hrs

To go to Kenting from Taitung, board a railway train to Fangliao (枋寮). Travel time: About 1.5 hrs. At Fangliao, transfer to buses heading to Kenting. Travel time: About 1.25 hrs.

Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA): new.twtraffic.com.tw/TWRail_EN/index.aspx

TRA trains ticket prices: service.tra.gov.tw/tw/ticketprice/excel.aspx

The railway ticket fares can be found in the Chinese version of website, not the English version.

TRA station distances: …tra.gov.tw/tw/CP/11366/mileages-1.aspx

To go to Donggang from Kenting, board buses heading to Kaohsiung city. Buses serving the Kenting – Kaohsiung (via Fangliao, Donggang) route include Kenting Express (also called Pingtung Express or 88-express as it goes via expressway no. 88), Kaohsiung bus 855, Chungnan buses (中南客运), Kuo Kuang Bus (国光客运). Bus frequency is regular.

Kenting Express: http://www.ptbus.com.tw/03/0301a.htm

Kaohsiung Bus 855: http://www.ksbus.com.tw/part2-855.htm

Chungnan Bus: http://www.cn-bus.com.tw

Kuo Kuang Bus: http://www.kingbus.com.tw

By the way, the bountiful catches of black tuna (blue fin tuna) are in the months of April~June. The Pingtung Bluefin Tuna Cultural Festival is held annually around May~June.

Hi Thanks

So if the tuna season is April - June, then is it still worth going in December?

I%26#39;m better off skipping donggang for another time?

I%26#39;ve actually been to Kenting in winter before, so it%26#39;s not very exciting for me.

If that%26#39;s the case, would it be better to just go straight to kao hsiong and stop somewhere in like taichung or sanyi for a day instead?

Or maybe I should just go back up the same way from Taitung back to Taipei.?

Thanks

Another question!

Do you recommend me going to the fishing port north of taitung, where they kill sharks etc..?

You can still visit Donggang to see the activities at the fish port/market. Go to Kuangfu Rd (seafood street) for a seafood meal. Visit the famous Donglong Temple or mangrove marshlands. Take a ferry ride to nearby Liouciou-yu (Liuchiu Island) where there are tours conducted in a glass-bottomed boat that make a trip round the island.

Winter is a lull period for Kenting. National Museum of Marine Biology %26amp; Aquarium in Checheng is worth a visit.

Go to the east coast for rural and coastal scenery. The west coast is generally more populated. Sanyi is famous for wood carving. Many shops sell wood sculpture products. Sanyi Wood Carving Festival is held annually around Aug ~ Sept. Alternatively, you can take the railway trains from Yilan to Taitung and go back Hualien/Taipei via the coastal highway route. Chenggong and Nan-fang-ao fish ports/markets are worth a visit.

Hualien – Taitung route thru East Rift Valley National Scenic Area is most beautiful during rape flower season (Dec ~ Jan). This thread has the details: tripadvisor.com/…14201987

Some places of interest/attraction you may want to include in your itinerary: tripadvisor.com/…8816351