Travel from Taipei to Taichung – So Easy!

Traveling from Taipei to Taichung is no problem at all! The distance between the two cities is about 160-170 km (depending on your route) and it can be covered from 40 minutes (THSR) to 2.5 hours (bus).

A Taiwan High Speed Train arriving in Taichung.

Taipei to Taichung by High Speed Rail (THSR)

• Pro: Fastest, reliable, comfortable.
• Cons: More expensive than regular train or bus.
• Travel Time: 40-70 minutes.
• Cost: 670-750 NTD (Standard Class) to 965-1060 NTD (Business Class).

You can take the high speed train from Taipei Main Station, Banqiao (New Taipei) and the new station in Nangang. All the trains stops in Taichung.

The high speed railway is, by far, the fastest, most reliable way to travel from Taipei to Taichung.

Taichung THSR is out of the city but it is very well connected. So, from there, you will have to catch a bus or a taxi to your final destination in Taichung City. Soon the Taichung THSR Station will be also connected with the Red and the Green Lines of Taichung MRT.

Cost considerations apart, Taiwan HSR is the best way to reach all the destinations in and around West Taichung, such as:

• Xitun District (Central Taiwan Science Park, 1st Industrial Park and Taichung City Precision Machinery Technological Park).
• Taichung Harbor.
• Taichung Airport.
• Lukang.
• Sun Moon Lake.

Click Here for Taiwan High Speed Rail Website (English).

Taipei to Taichung by Train (TRA)

• Pro: Reliable, comfortable but cheaper.
• Cons: Slower.
• Travel Time: 2.0-3.5 hours.
• Cost: 241 NTD (Local) to 375 NTD (Express).

Express trains reach Taichung from Taipei in a time ranging from 1h 36min (Puyuma and Taroko) to 2h 15min (Tze-Chiang Express). They stop in Fengyuan, Taichung and Changhua stations (except Taroko and the Puyuma at 8.00 AM, which stop only in Taichung).

Local trains stop in all the stations from Taipei to Taichung. That means that, in the Greater Taichung area, the local trains stop in the following stations: Fengyuan, Tanzi, Taiyuan, Taichung, Daqing, Wuri, Xinwuri, Chenggong, and Changhua.

Click Here for TRA Timetable (English).

Puyuma Express Train – By 捷利 (Own work)

Taipei to Taichung by Bus

• Pro: Convenient, easy, very frequent.
• Cons: Slower, often delayed by traffic jams.
• Travel Time: 2.5 hours.
• Cost: 220-260 NTD.

This is the most affordable way to travel from Taipei to Taichung. Some bus companies also offer discounted fares (less than 200 NTD) for overnight buses.

Most of bus routes follow the Highway N. 1, which is the shortest (and cheaper), but it is often affected by traffic jams during rush hours. So don’t use buses  if you are on a tight schedule!

Intercity buses in Taiwan are comfortable, quite often very comfortable (some are equipped with huge comfy seats, business class style … ).

Several companies service the Taipei-Taichung line, among them UBus and Kuo-Kuang (cheaper), Aloha, Ho-Hsin and others. The link below provides English info about routes, fares, etc.

Click Here for Highway Buses Routes and Fares.

Ubus-Taiwan-Bus – By Solomon203 (Own work)

Taipei to Taichung by Taxi/Limousine

• Pro: Point to point, might be competitive for business/group of friends/families.
• Cons: Obviously the most expensive, still have to deal with traffic issues.
• Travel Time: 2.0 hours.
• Cost: around 3,500-5,000 NTD.

Not the fastest, but it may be still relatively affordable in this part of the world, depending on your needs.

Contact Blacklane to arrange for a limousine service, with an English speaking chaffeur, that may be more affordable than a taxi. The reason is that a taxi from Taipei cannot legally pick up passengers in Taichung, so you will be probably paying for his/her return trip.

Taipei to Taichung – Tip

Taipei people leave the city in droves during weekends and, especially, during important family holidays such as Chinese New Year, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day. During these periods book your ticket in advance!