All Aboard! 6 Unforgettable Train Rides in Asia

From Darjeeling to the Gobi Desert.
by Andy Flores | November 22, 2017

Suggested Route: Hualien to Taitung

Distance: 155 km (approx.)

Travel Time: 3.5 hours (approx.)

Ticketing Info: railway.gov.tw

Taiwan’s “slow trains” are not exactly what their name suggest. They’re just comparably slower than the state’s newer high-speed train systems — ideal for sight-seeing while getting from one point to another.

Run by the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA), the slow trains have multiple routes across the island, but among the most scenic yet underrated routes is the Hualien-Taitung line that runs on the stunning East Coast of the island. The vistas you’ll see are verdant and refreshing, but if you want to get dazzling views of the sea while on the train, catch a trip from Taitung to the port city of Kaohsiung.

China Tibet Train (Qinghai Tibet Railway)