Tainan to Jiaxing: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

Departing from Tainan, Taiwan's oldest city, you'll leave behind the historic Anping Fort and its salt flats. The drive heads north through the Chianan Plain, a flat agricultural expanse that eventually gives way to the rolling hills of central Taiwan. This route offers a mix of coastal breezes and mountain passes, with a total distance of about 300 kilometers on well-maintained highways.

National Highway 1 (Sun Yat-sen Freeway) runs parallel to the coast for most of the way. Tolls are collected electronically via the eTag system, with total tolls around NT$250-300. Fuel prices in Taiwan are regulated; as of 2025, expect to pay approximately NT$30 per liter for 95 octane gasoline. A typical sedan will consume about 25 liters for this journey, costing roughly NT$750.

• Fuel stations are plentiful every 20-30 km along the highway, many open 24/7.
• Use the 1968 app for real-time traffic and rest area conditions.
• Rest areas every 40-50 km with clean restrooms, convenience stores, and food courts.

The highways are generally in excellent condition, with clear signage in Chinese and English. Speed limits range from 100 to 110 km/h, and radar detectors are strictly prohibited. Roads are well-lit near urban areas, but rural sections can be dark; keep an eye out for animals crossing. Taiwan has a robust emergency call system: dial 1968 for roadside assistance.

For families, the rest areas are excellent. The Taian Service Area (on Highway 1) has a playground and nursing rooms. For pets, most rest areas have designated pet relief areas, but pets are not allowed inside buildings. To combat fatigue, plan a stop every two hours; the route is laid out conveniently with exits roughly every 10 km. For hidden gems, consider the -secret' Kukuan hot springs: take Exit 165 at Dongshi and drive 30 minutes into the mountains, a peaceful detour.

As you leave Tainan, the landscape is dominated by rice paddies and fish farms. Near Chiayi, the Alishan foothills appear on the horizon, but the highway stays flat. Crossing the Zhuoshui River, Taiwan's longest, you enter the Changhua coastal plain, where wind turbines line the shore. The route passes near the UNESCO World Heritage potential site of the Wunan Temple in Changhua, a classic example of Taiwanese folk architecture.

Local commerce thrives around highway interchanges. For instance, the Sanyi exit on Highway 1 is famous for wood carving; a short detour leads to markets selling camphor wood crafts. Further north, the Hsinchu area is known for its traditional 'rice noodles' (mifen). Take the Hukou exit to find small factories and roadside eateries serving this regional specialty.