Hi everybody, I get around in a wheelchair. I am thinking about traveling to Taiwan with a caregiver, some time in 2009, probably late April. Before I take the plunge, I would like to seek some advice from you Taiwan gurus out there regarding the feasibility :)
It seems I wouldn%26#39;t have much problem getting around Taipei city in public transport and cab, so not much worries here. How about if I were to go out of Taipei city? Such as visiting Taroko, Sun Moon Lake, Jinguashi, Jiufen and Yehliu. I plan to hire a cab to take me around these places.
Will I be missing much if I were to just view the scenery while in the cab? What I%26#39;m worried is after getting off the cab, the trails people usually take are full of steps and other obstacles. For eg, the photos I see of Jiufen are all full of steps, too tiring for my caretaker.
How are the public toilets in Taiwan generally? Clean? Is sitting type common?
Taiwan on wheelchair
Hi HazelAmber,
Welcome to Taiwan. The weather in late April is not too cold or hot and is considered a good time to visit Taiwan.
Jiufen Old Street (Ji-shan St) is directly accessible from the main street but the ramps in some sections of Ji-shan St may be slightly steep. Avoid the side alleyways which are full of steps. Go to the end of the street and you can view the beautiful hilly surrounds of the North Coast and the Pacific Ocean.
Gold Ecological Park is fully wheelchair accessible as indicated in the copy of park introduction pamphlet I have. There are designated handicap toilets within the park.
A convenient way to savor the beauty of Taroko Gorge is from a hired cab which can stop anywhere along the 19km route from Taroko to Tienhsiang. Accessible toilets may be few and far in between along the mountainous highway route.
The grounds of Sun Moon Lake are vast. Many travelers would hire a cab to tour the many attractions along the 37km route round the lake.
Yehliu Geological Park has wooden board walks from the main entrance to the fascinating Queen’s Head rock formation area by the sea coast.
In recent years, there had been good efforts by the Taipei city government in making the built environment accessible and friendly to handicapped persons and the elderly. In 2007, I saw a pedestrian bridge built across Zhonghua Rd Sec 1 in Taipei city between North Gate and Xi Men Ding fitted with two escalators (one escalator in each direction) and an elevator in addition to the usual steps up the bridge.
Public toilet blocks usually have a combination of sitting and squatting types.
Enter keywords in the search box and click “GO” to read earlier postings by forumers on related topics.
Taiwan on wheelchairWelcome to the forums, HazelAmber.
I had yr question bookmarked n went searching for info U may find answers from..
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Wheelchair activist begins tour to study accessibility
taipeitimes.com/News/…2003416413
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Taiwan attractions with wheelchair access
www.forumosa.com/taiwan/viewtopic.php…
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Hope this helps. :-)
Way to go, lady! Enjoy yr time in Taiwan!
TA :-)
TaipeiDreams.com
Hi,
Way to go .
When taking intercity trains, book your tickets a couple of days earlier and let them know you are PC travelling with a care giver. They will find suitable seating for you and assist you - both at the departure and arrival points. I think you also get discounts e.t.c.
They have Loos for the PC at most MRT stations and Major railway stations as well. Same with all the Major Dept stores here.
you would probably have to cut back on some trails n spots that require some walking n climbing, esp in jiufen n taroko but i%26#39;m sure u%26#39;d still be able to enjoy the scenery.For lazy bums like our family, we almost never get out of the car to walk but still managed to enjoy trips to the aforementioned sites. sitting toilets are available at these sites but i%26#39;m not sure if they are all WC accessible, ie the stalls might not be wide enough to accomodate a wc,thus making its turning around difficult.
The section of road which goes through the Tunnel of Nine Turns ';Trail'; and Swallows Grotto ';Trail'; is actually just a paved road closed to vehicle traffic. Everyone gets out of the car at this point; your driver can meet you at the other end of the ';trail';. It%26#39;s one of the most stunning areas of Taroko, not to be missed.
taroko.gov.tw/TarokoPortalEng/…Default.aspx
You guys are really helpful! Really glad to know that it should be quite safe to venture out of the city. I%26#39;m thinking even if any place is too tiring to navigate, I should still be able to appreciate whatever%26#39;s around me, isn%26#39;t it? Be it an old street with apparently nothing interesting... it will still be different from my home :)
Love what I saw in the Taroko website, I must include it in my iternary!
Not too worried about whether the toilets can accommodate wheelchairs actually, because I can still stand and walk very short distances. Just have to cross my fingers and hope the floor is dry though, that%26#39;s the killer ^_^;
Reviving the thread because I have drawn up a 10D9N itinerary for late April! Pls help to see if it%26#39;s feasible, easpecially if a place would be too crowded for comfort since I would be in a wheelchair.
I will be getting around primarily by MRT and cab. Try not to take bus since it%26#39;s too troublesome.
Day 1 Sat
---------
Reach Taipei at about 6pm
Take Freego to hotel in ximending area (probably East Dragon)
Q: So I will need to change to a smaller bus halfway to get to my hotel? Does anybody know what kind of bus?
Walk around Ximending the rest of the night.
Day 2 Sun
---------
Morning - Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. Stay about 2hrs.
Rest of the day - Tianmu shopping and eating - Is this too much?
Q: Since Tianmu is not near very near any MRT, I%26#39;m thinking of taking cab there from CKS. About how much will it cost?
Day 3 Mon
---------
Zoo from opening till closing.
Q: There will be queue number given out to see the pandas right? No need to stand in line the whole day right?
Is the FnB expensive in zoo? I think Singapore%26#39;s costs an arm and leg.
Ximending the rest of the night.
Day 4 Tue
---------
Rent a cab to Yeliou, Jioufen and Keelung, then dinner at Miaokou
Day 5 Wed
---------
National Palace Museum from morning till 3pm
Rest of the day and night at Wufenpu and Raohe night market, return to hotel by Songshan train
Q: Safe to buy train tix only when I%26#39;m going back? I don%26#39;t know if we can manage on the train if we buy too much... :P How much to cab back to hotel in Ximending?
Day 6 Thu
---------
Get up early in the morning to take bus to Window on China
0900-1200 Window on China
1200-1500 Travel to Danshui - Need so long?
1500-1700 Danshui old street
1700-1900 Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf, Lover%26#39;s Bridge sunset
Rest of the night at Shilin
Day 7 Fri Labour Day (also public holiday in Taiwan, right?)
------------
1100-1815 Zhongxiao Fuxing area shopping
1815-1915 Back to hotel drop stuff and get barang barang
1915-2015 Go to Taipei Main Station
Night train to Hualien
Check into minsu (Ocean bnb looks nice. I found that minsus with lift or ground floor rooms are RARE!)
Day 8 Sat
---------
Rent cab for Taroko day tour
Eat dinner, walk around if there is time
Take train to Yilan for hot spring and stay overnight
Q: Is Taroko crowded on weekend?
Seems like I don%26#39;t have time to see the Hualien beach while I%26#39;m there? Actually what is the difference between Qixingtan and other beaches? If I stay at Ocean bnb, the beach is not too far.
Do I still have time to squeeze in Cingshuei Cliff?
Day 9 Sun
---------
Take morning train back to Taipei
Shopping at Xinyi area
Day 10 Mon
----------
0800-1000 龙山寺
1000-1030 Travel to Taipei Main Station
1030-1400 Taipei Main Station shopping
1400-1500 Back to hotel to pick up barang barang
1500-1600 Cab to airport - I read somewhere there is a 50% surchage to airport???
Back home!
------
What should I wear in April, in Taipei and Taroko?
How crowded will the shopping malls be on weekends? Want to be mentally prepared :S
I will be missing Gongguan, Shida night markets. Any way to squeeze them in?
What will the shops be bagging our purchases in? Need to bring our own bags?
Thanks!
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