[quote=“Mugatu”][quote=“Hon Est”]
Actually we would prefer visiting the Movies village/town (Taiwanese version of Hollywood) over Keelung (Jilong) (Jilong) but can’t find the name of the place. Do you know what’s it call? and the location?[/quote]
Are you talking about Beitou or Jiufen?
Beitou is sometimes referred to as the “Hollywood of Taiwan” because a lot of movies were shot there, but this was back in the 60s (or maybe 50s?). You won’t find much about that there now, except the exhibition in the Hot Spring Museum.
Or maybe you mean Jiufen? A lot of movies have been made there in the last 20 years or so. I would hardly call it a Taiwanese version of Hollywood, but it is a really nice place to visit (less so on weekends)
Or are you just talking about that daft sign that says “Keelung” in Hollywood style?[/quote]
I think OP may be referring to either Cape No. 7, which was filmed in Hengchun / Pingtung County, Kending, Fangliao Township and Wenshan District in Taipei,
…or…
City of Sadness, which was filmed entirely in Jiufen and by some guidebook accounts, the “Taiwan Hollywood” spoken thereof.
I pick this up from a Taiwanese traveller. He mentioned a complete ancient chinese village depending on the filming industry for it’s livelihood. Does this provide any clue to place a name and location?
I suppose the name “hollywood” infers a designated filming location known to most Taiwanese movie buffs. I hope you won’t get 100 locations from 100 movie fans on this topic.
Most likely Jiufen, although if it is, the description you received is rather inaccurate. It’s a mining town that dates from the 19th century (I think) - scenic, and a nice place to spend the night mid-week, but insanely busy on weekends or other days when Taipei City has a vacation.
This is Taiwan. There are no “ancient Chinese villages” (i.e. thousands of years old) here, because the Chinese haven’t been here long enough!
I think there are a couple of theme parks that do double-duty as sets for historical soap operas, but I’m not too sure where.
When do you expect the pre-CNY “people’s movement” to commence? CNY starts on Thursday, February 3.
I reckon with Taiwan’s HSR and motorways covering the western part of Taiwan most working Taiwanese would continue working until the last two days before CNY. Schools holidays presumably start on the week before CNY presumably January 29 and henceforth the 1st wave would have balanced out the stress on the transportation infrastructure. It may seems chaotic but I think everyone will be able to get to wherever they want to go albeit the normal higher prices for festival season. Well this is extreme “Amazing Race Asia”. I await for more critiques on the itinerary.
As foreigners we have the options to take the opposite directions as you rightly pointed out “GO NORTH” or “GO East”.
Your take of Covering the 3Ts is highly appreciated and definitely less stressful. After all we are suppose to be on holidays.
What else resemble CNY (or thanksgivings) if not the for the customary chaotic “people’s movement”.
Most countries transportation infrastructure is put to this annual stress test. Indonesia jammed up for a whole week during the last Islamic new year. China held the record for the longest traffic jam - nearly a month. Taiwan is a small island (Pop: 20million) with very good transportation system so I heard. Therefore I reckon on the whole it’s more hype than what’s happening on the ground. Because everyone is on the rush they demand tickets, service etc now! now! now! Me first mentality takes hold. Hard words exchanged …effficiency drops … queues become longer and longer and service personnels more stress out and finally system breakdown leading to more frustration on both travellers and service personnels … and continue its downward it just spirall until loss of civility by all.
So “Just stop! Stay loose, Have a KitKat” and trust the system! After all everyone wants to get to their destination.
“If you decide not to take a guide with you pick up English maps locally at the visitor centres. All major cities, including Tainan, have one right in the train station. In the future, consider buying the pdf version of the LP guide (available by the chapter) if you are already carrying a laptop or iphone.”
Yes will pick up the English map on a need basis. The LP guide font is too small for my viewing causing me headache. I read Rough Guide Taiwan is now available and had good reviews. Let me know your opinion on RG.
I carry a GPS/PDA with a 16GB SD card. Do you know of any download website for GPS Taiwan Map English version. I don’t mind older version if it’s free. Oops yeah I’ll check for Papagoes map and hopefully it won’t cost too much relative for my short trip use.
I will be on “electronic shopping” on the penultimate day of departure. Specifically i am shopping for (1) Portable sonar LCD fish finder and (2) Digital frequency remote control counter tester. Any suggestion where to go shopping of specific shops?
Yes, the National Palace Museum is open every day, so it’s a good choice for CNY itself.
I agree with Feiren that the east coast would be preferable to many of the places you’ve listed. If I were you I’d concentrate on the three T’s: Taipei, Tainan, and Taroko Gorge.
Hi cranky laowai.
Great news NPM opens everyday!
Good suggestion on the " Leisurely" cover the 3Ts.
Any suggestion to increase the leisurely tempo a notch up? With these normal “high-level” testostorone what else can you suggest to drain out the normal daily “must-use” testosterone usage.
I found the Rough Guide and the Lonely Planet to be comparably excellent. Neither is perfect but I like both of them.
The Insight Guide is terrible. they have nice pictures but they lack in the logistical aspect of traveling. And only mention the biggest tourist draws.
Re: Pre-& during CNY Backpacking in Taiwan
by Chris » Yesterday, 12:43
Travel during CNY can be a dream if you’re going south when everyone else is going north, and vice versa. Going south when everyone else is going south is a nightmare. The traditional day that the people in Taipei flock en masse to “niang jia” (mom’s house) is the day after CNY itself. It is unwise to attempt to travel south from Taipei on that date.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your input.
Do these Taipei folks use intercity buses or cars. I suppose most Taiwanese household have cars and therefore cause higher traffic usage on the highway. Will these days affect the availability of seats on intercity (long distance) buses or train. I suppose correspondingly the number of buses/ trains and frequency increase as well so that it remains at equilibrium.
We only need 2 tickets to everywhere where everyone is going, right? 2 tickets seems so insignificant. Yet cumulatively Taiwan grinds to nightmarish.
Thanks for the advice. Stay with the time tested LP. I concur that LP remains top with details, the logistical aspects. Must have save me thousand of dollars over the years. so why change when it ain’t broken.
You are definitely right on the “ancient” village. Miscommunication between the messenger and the receiver. Taiwanese messenger emphasise of ancient in his mind i suppose anything that’s old.
Oooohs now we have theme parks that double up for films’ shooting. If it’s theme park the shine rubs off.