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Voykit pocket guide · Taiwan
Nantou
Spend 1–2 days in Nantou: walk the downtown market, visit two museums and the night market, then rest at a central 3‑star hotel.
Nantou is a small city in central Taiwan with a compact downtown, several museums, a weekly night market and easy bus/taxi links to the rest of the county. One full day covers the main sights; a second day allows a relaxed pace or a short nature walk.
- Country
- Taiwan
- Best months
- Oct–Apr, avoid typhoon season Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (typhoons, heavy rain)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- TWD
- Money
- Night markets, breakfast shops and many small restaurants take cash only; carry NT$1,000–2,000 in small notes.
- Daily spend
- Budget NT$800–1,200 excl. bed · Mid NT$1,200–2,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile and FarEasTone sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs at TPE and KHH arrivals; a passport plus a second photo ID is required (check).
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Tourism helpline 0800-011-765
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 110 V · 60 Hz · US and Japanese plugs fit; European, UK and Australian plugs need an adapter, and 220 V-only appliances need a converter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: No tip; a 10% service charge appears in many sit-down places and hotels.; Taxis: No tip; round up if you like.; Hotel porter: Not expected; NT$100 in luxury hotels if you want.; Private guide or driver: Not required; NT$200–500 a day or a meal is a thank-you.
- Water
- Treated at source, but locals boil or filter it. Filtered hot-and-cold dispensers are in stations, hotels and many public buildings; bottles cost NT$20–30.
- Toilets
- Free, clean toilets in every MRT station, convenience stores and department stores; paper goes in the toilet in most new buildings — follow the sign.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bucket sticky rice (local snack) | NT$50–80 |
| Yi noodle bowl | NT$70–120 |
| Shaved ice dessert | NT$60–100 |
| Taxi short ride | NT$150–250 |
| Museum entry | NT$100–200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RMQ · Taichung Airport (Chung Ching)
- about 1 h by bus from Nantou city centre
Typical fares
- Taichung → Nantou bus
- about NT$300 each way (check)
- Taxi short ride in town
- about NT$150–250
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Downtown is walkable; taxis are plentiful near the bus station but usually unmetered – agree price first. Intercity buses run from Nantou City Bus Station (by Carrefour).
See and do
Known for
- Nantou County Pottery Museum
- Nantou Bamboo Museum
- Taiwan Mochi Museum
- Wednesday night market
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Moon Lake | Bus from Nantou City Bus Station, about 1 h; walk around the lake | 2 h total |
| Cingjing Farm | Bus to Cingjing, about 1 h 30 min; short walk to farm area | 2 h 30 min |
| Hehuanshan (East Peak) | Bus to Hehuanshan bus stop (≈2 h), then taxi or hike | 3 h |
Sleep
- Nantou Hotel
- 3‑star, central location, easy walk to bus station and night market
- EG Rental Co.
- Boutique budget hotel near Mochi Museum
- Zhongxing Nanfa Manor
- Small B&B in a historic wood‑stone house
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | 不好意思bù hǎo yì si |
| Thank you | 謝謝xiè xie |
| How much is it? | 多少錢？duō shǎo qián |
| Where is the night market? | 夜市在哪裡？yè shì zài nǎ lǐ |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A nod or light handshake; 'nǐ hǎo'; avoid: Hugs with new acquaintances
- Handing things: Two hands for cards, gifts and money; avoid: Tossing money on the counter
- Gifts: Fruit or a boxed sweet for hosts; refuse once before accepting; avoid: Clocks, umbrellas, pears and anything in fours — they sound like death or parting
- MRT: Queue at the markings, give up priority seats; avoid: Eating, drinking or chewing gum past the gates
- Temples: Enter right, exit left; one or three sticks of incense; avoid: Stepping on thresholds; pointing at deities
- Home visit: Shoes off; slippers provided; avoid: Writing names in red ink
- Sensitive topics: Follow your host's lead; many people hold a range of views on identity and cross-strait ties; avoid: Assuming everyone thinks the same about China or the ROC's status
Scams and watch-outs
- Taxis often do not use meters – negotiate fare before boarding.
- Museum opening hours may change seasonally; check before visiting.
Nantou is generally safe for tourists; keep an eye on personal belongings in crowded markets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Nantou yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Nantou County Pottery Museum
- Nantou Bamboo Museum
- Taiwan Mochi Museum
- Wednesday night market
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Nantou: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Wikivoyage: Nantou, revision 5239309 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239309
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Nantou
請到這個地址
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Tourism helpline0800-011-765
US consulate in Taichung (check address); other embassies in Taipei.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/nantou). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.