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Taipei to Kaohsiung around the East & West Coasts: Route Guide

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A southbound Taiwan Railways EMU3000 crosses rice fields at Fuli on the Hualien–Taitung line
Photo: 4300streetcar · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

A complete conventional-rail circuit links Taipei, Hualien, Taitung, Kaohsiung, Tainan and Taichung before returning to Taipei. The journey contrasts east-coast rail, Taitung's seafront, Kaohsiung's port warehouses, Tainan's layered history and Taichung's museums. Taroko is a separate conditional excursion, never a baseline promise: include it only after confirming the exact road, trail and open-area status with the national park.

Taipei to Kaohsiung around the East & West Coasts is a 900 km loop (rail). It works best as 7–9 days; the plan below is the 8-day version for November, built from 583 verified places, with published scheduled journey times, opening hours and daylight checked.

7–9
days
900km
distance
6
Stops
583
curated stops

Plan your own version → 7-day plan · 8-day plan · 9-day plan · best time to go

The route

Taipei→ 160 kmHualien→ 170 kmTaitung→ 170 kmKaohsiung→ 50 kmTainan→ 150 kmTaichung

What you'll see

National Taiwan University
Stroll campus grounds surrounded by vibrant student shops.
Taipei
Qixingtan Beach
Feel the sand, hear waves, and spot colorful agates.
Hualien
National Museum of Prehistory
Discover ancient artifacts from the Peinan culture excavations.
Taitung
Kaohsiung City Temple of Confucius
Explore Taiwan's largest Confucian temple complex near Lotus Pond in Zuoying District.
Kaohsiung
Chihkan Tower
Admire centuries-old architecture, standing tall through history.
Tainan
921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan
Reflect at preserved ruins of a school devastated by earthquake.
Taichung
National Palace Museum
Marvel at imperial treasures saved from war in Taiwan's premier collection.
Taipei
Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park
Stroll through vibrant warehouses filled with local arts.
Hualien

Choose your length

7-day plan35 stops · 20.1 h transit5 stops/day · 2.9 h transit/daySee the full plan →8-day plan41 stops · 22.0 h transit5.1 stops/day · 2.8 h transit/daySee the full plan →9-day plan47 stops · 23.8 h transit5.2 stops/day · 2.6 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: January, October, November, December

Cooler conditions often suit the city-and-rail circuit, but every dated train and any weather-related disruption still require a current TRA check.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

Similar journeys

Plan your own version →