Yep, we used Uber a lot, because I was still struggling with a lot of fatigue (long covid + perimenopause = horrid combination) and it was super cheap and easy. We usually use local buses more but this was even easier as of course they are point to point.

Great tip about using Uber in Taipei! i've always relied on the MRT but it's good to know taxis are a good option when you're feeling tired. The humidity can be brutal.

Kavey ,
A question - if you were to choose between Shizhuo/Sun Moon Lake and Taitung region (Chishang, East Rift Valley), which would you choose and why? We can't do both. We'll otherwise be in Taipei, Tainan and Kaohsiung. I'm planning on hiring private drivers and using trains/buses and have a daylong private tour set up in the Shizhuo area. I'm looking to focus on nature and pretty views (the guest house I booked has great views in Shizhuo). We're going slowly over 2 weeks, not doing a route around the island, so want to do this in a relaxed way. We're off to Japan after this for 3 weeks.

A number of people say that east Taiwan is more "authentic" (indigenous culture) and is beautiful, though honestly, I don't see it as more beautiful than the views around Shizhuo, at least from the photos I've seen. There are the beautiful rice fields surrounded by mountains, and that does look pretty but I don't know if there is anything else that is striking that I'm missing.

I'm really torn here and very sad that Taroko Gorge is not an option now.

Between Shizhou and Sun Moon Lake I'd choose Shizhou and by a long shot. SML is pretty but the Italian lakes are prettier, I enjoyed Ita Thao but not the bigger town on the north side, the only standout for me there was Wenwu temple. Maybe if we were cyclists we'd have liked SML more but prob not as much of the route is on the main circular road with cars and buses not on dedicated cycling paths. Shizhou has less specific attractions but is a quieter more rural area and utterly beautiful and you can visit Fenquihu and Alishan within the region. Plus for me the interest in tea, and those stunning landscapes, is stronger. Alishan Forest Recreational Area you could do just a day trip into it rather than the overnight, just to experience the cute railways and walking paths etc. But the views outside the park are similar anyway.

We also LOVED self-driving in the area of Shizhou / Alishan too.

I'd also recommend at least half a day for sights to the North of Tainan (north of Anping) such as the oyster catching areas, some amazing temples, the salt pans and beautiful scenery.

We loved driving from Yilan to Chisang and in the area a bit south of Chisang too, it's very rural and I love rice paddies. I loved our few hours "cycling" around Chisang paddies (in a vehicle more like an electric golf buggy as I'm not fit enough to actually cycle). But we didn't successfully do much in terms of accessing indigenous culture (as we'd done Taroko previously we skipped Hualien but I wish we'd had a night or two there in retrospect).

I would choose
Shizhou / Alishan 1
Yilan to Chisang/ area 2
Sun Moon Lake 3 (it wasn't bad just was our least favourite, along with Taichung though we perhaps didn't see the best of Taichung due to my issues with heat and fatigue)

Hi, Kavey,
Thanks so much! For my planning, I see Shizhuo and SML together, not a choice between them. The choice is then whether to do those 2 areas OR the Taitung area (and maybe Hualien).

I lean toward the first since the Shizhuo area calls to me a bit more than eastern Taiwan, but the rice fields surrounded by mountains in Chishang do look lovely, though!

So hard to choose!

Oh I'm so sorry, I thought it was an either between Shizhou / Sun Moon Lake / Chisang!
Although I did really enjoy the trip from Yilan to Chisang (and we visited the Kavalan distillery as well) I would absolutely go with Shizhou+SunMoonLake over East Coast. But as I said, I'm not able to say whether time in Hualien would have swayed me. Because we did Taroko Gorge in 2017 I skipped it on this trip, and only paused in Hualien to visit an old traditional soy sauce maker and have lunch). We did try to find some indigenous restaurants but the one we rocked up to were not open (and didn't look like they'd been open for a long time).

Thanks so much, Kavey! I don’t feel compelled to stop in Hualien, and though the East Rift Valley and Taitung area have some lovely spots, Shizhuo seems to call to me more. I can see where Sun Moon Lake is overly touristed, but it also has some scenic vistas. I’m trying to balance out the city time (Taipei, Tainan and Kaohsiung) with some nature. And doing this at a relaxed pace!

Makes complete sense to me.

Will you be self driving? Was probably what made that segment of the trip so wonderful for us.

I don’t think so but I’m planning to hire a few drivers to get us around the mountains and tea farms. I’ve already scheduled a day trip in the Shizhuo region😊

I think hiring a private driver will give you similar experience, though you won't both be able to be sat in the front for those views when driving, it's probably less tiring. Mind you Pete loves driving winding roads so he's always exhilerated by it, I'd be a nervous wreck!

I’m not worried about missing the front seat but you just reminded me that I need to pack plenty of meclezine for those curvy roads! I’m the original car-sick kid!