ympepe

Would do this independently, but wonder if anyone knows of a travel company that offers this itinerary. Thank you.

thursdaysd

Good luck! I looked into something similar 18 mos ago, and none of the usual suspects did tours to Taiwan. didn't look too difficult to do on your own though.

gearsau

Where do you want to go in these countries? I used to visit all of those countries for business. Lived in Japan for 5 years as well.

Just sitting in Bangkok Airport on my way to Shanghai tomorrow morning. Shanghai, Beijing, Jiayuguan, Urumqi, Shanghai, on this trip, then Bangkok and across to ANGKOR WAT in Cambodia.

ympepe

Tx for your reply Gearsau. Just want to see Taiwan in all its beauty and Taipei.
Shanghai - because I've never been there.
Seoul - same reason.
Japan - would do Tokyo and Kyoto.
Not looking to spend more than a couple of weeks. Have seen much in Asia, but not those areas. Not familiar with Jiayuguan, Urumqi. ANGKOR WAT seems overplayed. Would appreciate your input very much and comments on your travels.

thursdaysd

No reason to go to Jiayuguan or Urumqi unless you're doing a Silk Road trip out of Xi'an - not at all the kind of thing you seem to be planning.

If you're only planning for two weeks, you really can't do justice to four countries! I suppose you could just hit the capitals plus Shanghai and Kyoto, but I could easily spend two weeks in any one of those countries (and a lot longer in China).

ympepe

thursdaysd - tx for comments. we have spent much time in China but did not see Shanghai. Saw travel show on Taiwan and it looks beautiful, plus that museum in Taipei must be fab. Have done much (way to much) reading on China since our 1st trip in '03. Still intrigued. We have more time than 2 wks and feel bulk of trip would be in Taiwan, 3-4 days in Japan, Seoul and just a couple of days in Shanghai. Seems similar to Hong Kong - am I right?

thursdaysd

Yes, I want to see that museum in Taipei too! But from my reading of the guidebooks it looks like there is more to Taiwan than just Taipei. Same for Korea and Seoul.

I haven't been to Shanghai since '04, and it has been changing so fast I doubt I would recognize much of it now. I'm not much of a big city person, and even less of a shopper, so I only went back to Shanghai for the museum, which is stellar.

Similar to HK? Well, I got a different vibe in HK, but I don't know that I could say why. (I think it's more of a shoppers' town, too.) And so much of Shanghai is very new. If you haven't been to Hangzhou and Suzhou I might add those, and/or one of the water towns.

ympepe

thanks again for more info. Am leaning towards 4-5 days in Taipei. Will check out Hangzhou and Suzhou.

PeterN_H

The National Palace Museum in Taipei is not vast, but not small either, and the main point is that its collection is simply the finest there is of Chinese art and artefacts, and unlike museums on the mainland is honest about what it displays, about history, and about historical context. (It's of considerable political importance, too, with the post of Director of the Museum bringing with it a seat in the cabinet.) You should allot a generous half day at least. I spent a whole day there and would gladly return.

I didn't find that Taipei had a great deal much else to offer (I've only spent a week there, so I'm no expert), most larger mainland cities offering rather more. All travel shows on television should of course be taken with bucketfuls of salt, since making destinations look beautiful/mysterious/alluring is, of course, their business and the reality is often a great deal more mundane. There's precious little honesty in any travel coverage in either broadcast or print media.

Shanghai doesn't have a great deal to offer either, although it's more interesting than Taipei, I feel (and less so than Hong Kong, although). If you visit the National Palace Museum in Taipei there's little need to look at the Shanghai Museum, which except for its modern facility is ill-stocked in comparison.

Of the destinations listed, Tokyo (particularly) and Kyoto probably have the most to offer. I can't imagine putting together such a combination of destinations myself, but if forced to allocate time, I'd probably say Taipei 2 whole days, Shanghai 2 days, Seoul 2 days, Tokyo 3 days, Kyoto 2 days, which with six travelling days (allowing some extra mornings and/or afternoons to be allocated to some cities) comes to 17 days. A bit of a mad rush, though.

Peter N-H

Cranachin

If you want to visit the DMZ in Korea you should allocate a whole day to that, so you will need at least 3 days in Seoul. But you could easily spend longer just in the Seoul area (including the DMZ and Incheon), without visiting the rest of the country. For example, Jeju, the island in the south, is supposed to be nice.

jgmc

I'm an American expat living in Taipei, and a volunteer docent at the National Palace Museum. Taiwan is a wonderful place to live, but hardly an intuitive place to visit. The Museum is the "must see" for most people. Across the street (you can buy a joint ticket) is a smaller museum devoted to Aboriginal People of Taiwan and, I think, worth the visit. Taipei 101 is fun and gives you a sense of the city. The Longshan Temple and the Confucius Temple are quite interesting. Taipei has temples everywhere, from big complexes to tiny altars tucked away in alleys, and the larger ones are almost always busy.

Especially if the weather is cool, you might want to try one of Taiwan's famous hot springs.

Food in Taipei is varied and delicious. The city is safe, so you can wander anywhere you'd like, and explore little alleys to your heart's content. don't leave your hotel without a name card in Chinese though: English is increasingly common (more so, I thought, than Tokyo), but you can't count on it. You'll want that name card to get back to your hotel.

Outside Taipei, I would go to Taroko Gorge if you have the time. Take the train down and spend the night in the Gorge (there are several hotels there) or in nearby Hualien, where your hotel should (check in advance) be able to provide you with transportation into the Park area.

Closer to Taipei, go to the Ju Ming Museum (Taiwan's most famous living artist), Yelihu for the rock formations, and Jiu Fen to climb the steps and wander around -- you can end up on top at a very pretty tea house.

The mountains and scenery in Taiwan are indeed quite beautiful and the hiking, when the weather is fine, can be lovely. The weather is often iffy, though: never travel without a rain jacket or umbrella. You've been warned!

Hope this helps. Taiwan is a wonderful place, but not that easy for tourists.

ympepe

Thanks to all for your generous offers of your time to comment on a possible vacation itinerary.
Surprise - a great opportunity thru Gate 1 came up to visit Turkey - much more than Istanbul and we are going. Have been to Turkey previously and wanted to explore the eastern part.
Not too far east and I am aware of the earthquake there a day or so ago. So keep on writing and helping fellow travelers.

GraceTsai

It's convenient to travel around Taiwan.

I think these two websites may help:
1. Here's Taiwan official tour website-
you can get all the travel information you need:
http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0011367

2. you can join some local bus tours:
http://www.taiwantourbus.com.tw/lang_en/

In Taipei, you can easily visit some attractions by MRT, just using a one-day pass.
a. http://english.trtc.com.tw/ct.asp?xI...8257&mp=122032

b. You can use the map to plan your one-day trip:
http://english.trtc.com.tw/ct.asp?xI...1778&mp=122032

Enjoy your trip in Taiwan!

c. Just click on the destination, such as Longshan Temple, and you'll see the information of the temple:
http://english.trtc.com.tw/ct.asp?xI...1778&mp=122032

JaneB

Those are very helpful websites, GraceTsai. We're stopping off May 3 in Taipei for 5 nights on a trip to Nepal and Bhutan.
I also would like to take a day trip on the fast train, just for the experience. Any suggestions?

ympepe

Thanks to all - how can I end this thread? Does anyone know?
Have decided on Turkey as I said above.

thursdaysd

No need to end it - just quit reading if you've lost interest - others may still benefit.

GraceTsai

Hi JaneB,
Glad to know that you'll visit Taiwan.
If you'd like to take a day trip on Taiwan High Speed Rail,
I'll strongly recommend you to go to Tainan, my hometown,
and director Ang Lee's, too.

I don't live in Tainan now, but I do some search and find
the following information that might help:
1. http://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/?lc=en

2. http://www.taiwantourbus.com.tw/lang....php?tourId=77

3.If you love music or art, you might be interested in Chi Mei Museum-they have the excellent violin collection in the world! http://www.chimeimuseum.com/english/index.aspx

BTW, on the way back to Taipei, you can try the dinner box on the train. http://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/travel
/travel_service_food.asp
(They don't have the English version for this part, but you can see the pictures and each box costs only NT$120,about 4USD.)

Wish you have a nice trip.

GraceTsai

Sorry, the dinner box should be linked: http://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/travel/tr...rvice_food.asp

ympepe

Did the Turkey trip which was great. Found a cruise that takes us to all the sights I originally wanted to visit. Oceania - Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, Shanghai and Seoul as well as, Bangkok and Beijing (have been to those 2). 24 day trip and am now looking for a land/plane trip to do this. Trouble with cruises is they do not allow enough time in port.

ympepe

Question - have found pretty much the Asian itinerary on an Oceana cruise sailing 2-15-11. Does anyone have any experience with this cruise line? Thanks for any info you may have.