Nova × Ethan Does Taiwan pt.2

Taiwan · April 1 – 10

🗂️ Bucket List

Things to hit anytime during the Taiwan stay

✓

💳

Wan Nian Building (萬年商業大樓) — Custom EasyCard

4th floor is the spot — toy stores and hobby shops selling exclusive themed EasyCards. Think miniature food shapes, brand collabs, and limited editions you won't find anywhere else. Located in Ximending, so easy to combine with any evening there. Pick one up early — you'll need it for the MRT all trip.

📍 Maps

✓

🎤

U2 MTV — Movie Street Karaoke

Private karaoke and movie rooms right on Ximending's Movie Theater Street (Wuchang St). Rent a private room for ~NT$160 for first-timers, drink included. Open 24 hours. Suggested for April 8 evening — light day, Caesar Metro Taipei is walking distance, perfect wind-down activity.

📍 Maps

✅Via Hotel Taipei Station· Check-in

April 1 · Wednesday

Cebu → Taipei + Ximending Evening

EVA Air · Arrives 3:10 PM · Via Hotel

Arrival ▼

✈️ EVA Air — Booked ✅

RouteCebu (CEB) → Taipei (TPE)

Departs12:15 PM

Arrives3:10 PM

Cost$869.92 (round-trip)

🏨 Via Hotel Taipei Station — Booked ✅

Check-inApril 1

Check-outApril 6 (5 nights)

Cost$747.00

Savings$47 saved vs. Tango Hotel

Check in, freshen up, then head to Ximending for the evening.

Evening

🌃

Ximending Night Market

Open 6–11 PM weekdays. Wander and soak in the atmosphere.

📍 Maps

🐱

Hello Kitty 7-Eleven

Right in the Ximending area — knock it out while you're here.

🍜

Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle (tentative)

Famous oyster vermicelli. Queue moves fast. Open until 10:30 PM.

📍 Maps

🍸

Bar Mood Taipei

Classy cocktail bar. Opens 6 PM, closes 1 AM (2 AM Fri/Sat). ~15 min taxi. Book ahead.

📍 Maps

🗺 View Map 🏠 Via Hotel ▼

✅Via Hotel Taipei Station· Night 2 of 5

April 2 · Thursday

Xinyi + CKS + Ximending

East → west sweep · No backtracking

Full Day ▼

🏨 Via Hotel Taipei Station — Night 2

Check-inApril 1

Check-outApril 6

NoteStaying in — no check-in today

🗺 Pokémon + photo spots → Lunch → Taipei 101 (afternoon) → CKS Memorial → Ximending.

Morning · Xinyi Photo Spots

🎮

Pokémon Center Taipei

A11 Mall, 3F. Opens 11AM. Taiwan-exclusive merch.

📍 Maps

📸

Takemura Izakaya Alley

Photo spot — cozy alley with Taipei 101 backdrop. TikTok famous.

📍 Maps ▶ Video

📸

Taipei City Hall Rainbow Walk

Photo spot — free, open 24hrs, usually uncrowded. Great 101 backdrop.

📍 Maps

Lunch · Pick One

🥟

Din Tai Fung (Xinyi Branch)

Iconic soup dumplings. The original location. Opens 11AM — go early.

📍 Maps

🌶️

KiKi Eslite Xinyi

Refined Sichuan/Taiwanese. Reservations recommended on weekends.

📍 Maps

🏬

Breeze Nan Shan Food Hall

Already here for photos. Strong Japanese dining options.

📍 Maps

Afternoon · Taipei 101

🏙️

Taipei 101 Observatory

Afternoon light is better — haze burns off by midday. Opens 10AM.

📍 Maps

📸

Breeze Nan Shan Balcony

Photo spot — elevated terrace with panoramic 101 views.

📍 Maps

Late Afternoon · CKS Memorial

🏛️

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Free entry. Open 9AM–6PM. Changing of guard on the hour.

📍 Maps

📸

Liberty Square Archway

Photo spot — open 24hrs, free. Stunning at sunset ~5PM.

📍 Maps

Evening · Ximending

🌆

Ximending Street Food

MRT west to Ximen. Graze the stalls and soak in the atmosphere.

📍 Maps

🗺 View Map 🏠 Via Hotel ▼

✅Via Hotel Taipei Station· Night 3 of 5

April 3 · Friday

North Taipei — Shilin Cluster

One Piece Exhibition · Shilin Residence · Night Market

Full Day ▼

🏨 Via Hotel Taipei Station — Night 3

Check-inApril 1

Check-outApril 6

NoteStaying in — no check-in today

🗺 All northern stops concentrated in one day — no return trips needed. Everything is in Shilin.

⚠️ Last chance — the One Piece exhibition closes April 6. Today is the best day to catch it. Book tickets on Klook in advance.

Morning

🌸

Shilin Official Residence

Historic gardens and residence of Chiang Kai-shek. Opens 9:30AM (closed Mondays). Free garden entry, paid residence ticket.

📍 Maps

🌋

Yangmingshan National Park (Optional)

Volcanic national park with hot springs, hiking trails and panoramic Taipei views. Only if energy and time allows.

📍 Maps

Afternoon · One Piece Exhibition ⚠️ Closes Apr 6

⚓

ONE PIECE EMOTION — 25th Anniversary Exhibition

National Taiwan Science Education Center, 7F South Side. 11 immersive zones, 400+ original anime drawings, life-size statues including Gear 5. Covers Wano Country through Egghead arc. Open 9AM–5PM weekdays. Book on Klook ahead of time.

📍 Maps 🎟 Klook

Evening

🍢

Shilin Night Market

One of Taipei's largest and most famous night markets. Opens 4PM, runs until midnight.

📍 Maps

🗺 View Map 🏠 Via Hotel ▼

✅Via Hotel Taipei Station· Night 4 of 5

April 4 · Saturday

Jiufen + Shifen Day Trip

Full day northeast excursion

Heavy ▼

🔥 Full day northeast excursion. No Taipei city stops — protect the day.

🏨 Via Hotel Taipei Station — Night 4

Check-inApril 1

Check-outApril 6

NoteStaying in — no check-in today

Full Day

🏘️

Jiufen Old Street

Historic hillside town, inspiration for Spirited Away.

💧

Shifen Waterfall

Taiwan's widest waterfall.

🏮

Sky Lantern Release

Write your wishes and release a lantern into the sky.

🗺 View Map 🏠 Via Hotel ▼

✅Via Hotel Taipei Station· Night 5 of 5

April 5 · Sunday

Taichung Day Trip + Houfeng Bikeway

HSR · Aim for 7:00–7:30 AM departure

Heavy 💜 Nova's Idea ▼

🏨 Via Hotel Taipei Station — Night 5

Check-inApril 1

Check-outApril 6

NoteStaying in — no check-in today

🔥 Heavy full day. Early HSR departure essential — aim for 7:00–7:30 AM from Taipei Main Station.

💡 HSR tip: Book at least 5 days in advance for 10–35% early bird discount.

Morning · ~7:00 AM HSR Departure

🚅

HSR Taipei → Taichung

Earliest trains from 6:26 AM. Journey ~47 min. Aim for 7:00–7:30 AM train.

🚆

Local Train: Taichung → Fengyuan

~20 min. Rent bikes outside Fengyuan Station.

~9:00 AM · Houfeng Bikeway 💜

🚴

Houfeng Bikeway

4.5 km scenic rail-trail along the old Taiwan Mountain Line. Passes through a 1.2 km tunnel and crosses a steel bridge over the Dajia River. Connects with Dongfeng Greenway for an 18 km total route. Allow 1–2 hrs riding.

💜 Nova's idea

Afternoon · Central Taichung

🍦

Miyahara

Historic dessert shop — ice cream, chocolate, gorgeous building.

🎌

Taichung Animation Alley

Vibrant painted alley, great for photos and anime merch.

👹

Xitou Monster Village (Optional)

Quirky themed village if energy remains.

~5:00–6:00 PM · HSR Back to Taipei

🚅

HSR Taichung → Taipei

Arrive Taipei ~6:00–7:00 PM.

🗺 View Map 🏠 Via Hotel ▼

✅Anna King Hotel· Check-in 3:30 PM

April 6 · Monday

Taipei → Sun Moon Lake → Chiayi

Check out Via Hotel · Ambitious travel day

Travel ▼

⚠️ Ambitious day. Treat Sun Moon Lake as a real stop (2–3 hrs min), not a pass-through. Can skip if running behind.

🏨 Anna King Hotel — Booked ✅

AddressNo. 150 Heping Rd, East District, Chiayi

Check-inApril 6 · 3:30 PM

Check-outApril 7 · 11:00 AM

Booking ID976513330

Ref ID6393759570

Itinerary

🏨

Check out — Via Hotel Taipei Station

🌊

Sun Moon Lake

Taiwan's most scenic lake. Allow 2–3 hours minimum.

🚆

Continue to Chiayi → Anna King Hotel

🗺 View Map 🏠 Hotel Indigo Alishan ▼

🏆Hotel Indigo Alishan· Reward Night

April 7 · Tuesday

Alishan

Hotel Indigo · Forest Railway · Sunrise

Full Day ▼

🏨 Hotel Indigo Alishan — Reward Night ✅

Check-inApril 7

Check-outApril 8

Cost$0 — Reward Night 🎉

Activities

🚂

Alishan Forest Railway

Iconic narrow-gauge railway through ancient cedar forests.

🌅

Sunrise Viewing Area

Set an alarm — the sea of clouds at sunrise is unforgettable.

🌸 Cherry Blossoms — April is peak late-season bloom

🌸

Alishan Sakura Trail

A dedicated cherry blossom hiking trail through bamboo forests and tea fields. Multiple short-to-moderate trails — Sakura Trail for blossoms, Tea & Sunset Trail for tea plantations, Mist Trail for bamboo forest. Drop off at Ding Shizhao station and walk up. Open 24hrs, lots of stairs.

📍 Maps

🌸

Zhushan Sunrise Trail

The most dramatic combo — sunrise above a sea of clouds with cherry blossoms stretching down the mountains. Start hiking by 4AM or take the 5:50AM train. Book tickets online the day before — over-counter tickets are limited to 50.

📍 Maps

🌸

Zhaoping Park

Enchanting cherry blossom walks through lush forest paths and tranquil ponds. Take the forest railway to Zhaoping Station then walk back down to the main station — easier going downhill. Connects to Sisters Ponds, King Cherry Tree, and Ciyun Temple.

📍 Maps

🌸

Alishan House

The iconic hotel grounds surrounded by over 18,000 Yoshino cherry trees — the largest concentration in Taiwan. Beautiful even just to walk through. Observation deck on the 7th floor for sunset views.

📍 Maps

🗺 View Map 🏠 Hotel Indigo Alishan ▼

✅Caesar Metro Taipei· Check-in

April 8 · Wednesday

Return to Taipei — Caesar Metro Taipei Check-In

Zhongshan District · Walkable to Ximending

Light ▼

🏨 Caesar Metro Taipei — Booked ✅

Check-inApril 8 · 3:00 PM

Check-outApril 10 · 12:00 PM (2 nights)

RoomSuperior Room, 1 Double Bed

PerksPool · Gym · Restaurant · Free Parking · Free WiFi

Cost$230.69

Light afternoon — everything walkable from Caesar Metro Taipei. No long MRT rides.

Afternoon & Evening

🛍️

Walk Ximending

Browse the streets at a relaxed pace.

⚡

Pokémon-Themed 7-Eleven (Wanhua)

Walkable from Caesar Metro Taipei.

☕

Cafés + Chill Evening

Wind down after travel. No rush.

🎤

U2 MTV — Movie Street Karaoke (Optional)

5 min walk from Ximending. Private rooms, open 24hrs. Great low-key evening activity after the Alishan trip.

📍 Maps

🗺 View Map 🏠 Caesar Metro Taipei ▼

✅Caesar Metro Taipei· Night 2 of 2

April 9 · Thursday

Relaxed Taipei West Cluster

Wanhua · Buffer day · Elephant Mountain sunset

Relaxed ▼

💡 Best buffer day — drop Elephant Mountain if tired. Use to catch up if an earlier day ran short.

Morning · Wanhua (Walkable)

🛕

Longshan Temple

One of Taipei's oldest and most atmospheric temples.

🏚️

Bopiliao Historic Block

Preserved Qing dynasty streetscape. Great for photos.

Afternoon

🚇

Taipei Main Station Underground Malls

North Gate and Station Underground — great for browsing.

Optional Sunset

🌄

Elephant Mountain

Short MRT ride. Iconic Taipei 101 skyline shot from the trail. Best at golden hour.

🗺 View Map 🏠 Caesar Metro Taipei ▼

✅Bai Hotel Cebu· Check-in 3:00 PM

April 10 · Friday

Taipei → Cebu · 8:00 AM Flight

Leave Caesar Metro Taipei by 5:00–5:30 AM

Travel ▼

⚠️ Early departure — leave Caesar Metro Taipei by 5:00–5:30 AM. Pack the night before. Taoyuan Airport is ~40–50 min by express train.

✈️ EVA Air — Booked ✅

RouteTaipei (TPE) → Cebu (CEB)

Departs8:00 AM

Arrives10:50 AM

CostIncluded in round-trip

Flight	Cost	Status
EVA Air — Taiwan Round Trip (Cebu ↔ Taipei)	$869.92	✅ Booked
Cebu Pacific 5J 209 — Cebu → Cagayan de Oro (Mar 27)	$237.14	✅ Booked
Cebu Pacific 5J 206 — Cagayan de Oro → Cebu (Mar 31)	$221.22	✅ Booked
Flight Total	$1,328.28

Hotel	Cost
Kojo Hotels Cebu – Mandaue (Mar 26)	$132.49	✅ Booked
Kojo Hotels Cebu – Mandaue (Mar 31)	$75.63	✅ Booked
Via Hotel Taipei Station (Apr 1–6)	$747.00	✅ Booked
Caesar Metro Taipei (Apr 8–10)	$230.69	✅ Booked
Bai Hotel Cebu (Apr 10–12)	$193.17	✅ Booked
Anna King Hotel — Chiayi (Apr 6–7)	$0.00	✅ Booked
Hotel Indigo Alishan (Apr 7–8)	$0.00	Reward
Hotel Total	$1,378.98

Nova × EthanDoes Taiwan pt.2

Nova × Ethan
Does Taiwan pt.2