Planned on just a day trip to Seoraksan National Park so we started out early, not too early though.  From our hostel in Jongno 3-ga, we took subway line 3 to Express Bus Terminal Station, about 10 stops.  We took Exit 1 (Gyeongbu / Yeongdong line) passing through subway line 9 and go inside the trapezoid-shaped building.
 

Express Bus Station

There's not a lot of people in the terminal.  Probably because it's a Monday and still too early.  Go to the ticket counter and buy a ticket to Sokcho, costs KRW18,100 per person, they do accept credit cards.  We were able to get a ticket for the 7:30AM bus.  The person at the counter directed us where the gate is.  We need to go to Gate 17 for the bus to Sokcho.

Ticket Counter

Ticket showing origin and destination, ticket cost, date and time of departure, seat number and bus platform

Lockers available at the station

Way to the platform

There are convenience stores available at the passenger's waiting area

Platform 17

Bus showing route (Seoul <--> Sokcho) and time of departure (07:30)

Reclining bus seat... makes the trip comfortable

The bus left the station at exactly 7:30AM.  The estimated arrival time is flashed on the tv screen, which in our case is 10:10AM.  On the way, we passed by a number of tunnels passing through mountains.  The scenery is great, with autumn in full (or almost in full) bloom.

One of the tunnels

After an hour and a half bus ride, the bus stopped for 15 minutes.  Passengers can take a restroom break, buy food and drinks, or do some stretching.

Rest Stop

We got to Sokcho Bus Terminal around 10:20, which was the adjusted time flashed on the screen after the bus stop.  There's a coffee shop and Lotteria in the station.  A tourist information center can be seen outside the station.  Take note of some landmarks, like Hotel Good Morning and the blue post in the middle of the street that says Sokcho Beach, for taking the bus back to Seoul.

Sokcho Bus Terminal

Sokcho Bus Terminal
[Left] Dongbu Express, [Middle] Tourist Information, [Middle back] Hotel Good Morning, [Right] Blue Sokcho Beach sign in the middle of the street

The bus stop for bus 7 or 7-1 which goes to Seoraksan (Mountain) is on the opposite side of the street.  Once outside the bus station, walk to the right of the street and cross it on the first pedestrian lane.  The bus stop is a few meters to the left of the pedestrian lane.  Be prepared to have exact fare (KRW1,100) as the drivers do not give out change.  Get off at the last stop, which is in the parking lot of Seoraksan National Park.  It's about 20-30 minutes bus ride.

Inside the bus to Seoraksan National Park

Account of the day trip to the park can be read here.

Going back to Seoul from Seoraksan is basically the reverse of how you got there.  When you get out of the park, walk towards the parking lot, and back to where you got off. 

Sign outside the park

Seoraksan Bus stop

The bus stop for the terminal comes a few meters after the terminal building itself.  So when you see the landmarks for the bus terminal, press the stop button so that you could get off the bus.  Walk back to the station and buy your tickets (KRW18,100 per person).

Sokcho Bus Terminal

Ticket to Seoul

Bus to Seoul

The trip back to Seoul (Express Bus Terminal) took about 2 hours 40 minutes.


Here are some tips to consider when going to the park:

1. Weekends may get too crowded specially on peak seasons.
2. Check the bus schedule and availability of seats from KoBus.  Select Seoul [010] for origin and Sokcho [230] for destination.  You might also want to check the Sokcho - Seoul route for seat availability on the way back.
3. Check the weather from KMA site or Mountain Forecast.

Yesterday, I've seen the shared-ride vans parked in front of 7-eleven and already accepting reservations for the next day's trip back to the city (Chiayi).  Their trips are just up to Chiayi TRA station and they see to it that they leave before the bus leaves.  I asked (or rather asked the help of someone to translate) if they do a Alishan-Fenchihu-Chiayi trip.  They actually do but they only do that for the 11AM trip (in case they were able to gather a group of people who wanted to go the same route) just in time for lunch, for the famous Fenchihu lunch box.  They could only confirm if the trip would proceed before 11AM.  Too bad I don't have the luxury of time.  Maybe if you're a group of 5 or more, you could persuade the driver to go that route.

Discounting the idea of going to Fenchihu, I've planned to take the 9:10AM bus.  I took a back-ride on a staff's scooter going to the bus station and took the shared ride instead for NTD200 (normal bus fare is NTD221 plus this would take me faster to Chiayi).

Scooter Back-ride

The sun is already up on the way to Chiayi

Thank you for visiting Alishan National Forest Recreation Area.  Please come again!

Downtown Chiayi

Chiayi TRA Station

I was already at Chiayi Station before 11AM.  With the time saved on the trip, it allowed me to go to one more destination... Chung Cheng University.  Left my bag at the baggage service station at the left side of the main station.

It was already past 1PM when I got back to Chiayi station.  I claimed my bags and proceeded to the rear of the station to take the bus to Chiayi HSR Station.  The bus ride is about 30 minutes and is free for those going between TRA and HSR stations.  I just missed the HSR train so I need to take the next one at 2:36PM to Taoyuan Station.

To TRA Rear Station Hall

Chiayi TRA to HSR Station

Bus from Chiayi

Chiayi HSR Station

HSR Train

I'm running late, I have a 5:25PM flight to catch.  Normally, I'm at the airport 2-3 hours before the flight... not today.

From Taoyuan HSR Station, I took the U-bus to the airport.  Whew! I made it! I got there more than an hour before the flight!  It was only when I got to the boarding gate that I looked around a bit and took some pictures, at least while waiting for the boarding announcement.

Aboard the U-bus to the airport

TPE Airport

While waiting to board

And that concludes my Taiwan adventure.

I have purposely scheduled this trip to coincide with Taiwan's Sky Lantern Festival.  Having learned my lesson from the last time I went here (Feb of 2010), I've planned to get to Shifen early and just to explore some sights at Pingxi District.

I believe every year, they have 3 schedules for the sky lantern festival.  These would be between Chinese New Year and the last day which is the 15th day of the lunar year.  This year the schedules are: Feb 14 (Jingtong Elementary School), Feb 17 (Pingxi Junior High School) and Feb 24 (Shifen Sky Lantern Square).  

On the said dates, the government has commissioned buses to ply the route Taipei Zoo - Pingxi District - Taipei Zoo non-stop.  Going to the festival area, there's a NTD50 fare, coming back is free.  More information on transportation options can be found here.

Bus line in front of Taipei Zoo

There's even flashlights as giveaway

It's only 10:30AM and a lot of people are already going to the festival area.  Just imagine how long this line would be in the afternoon.

Line to the buses

The buses are numbered and I think there are more than a hundred buses (I saw some buses with numbers at 100+) so that there will be buses non-stop at the stations.

Bus to Shifen

Free drinks at the bus line

The direct bus ride took almost an hour to get to Shifen, passing by the towns of Jingtong and Pingxi.

On regular days, one could either take the bus or train to get to Pingxi District.

By MRT/bus:
- MRT to Muzha
- Cross the street from the station and ride Bus 795 to Pingxi
- Pingxi branch line train to go to the towns in Pingxi District

Bus route (http://www.tpebus.com.tw/image/5163.gif)

By train:
- Train (TRA) to Ruifang station
- Transfer to Pingxi branch line on the same platform in Ruifang

If my memory serves me right, the all-day train pass on the Pingxi line costs NTD55.