The city of Taichung is located in the Central Taiwan region, but it’s easily accessible from the capital, Taipei, and the island’s main gateway, the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
In this post, we’ll share with you how to reach Taichung by bus or by train.
DOWNTOWN TAIPEI TO TAICHUNG
By Train
If you are coming from Taipei city center, you can take the regular nationwide railway (TRA) service or the high speed rail (THSR) service.
Via THSR (Taiwan High Speed Rail)
From Taipei HSR Station, take the train to Taichung HSR Station. The travel time is about an hour. The fare is NT$ 675 for a non-reserved seat, NT$ 700 for a standard seat, and NT$ 1250 for a business seat. The Taichung HSR Station is located outside the city center in Wuri District. You can take the free shuttle bus to the city or cross the passageway connecting the Taichung HSR Station and Xinwuri TRA Station. The fare from Xinwuri TRA to Taichung TRA is NT$ 15. The travel time is about 15 minutes.
✅ GET TAIPEI-TAICHUNG THSR TICKET HERE!
Via TRA (Taiwan Railways Administration)
From Taipei TRA Station, take the train to Taichung TRA Station. There are two types — ordinary trains and express trains. The travel time is 1.5 to 3.5 hours, depending on the type of train. The fare is NT$ 241 for ordinary train fare and NT$ 375 for express train fare. The Taichung TRA Station is located in Central District, right at the heart of Taichung City.
By Bus
If you are arriving in Taipei around midnight, the viable option is the bus since regular operation hour for railway services is 6:00 AM to 11:30 PM. Several private companies operate long-distance bus services to different regions throughout Taiwan. Some of the reputable names are UBus, Free Go Bus Corp., Guo-Guang (Kuo-Kuang) Bus Corp., Citi Air Bus, and Aloha Bus among others.
- Ubus #1620 for Taipei Bus Station – Taichung TRA Station
- Kuo-Kuang #1826 or #1827 for Taipei Bus Station – Taichung City
- CitiAir Bus #9012 for Songshan Station – Taichung
Note: These are just some of the options. There are other bus routes from other points in Taipei to Taichung.
- Travel Time: 2 to 2.5 hours
- Fare: NT$ 220-280 (Day Bus) / NT$ 300-355 (Night Bus)
- Operation Hour: 6:00 AM – 11:30 PM (Regular) / After 11:30 PM – 6:00 AM (Midnight)
For more info about Taiwan Highway Bus, check out Taiwan Bus.
TAOYUAN AIRPORT TO TAICHUNG
The Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (sometimes referred to as Taipei Airport, but not to be confused with Taipei Songshan Airport) is located in Taoyuan County, about 40 km from Taipei and 150 km from Taichung.
By Train
Via THSR
- From Taoyuan Airport, go to the Taoyuan Airport MRT Station (A12 & A13) and take the commuter train to Taoyuan HSR Station (A18). The travel time is about 20 minutes. The fare is NT$ 25 – NT$ 35.
- At the Taoyuan HSR Station, transfer to the high speed train to Taichung HSR Station. The travel time is 35-45 minutes. The fare is NT$ 520 – NT$ 1010, depending on the seat class.
Total Travel Time: Approximately 65 minutes
Taoyuan Airport to Taoyuan HSR Fare: NT$ 25-35
Taoyuan HSR to Taichung HSR Fare: NT$ 520 (Non-Reserved) / NT$ 540 (Standard) / NT$ 1010 (Business)
Operation Hour: The regular operation hour for transportation services, especially THSR and TRA trains is from 6:00 AM to 11:30 PM.
Note: The Taichung HSR Station is located on the city’s outskirt in Wuri District. You can get to downtown Taichung by free shuttle or by regular train via Xinwuri TRA Station. There’s a passageway on the second level of Taichung HSR Station to Xinwuri TRA Station. The travel time between Xinwuri TRA Station to Taichung TRA Station is 11-15 minutes. The fare is NT$ 15.
✅ GET TAOYUAN-TAICHUNG THSR TICKET HERE!
VIA TRA
- From Taoyuan Airport, go to the Taoyuan Airport MRT Station (A12 & A13) and take the train to Taipei Main Station (A1). The travel time is about 30-50 minutes, depending on the type of train. The fare is NT$ 150 – NT$ 160.
- At the Taipei Main Station, transfer to the TRA train to Taichung TRA Station. The travel time is 1.5 – 3.5 hours. The fare is NT$ 240 – NT$ 375, depending on the train type.
Total Travel Time: 2.5 to 3.5 hours
Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Main Station Fare: NT$ 150-160
Taipei TRA to Taichung TRA Fare: NT$ 241 (Ordinary Train) or NT$ 375 (Express Train)
Operation Hour: The regular operation hour for transportation services, especially THSR and TRA trains is from 6:00 AM to 11:30 PM.
Note: The Taichung TRA Station is located at the heart of Taichung CBD in Central District.
By Bus
- Ubus #1623 for Terminal 1 – Taichung TRA Station
- Kuo-Kuang #1860 for Terminal 1 – Taichung (Chaoma Station)
- Free Go Bus #5503 for Taoyuan Airport – Taichung City
- For midnight bus service: Take Ubus #1627 to ZhongLi Transit Station, and then hop on Ubus #1619 to Taichung TRA Station.
Note: These are just some of the bus route options from the Taoyuan Airport to Taichung.
EASY CARD & iPASS
If your itinerary requires you to frequently use the train, you might want to get an Easy Card or iPass. These are reloadable contactless cards that you can use for transportation, some retail purchases, and other services in Taiwan. This is convenient because you don’t have to purchase ticket every single ride. You just need to reload once or twice. You can buy at the airport and convenient stores for NT$ 100 plus your load. The best thing about Taichung is that bus fare is free within 10 km using your Easy Card or iPass.
2020 • 8 • 27
More Tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Is this post helpful to you?
