High-Speed Rail Shortens the Time to Scenic Spots

The Taiwan High-Speed Railway, which is scheduled to open at the end of October 2006, will change the nature of tourism in Taiwan. Suddenly, tourist attractions ranging from the historic cities of Lugang and Tainan, to the natural beauty of Nantou County, will be an extremely quick train ride away. Even Kaohsiung at the opposite end of the island will be just 90 minutes from Taipei, offering tourists the enticing possibility of an afternoon in the city, followed by a southern seafood dinner, and ending with a thrilling high-speed train ride back to the capital.

Naturally, the process will also work in reverse: residents of Kaohsiung, Tainan, and Taichung can board the high-tech trains and whisk themselves to Taipei, where they can visit the National Palace Museum, or Taipei 101 Tower, or Danshuei, or Yangmingshan, and return home in time for bed.