Taiwan Weekend Trip - Nanzhuang in Maoli County

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Travel from Taichung main railway station to Zhunan Station at Maoli. At Zhunan station took the Taiwan Tour Bus to Nanzhuang Visitor Center. Taiwan Tour Bus ticket was NT100. The bus ticket include unlimited bus ride for 3 lines. The 1^st line Nanzhuang Bus , 2^nd line Xiangtian Lake Bus, 3^rd line Xian Mountain Temple.

Train ticket and schedule can found here

Typical Train Ride in the weekend with students on a trip. I had taken some train rides without a reserved seat. The train ride from Taichung to Zhunan varies from 55 to 65 mins, so be prepared to stand all the way.

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Bus Ticket

Zhunan Train Station

Nanzhuang Bus Route

Zhunan Station(East) Taiwan Railway, Toufen Station, Toufen Backyard Garden, Sanwan, Lion’s Head Mountain Historic Trail Entrance, Gueihuling, Nanzhuang Junior School, Nanzhuang Old Street, Nanzhuang Visitor Center.

Nanzhuang Visitor Center Vicinity

The place worth visiting at the Nanzhuang will be the Nanzhuang Old Street.

Click on the picture to download for bus schedules and route

Pumpkins

Hundred Years Old Washing Point which is still being used by vendors

Entrance to the Nanzhuang Old Street

Nanzhuang Old Post Office

Home Stay for NT700

Xiangtian Lake Bus

Nanzhuang Visitor Center, Dongjiang Tribe, Donghe Suspension Bridge, Xiangtian Lake

Taiwan Tourist Bus Stop 

Xiang Tien lake Bus Stop

Vendor selling Unprocessed Honey are every where

The place worth visiting for the Xiangtian Lake Bus will be the Xiantian Lake. Sit in the garden to have lunch and surrounded by flowers and the green.

Xian Mountain Bus

Nanzhuang Visitor Center, Li Jing Guan, Xiaodonghe Tribe, Nankang Recreational Agricultural District, Siazhuang, Penglai River Ecological Park, Erping Tribal Village, 42 Tribe I, 42 Tribe II, Baguali Tribal Village, Xian Mountain Temple.

Xian Mountain area is occasionally covered by fog.

Devotes will need to climb these steps to reach the upper temple. They are steep and long, I would rate is moderate challenging - not suitable for those with knee issue. But I do find many aged devotees praying at the upper temple.

The view from the upper temple

Penglai River Ecological Park

The place worth visiting for the xian Mountain Bus is the Penglai River Ecological Park. Enjoy the amazing view of the stream, the fishes in the stream and songs of the bird. Spot the bird eating their catch.

I had alighted a stop after the Penglai River Ecological Bus Stop or Entrance. I have only to walk down towards the main entrance thus saving the return trip distance. Be prepared to walk about 5km in one direction.

I started from this end, near to a temple.

The sign at the Main Entrance 

Entrance to Penglai River Park

Taiwan - Prefer Mode of Travel

In Taiwan when I travel, I would prefer to use the bus rather the THSR or Taxi.  The travelling time in the THSR is shorter, but I will had to catch a shutter bus(NT30) from the airport to Taoyuan THSR station. Queuing up to buy ticket with 2 big luggage is a big hassle.

Taxi in Taiwan

Globally ‘LPG Gas’ is cheaper than petrol and diesel. This is the reason many taxi in Asia uses gas rather than diesel or petrol. Most taxi owner converted their cars for either petrol or diesel to use LPG gas. Usually the huge LPG gas tank would occupy the car boot, resulting insufficient luggage space for passengers.

When I travel for work, there will be 3 bags, one for my laptop, one for my clothes and one tool bag. Many times, the taxi car boot is only able to take in one luggage bag. The other bag will be put on the front passenger seat and belted.

 

Taichung City Bus

The bus fare for the first 8KM is NT20, after that it is NT2.4/km. There are 2 ways to pay for the bus fare, Cash or Cashless. The waiting time for a bus can be long.

Cash Payment

For cash payment, when you board the bus, collect the electronic card from the bus driver and tap it on the machine. When you alight tap the card on the machine, the amount will be shown on the machine and you cash to the driver.

Prepaid Card

 It will be economical if you use the prepaid or electronic card(ETC) There are four types of cards (EasyCard (悠遊卡), Taiwan Easy Go (台灣通), I Pass issue by Kaohsuing Transport(高捷一卡通), and ETC Card (遠東E通卡). If you travel below 8km, it is free.

Example – In Taichung, I normally stay in Splendor Inn. In the same building under the same management is Hotel Splendor. Near the hotel is the bus stop call Sogo or Science Museum station. The distance to the Taichung Railway Station is less than 8Km. If you had the electronic card it will be free travel.

Practically if I move around the city by bus, it is free travel by the cashless card. If I am going to the Taichung THSR station I will take the THSR complimentary bus. If your departure point is THSR station, and you had travelled with the THSR rail, it will be free bus ride to your destination. Normally you do not have the show the THSR ticket.

If you had not travelled with the THSR then you will had to take the normal public bus.