Yehliu

It was a very compact tour, and it was great. The tour was half Chinese-speaking and half Japanese. The local guide explained things in both Chinese and Japanese. It looked like a lot of work, so thank you very much. Yehliu Geopark was mysterious. It seems to be eroding every year. In Shifen, we lit lanterns and enjoyed spicy beef noodles and xiaolongbao, which were delicious. Cat Village is great for cat lovers. My family took a quick look around and rested at the museum. To Jiufen, we transferred to a city bus. You'll need coins ($15 one way) or an EasyCard. We paid $50 for three people in coins. They said they don't give change. It was rainy and crowded when we arrived, but we took a rest at a tea shop our guide recommended. It was great to see the beautiful illuminated scenery at the end. As the guidebook said, rain gear (raincoats and waterproof footwear) is essential. It's also a good idea to bring extra clothes for children, as it can get cold if wet. The city bus on the way back was air-conditioned and cold. My family only brought umbrellas and no raincoats, and wore ultra-down jackets under parkas and stain-resistant sneakers, but in the end, our feet and parkas got wet and we had to dry them at the hotel. Overall, it was great that we were able to get around compactly. I recommend it.

・The tour generally involves listening to announcements on the bus or near the entrance to each location, then spending some free time on your own, returning to the meeting point by the designated time. ・The agile minibus allowed for a smooth tour. At every tourist spot, large buses overflowed the parking lots, making parking difficult. Also, in Jiufen and Shifen, there were long lines at the return bus stop, making me glad I signed up for this tour instead of public transportation. ・Our Japanese guide, Mr. Qiu, gave honest, unique, and entertaining announcements. He is extremely knowledgeable about each tourist spot, so by following his instructions, you can travel efficiently, affordably, and enjoyably. Another unique aspect of this tour is being able to hear about the real life of Taiwanese people and the differences between Taiwan and Japan. The meeting time was strict, but it was unavoidable when trying to visit so many places in one day. ・In the end, I walked nearly 20,000 steps, but I was able to rest (and even sleep) my feet during the bus rides, so I didn't feel too tired. According to Chiu, this tour packed a number of tourist spots into one day that would normally take several days to visit. However, I felt the time spent at each tourist spot was just right. We ate lunch in Jinshan Old Street, where Chiu recommended several restaurants, so we basically chose from those. We tried the steamed buns he recommended. There were many other shops in the area, selling items at bargain prices. Finally, we stopped off for a cup of Taiwanese tea at a tea shop near Dongmen Station. The tea was delicious. The Taiwanese tea and pineapple cakes sold at this tea shop were reasonably priced. When I tried to buy souvenirs at the airport just before leaving, I was surprised at how expensive pineapple cakes were! I was also glad he recommended a xiaolongbao restaurant near Dongmen Station for dinner after the tour.